Why Wallabies’ win over Georgia doesn’t prove they challenge world champion Springboks
The Wallabies survived a major scare against Georgia before prevailing 40-29, but the performance has done little to suggest they can overcome world champions South Africa. This is why.
The Wallabies survived a major scare against Georgia before prevailing 40-29, but the performance has done little to suggest they can overcome world champions South Africa.
There are moments of breathtaking attack, interspersed with woeful errors and silly penalties that alleviate the pressure they build.
Winger Filipo Daugunu was red-carded after he leapt for a ball late in the first half, and his outward knee hit rival Sandro Todua in the face. It was initially a yellow card with a review, and officials ruled it merited red, which was communicated to Wallabies captain Allan Alaalatoa at the start of the second half.
Australia face the Springboks in Brisbane in three weeks to open their Rugby Championship campaign, and their battles in maintaining a chokehold on teams when they have momentum will be a key concern for coach Joe Schmidt.
At 19-3 after 20 minutes, Australia should have posted a big score, but Georgia climbed back into the contest, helped by the Wallabies’ ill-discipline and handling errors.
The Wallabies had led 26-10 at half-time, but the score was 26-24 within eight minutes of the second at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
A sensational 110-metre try by winger Aka Tabutsadze had the Georgians dreaming of their greatest ever victory.
From behind their tryline, Georgia spread the ball following a turnover, and Tabutsadze kicked it downfield.
He gave chase, and with a perfect bounce that belied Darby Lancaster, regathered the ball and outran Tom Wright to the line.
It came after fullback Davit Niniashvili scored a freakish try three minutes into the second half. Georgia made a break through the Georgian fullback, but Ben Donaldson knocked a pass down.
As the ball was bouncing on the ground, Niniashvili kicked ahead, and it rebounded from Wright straight into Niniashvili’s arms.
But Rob Valetini’s second try, in the 55th minute of play, followed a period of frantic up-and-down the field battle and gave Australia needed breathing space.
A scything break from McReight, and wonderful interplay with Reds teammate Harry Wilson, before Valetini stormed over.
McReight thought he’d scored his second four minutes later via rolling maul, but Valetini crept across after the lineout and was ruled to have interfered with the defence.
Just three minutes later, McReight scored from a rolling maul, and this time the Wallabies got their set-up right.
Prior to his sin-binning, Daugunu had been brilliant.
He has adopted the all-over-the-park wing role vacated by Marika Koroibete.
But the Wallabies will face a nervous wait to see if Daugunu is cited by the match review committee and if he faces a suspension for the Boks match.
Daugunu was sin-binned in the 36th minute when he mistimed his jump and his knee went into the head of Todua, who was forced off the field ti conduct a head injury assessment.
Instead of being punished, the Wallabies escaped from their end after a failed penalty kick, then quickly scored a rolling maul try from a lineout courtesy of McReight.
Hunter Paisami’s fifth minute try came on the back of excellent short balls close to the ruck that opened the Georgian defence.
Tate McDermott’s pace to the breakdown kept the rival defence on the back foot, and Len Ikitau’s deft short ball gave Paisami the space to touch down.
Valetini barged over from close range in the 13th minute, and loosehead Isaac Kailea powered over for his first Test try in the 20th following tough running from McDermott,
Following wave after wave of attack on the Wallabies’ line, including a disallowed try for a forward pass, Georgia finally crossed in the 34th minute when lock Mikheil Babunashvili burrowed over.
There are positive signs that the Wallabies are headed in the right direction, including their attacking flow and ruck defence.
Mike Cron’s influence on the scrum is obvious, as the Wallabies held up to the fierce Georgian challenge, and even won a penalty near the end of the game.
But whether they’re ready to overpower the might of the Boks on August 10 is another task altogether.
Schmidt has plenty to do in a short space of time.
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