Wallabies are on the canvas and there’s no easy way back up. Here’s why

1. Daytime kick-off shows Australian rugby in harshest light.

There wasn’t a gap between the Wallabies and Springboks in Brisbane on Saturday, there was a chasm. From scrum to skill levels, and arguably even fitness, the world champions were far ahead and the most chastening part of the Test was the fact there doesn’t appear to be an easy way to get off the canvas.

Without regular exposure to South Africa, and perhaps an inability to pick too many overseas players owing to their Super Rugby deal with New Zealand, Australian rugby appears to be caught between two worlds at present.

The longer-term play is clearly to build Super Rugby up into a competition of genuine rigour once more – and some steps forward have been taken – but the clock is ticking fast towards the arrival of the British and Irish Lions, well stocked with players who just beat the Boks in South Africa.

2. Changes needed to beaten-up side.
At times Suncorp Stadium resembled a hospital ward for the Wallabies, with Nick Frost and Jake Gordon sporting bandages and Filipo Daugunu replaced early.

Taniela Tupou, if available, must surely return for the Perth Test after the scrum was monstered, while Marika Koroibete’s fearlessness is badly needed on the edge.

Noah Lolesio collides with teammate Tom Wright.Credit: AP

It is probably now time, too, to see how Tom Lynagh handles the heat. Noah Lolesio was always going to struggle behind a pack going backwards, but his collision with Tom Wright in the backfield hinted at a worrying lack of communication.

3. All Blacks have slipped backwards since last year.
The All Blacks’ 38-30 loss to Los Pumas has been characterised as “suffocating” by coach Scott Robertson, but don’t fall for that line. Yes, Argentina applied pressure – it is Test rugby – but they also ran for more than 100 metres more than the All Blacks, scored four tries and blew a couple of other chances.

On the evidence of Saturday night, they have taken the foundation laid for them by Michael Cheika last year and built on it, aided by some new talent. The All Blacks, on the other hand, could easily be 1-3 this year and are badly missing the retired Aaron Smith at halfback. Robertson has had an uncertain start.

4. Where this leaves the Wallabies.
In a sense, nothing changes. The modest goal this year was always to be at the pointy end of the second tier of top 10 ranked teams. That’s a long way from the glory days, but it would represent significant improvement.

Team of the week

1. Ox Nche (South Africa)
2.  Ignacio Ruiz (Argentina)
3.  Frans Malherbe (South Africa)
4.  Sam Darry (New Zealand)
5.  Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
6.  Ben-Jason Dixon (South Africa)
7.  Pablo Matera (Argentina)
8.  Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
9.  Cobus Reinach (South Africa)
10.  Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (South Africa)
11.  Kurt-Lee Arendse (South Africa)
12.  Santiago Chocobares (Argentina)
13.  Jesse Kriel (South Africa)
14.  Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)
15.  Juan Cruz-Mallia (Argentina)

Perhaps some overseas players can help, but there is nothing to suggest this is going to be anything else but a hard slog, with teams such as Los Pumas now stacked with hardened players plying their trade at top European clubs. The world has changed and the old certainties are long gone.

5. This is a special Springboks team.
Consider some of the players missing from the Test on Saturday: Faf de Klerk, Damian Willemse, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Steven Kitshoff, Jasper Wiese, Lood de Jager and Andre Esterhuizen.

The depth in South African rugby at present is remarkable, and that doesn’t even take into account players on the fringes, such as the impressive Bulls No.8 Cameron Hanekom.

They have shown a peerless ability to reintegrate Japan-based players into their system (Beauden Barrett recently said he trained harder in Japan than in Super Rugby) but they are also repatriating an increasing number of their players from Europe to feature for South African franchises. They aren’t going anywhere, any time soon.

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