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'They finish 2020 with yet another average result' - How Australia's media reacted to the Wallabies' third draw of the year

By Online Editors
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Wallabies have been panned for their latest effort against Argentina, while there are unenthusiastic reviews for new coach Dave Rennie.

If beleaguered Aussie rugby thought it might get a few charitable assessments in a Covid-19 wrecked year, it needed to think again with the Wallabies season rated a dud.

The 16-all result against Argentina – the Wallabies’ third draw in six tests this year – placed them last in the Tri-Nations and they have been ripped apart in their press.

About the only person to get a great review was schoolgirl anthem singer Olivia Fox, after a joint-language rendition which appears to have stirred the nation.

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Tom Decent said: “The Wallabies have once again ended their year on a depressing and sour note, drawing with Argentina in all too similar fashion as Reece Hodge once again missed a late penalty attempt.”

“In Wellington and Newcastle, Hodge had long-range kicks to win tests for Australia this year but missed on both occasions.

“Incredibly, it happened a third time and while he cannot be blamed given the degree of difficulty, it sums up the Wallabies’ year as they finish 2020 with yet another average result.”

Decent pointed to the “red card on Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, ill discipline and terrible tackling” as the reasons the Wallabies did not deserve victory anyway.

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper admitted to a “hollow feeling” after the draw but suggested there was still good work going on.

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But Decent described the test as “dour as the 15-15 result in Newcastle a fortnight ago”.

They had a week to freshen up and “there were no excuses to not put in a scintillating performance”.

“The Wallabies will want to erase the game from the memory bank. It was very 2020,” he wrote.

Sam Phillips, also in the SMH, said the Wallabies season of one win, three draws and two losses, could be “sliced and diced two ways.”

The lost opportunities, via Hodge’s late goalkicking misses, suggested a decent year for a young and inexperienced post-World Cup squad. He found good potential in the backs, from players new and old. The scrum was becoming strong, and a couple of forwards like lock Matt Philip were showing good signs.

“But without the gold-coloured glasses, there are some harsh realities Rennie and his coaching staff will undoubtedly confront over the summer,” he wrote.

“Their attack in both matches against Argentina was stale. The lineout is still prone to errors.

“A world-class hooker, lock, fullback and enforcer in the back row are still required.

“And the defensive showing (in two tests) against the All Blacks was disastrous. One win from six tests hasn’t been the sharpest of starts.”

Wayne Smith, in The Australian, wrote “the Wallabies limped to a 16-all draw with an understrength Argentina in a miserable finish to the Tri Nation’s rugby tournament”.

Michael Hooper’s driving maul try “was the sum total of what Australia would recall from this horrendous match”.

“Conditions were bad, true…but this was a performance that sent Dave Rennie’s team almost back to where it started from.”

“In fact, maybe worse, because the Wallabies played excellent rugby in the first test of the new era (the draw in Wellington).

“The handling was appalling…Australia’s discipline was terrible.

“The tragedy was that a dreadful performance by Australia followed one of the great national anthems ever performed at a rugby international. It felt like history in the making.

“Sadly, while the Wallabies knew their lines for the anthem, they were fumbling about when the whistle blew.”

In ESPN’s scrum.com, Sam Bruce wrote Rennie’s record so far “leaves Australian rugby supporters with more questions than answers as to whether the Kiwi’s tenure will be any better than that of his predecessor Michael Cheika.

The problem areas, of mistakes, ill-discipline and missed opportunities, were hallmarks of the Cheika era.

“The Wallabies have issues on the attacking side of the ball and need to unearth further ball-carrying threats,” he said.

Video Spacer

Coach Dave Rennie and captain Michael Hooper reflect on the Wallabies’ 16-all draw with the Pumas in Sydney.

Video Spacer

Coach Dave Rennie and captain Michael Hooper reflect on the Wallabies’ 16-all draw with the Pumas in Sydney.

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Jon 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

34 Go to comments
j
john 3 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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