'Emotion got the better of him': Were the Wallabies too focused on trying to hurt the All Blacks?
Dave Rennie’s sides have never shied away from contact in the past, but there’s reason to believe that the Wallabies aren’t quite carrying out the game plan that the Kiwi envisaged when he took over as coach of Australia.
There have been calls from all corners of the globe that Wallabies have lost their physical edge and supposedly lack the aggressive characters needed to foot it with the like of New Zealand and England.
Perhaps those comments were taken too much to heart last week. While Rennie’s men certainly imposed themselves physically over the weekend, it had little impact on a rampant All Blacks side – and former All Black James Parsons has asked whether the Australian team need to pick and choose their battles better.
“I understand Dave Rennie wants to bring hiss at the breakdown and stuff but I think what he’s wanting to see is the accuracy with that,” Parsons said on the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “Sometimes, maybe, the Aussie forwards are looking for the niggle too much, that’s distracting them.”
Parsons suggested that the Wallabies’ tactics may have been sacrificed at times at the expense of trying to intimidate their opposition.
“Early in that first half, I can’t remember the player, but they were pushing and shoving at the ruck but then no one was blocking and escorting for [Noah] Lolesio to exit. He’s got above five black jerseys pressurising and he kicks it out about 15 out.”
From the next lineout, All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke came desperately close to scoring his first test try in the right-hand corner – but for an excellent cover tackle from Marika Koroibete. Regardless, had debutant Lolesio had better protection at the kick, he could have carved off more metres up the field and the All Blacks may not have threatened.
It was on the other wing where New Zealand caused the most damage, however – especially when Filipo Daugunu was sin-binned early in the game for a reckless challenge on Clarke.
Earlier in the week, Daugunu had revealed that the Wallabies were going to put increased pressure on 21-year-old Clarke.
Australia’s plan backfired, however, when Daugunu’s over-exuberance saw him marched from the field for 10 minutes, during which time the All Blacks scored the first try of the match through Karl Tu’inukuafe after the Wallabies were exposed on their right wing.
Daugunu’s talk during the week and subsequent hit on Clarke reflected the Wallabies’ mindset, said Parsons.
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“Daugunu’s the prime example. He was like, ‘I’m going to hit him, I’m going to get him.’ That’s all emotion – and emotion got the better of him … That was Thursday, that press conference; the test match was Saturday. You think how much he’s fizzing, and he’s like ‘he’s my man’. And that was obviously clearly all he was thinking. And then he tackled him in the air.
“That’s the difference between inexperienced and experience, or maybe just calming things down in an environment … I think the emotions got the better [of the Wallabies] at times.”
Parsons, who played twice for the All Blacks between 2014 and 2016, also suggested that the Wallabies can bring some aggression to the game without compromising their game plan or pushing too hard.
“You’ve gotta get that balance between accuracy and bringing the heat, and just waiting for your moment,” Parsons said. “Don’t search for those niggle moments, it’ll appear itself. There’ll be a body lying there with a ribcage that you can clean out legally. Things like that, rather than trying to fight or push or shove unnecessarily.”
While the Wallabies were combative in Wellington, they were slightly off the pace in Auckland – which may well have forced a rethink of tactics for the test in Sydney. Having to adjust every week was likely taking its toll on the Australian side, said Parsons.
“When you’ve had a week where you go into your review and you know you brought the right intent but you weren’t accurate enough, so then you focus all on your accuracy and [you get told], ‘You were accurate but we want you to hurt’, so your first clean out at your next week’s game, you just fly in and try to kill someone and you give a penalty away. It’s happened to me, it’s happened to experienced, inexperienced guys.
“It’s just the mental game, isn’t it? International rugby, the teams that are an edge above, it’s all done mentally in the preparation during the week to keep calm so that when your moment presents you take it, but you don’t go searching for things. When you’re searching for things in a game of rugby … it almost goes from bad to worse.”
The Wallabies will look to score their first win of the year on Saturday when they take on the All Blacks in Brisbane.
Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below or find it on your preferred streaming service.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
24 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments