Why an inspired performance from the Wallabies is needed to avoid unwanted history
When the full-time siren sounded at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night, the Wallabies Tri Nations fate had all but been confirmed.
Barring a miraculous 101-point win over the Pumas this weekend, the All Blacks’ 38-0 win will see them almost certainly claim the title. The tournament’s hosts will instead have to wait at least one more year to win their first major trophy since 2015.
But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing on the line this weekend.
While I admit it’s a sporting cliché to say that pride is on the line for the Wallabies, and even though that’s true, they’re also out to avoid unwanted history.
After years of substandard results, 2020 was supposed to be the year that they began to turn it all around.
“Rugby has had this perception in Australia that it’s a private school sport, only for rich pompous kids and things like that and we need to change that.”@Wallabies centurion Will Genia looks to the future in his first column for The XV.https://t.co/KfERk5Icsh
— The XV (@TheXV) November 25, 2020
The Wallabies used to be a powerhouse of the sport, and had a knack for bouncing back and causing leading nations trouble irrespective of their form in the weeks, months and years before a test.
Under Cheika they reached a World Cup final in 2015, a year after going one from four during the November internationals.
But after the surprising result at the World Cup, which capped off an 83.33 percent win rate that year, cracks began to appear. The Wallabies won just 44.23 percent of their matches from 2016 through to the end of the World Cup in Japan.
That wasn’t good enough.
Lacking direction and performance, Michael Cheika stepped down from his post, in the hope that somebody else could steer the Wallabies towards a better tomorrow.
Proven winner Dave Rennie was named as the new Wallabies coach earlier this year, bringing 16 uncapped players into his first squad to usher in the next generation of emerging talent.
But since he’s taken over, and after a promising Super Rugby AU season, the national side has instead taken a step backwards in terms of their winning record.
He’s started every single match for the @Wallabies in 2020, despite only debuting for @Reds_Rugby earlier this season. #Wallabieshttps://t.co/CO475oIacK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 26, 2020
The Wallabies have managed to win just one from five matches this year, now staring down the barrel of an historically poor year.
Being a young, inexperienced side that has fielded 10 debutants this year, results weren’t always expected right away. There have been some breakout performances both by the team and individuals, which is certainly positive as the team towards the next World Cup.
But a loss this weekend would see them finished with the worst winning percentage of any Wallabies team in the professional era, with the most recent team with a worse annual rating dating back to 1974. That year, they didn’t win a match from three tests.
Drawing two matches has also hurt the Wallabies too, having drawn to the All Blacks in Wellington and Pumas in Newcastle.
Even though they’ve had a shortened test season, percentage-wise the 2020 squad would even rank lower than the 2005 side that lost seven in a row – ending the streak with a win over Ireland.
That being said, the hosts do go into the final Tri Nations match at Western Sydney’s Bankwest Stadium as the favourites.
If they win, their record would rise to two wins from six, which is a 33.33 percent winning rate.
Should that happen, they wouldn’t even rank as the worst side over the past 10 years, with that then being the 2018 side that fell to a four from 13 record (30.77 percent).
So make no mistake, this is the Wallabies’ most important test week in the professional era.
With just one more match to play this year on December 5th, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie should consider some of these selections. #Wallabieshttps://t.co/CdMWolHJyL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 23, 2020
Yes, they’ve made three World Cup finals since the sport turned professional, but that was when the sport was thriving.
Now with their back up against the ropes, not only do the Wallabies need to win to prevent an unwanted historical mark on the year, but Saturday may prove to be a pivotal moment in the sports sustainment Down Under. While the sport has continued to thrive at a private school level, it has struggled elsewhere in the past when compared to other codes.
But the success of Super Rugby AU has been huge for the sport.
The competition has brought State versus State rivalries to the forefront of the code, and fans have welcomed the innovation of the competition. OzTAM reported that 69,000 people watched the opening match between the Reds and Waratahs, while 62,000 fans also watched the Brumbies versus Reds regular season match (these figures don’t include Kayo).
Under COVID-19 restrictions, a promising number of supporters have also attended matches, which was capped off with a full house of 6000 fans at the Super Rugby AU grand final in Canberra.
Following a test season that has had some promising performance, even though the results haven’t been there, finishing on a high note is everything at the moment.
A win against the Pumas on Saturday would definitely help steer the sport from unwanted history and instead towards future success Down Under as a young Wallabies squad continue to build towards a better tomorrow.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 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.
27 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.
26 Go to comments