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How the Wallabies can follow South Africa's road from record All Blacks defeats to World Cup champions
Since Dave Rennie took over, the Wallabies have been touted as a team for the future, rather than a team for today.
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Still, they shocked the rugby world with a valiant 16-all draw against the All Blacks in Wellington a month ago, and came within inches of stealing the win that day as well.
It got people talking – especially Down Under. Suddenly, the Wallabies’ time was now.
The Wallabies have made numerous changes in the wake of last year’s World Cup that has seen them step in the right direction – none more so than the appointment of Rennie as head coach.
He’s a winner, and that might just pay off for the men in green and gold down the track.
However, rugby’s small resurgence in Australia took a step backwards as the All Blacks dominated their rivals in Bledisloe II and III.
The second test was an indication of how there was in fact, still a gap between the trans-Tasman opponents, but it wasn’t until last Saturday’s clash in Sydney that we got an idea of just how significant the difference really is – and that shocked people.
Following the 38-point loss, fans immediately got the impression that despite all the promise and expectation hanging over Rennie and the new crop of up-and-coming talent, they were set for more of the same going forward.
Rennie said post-match that inexperience wasn’t to blame, but when you compare them to the blueprint of the current world champions, it’s not hard to argue otherwise.
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One team the Wallabies won’t get the chance to test themselves against this year is South Africa, a team they couldn’t be split from three years ago. The two teams were so evenly matched, they drew in both of their meetings in Perth and Bloemfontein.
Two years later, the Springboks claimed a once-unlikely World Cup crowd in Japan. The Wallabies, meanwhile, continue to struggle in big games, and their world number seven ranking reflects that.
Crusaders lock Scott Barrett says 'you feel for them a wee bit'. #AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup https://t.co/rb62LsXzI5
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 2, 2020
That doesn’t mean the past can’t or hasn’t offered Rennie and his side any proven methods on how to drastically improve. If anything, South Africa’s success is a template for the Wallabies to replicate; a checklist.
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Two years out from the 2019 Rugby World Cup, South Africa were blown out by New Zealand during the Rugby Championship – similar to the Wallabies performance in Bledisloe II, except worse.
The Springboks suffered the heaviest defeat in their history, with the men in black running in eight tries to none to win 57-0. The loss followed the Springboks’ 41-13 loss to New Zealand the year before.
In December of that year, Rassie Erasmus came in as director of rugby to help turn South African rugby around. Soon after, he replaced Allister Coetzee as head coach, named as the caretaker for the national side.
Erasmus introduced a selection policy where players were picked on merit as opposed to reputation, which isn’t too different to how we’ve seen the Wallabies line up in their three tests this year.
In Australia’s case, a new coach has opened the door for a fresh group of talented players to get their chance in green and gold. For too long in the Michael Cheika era, the Wallabies kept selecting players based on their reputation and past performances.
Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley both had exciting moments in the gold jersey, with the latter awarded player of the match in the historic pool clash against England at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
But both of their careers in the national setup lasted too long considering their form.
Under Rennie, though, the tide is beginning to change.
So far, he’s managed to find the balance between form and experience relatively well, and Bledisloe I was a glimpse of how that could pay off. Harry Wilson, Filipo Daugunu and Irae Simone have all made their debuts after breakout seasons in Super Rugby.
Sonny Bill Williams is a free agent again after Toronto were booted out of next year's Super League competition.https://t.co/uEbcUcQuIw
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I would argue, though, that Rob Simmons, while experienced, is a player who also fits the bill of reputation and past performances, and is an exception to the otherwise exciting approach that Rennie has taken with his squad.
Don’t look at results here either, it didn’t work from the get-go for Erasmus.
The Springboks didn’t get off to a red-hot start right away, losing two tests in a row to Argentina and Australia before claiming a historic win over the All Blacks in Wellington.
They had 25 percent possession throughout the contest, and were made to make to make 226 tackles in order to earn the emotional 36-34 victory.
In 2019, they backed it up with a 16-all draw, also in Wellington. The Springboks had introduced a fresh culture in the squad which saw them go from being a team making up the numbers, to world-beaters.
Miracles just can’t be expected right away.
So while the Wallabies are actually following in South Africa’s footsteps relatively nicely, here’s how they’ve become unstuck.
Surprise, surprise, it’s the quality of ‘experienced’ players that they have to rely on with such a young squad.
When South Africa lost to the All Blacks in 2017, they had a wealth of experience in the squad which steered them in the right direction.
The likes of Eben Etzebeth, Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira and future World Rugby Player of the Year Peter-Steph du Toit helped lead the resurgence.
If fans are to expect anything from Bledisloe Cup IV this weekend, look out for a much better effort from the Wallabies compared to what they mustered two days ago. #BledisloeCup #AUSvNZL https://t.co/h2fE3QqRqD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 2, 2020
Australia’s starting backline in Bledisloe III only had 18 more test caps collectively than All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith, and their most experienced starting back was Dane Haylett-Petty, who has 37 caps to his name.
Noah Lolesio, who started at flyhalf on Saturday, had only played three Super Rugby AU games before being thrown into the test arena.
Inexperience was always expected of the Wallabies this year, however, after the success of the Junior Wallabies at last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina.
With so many players heading abroad following last year’s World Cup, great results never should’ve been expected this early on.
As Rennie also said following the 43-5 loss, “we’re five or six weeks into a four-year campaign.”
While the result might give off the impression that improvement is an unachievable dream for fans who have stuck by their team for 18 long years, it’s coming.
Just like the Springboks when they got blown out by the All Blacks, how the Wallabies respond is key.
As they continue to learn and gain experience and confidence by playing, just like South Africa, the comprehensive loss might just be the best thing for Australian rugby three years out from the next World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
Make what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
1 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
1 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
9 Go to commentsThe Springboks tried going down the road of only picking home-based players and it was an unmitigated disaster in 2016 and 2017. Picking overseas-based players has been one of the main reason the Boks have done so well since 2018, not only because of the quality Rassie could call on, but because of the knowledge and experience those players brought into camp from England, France and Japan. With some of the big names playing abroad it also gave younger players in SA the chance to break through at franchise level. Would we have seen the emergence of a Ruan Nortje if RG and Lood were still at the Bulls? Not so sure. I understand why Jake would want to block players leaving since his job depends on good results but it’s an approach that would take Bok rugby back to the bad old days and no South African wants to see that.
9 Go to commentsExeter were thumped by 38 points. And they only had to hop on a train.
38 Go to commentsI am De Groot.
1 Go to commentsHad hoped you might write an article on this game, Nick. It’s a good one. Things have not gone as smoothly for ROG since beating Leinster last year at the Aviva in the CC final. LAR had the Top 14 Final won till Raymond Rhule missed a simple tackle on the excellent Ntamack, and Toulouse reaped the rewards of just staying in the fight till the death. Then the disruption of the RWC this season. LAR have not handled that well, but they were not alone, and we saw Pau heading the Top 14 table at one stage early season. I would think one of the reasons for the poor showing would have to be that the younger players coming through, and the more mature amongst the group outside the top 25/30, are not as strong as would be hoped for. I note that Romain Sazy retired at the end of last season. He had been with LAR since 2010, and was thus one of their foundation players when they were promoted to Top 14. Records show he ended up with 336 games played with LAR. That is some experience, some rock in the team. He has been replaced for the most part by Ultan Dillane. At 30, Dillane is not young, but given the chances, he may be a fair enough replacement for Sazy. But that won’be for more than a few years. I honestly know little of the pathways into the LAR setup from within France. I did read somewhere a couple of years ago that on the way up to Top 14, the club very successfully picked up players from the academies of other French teams who were not offered places by those teams. These guys were often great signings…can’t find the article right now, so can’t name any….but the Tadgh Beirne type players. So all in all, it will be interesting to see where the replacements for all the older players come from. Only Lleyd’s and Rhule from SA currently, both backs. So maybe a few SA forwards ?? By contrast, Leinster have a pretty clear line of good players coming through in the majority of positions. Props maybe a weak spot ? And they are very fleet footed and shrewd in appointing very good coaches. Or maybe it is also true that very good coaches do very well in the Leinster setup. So, Nick, I would fully concurr that “On the evidence of Saturday’s semi-final between the two clubs, the rebuild in the Bay of Biscay is going to take longer than it is on the east coast of Ireland”
11 Go to commentsWhat was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
38 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
86 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
86 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
9 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
38 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
9 Go to commentspure fire
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