Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

The rare winning run the Wallabies aim to keep alive against England this weekend

By AAP
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Confirmation arrived in Perth but it’s consistency that Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is chasing in Brisbane.

ADVERTISEMENT

The second rugby test against England has been spiced up by the return of new father Taniela Tupou from injury to face seasoned prop Ellis Genge.

Jordan Petaia’s move to fullback for the first time in Wallabies gold, thanks to injuries to Tom Banks and Andrew Kellaway, will also be closely watched ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Video Spacer

Headline News | RugbyPass

Video Spacer

Headline News | RugbyPass

Both men bring game-changing ability but after a 30-28 win in Perth snapped an eight-game losing streak against the English they are just sub-plots to Hooper’s wishes on Saturday night.

“It’s confirmation we’re on the right track, some of the things we’re putting in place are working,” he said of their win in Perth that came despite a first-half red card to Darcy Swain.

“We are doing some really good things, but saw last week there’s plenty of examples to get better.”

“It’d be pleasing (to go up 2-0). We’ve talked about where we want to go and within that is starting to win games consistently.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It’d be a step towards that, but it’s something we can talk about at a later date.”

Perhaps the only place the Wallabies have found consistency in recent history has been Suncorp Stadium, where they’ve won 10 straight tests since England beat them in 2016.

Hooper has great seats to watch Tupou clash with Genge, while he expects Petaia, the 22-year-old who has played across the backline but never in the No.15, to flourish.

“That’s been the big one, getting his body right so he can put back-to-back performances together,” Hooper said.

“Physically he’s outstanding … quite a rangy mover which makes him difficult to tackle, a turn of pace and all the tricks in the tool kit as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He’s a complete package. One of the best things is getting time on the paddock so with that he’ll go strength to strength.”

Petaia’s Queensland Reds teammate Hunter Paisami will return to the side for the injured Len Ikitau at outside centre, forming a powerful combination with former Reds captain Samu Kerevi.

Matt Philip will come in for the suspended Swain too, but Hooper said the mix-and-match nature of their training in the build-up to Perth meant the bulk changes weren’t a factor.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
Adrian 1 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

8 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 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
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me' Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me'
Search