'We're not going to use that as an excuse' - How Rennie and Hooper reacted to record Wallabies loss to All Blacks
Defiant Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is refusing to blame inexperience for Australia’s heaviest defeat to the All Blacks in 117 years.
The Wallabies surrendered the Bledisloe Cup for an 18th straight year with a humiliating 43-5 loss at ANZ Stadium, then had to watch the jubilant New Zealanders rejoice after securing trans-Tasman bragging rights on Australian soil for the first time since 2009.
“We’re hurting a lot from that,” said Wallabies captain Michael Hooper.
Debutant playmaker Noah Lolesio bagged Australia’s only try but had an otherwise forgettable first game in the gold jumper, while three-Test winger Filipo Daugunu also underwhelmed as the Wallabies’ young guns performed more like boys against men.
“They were top notch and we were a long way off it tonight and that was reflected in the score,” Rennie said.
“There was certainly a gulf between the two performances.
“As we talked about the last time we played the All Blacks, you can’t turn the ball over as often as we do. It puts a lot of pressure on us defensively.”
Rennie, though, said it would be unfair to pin the blame on Lolesio – or any of Australia’s other next-gen stars – for the humbling, record-breaking loss.
“We’re not going to use that as an excuse. We prepared well,” he said before explaining why Lolesio was subbed off in the 64th minute after a particularly poor kicking game in Sydney’s big wet.
“He’ll be happy to get one under his belt. He sort of was cramping. That’s the reason we took him off with about 20 to go.
“He didn’t get a hell of a lot of front-foot ball, did he? So he’ll learn a lot from that.”
Lolesio earned his first cap after James O’Connor, who started at 10 in Bledisloes I and II, was ruled out with a knee injury and Matt Toomua limped off in game two with a recurring groin injury.
Rennie expects O’Connor to be available for Saturday’s fourth and final Bledisloe, which doubles as the second Tri Nations game for the Wallabies and All Bl acks in Brisbane.
Unfortunately for the Wallabies, police weren't able to do the same during the first half of Bledisloe III #AUSvNZL https://t.co/pKN8w6gSDY
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“We’re not looking to throw Noah under the bus. We battled all over the place tonight,” Rennie said.
“We’ll assess and we’ll make a call.
“We’re five or six weeks into a four-year campaign. We’re gutted about the result and I must admit in Wellington before the first game I was nervous about an All Black performance that would find us under pressure but we showed a lot of character that night (in a 16-16 draw).
“All I can say is we’re going to keep working hard. We think we’ve got some good kids coming through.
“We need to respond immediately and the plan is you’ll see that next week.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments