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What Jones must fix to win back the Bledisloe Cup off the All Blacks
The short answer is, Jones must fix a lot to win back the Bledisloe Cup or even force a decider in Dunedin.
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While the task seems unlikely based on the form of both sides, it isn’t impossible.
An early red card conceded by the All Blacks could easily alter the fate of the series. In fact, the All Blacks have had three red cards in Tests against the Wallabies in recent years: Scott Barrett in 2019, Ofa Tu’ungafasi in 2020, and Jordie Barrett in 2021, all on Australian soil. Australia won two of those three games.
So, while Jones might hope for such an outcome, of all the issues he must address, the first is his own side’s discipline, which was awful under Dave Rennie against New Zealand.
Across the two Tests against New Zealand last year, the Wallabies were issued five yellow cards. For 50 minutes across the 160 total, they played with 14 men.
At Eden Park, lock Jed Holloway was in the bin after just two minutes with a lifting cleanout on Dalton Papalii; in Melbourne, Darcy Swain was gone after an illegal clean on Quinn Tupaea.
If you want to beat the All Blacks, you can’t do it with fewer men on the field for a third of the time. It goes without saying this cannot happen again; discipline has to be much, much better.
While Rennie’s side was plagued by poor discipline, their defensive structures and set-piece attack were lightyears ahead of what the Wallabies have shown under Jones so far.
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The indications by Jones when he took over the head coaching role were that he wanted Australia to become a better kicking side. Short, sharp possessions with precise set-piece attack to be followed up with territorial advancement in the form of boot-to-ball.
The downstream impacts of this have to be considered, as it could spell disaster for the Wallabies.
They will need to develop a great kick-chase line and be better in unstructured defensive situations, two areas that typically they haven’t been good at.
Poor kicking and subsequent defensive lapses have been a thorn in the side of Wallabies’ teams against the All Blacks for years.
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At 10-all in Melbourne last year, they conceded very early in the second half after fullback Andrew Kellaway failed to clean up a clearing kick in the backfield effectively.
Poor coverage let the ball bounce around; Kellaway was smashed and turned over by the kick chase line, and the All Blacks scored on the next phase.
Less than five minutes later, the same thing happened to Marika Koroibete after a poor Foley midfield bomb was returned back downfield by a Will Jordan punt.
From the ruck penalty forced on Koroibete, the All Blacks were offered multiple attacking platforms inside the 22, and Richie Mo’unga scored after another infringement and yellow card to Jake Gordon. The pressure was too much to withstand, and the Wallabies folded.
After an uncontested midfield box kick by Nic White, moments later Will Jordan was in the open field for a scorching try after snatching a Barrett chip kick.
An inability to control situations after a kick in Melbourne last year led to three tries in less than fifteen minutes.
News that the Wallabies want to kick more will be music to the ears of the All Blacks. It will be pointless for them unless they can also bring a stronger scramble defence for unstructured play.
Carter Gordon had the most kicks of any Australian flyhalf in Super Rugby Pacific this season. The Rebels utilize his big boot to drive territory, which will appeal to Eddie Jones.
He has a monstrous leg and can chew off big distances, but he is still prone to poor kick execution at times.
At 35 years old and on the comeback from injury, the jury is still out on Cooper after just two games, but it seems Gordon is built for Test rugby.
The risk is much lower than perceived in handing the No. 10 jersey to Gordon to face the All Blacks, with Cooper coming off the bench to close out the game. Gordon is 22 years old, not a fresh-faced teenager.
Losing Len Ikitau is a major blow; there is no equal replacement for the best defensive centre in the world. Izaia Perese is the best option in his absence to partner Samu Kerevi at No. 12, who can bring fire and won’t take a step back.
Perese has what it takes to rattle Rieko Ioane and get under his skin. That is the kind of attitude the Wallabies need to bring, something that Gordon possesses as well.
If Eddie Jones is honest with himself, he would leave Michael Hooper out of the side, fit or not.
The Pretoria tape was not pretty viewing for Hooper, who looked past it before his injury. Ineffective in contact and at the breakdown, the No. 7 was thrown around by the Bok pack.
It is time for Fraser McReight to start at No. 7, alongside Valetini and boom Waratahs rookie Langi Gleeson.
Jones axed three from his Bledisloe squad, but more of these changes must come for the starting side to face the All Blacks.
Apart from the final twenty minutes in the first Bledisloe Test in Melbourne last year, the Bledisloe series didn’t have much to write home about for the Wallabies.
Down by 31-13 at the 60-minute mark in the first Test, they arguably should never have been in a position to win it.
In the second test, they simply weren’t in it at all as the All Blacks piled on points in a 40-14 win at Eden Park as the Wallabies’ set-piece was decimated.
The takeaway is Australia never had control of either Test, which must change if they are to win back the Bledisloe Cup. That starts with keeping all 15 men on the field.
Beating the All Blacks at least once in 2023 is absolutely imperative for Jones to carry any hope into the World Cup after two losses.
Buoyed by a solid historical record at the MCG, perhaps an early red card to the All Blacks, some fire from younger Wallabies, and maybe Jones will get what he needs.
Comments on RugbyPass
“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
27 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
27 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
27 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
27 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
27 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
27 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
27 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
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