Wallabies ‘lack a killer instinct’
COACH Michael Cheika says the Wallabies must find a killer instinct after again squandering a winning position to remain winless in the Rugby Championship ahead of their next match against Argentina.
The Wallabies led 20-10 early in the second half only for the Springboks to hit back for a 23-23 draw in Perth on Saturday.
That came a fortnight after the Australians relinquished a 17-point lead in a heartbreaking late 35-29 defeat to the All Blacks in Dunedin.
The Wallabies have now won only two of their six internationals this year and just eight from 21 Tests since losing the World Cup final to New Zealand almost two years ago. But Cheika remains steadfast in his belief that his playing group will develop a knack of prevailing in tight finishes.
“It comes with that little bit more time and trusting each other together,” Cheika said after Saturday’s draw.
“There are a lot of newer players within a newer leadership team.
“Now we’ve got a bit of stability around the group. I’m pretty comfortable with our group of players. They’ll grow together as time goes on now.”
The Wallabies face another challenge against the Argentina Pumas in Canberra on Saturday.
The Pumas led 22-15 early in the second half before the world champion All Blacks racked up 24 unanswered points to win 39-22 in New Plymouth on Saturday and remain unbeaten after three matches in the Rugby Championship.
“It’s always a good match, AustraliaArgentina, in the recent past, in particular,” Cheika said. “It’s been open and there’s been a fair bit of footy played, so we’re looking forward to taking another step and getting stuck into that match.”
Cheika said his team could learn something off Kurtley Beale, who was Australia’s best player again, in just his third match back after returning from English club rugby.
Beale’s tactical kicking ensured the Wallabies played the game at the right end of the field for much of the match.
Former skipper and hooker Stephen Moore will be available to face Argentina after missing the Springboks Test to stay in Brisbane for the birth of his third child.
Back-row forward Sean McMahon will be assessed after injuring his thigh in the draw.
The Wallabies have only lost once to Argentina in 13 Tests at home, the defeat coming in Brisbane in 1983.
All Blacks ‘must get better’
Meanwhile, the All Blacks may have made a perfect start to the Rugby Championship but they have only briefly looked like world champions leaving coach Steve Hansen unimpressed as they prepare to face archrivals South Africa next weekend.
After struggling for 50 minutes to get on top of Argentina in New Plymouth, before winning 39-22, Hansen was blunt in his assessment.
“We’ve just got to get better,” he said when questioned about the high error rate their high-paced game produces. “Obviously you don’t want the errors to keep growing.”
After struggling to put away Argentina on Saturday, they will find the Springboks better equipped to cash in on an extraordinar y high error rate.
The Springboks are also unbeaten, although after being held to a 23-23 draw against Australia in Perth on Saturday, they lie second at the halfway stage of the competition behind the All Blacks, who have won all three of their matches.
New Zealand face South Africa this Saturday in Auckland.
The All Blacks outscored Los Pumas six tries to one, but with three of the tries coming in a late 24-point burst after they trailed 22-15 with 30 minutes remaining.
There is no doubting t he All Blacks’ abilit y to score when t heir high-risk, high-tempo approach pays off as ev idenced by t heir 19 tries so far in t heir three Rugby Championship matches.
By comparison, the Wallabies and Springboks have 11 each and Los Pumas five.