Wallabies given respect; now to finish them off
OPINION: If only moral victories were worth something.
The All Blacks have obviously gone to Brisbane expecting a contest. Just take a look at their 23; it’s the best they have available and a show of great respect for the Wallabies.
But with the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship trophy in the cabinet for another year, New Zealand needn’t accord this clash great status, particularly when you read stuff like this, from Wallabies midfield back Kurtley Beale this week.
‘‘Even though it did hurt in the end, individually in my own game it felt good to be part of a huge game like that,’’ Beale said.
‘‘Looking how far we came from the week before gave me a lot of confidence in guys around me. It allowed me to look forward with excitement and enthusiasm to keep building and learning off each other to try to reach that No 1 spot that we want.’’
Let’s unpack that a bit. For starters, Beale is talking about Australia’s last-gasp 35-29 loss to New Zealand in Dunedin, which followed a 54-34 defeat in Sydney the week before.
Good luck finding an All Black who’ll pat themselves on the back for playing well in a losing performance. But never mind, Beale was obviously happy to.
That’s clearly where the Wallabies are at right now; celebrating near misses and competitive efforts. If that’s the mentality, then All Blacks coach Steve Hansen needn’t have taken such a strong squad to Brisbane, because the the opposition are still dining out on a last-minute loss.
As for Australia building towards becoming world rugby’s pre-eminent team? Don’t hold your breath.
Clearly Hansen isn’t desperate to provide them with a leg up.
This is an All Blacks team picked to keep Australia on the canvas. And if they can start they way they did in Sydney, or did against South Africa at Albany and against Argentina in Buenos Aires, then you imagine the resistance will be minimal.
A useful buffer would allow Hansen to give fullback Damian McKenzie a run at first five-eighth and continue David Havili’s gradual introduction to this level. Reserve tighthead prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi is another whose development would be aided by meaningful minutes off the bench.
Perhaps the best sign of how seriously Hansen is taking this match is Matt Todd’s selection on the bench.
A few weeks back, another provincial title with Canterbury and then a final run around with the Crusaders looked like it would be his lot. Off-contract next year, Todd appeared destined an overseas club.
But with ascendancy at the breakdown such a factor in test match outcomes, Todd’s longer term All Blacks prospects have suddenly brightened.
Ardie Savea in full cry remains one of rugby’s more thrilling sights, but Hansen obviously rates prowess at ruck time over ballrunning ability. Otherwise Vaea Fifita might’ve edged Liam Squire out of blindside flanker as well.
No, there’s a clear method at play here. A buoyant Wallabies squad - as this lot appear to be after Dunedin - is a potential problem for New Zealand.
But keep them down and continue the scrutiny on coach Michael Cheika - and Australian rugby in general - and you go a long way to eliminating a 2019 World Cup contender.