Coaching sideshow dominates
The last rugby test of the year i s between Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika.
That’s the impression from the buildup for the match between England and Australia tomorrow at Twickenham.
The phoney war between the respective coaches and former Sydney clubmates started as soon as a 14- man England outsmarted Argentina last Sunday, and Jones attacked Australia’s scrummaging, claiming illegalities.
That surprised because this is the same Wallabies scrum his team bossed around in June, when England beat them three times for an historic series whitewash. Nobody has feared Australia’s scrum all year. Two weekends ago, they had three put- ins against France and lost all three.
“I don’t know why he’s worried about our scrum,” Cheika was right to say.
But then Cheika has been equally odd. After his side was caned by Jerome Garces 13- 3 in the penalty count in the loss to Ireland last weekend ( a week after Jaco Peyper blasted New Zealand 14- 4 against Ireland), Cheika wanted to make contact with Alain Rolland, the referees’ chief at World Rugby. He got no response and let it go. Then he was invited by Jones to a meeting yesterday with their ref, Mike Brown Jonny May Jonathan Joseph Owen Farrell Marland Yarde George Ford Ben Youngs Nathan Hughes Tom Wood Chris Robshaw George Kruis Courtney Lawes Dan Cole Dylan Hartley ( c) Mako Vunipola Israel Folau Dane Haylett- Petty Tevita Kuridrani Reece Hodge Sefa Naivalu Bernard Foley Nick Phipps Lopeti Timani Michael Hooper David Pocock Rob Simmons Kane Douglas Sekope Kepu Stephen Moore ( c) Scott Sio Peyper, but said he’ll probably snub it.
“I don’t think there’s anything I can do to influence the referee,” Cheika said.
Maybe not, but a face- to- face couldn’t hurt to try and curry some empathy.
The Wallabies have blooded 13 new players this year, and seven are in the matchday 23, but it’s the veterans who have often undercut their progress. Nine yellow cards have been issued, two to new cap and lock Adam Coleman. The others sinbinned were old heads such as Scott Sio ( t wice), Israel Folau, Michael Hooper, Will Skelton, Dean Mumm and Bernard Foley.
More often than not, the Wallabies have been rescued by centre Tevita Kuridrani, who has dotted down in all four tests on tour, the best run of his international career. But he wouldn’t be starting if Samu Kerevi hadn’t seriously injured his ankle before the tour.
The season has come full circle for him, as he started against England in June and was demoted afterwards.
Back then, the power and resolve of the English forwards prevailed.
They had strength and numbers in rucks and breakdowns, and disrupted halfback Nick Phipps, whose sprayed passes didn’t serve Foley well. England’s reserves also proved to be better.
England will miss workaholic No 8 Billy Vunipola, who was injured, in their shot at a national record- tying 14th consecutive win, while the Wallabies may come to regret more the absence of halfback Will Genia, who wasn’t released by his Stade Francais club.