Wallabies in world of their own

IT WAS impossible not to admire Australia’s performance as they took Wales apart in spectacular fashion.

The rugby they played was confirmation of the difference in quality between the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship.

That’s not to say we haven’t got the players in Europe but too many of the nations refuse to throw off the shackles and play with real pace and ambition and to do justice to their talent.

Wales were miserably poor and they face a tough autumn now. They should have been sharp and fresh. Instead they looked a bit stale and lethargic and only a couple of their younger players, Ross Moriarty, Hallam Amos seemed to rise to the occasion.

I question Wales’ attitude to these games. They made a big point of staging this one outside the official autumn window but where was the crowd? Where was the atmosphere and intensity, the hunger and the blazing determination to end their miserable losing run against the southern hemisphere team?

Wales have really got to dig deep and go to work against Argentina, Fiji and South Africa. They need a minimum of two wins from those games.

Australia have endured a tough season but the talent is there and coach Michael Cheika hasn’t compromised with the style of rugby he wants: pace, speed of thought, quick hands, sharp running angles, quick ruck or turnover ball.

They are a very easy team to watch and they are going to be great value over the next month.

They will have revenge on their minds when they face England in December. England’s series win was fantastic but there wasn’t much between the teams and I sense it will be an absolute classic.