The good the bad and the ugly from Bledisloe II
The good. The 57-22 hammering at Eden Park was like watching Super Rugby Trans-Tasman again. And if the Wallabies don’t front in Perth in two weeks, the gains made during the French series will feel irrelevant. There were positives, though. Tate McDermott was outstanding at No.9, and Andrew Kellaway again grabbed his chance.
Given the Rebels outside back prefers to play fullback, he may be the answer to one of the Wallabies’ problem positions (that’s where we have picked him in this week’s Team of the Week). The starting props were also highly competitive, and Michael Hooper confirmed his world-class status â€" there can be no doubt about that now.
2. The bad.
No.6 Lachie Swinton was the least effective back-rower on the paddock, and he has work to do to reach the current level of Rob Valetini, or Harry Wilson when the big Reds No.8 is on top of his game. It feels like the Wallabies’ yearning for a back-row enforcer outstrips his capacity at the minute, and his dropped pass that led to Brodie Retallick’s try was one of the many ‘swing moments’ in the game.
Second-rower Darcy Swain also had a tough night â€" fallible at the restart and ill disciplined at key times â€" although it was accentuated by Brandon Paenga-Amosa’s inaccurate throwing. In the midfield, Hunter Paisami continues to make some decisions that can look naive at Test level. There will be some changes for the Perth Test.
3. The ugly.
It’s inexcusable that the Wallabies have coughed up three tries to intercepts in the past two weeks: as indicated by Rieko Ioane after his try, the All Blacks were reading the plays “like a bookâ€. The frustrating thing for the coaches will be at least two of the three came after some good play that created an opportunity.
Too easy: Reiko Ioane scores an intercept try.Credit:Getty
But to go back to Super Rugby Trans-Tasman again (yes, that painful place), it was always going to be hard for the Wallabies to eliminate the poor play seen in that competition, when Australian sides frequently switched off for 20 minute-periods. And so, on Saturday, the Wallabies went from 21-15 down on 46 minutes (with a one-man advantage) to 50-15 down on 66 minutes. That’s where Australian rugby is right now.
4. The Samu Kerevi wildcard.
Yes, is the simple answer to the question about whether he should be used, possibly as early as Perth. Australian rugby, and New Zealand rugby, is going to get used to the idea of picking players who play in Japan because the weight of money will force them to. The Herald understands the going rate for top-line talent is now $1 million-plus for a five-month season in Japan â€" that’s a life-changing sum that will continue to turn the heads of current internationals.
Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans believes there is an inevitability about some form of future Australia-New Zealand-Japan competition beneath the Test level, and although he obviously has a vested interest as coach of Panasonic, he has a point.
5. Springboks show their depth.
We said it before the Rugby Championship started, and we’ll say it again: South Africa are the favourites. They changed two-thirds of their side and still dominated Argentina 32-12 in Port Elizabeth. They are fit, united and know when to flick the switch on attack, where they have some sparkling talent out wide such as Aphelele Fassi.
Against the Pumas, their experienced No.9-No.10-No.12 combination of Cobus Reinach, Elton Jantjies and Frans Steyn were all excellent â€" and none of them are first choice. Whoever beats the Boks will also need a great fullback under the high ball â€" that’s just a non-negotiable.
Argentina weren’t poor, but they couldn’t get the likes of back-rowers Pablo Matera and Facundo Isa into the game.
Cully's team of the weekWatch every match of the Bledisloe Cup and The Rugby Championship with live, ad-free and on-demand coverage on Stan Sport.
Paul Cully is a rugby columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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