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COMMENT
One year out from the World Cup and the Wallabies face an identity crisis.
On Friday it will be exactly one year before Dave Rennie’s men take to the Stade de France against Georgia and it is in the backdrop of Saturday’s insipid performance by which the Wallabies’ 24-8 defeat must be viewed.
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Regrettably, worryingly, the ghosts of 2019 appear all too real.
From the style Rennie wants his men to play to who will be in France for the 10th World Cup, questions and mystery hang over the Wallabies like a great fog in what promises to be the most competitive and captivating tournament in the game’s history.
It is a major concern because any team that longs to go deep in the tournament has a clear identity about how they want to play and who their chief leaders are.
France play off their talismanic general at halfback Antoine Dupont and have leaders littered across the field.
Ireland, who remain heavily reliant on Johnny Sexton, are the masters of phase play and regularly attack the blindside and manipulate defences while effecting using a contestable kicking game between the 22s.
England are finding their way but resort back to brutality when push comes to shove, while the Springboks squeeze an opposition through contestable kicks and a rush defence that forces attacks to crumble before pouncing like a circling shark when they sense blood in the water.
New Zealand, meanwhile, are realising that they win more often than not when they kick to regain possession.
What do the Wallabies stand for at present?
They want to have a three-pronged attack, but their attacking breakdown is often a mess, their pack can be bossed like Ireland when they are a fraction off like they were on Saturday, while they are regularly caught between wanting to use the ball and kicking off Nic White.
Without Quade Cooper, Rennie wants to play off White, whose kicking game and tempo is valued highly by selectors, yet in the day and age where contests are paramount the Wallabies are picking outside backs who are better with their feet than in the air.
Case in point is the immediate effect Canan Moodie had when the 19-year-old plucked a ball out of the sky and scored a stunning try to ram home the Springboks’ advantage on the stroke of half-time.
Last month it was Freddie Steward, the phenomenal fullback who was regularly winning the ball in the air to show what an attacking aerial game can provide.
Meanwhile gamebreakers Suliasi Vunivalu and Jordan Petaia – the two outside backs best in the air – have either been brutally dropped or not given opportunities.
Vunivalu was played off the bench in Sydney against England for a matter of seconds, but is being told that he might have to wait until the Spring Tour before he features again.
Marika Koroibete took three years before emerging as a world class winger, yet Vunivalu, a winger whose ceiling is incredible and someone with proven big match in the NRL, is being starved of crucial action with a World Cup fast approaching.
Tate McDermott is the best running halfback in Australia, someone who makes opposition defences look at him instead of those around him, but has been afforded precious few minutes to prove his worth.
The ridiculous “rotation” policy Rennie is operating with regarding his back-up nines helps no-one because neither McDermott nor Jake Gordon have been able to showcase their skills.
Reece Hodge is an admirable player at fullback but was not considered in the best three fullbacks only two months ago.
It comes after seven years of not knowing what Hodge represents as a player, with the harsh reality that he is a superb bench option, capable of playing across the entire backline, but unlikely a world class fullback option.
If he is seen as a fullback, Hodge should be able to prove his worth in the role without being shuffled to the playmaking role.
In the meantime, it is denying others like specialist fullback Jock Campbell – a player highly thought of in various rugby circles, including attack coach Scott Wisemantel – an opportunity.
Michael Hooper is the regular captain, but the skipper has not been sighted in The Rugby Championship ever since leaving Argentina on the eve of the first whistle.
Whether or not Hooper returns over the coming months remains to be seen.
The Wallabies would welcome the 30-year-old back with open arms, but it is highly conceivable he could give up the captaincy.
After captaining either the Wallabies or Waratahs, or both, since 2014, Hooper could well want to return without the extra responsibilities of captaining. Whether or not Hooper keeps the captaincy, he would be a leader within the side regardless.
Yet Hooper’s absence has shone a light on the glaring lack of leadership alternatives.
For now James Slipper is doing an admirable job.
The prop is highly regarded across international rugby and is well liked on and off the field, but few props regularly play 60 minutes.
The Wallabies dearly miss someone with an aura as captain.
Siya Koilisi has it, and the openside flanker’s ascension to the Springboks captaincy helped spark a nation’s World Cup dream.
Kolisi was the Springboks’ best on Saturday. Just like Richie McCaw, the flanker made his presence felt at the breakdown by winning two penalties in the area inside the opening 20 minutes.
His desire to keep the ball in place early in the second half helped set-up the Boks’ third try in the minutes after half-time.
He rushed and jumped on his teammates when Moodie scored.
In post-match press conferences he thanks everyone for turning up, including when they lose like they did a week earlier.
When he speaks, the Springboks and the world listen.
Who in the Wallabies can inspire the team and the nation?
Samu Kerevi is one, but he currently is plying his trade overseas and, for the time being, injured.
Allan Alaalatoa is well regarded and speaks with clarity and poise.
McDermott is another emerging leader who calls it how he sees it and is a winner on the field.
It is not all doom and gloom for the Wallabies.
As clunky as their attacking breakdown and ball-in-hand play was against the Springboks, their defence kept them in the fight for 70 minutes.
They are building blocks, but the Wallabies must work out quickly how they want to play and who can win them big games at next year’s World Cup.
One year out from the World Cup all hope is not lost, but proactiveness is required. Vision necessary.
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