Australia cantered to an easy, never in doubt victory over Uruguay on Sunday evening, Australian time. So what did we learn from the Wallabies’ second RWC match of the tournament?
1) It was largely irrelevant in the greater scheme of things
Australia got out of this game exactly what they wanted. A big win to prop up their for and against as well as a bonus point (despite Michael Cheika’s supposed ignorance of their existence). Injuries are always a concern in the RWC, as Wales and South Africa will attest, and in that front we scraped through ok too. You’d suggest that Wycliff Palu’s hamstring injury will probably see him on the plane home whilst the extent of Will Skelton’s arm injury is still to be confirmed. His lack of impact, however, would indicate that he is unlikely to play a role in the pointy end of the tournament.
The performance was somewhat sloppy, particularly in the first half, and you would’ve thought all that time together in the USA and in Bath would have led to greater cohesion. But Cheika has always said that this would be a separate team from the first team, and he clearly knows what team he wants to play against England so this was never a game for people to play their way into the side. The sides been picked, just not announced.
Recognition must go to Drew Mitchell who’s two tries propelled him to the top of Australia’s all time RWC try scoring list with 12, overtaking Chris Latham on 11 and David Campese on 10. Drew’s brace against Uruguay joins his one v the USA and two v Russia in 2011 and his two v Japan, 3 v Fiji and 2 v Canada in 2007.
2) Uruguay must be celebrated
As a lead in to their coverage of this match, Fox Sports ran a documentary on their 24 hour rugby channel titled “Uruguay. Road to the World Cup”. It provided a wonderful insight into the “minnows” challenges in getting to the RWC both from a qualifying perspective, and from a pure resources perspective. As we know, but perhaps don’t truly appreciate, the team is largely amateurs with many holding down jobs to support their families, with rugby being more a hobby than a job. It was a brilliant reminder as to why we love this game and perhaps why we, in Australia, have so many frustrations around it. Once the money comes in, and the players are being paid significant salaries to play, the expectations amongst all rises dramatically, and perhaps the enjoyment fades just a little. It leads to questions why the highly paid Wallabies were dropping simple passes last night when they all but eat, drink and live rugby.
The Uruguayans were never in the hunt. They don’t have the level of competition that a Japan has that enables them to pull off a win over the Springboks. The game isn’t a religion like it is in the Pacific nations allowing their teams so much focus and adulation. But Uruguay has a strong history in rugby and their players are as passionate as any going around. But one only has to look at their bodies to see the difference. With all due respect, but there are Australian schoolboy players were more muscular legs than some of these lads. But their effort was fantastic and no one would have begrudged them had they been able to cross the Australian line at least once. They now face Fiji in about eight days time when they will again back themselves to take it to their more fancied opposition.
3) Keep singing England
The English fans have copped some flack this RWC for daring to sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot regardless of the teams on the pitch in front of him. I find it a pretty petty complaint considering how bloody well the English are supporting this tournament. The crowds have been nothing short of amazing at every game I have seen. Another record crowd overnight, when almost 90,000 people went to Wembley Stadium to see Ireland take on Romania, and this World Cup is achieving massive crowd figures.
And the singing? Keep it up Poms. I love it. From all reports the atmosphere is just bloody sensational over there and the full houses certainly help. And what do you expect to happen when so many English fans are together in a sporting venue? Of course the singing will start. The same way that bloody “Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie Oi Oi Oi” will happen over here. Although kudos to the group of Aussie fans who got Waltzing Matilda going in last night’s match. Let’s hope they’re in full voice this weekend at Twickenham.
4) An eye to this weekend
Can we take anything out of this match as an eye to England? Well let’s start with the bench and who WASN’T used. Firstly, Stephen Moore. As captain he’ll be there next weekend without a doubt. Will Genia sat on the pine the whole game too, so it looks like he will be wearing 9 v England. His challenger for the role, Nick Phipps, played well against Uruguay but I suspect the aggressive in your face defence of England and Phipp’s “pass first, look second” strategy aren’t entirely compatible.
Likewise Bernard Foley partnered Genia all night on the bench, so he’d seem to be a sure thing for Twickers. Cooper had an unhappy night mixing brilliant skill with frustrating errors, however of most concern was the goal kicking.
Quade could only make 5 from 11 attempts which, needless to say, is just not acceptable. Particularly when you compare it with the kicking of Wales and England the night before. So Foley’s more reliable play will see him back in 10 for England. The final player not to get a run was Tight Head Prop Greg Holmes. I was surprised when Toby Smith was named ahead of him at #3 for this match – a position he is somewhat inexperienced in. Then when Sekope Kepu got a run before Holmes, it got me thinking. Either Homer is injured or he will be our starting THP against England, relying on his strength the combat the illegal tactics of English loosehead Joe Marler.
From the starting team, either Sio is playing his third match in the tournament, or Kepu may end up at Loose Head Prop. I’m thinking the former. Of all the other starters only Sean McMahon and Ben McCalman advanced their causes with one of them likely to come onto the bench for Skelton. You’d like to think McMahon’s form is rewarded as he was awarded his second Man of the Match in a row. His aggressiveness and intensity would be welcome against the English. Drew Mitchell made plenty of metres and line breaks this game however is handling was as ropey as anyone’s. You’d think the more consistent Rob Horne will keep his place with Adam Ashley-Cooper to combat the speed of England out wide.
5) Let the Contiki Tour begin.
In 1991 David Knox and Richard Tombs didn’t even get a minute of rugby in becoming World Champions. In 1995 Mark Hartil, Warwick Waugh and Scotty Bowen featured in just the one match in South Africa. 1999 had Jim Williams, Chris Latham and Tom Bowman who’s game against the USA was the only rugby they would see. Mark Gerrard and Sean Hardman had cameos in France in 2007 and Nick Phipps famously just played wing off the bench against Russia in New Zealand four years ago.
There will be a bunch from this squad for whom last night will be their only game time this RWC. For them it will almost be a case of holding a tackle bag in one arm, and a beer in the other. I’m sure it won’t be as bad as some of the stories you hear about the dirt trackers in those winning tours of 91 and 99, but as the tournament progresses the “A-Team” focus will become more and more intense and the management team will circle the wagons around them. How the other nine or so members of the squad cope with that is always a challenge which may or may not have any impact on the end result. It didn’t in 1991 nor 1999. Let’s hope the same happens again.
