Next up in our set of previews ahead of the Rugby Championship, we delve into the prospects of last year’s third-place finishers, Australia.
It is incredible how the energy around the Wallabies has rapidly gone from a faltering side that gets close to winning but often does not, to a team filled with energy, hope and seemingly belief. The massive shift is down to one thing – the Eddie Jones factor.
Rugby Australia traded Dave Rennie for Jones at the beginning of the year soon after the veteran coach had been given his marching orders by the Rugby Football Union in England. The Australian governing body claimed they could not miss out on the chance to get the great coach in.
Since then, Jones has gone about his business with a two-pronged approach; 1) to build excitement about Australian rugby again and 2) to “smash and grab” the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Now for a team who had a 38% win ratio under Rennie over the last three years, it may seem absurd to target the World Cup but it is right up Jones’ alley to achieve something so outrageous.
There is still a lot of unknowns as to how the coach will set the Wallabies up as he likes to keep his cards close to his chest. However, his plans will begin to show themselves on July 8 against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld.
Last year
The 2022 Rugby Championship was not the best tournament for the Wallabies despite starting with a positive 41-26 win over Los Pumas in Argentina. That joy was short-lived as the second of their ‘mini-tour’ Tests against the South Americans resulted in their record defeat to the side as they lost 48-17 to their passionate opponents.
Next on the schedule were two home Tests against the Springboks that started with a brilliant 25-17 win, with their fortunes appearing to turn around. However, their inconsistency cost them yet again as the second clash saw them lose 24-8 to a dominant South Africa on the day.
Closing out their Rugby Championship campaign were home and away Bledisloe Cup fixtures against the All Blacks. The Wallabies played brilliantly in the home Test and were set to claim a memorable win but Bernard Foley was blown for time-wasting a penalty the hosts won on their own line. The All Blacks scored from the resulting scrum to steal the game 39-37.
Here’s a full video of what exactly happened between the Wallabies & All Blacks.
I think this call is more than fair. He literally ignored the ref and went about wasting time more time. pic.twitter.com/vq84RPMW7g
— (@SimplyNate_) September 16, 2022
The return clash was always going to be more difficult with the All Blacks hosting and it showed as New Zealand blew the Wallabies out of the water with a 40-14 win to retain the Bledisloe Cup.
This year
Everything changes this year. Last season means a lot less and all eyes are looking forward not bad.
In fairness there is some serious talent in Australia, it just needs to be put together in the right way with an effective way of playing the game. Jones is the best man to identify the best way of doing that in the shortest time.
One of the main focal points has been heightened physicality which has seen the coach turn to the likes of Will Skelton. Part of his inclusion saw Jones gain clearance from Rugby Australia to select a total of five overseas-based players instead of only the three Giteau’s Law technically allows.
The Wallabies will need to improve on their discipline particularly if they plan to use a powerful pack to leverage the game through set-piece, which there is a good chance they will. The forward depth is there pretty much throughout the pack.
The squad is the thinnest at fly-half with Quade Cooper likely to be the man who unlocks the dangerous backline outside of him. The outside backs in particular can do some real damage to defensive lines.
Jones knows that Australia has had good success in the shortened versions of the competition in World Cup years and is targeting the title to both gather more support and to build momentum.
Key players
Michael Hooper returns to the leadership role within the Wallabies set-up, only this time he will be co-captain alongside James Slipper. There is no doubt that Australia are a far better team when their most-capped skipper is firing and they will be hoping he does this year. He has shown some good form in Super Rugby Pacific but a big step up is required for a superstar who is more than capable of leading by example.
Jones said earlier this year that Will Skelton could be the best right-hand lock in the world and it is a very fair shout. The Wallaby has been sensational over the last two seasons in France for La Rochelle, who won the Champions Cup in both campaigns. His physicality is truly off the charts and now with a wiser head, he is able to use it to better effect. Skelton has been playing so well that we fully expect him to translate this onto the Test scene with aplomb.
Is Will Skelton one of the best locks in the world right now?
He’s certainly been a crucial player for a very successful La Rochelle side.
To see highlights of Skelton’s career to date, click the link here: https://t.co/HiPlhMeh1X pic.twitter.com/b2E8XTFGOD
— Andrew Forde (@andrewfrugby) June 19, 2023
Marika Koroibete has been a standout for the Wallabies over the last two seasons. Irrespective of how the team has performed the robust wing has been world-class throughout. He is right up there with the best in the world and Jones will be looking to make use of his abilities to bust through defensive lines.
As mentioned, fly-half is a thin position in terms of depth, making Quade Cooper a very valuable player. The veteran is the only capped fly-half in the squad and looks to be the guy Jones will rely on to power the squad and take youngster Carter Gordon under his wing. The flair-filled playmaker has the kind of X-factor Jones likes to have at 10 and he will have a big task to steer the ship and get his team back to winning ways.
This man is the very definition of champagne rugby…What a player 🔥😎
Quade Cooper 🤩#Baabaas #rugby #podcast pic.twitter.com/WnqXzIMcP0
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) June 21, 2023
Players to watch
Like Koroibete, Rob Valetini has been a consistent performer for club and country. He will play a key role in giving his side go-forward ball with his powerful carrying ability. We expect the loose forward to form a key part of the Wallabies pack.
32-year-old Richie Arnold could earn his first cap after being called up by Jones following some solid form in the Top 14 for Toulouse. He is an experienced campaigner whose knowledge of French conditions could be useful later this year. He will likely be thrown into the mix early on to acclimatise to Test rugby.
Veteran Nic White had a great season with the Brumbies and he will be a key half-back in the Wallabies structures. His distribution is sound and his kicking game is very solid, an aspect Jones will be looking to utilise.
No Nic White – no try here!#Wallabies #RugbyAnalysis pic.twitter.com/B8RySn9rhE
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) July 21, 2022
Prospects
There is no doubt the Wallabies will show a marked improvement in just about every facet of the game.
Their forward pack will be more robust and the fundamentals will be executed far more effectively. Jones will look for the pack to provide a platform through strong set-piece for the likes of Cooper to work his magic.
However, there are only three Tests in this year’s edition and even for the ever-astute rugby mind of Jones to completely transform a misfiring team into a title-winning outfit is a tough ask.
Jones will make his mark but in our minds, that will not be enough to change the Wallabies finishing position from last year. Australia to finish third.
Fixtures
Saturday, July 8 v South Africa (Loftus Versfeld)
Saturday, July 15 v Argentina (CommBank Stadium)
Saturday, July 29 v New Zealand (Melbourne Cricket Ground)
READ MORE: Rugby Championship preview: Argentina to prop up the table once again despite improvements under Michael Cheika
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