Wallabies need to find more 'Valetinis' and 'Skeltons' to compete with Springboks
Image: William West / AFP
FOR about 75 minutes it looked like Melbourne and the sporting cathedral, the MCG, would again be the Wallabies' lucky charm against a touring British and Irish Lions team.
In Australia's past two series against the Lions, in 2001 and 2013, the Wallabies lost the first Test then levelled both in Melbourne. And, when the Aussies galloped into a 23-5 lead in the first half before 90,307, it looked like the Aussies were on their way to a famous victory.
But a second-half collapse saw the touring side wrap up the two-Test series with Hugo Keenan's 79th-minute try. It was heartbreaking for a Wallabies team who played some of their best rugby in the last decade in that first half, but had to be content with the 29-26 scoreline at the end.
After coming off second best in the first Test - the 27-19 scoreline doesn't really tell the story of the Lions' dominance in Brisbane - the Wallabies stepped up their performance with a combination of brute force and attacking intent.
The hosts beefed up their pack for the match, with powerhouse forwards Will Skelton, Rob Valetini and Dave Porecki all back from injury and their presence was huge - helping combat the brutality that helped the Lions win in Brisbane.
In that first half Skelton and Valetini carried with a lot of venom, giving the Wallabies' inexperienced back division some front-foot ball to have a go at the Lions. Skelton, particularly also pushed and shoved the visitors and making his presence felt.
The Lions were stunned by three tries in eight first-half minutes from Australia's James Slipper, Jake Gordon and Tom Wright. Fullback Wright's try came after he started an attacking move deep in his half. Centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii then cut the Lions defence to shreds before Wright went over to score.
That passage of play would not just have had the Lions' coaching staff taking note, but also Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus and his brainstrust ahead of their meeting with the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship next month.
Last year against the Springboks, the Wallabies were unable to match the Boks' physicality and got hammered at set-piece time by the South Africans in two Test matches Down Under. But for 40 minutes against a big Lions pack they stepped up and went toe-to-toe in the physicality stakes.
However, when Valetini didn't return after the break, and Skelton was subbed off early in the second half, the Wallabies' physical efforts went down to Brisbane levels again.
The Lions hammered them at scrum time and started to get more joy at the breakdowns by winning the collisions. The Wallabies hung on for dear life in that second half, and could only manage six more points.
The fact of the matter is, for the Wallabies to compete against the Springboks they need loose forward Valetini and lock Skelton to go deep into matches. They don't have the depth the Boks possess to compete physically for 80 minutes.
However, it was encouraging to see some fight from the ever-improving Australian team. We saw them grow in confidence during their November tour matches, especially in their win over England that they can compete again.
However, they need to find more brutes from somewhere if they are going to trouble the Springboks in two Test matches in South Africa.
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