The Wallabies are unbeaten under Joe Schmidt and three from three to start an international season for the first time since 2015. Australian rugby is back on track, no?
Well, somewhat.
But compare Schmidt’s opening three Tests in charge to his predecessor Eddie Jones, who has the Springboks in Pretoria, Michael Cheika’s Argentina and Ian Foster’s All Blacks in Melbourne, and I know which dream run I’m jumping on.
Even Dave Rennie had to contend with not just starting his first three Tests in charge against the All Blacks but rather his opening four Tests against the men dressed in black.
“I think we’re trying to just layer things slowly to try to build our game,” the first-year Wallabies coach said.
“It was one of the things that we wanted to do today, just try a few different things. You would have seen that in the first two weeks we tended to kick a lot off the kick-off receive.
“We tried to just reposition and kick differently, just to try to keep growing the way that we can exit our territory.
“I think if we’re too predictable, we put ourselves under pressure. So those are some of the things that we wanted to get out of this week on the back of training and then into the game.”
Joe Schmidt said the Wallabies tried a few new things against Georgia but admitted the audition time was over. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Schmidt’s explanation somewhat explains why Tom Wright regularly ran rather than kicked like most fullbacks in international rugby would do.
The decision to regularly run also contributed to the frenetic nature of the Test, where the Wallabies got looser as the game went on.
Noting the opposition the Wallabies faced in July, Schmidt also admitted the time for experimentation was over.
“It’s certainly the audition over because I don’t think that we can afford to probably be as loose with the ball to get it ripped off us and probably give up some tries that we’re disappointed with,” Schmidt said.
“Going forward to The Rugby Championship, we’ve learned a little bit more about the players.
“We haven’t had time to have a good look at the game, but whatever decisions we make will be based on three games and three and a half weeks of training with a couple of days in Brisbane before that. But I’m also realistic.
“I’ve been doing jobs similar to this for a long time and the thing that you realise is that things do take time and building combinations takes time. Building a game model that people become familiar with and automate the actions that are required for, that does take time.
“But we’re out of time. We’ve got to be able to deliver against South Africa, which is a whole different level, obviously.”
In that context, how did the Wallabies rate?
Tom Wright – 6
As explained above, Wright was looser than normal but seemingly stuck to the game-plan. Will it work against the Springboks next month? It’s a fine line.
The fullback was sprightly early on.
He took the ball forward in the lead up to the Wallabies’ opening try to Hunter Paisami, getting over the gain line and providing quick service.
He also showed nice hands in the eighth minute to free up his men on the outside.
In the 16th minute, his tackle on his opposite number, David Niniashvili, after Tate McDermott played on quickly from a penalty was effective.
The Wallabies celebrate their opening try for Hunter Paisami. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
One fumble in the 23rd minute centre-field showed the Wallabies getting too loose in attack.
Later he fell off a tackle in the 69th minute to allow Aka Tabutsadze to score his second.
He did, however, intercept in the 78th minute to deny Niniashvili a late try after a textbook tackle from Andrew Kellaway.
Filipo Daugunu – 4
The Wallabies winger was had some nice moments in his 35 minutes but an upgraded red card meant Daugunu simply couldn’t score higher.
Whether it was a red is another question altogether.
Schmidt thought he touched the ball in his charge down attempt while Georgian coach Richard Cockerill, who was sympathetic to the decision, said he was miles away from it.
Either way, Duagunu put himself in a vulnerable position and made contact with someone in the air. It’s not the first time either.
Filipo Daugunu was shown an upgraded red card against Georgia at Allianz Stadium on July 20, 2024. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Earlier, the in-form Wallabies winger took a nice overhead catch, won a turnover in the 27th minute and found touch with a lovely kick in the backfield.
There was one dodgy cut out pass to his wing partner Darby Lancaster.
Len Ikitau – 6
A solid return from a consistent operator in the midfield.
Ikitau had a strong opening 40 minutes but was barely sighted in the second half.
His initial pop pass to Hunter Paisami for the game’s opening try was a lovely touch.
He also went hunting for the ball in the early stages, including in the 11th minute.
Hunter Paisami – 6.5
The Wallabies midfielder scored the opening try after three quality phases in the build-up.
Paisami topped the tackle count for the Wallabies’ backs (8) and made seven carries. What’s also interesting is that he made 13 passes, which showcased more of his distributing game.
Darby Lancaster – 5
Unfortunately for Lancaster, the debut winger will best be remembered for not showing the urgency needed to run back and get the ball as he was instead beaten by Tabutsadze, who scored a freak of a try after a perfect bounce of the ball.
Lancaster didn’t quite show the wheels many expected, but he was an inch away from breaking free on a couple of occasions.
Had he, the former Aussie sevens flyer would have been off and showed his ability to find the tryline. He showed that in the 38th minute after he ripped the ball away and, later, in the 67th minute when he was just brought down.
Ben Donaldson – 4
On his starting debut at home, the World Cup Wallaby did little to feel anyone with confidence that he’s a long-term option to wear the No.10 jersey.
Donaldson’s kicking issues once again returned.
Just like his inconsistency with the Waratahs, where he inexplicably would miss touch, Donaldson failed to find the north-west corner. The moment was a momentum-killer a in the 10th minute. Four minutes later, Donaldson missed a relatively straight forward conversion attempt – but he was otherwise accurate off the tee.
Donaldson’s decision to step off his right foot rather than look to his right just like against Wales in Lyon last year in the 12th minute when he found space didn’t endear himself either. Had he looked right, it would have been a game-changer.
Donaldson started running the ball more in the second half, but was caught in the 72nd minute after finding himself somewhat isolated in attack.
Despite his struggles, the Force playmaker’s short passing and connection were solid.
Tate McDermott – 7
The good of McDermott was shown in the lead up to Paisami’s opening. McDermott’s service was sharp, he chose the right options and it was the best three phases the Wallabies have put together under Schmidt.
McDermott’s ability to snipe was regularly on display, including in the 20th minute following Billy Pollard’s charge off the lineout. His 15-metre effort allowed the Wallabies to get inside Georgia’s 5m line and Isaac Kailea powered his way over.
McDermott looks the perfect option off the bench in the final 30 minutes to inject speed and tempo into the game.
Harry Wilson – 7
A strong return to the international arena after almost a two-year absence, Wilson’s skill-set came to the fore in the second half as he combined spectacularly with Fraser McReight.
Wilson made 14 carries and 12 tackles, which showcased his work rate and desire to get stuck in. He was also used at the lineout.
Not for the first time though, Wilson was turned over after carrying the ball back from a drop-kick restart. It’s not the first time and the Wallabies need to be aware not to leave him isolated.
Fraser McReight – 10
Two tries, two breakdown turnovers (16th and 29th minutes), 12 tackles and a sublime run to set up Rob Valetini’s second try.
Rob Valetini – 9
A whisker behind McReight as the Wallabies’ best, Valetini’s physicality was on display all afternoon.
The No.8’s charge second phase from the scrum put the wheels in motion ahead of Paisami’s opening try.
He then spun and scored in the 13th minute.
He also made a turnover in the 26th minute after the Wallabies managed to repel Georgia’s maul.
While Valetini was penalised for obstruction at the maul in the second half, he helped make up for it in the 60th minute by scoring after excellent work from his back-row partners McReight and Wilson.
Angus Blyth – 5
Penalised twice in the first half, including swimming around the side of the maul, Blyth made a few carries but was barely sighted elsewhere.
Nick Frost – 8
A strong return to the Wallabies after curiously being overlooked by Schmidt previously, Frost made his presence felt early by making a charge-down in the 11th minute. He was well supported by Blyth, who dived on the crumbs to earn a turnover.
Frost made 17 carries, nine tackles and stole a lineout in the 73rd minute.
He was also harshly penalised for a fractionally late tackle in the 68th minute.
Allan Alaalatoa – 7.5
Although he wasn’t as dynamic as Taniela Tupou, Alaalatoa was quality on both sides of the ball.
The tight-head prop had eight tough carries and made ten tackles.
The set-piece also operated strongly with Alaalatoa on the field.
Billy Pollard – 6.5
A quality afternoon at the set-piece, Pollard did the fundamentals well.
Pollard’s carry in the 19th minute showed his pace and power and immediately put the Wallabies on the front-foot ahead of Kailea’s try.
Pollard was, however, penalised twice at the ruck for going off his feet.
Isaac Kailea – 7
The young Wallabies loose-head prop continues to impress.
Kailea made 11 carries, scoring once, and made seven tackles during his 50-minute effort.
Kailea’s only blunder was in the 27th minute when he failed to take advantage of some space when put through a little hole by Pollard.
Reserves
Josh Nasser – 5.5
He might not be the biggest but Nasser hasn’t put a foot wrong since debuting off the bench in Melbourne. Nasser’s lineout throw has been pin-point.
Alex Hodgman – 5.5
Three thumping tackles and as many carries too. Hodgman became just the fourth player to play Test rugby for the Wallabies and All Blacks.
Zane Nonggorr – 5
Didn’t see a lot of the play after coming on for Alaalatoa in the 61st minute, but made three carries.
Tom Hooper – 6
A busy 30-minute cameo after coming on for Blyth, Hooper was effective on both sides of the ball.
Jeremy Williams – N/A
A late replacement for Valetini.
Nic White – 5
Solid enough after coming on in the final 15 minutes.
Noah Lolesio – N/A
A seven-minute cameo, but Lolesio’s failure to find the 5m line from a penalty left a sour taste in the mouth.
Andrew Kellaway – 6.5
A strong cameo after replacing the red-carded Daugunu, Kellaway will start against the Springboks and should stay in the back three.
Kellaway made his presence felt on both sides of the ball, including a lovely run in the 57th minute where he linked back with Wright.
Although, there combination didn’t work so well in the 67th minute with a switch play.
But his trysaver on Luka Matkava in the 78th minute was a textbook tackle and led to an intercept being thrown and Wright taking the ball.
