The Wallabies backed it up.
That’s not something that you hear all that often as a rugby union supporter nowadays in Australia, but as a loyal Wallabies fan and devotee of rugby, it is something that I’m sure many others in Australia could certainly get used to.
Having now won two successive matches against the Welsh, and held off Georgia, there is no doubt that Australian rugby fans around the world have had a spring in their step in July and who can blame us? Australia had not won two games on the trot since October of 2021, and Joe Schmidt became just the third Wallabies coach to win the first three Tests in charge. Some may call this disappointing. Others would call that an understatement.
But are the dog days of Australian rugby finally over? Are we finally clawing our way out of the grieving period that recent rugby seasons have left in the deep dark depths of our rugby-deprived hearts? Look, who knows? All we do know is that the wheels on the bus are beginning to go forward for the first time in what seems like years, and behind the wheel is a coaching group who look to be dedicated to putting the belief of Australians back into their players through wins, not merely words, and a playing group who look hungry to earn such long-awaited faith and credence.
Hunter Paisami of the Wallabies celebrates scoring a try. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
The series sweep of the Welsh was a reinvigorating welcome back to the international rugby season for Australia and on both occasions, Schmidt selected a team that the nation had been longing to see take the field for some time. That is a team that loves the work and won’t shy away from a physical and upfront confrontation. A team that has a balanced contrast of violent yet poetic physicality and explorative and exciting ball running. One that isn’t afraid to make the big plays and come up short. A team not held back by modern rugby’s unwritten rules and structure, but one that is able to flow in and out of states of composition and improvisation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Australian rugby is suddenly of a perfect standard, but my goodness is it a bloody good start.
There has been an exciting cocktail of both unblooded and returning veteran forwards, all of whom bring an exciting spice of their own character that adds to this already peppery forward pack. Amongst them, it is especially exciting to see James Slipper back for another season of his renowned work ethic and leadership within a front row of undeniable size in Taniela Tupou and the young Matt Faessler – a ‘watch-this-space’ kind of player.
A welcome set of fresh legs in Isaac (the crusher) Kailea and Billy (the kid) Pollard among the experience of Allan Alaalatoa also presents options in the front row to move forward with. Within the forward pack, I would also argue that Australia has one of the most sensational emerging back rows of any nation with names such as Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Liam Wright and Charlie Cale.
Fraser McReight has proven himself time and time again to be worthy of the No.7 jersey, a jersey that within Australian rugby holds great gravitas and responsibility. Previous No.7s that have embodied what being an Australian openside flanker is all about include George Smith, Phil Waugh and, of course, the recently retired Michael Hooper. The battle for who is next in line for the No.7 throne has been won consistently by Fraser McReight and there is no doubt that he will grab that bull by the horns with both hands!
Rob Valetini has been ever-present around the park, making an impressive number of dominant tackles and enjoying his trademark ‘off the back fence’ style of running off lineouts and set plays. There is no doubt that such physicality will be an incredibly lucrative commodity going into the Rugby Championship, particularly against the might of South Africa.
An exciting addition to the Wallabies this year is the 23-year-old Charlie Cale whose breakout season at the Brumbies has earnt him a gold jersey. His trademark speed in combination with his undeniable size and ability to play the ball has proven to be a handful for opposing teams at the very least. Along with Harry Wilson, with his trademark ball skills and power in and around the ruck, the Wallabies’ back row stocks are also looking formidable.
The backline, particularly over the Wales series, has been the perfect definition of yin and yang with a combination of youth and experience, physicality and flair. Jake Gordon’s box kick has been near impeccable, putting Wales under excruciating pressure in the aeronautical department. Both Tate McDermott and Nick White have also had their chance to have some fun in the No.9 jersey.
It seems Schmidt has put his faith in Noah Lolesio and rightly so. He is the most experienced No.10 in the Wallabies camp currently and after standing up well for the Brumbies this past Super Rugby season, Joe has given him the reins to push the envelope, something that has not really been seen in Australian rugby since the Quade Cooper era.
Ben Donaldson manned the bullhorn for Australia against Georgia, and Tom Lynagh deserves his opportunities too. Despite being young, he brings an incredibly calming and calculated influence to a back line. In my opinion (not that it really counts), I think he will be the next ‘Ice Man’ of Australian rugby. He will be someone to turn to when the going gets tough and both the clock and scoreboard are against us. His goal-kicking capabilities are also of paramount importance coming into the contemporary long-range warfare that is modern rugby.
Outside our young No.10s are an exciting combination of centres. Hunter Paisami being the battle-hardened, defensive genius that he is, brings fantastic physicality to this backline. He has been consistently chosen over the years and has proven to be an invaluable investment.
Josh Flook made his debut appearance in Wallabies gold at No.13 in both tests against Wales as outside-centre and is another exciting young addition to the squad as yet another hard-as-nails Queenslander who goes looking for work wherever he can find it. He is a dreamy centre who has the ability to shift it on without hesitation or tuck the pill under his wing and bend the line at the very least, and is a fantastic option behind ‘Mr Consistent’ Len Ikitau, whose hard work and toil off the ball and in defence has been of benefit to the Wallabies since his introduction to the international stage.
The backline’s defensive prowess does not end there, however. Outside of a rock-solid centre combination is a constant rotation of speed and power. The Wallabies have been blessed with an incredibly sound back three. Filipo Daugunu, while red-carded against Georgia, has not only let many an airborne Welshmen know that he is constantly on the prowl but has also scored some incredibly opportunistic and switched-on tries.
On the other wing, Andrew Kellaway remains to be one of Australia’s finest finishers in the game. Beyond his try-scoring capabilities, Kellaway has proven his worth in broken, play-what-is-in-front rugby. His international experience and ability to play in the fullback position also make him an incredibly valuable player to take the field each week. The pièce de résistance for this back three is the ever-present Tom Wright. Breaking and making tackles since his debut in 2020, Wright’s recent performances have put Eddie Jones’ selections for the last World Cup under even more scrutiny than before. At just twenty-one years of age, Darby Lancaster is another promising young gun to be brought into the fold of the Wallabies finishers.
James Slipper of the Wallabies poses with the James Bevan Trophy. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
So Australian rugby fans, I ask you, is there anything not to be excited about? Not only has Schmidt seemed to somewhat steady the seemingly ever-rocking ship that is Australian rugby, but he has done so wearing a suit and tie in the coaching box, accompanied by a Wallabies pin on the breast of his jacket!
For a long time now, the class and esteem of rugby within Australia have gone astray, not dissimilarly to that of the prodigal son. But Schmidt has beckoned it back home again with open arms giving us fans no excuse to not support his team and more importantly, our team.
Undoubtedly, even after three wins to start off the Test season, some of the press will have no problems bursting the celebratory bubbles of Australian fans around the nation with condescending and uneducated bullish comments that only work to kick dirt in the face of an already tired horse, heaving itself out of one hell of a hole, but heaving itself out nonetheless.
So, from one fan to another, I urge you to drown out the ever-present doubt that echoes endlessly from the media to the public in regard to Australian rugby. Stay positive, something that out of anxiety and fear of losing we have not been able to do comfortably for years.
