The full-time whistle has now gone on the Wallabies 2024 season, and there are far more positives to take into the Christmas break than this time last year.
It’s been a big Test season for the Australians, 13-Tests across three continents, with a whole new coaching staff, who tried to implement an entirely new gameplan.
Head coach Joe Schmidt has always been adamant that “progress is never linear” and for the Wallabies this has rung very true.
A decent winter series against Wales and Georgia, followed by a tough and frankly underwhelming Rugby Championship, has now been bookended by a good Autumn Nations series.
Schmidt and his Wallabies head into the Christmas holidays with better basics, a stronger identity, confidence, and a more settled squad, who know exactly where the bar is for 2025.
Overall, the Wallabies have finished with a 6-7 win/loss ratio of 46 per cent, after having played nine of their games against higher ranked opposition.
In the Autumn Nations, the Wallabies finished with a 50 per cent win/loss record, beating England above them and Wales who ranked beneath them.
Finishing the tour with a massive upset win over Ireland in Dublin would have flipped the script on a few things but for once, it’s the things which are not tied directly to results which are bringing hope back to Wallaby supporters.
Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies made progress in 2024. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Overall grade: B
The pass mark from pundits and punters alike ahead of the tour was two wins, for the then ninth ranked Wallabies.
Many believed the wins would come against the lowest ranked of the ‘home nations’ Wales, and the then 7th-ranked Scotland.
The Wallabies surprised everyone, most of all English halfback Ben Youngs, when they put on an attacking masterclass and outscored England 42-37 at Twickenham.
The thrashing of the rudderless Wales was just as important to Wallabies’ profile as a good win was expected.
Although the Scotland loss was a downer, it was an important reminder that the inexperience within the wider squad is still a material issue on gameday, one which Schmidt has done great work to try to remedy.
Finally, no one expected the Wallabies to beat Ireland, who are either no.1 or no.2 in the world depending on which week you look at the rankings.
The Wallabies held firm, and their patience, grit, determination, and wit allowed them to push the Irish at home to within just three points.
Australia’s Len Ikitau (left) and Ben Donaldson celebrate a late try scored by teammate Max Jorgensen during the Wallabies’ late win over England at Twickenham. (Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
No blow outs, no excuses, just good Test footy, it’s the sort of calm, solid, grounded report card you would expect of a side coached by a pragmatic coach like Schmidt.
The Wallabies are a better unit, a better team, and a better squad than when they played England, and they are miles ahead of the side which scraped past Wales in July and are unrecognisable from the side which shipped 67-points against Argentina in Sante Fe.
Attack: B
The Wallabies’ attack during the RC was predictable and one dimensional, now it has some very electric players believing in themselves and their abilities.
The freedom which saw them put big scores on England and Wales comes from knowing their roles off by heart, a trait which is usually pummelled into players by Schmidt.
It’s a lot easier to play eyes-up-footy if you know where everyone will be once the line break is made, or the momentum stops.
The Wallabies’ big ball carriers got better gainline metres because they picked the seams and straightened into contact, subsequently the cleaners did a more efficient job.
In turn, the backs capitalized on this momentum mor efficiently, using speed and trusting in their ball handling to get outside oppositions.
From the scything runs of fullback Tom Wright, to the penetration and finesse provided by Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the centres, the Wallaby backs forced their way into oppositions’ defensive equations.
The backline and to a further extent the entire side were directed well by an ever-improving Noah Lolesio at flyhalf, particularly as he started challenging the line.
The biggest critique of the attack is that it again lacked cohesion due to injury, suspension, and new faces.
Ikitau’s move to inside centre was a success but his partner, Suaalii, is very new to the 15-man game at Test level.
Oppositions did their homework and kept the young star very quiet in attack after the England Test.
This meant he was rarely put in space, unable to free-up his deadly offloading game.
The Wallabies also haven’t shown enough in multiphase attack to put well organised attacks under presser.
It’s only early days for Schmidt, even more so for Suaalii but they must find a way to get his big frame involved more frequently in phase play.
Without a hulking ball runner like Samu Kerevi, Suaalii will be crucial for the Wallabies’ backline to generate gainline ball and line break opportunities.
Defence: C+
The Wallabies conceded an average of 26.5-points per game during the tour.
During the RC, excluding the anomaly of the 67-points haemorrhaged to Argentina, they conceded an average of 29.2-points.
Keeping Ireland to just three tries was impressive, and it taught the Wallabies what they must do against the British and Irish Lions, when they come Down Under in July.
Conversely, conceding five and four tries to England and Scotland respectively, showed the side can still not deliver consistent 80-minute performances.
‘Lord’ Laurie Fisher, the bucket-hat wearing defence coach from Canberra, is a staunch teacher of the ‘connected line-speed’ defence but even he appears to be seeing the need for a more aggressive defensive line.
Rush defences are all the rage at the minute.
It is most famously operated by South Africa, but it’s popular because it works, cutting down opposition’s time is the name of the modern game.
Attacks and players are getting too good at constructing lethal attacks if given the time and space a pure ‘connected line-speed’ defence presents.
Fisher and the Wallabies were aggressive in Dublin against the Irish, and it worked.
The Wallabies’ defence improved against Ireland but Laurie Fisher has his work cut out for him in 2025. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
It allowed the Wallabies to pilfer, because the Irish cleaners had to readjust to being caught behind the gainline.
Balls were dropped early and passes went awry because the Irishmen’s skills were put under pressure by the speedier Wallaby defence.
Two of the three tries the Shamrocks scored were opportunistic, Josh van der Flier and captain Caelen Doris selected weak shoulders and scrambling defenders to bowl over in-close.
Without the distribution accuracy and speed of halfback Jamison Gibson-Park, the Irish would have continued to struggle against the Wallabies’ staunch defence.
The Wallabies defensive mark is guided by their ability to score points themselves.
In 2024, 23-points and under was the benchmark score the Wallabies needed to keep sides under to be in the contest, they only managed this twice on tour, in the Wales (20) and Ireland (22) games.
The tries conceded against Scotland also highlighted how defence is the biggest casualty of a lack of cohesion and continuity in a side, and the Wallabies cannot afford the same issues against the Lions.
Although there were some valiant efforts, there are still too many points on the board at the end of the day.
Set piece: B+
During TRC it was the scrum, which was the shining light, during this tour, the lineout and conversely the maul shone the brightest.
Will Skelton took the Wallabies’ attacking maul to a new level, it even saw Matt Faessler become the first Wallaby hooker to score a Test-match hattrick.
The greater cohesion amongst the group and the continued improvement amongst players, saw the lineout operate smoothly for the most part and it could also apply pressure to oppositions’ set piece.
While Skelton lead the charge at the attacking maul, the plaudits must go to lineout coach Geoff Parling for his work on the defensive maul.
The set piece which regularly crumbled throughout the year, now looks staunch, so much so that sides started second guessing kicking to the corner.
It didn’t hurt to have Skelton in there either, he is a one-man demolition crew.
Scrum coach Mike Cron seems to be doing well, particularly with youngster Isaac Kailea in the scrum but has not yet unlocked Taniela Tupou or Angus Bell’s potential.
The Wallabies’ maul attack and defence improved as the year went on. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Tupou’s form may be down to injury or mental factors, because we did not see his typical scrum destruction.
In Bell’s case, it appears just to be an age thing, he is still young for a Test-match prop.
Allan Alaalatoa is finally nearing full recover from the Achilles rupture which saw him miss last year’s world cup.
He brought power, workrate and desperately needed leadership, often off the bench.
Should he continue this trajectory, the Wallabies could be blessed with two world class tighthead-props when the Lions arrive.
The scrum was solid without it being a weapon.
Discipline: B+
The Wallabies continue their trend under Schmidt in keeping a relatively low penalty count.
The counts went: 8, 10, 14, and 9 against Ireland.
Disappointingly, they were always the most penalised side on the pitch, but only ever by one or two.
This shows three things, first, the team has good faith in their systems and individuals don’t feel the need to break rank to impact play.
Second, their technique, whether it’s tackling, cleaning, chasing or defending in the line, are being done with greater detail and accuracy.
Samu Kerevi was shown an upgraded red card against Wales at Principality Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Cardiff. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Third, because they are only just shy of their opposition, they are reading referees and can adapt to their law interpretations, almost as well as other top tier sides.
Also, only one card to Kerevi breaks a card curses Wallabies’ sides in recent years have found hard to break.
Standouts player from the tour:
Front row:
While Bell is ever impressive and Tupou can be a powerhouse who delivers magical moments, the importance of uncovering Faessler’s talent on this trip has been solidified. He has been integral to the Wallabies accuracy at lineout time.
Second row:
Despite Williams coming on in leaps and bounds, it’s hard to overlook the impact, experience, and brute force brought to the side by Skelton, he is truly a game changer for the Wallabies.
Backrow:
Take your pick; Rob Valetini or Fraser McReight. Both deliver extraordinary performances for the Wallabies on a weekly basis, but it’s McReight who has truly announced himself on the global stage in this tour and who secures this plaudit.
Halves:
Jake Gordon and Lolesio are the clear winners here. Gordon for his charge of starting almost every game and Lolesio’s growth and dominance in the no.10 jersey speaks for itself, it’s got to be remembered he is only 24-years-old.
Jeremy Williams was the rookie to shine brightest in 2024. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Centres:
The Ikitau-Suaalii axis is the clear standout. Kerevi didn’t get a proper chance to show his wares and although the Wallabies could have used his bulk against Scotland, it’s evident Ikitau and Suaalii can in time, provide a special partnership.
Wing:
Dylan Pietsch was exactly the strong, abrasive ball runner the Wallabies needed, but his injury opened the door for Max Jorgensen, and it must be said, the youngster built well into the physicality of the Test-arena, his speed is his current point of difference to other Wallaby backs.
Fullback:
No one in the Wallabies’ backline razzles and dazzles as much as Wright, he’s in a league of his own currently.
Rookie of the tour:
Jorgensen has been good, Kailea has stepped up beautifully, Suaalii is evidently capable of being a Wallaby great, but the title goes to Williams in the second row.
The man who lives in the engine room has brought a Scott Barrett-esque toughness to his game despite being slightly undersized for a Test-level tighthead lock.
His athleticism in the air, at lineout, and especially for kick-off receipts has been a big boost to his team.
With time Williams will only get better, and his arrival on the international stage could not have come at more crucial time, while other locks failed to hit the ground running, he plugged and big depth gap which dearly needed to be filled.
