'Cheika put the Wallabies back 10 years' - Dave Rennie's first game in charge gives Wallaby fans a new perspective on the Cheika-era

A new-look Wallabies side have held the All Blacks to a famous 16-all draw in Wellington, and very well could’ve won the test had a 54 metre Reece Hodge penalty not have drifted as far to the right.

In the first test of the post-Michael Cheika-era, the Wallabies started the contest with passion and purpose, looking the more threatening until Jordie Barrett broke the deadlock with a try arguably against the flow of the match.

There appears to be a fresh approach to how Australia tackle the game, with coach Dave Rennie letting his players play to their strengths, and familiar combinations. By doing so, he was able to get the most out of them in the first Bledisloe Cup fixture.

Debutants Harry Wilson and Filipo Daugunu were looking lethal down the right edge especially early on. Daugunu crossed for Australia’s second try with just under 20 minutes to go, in what was overall a world-class debut from the Queensland Reds winger.

The winger was once of a number of players who really stood up when the going got tough. In the frantic period of stoppage time that followed the full-time siren, every player was putting their body on the line and competing in a way that's been lost to Australian rugby for some time - and didn't their fans love it?

Even though Australia didn’t win the test, the performance recaptured the passion and intrigue of the rugby public Down Under, like we haven’t seen in decades. In his one match in charge, Dave Rennie has seemingly won over the Australian rugby fans, who completely believe that he can get the most out of this golden generation of up-and-coming talent.

Rennie's approach both on and off the field put the spotlight on just how far Cheika's regime had been out of touch, with one fan calling himself a 'fool' for being a Cheika defender. Another lamented how long Rugby Australia kept the former coach in the job, with 'pride now restored' in the national team.

Definite improvement in the Wallabies play since the Cheika strategy of doing the same thing over and over unsuccessfully, but its probably too soon for the full results of the change

— Steve (@littlesteve) October 11, 2020

Got really crazy in ~5 minutes of extra time

Brilliant !

Scrappy but fun

AB’s looked a little rusty but Wallabies showed potential that was sadly lacking under Cheika

It’s been a funny year

— Irish Freedom UBI next (@IrishBitch9) October 11, 2020

After the match, the two teams gathered in the sheds for what can only be described as a rugby moment. Two teams who’d just belted and bruised each other for 90 minutes of test rugby, met to celebrate Michael Hooper, who at 28 became the youngest player ever to reach 100-caps.

The moment was captured on the Wallabies Twitter page, and their fans sang the praises of Rennie once again, and the change to culture and the approach the rivalry that is already in effect.

A long overdue return to mutual respect and goodwill. Great to see.

— Rob Smith (@RobertSmithIX) October 11, 2020

This is why I love rugby.

— premfrey (@premfrey) October 11, 2020

Rennie added following the match that the Wallabies are still not where they want to be, and aren’t satisfied with the draw.

The teams will go head-to-head again next Sunday at Eden Park in Auckland, before the Wallabies host two Bledisloe Cup matches of their own across the Tasman in Australia.