'They're letting themselves down' - Knives sharpening for Rennie's Wallabies
The heat is on Wallabies coach Dave Rennie after the All Blacks racked up their highest score against Australia in 118 years of Test rugby.
New Zealand's 57-22 mauling at Eden Park keeps the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand for a 19th straight year and has left some to question the Australia mentor's tactics.
Just five points down at the break, a horror show then ensued as the All Blacks slammed on five second-half tries, including four in a rampant 18 minutes.
All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens questioned Rennie's tactics, saying they were "just too quick with the boot".
"When you're on a front-foot roll you put in a little kick to regain it, a grubber kick to regather. They've just kicked the ball away too often tonight," he said.
Sir John Kirwan, another Kiwi statesman, took aim at loose passing that saw two intercepts lead to tries - after Noah Lolesio committed the same blunder in last week's 33-25 loss.
"They made that mistake again twice ... they haven't adjusted," he told Sky Sport NZ. "They're throwing moneyballs because they think they can see the space and it's not coming off ... they are letting themselves down."
Both Rennie and captain Michael Hooper agreed the Wallabies didn't treasure the ball closely enough.
Rennie said he appreciated the buck stopped with him.
"Everything falls back on me, doesn't it," he said. "We went in with a plan; we didn't execute that plan and we'll seriously look at what we're doing."
Hooper was downcast about his side's inability to play out a match.
"We've got to have 80-minute performances and we haven't put one together probably this year," he said. "We're 100 per cent going to be optimistic about the stuff we're doing well."
On at least one point, Kirwin was happy to give the Wallabies some credit.
"Were they really physical tonight, did they create lots of play? ... Are they fantastic in contact? Yeah," he said. "But you cannot give the All Blacks those 10 or 15 minutes where they put mistake after mistake."
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In the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
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