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'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.
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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.
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Cheika put the Wallabies back 10 years, and now he's at the Roosters surprise surprise they're having their mad monday tomorrow
— Karthik Rajesh (@karts95) October 11, 2020
Wallabies getting pay from kicking game in Test fashion post-Cheika #Bledisloe #NZvAUS
— Jim Tucker (@HulaBulaJim) October 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/moose287/status/1315145479982809088
https://twitter.com/RydOrDi33/status/1315165990527746048
Not a bad game so far! Very early days and score makes it look less close then it is but I think the attack already looks better than it did under Cheika #BledisloeCup
— Ask Janet (@Movie_Pleb_meg) October 11, 2020
What a bloody game!!!! I say it again…”CHEIKA COULD NEVERRRRR” #BledisloeCup #NZLvAUS
— Steph ?? (@coconutsheila) October 11, 2020
Massive wind behind them can only help the Wallabies. So much better than the side Cheika picked. #NZLvAUS
— alunsays (@alunsays) October 11, 2020
What a game from the Wallabies!
The Cheika era is over. Pride has been restored in our national team.
— Mal C (@Mal47C) October 11, 2020
Danger-men for the Wallabies ??Tupou and Kiwi Dave Rennie – you can already see that Oz are not wobbly like they were under Cheika
— Kisset.C (@kyrosrugby) October 11, 2020
As awful as NZ we’re, that was Impressive from #Australia, should have got Cheika out the picture ages ago #BledisloeCup
— James Kennedy (@kendolphexpress) October 11, 2020
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 !
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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
Remember when Cheika took over as coach and beat the ABs in Game 1 with the Pooper? Don’t let this be that again! #NZvAUS
— Matt Griffiths (@mattagriffiths) October 11, 2020
This is the best Wallabies performance since, well when Cheika took over. #mrangry #NZLvAUS
— alunsays (@alunsays) October 11, 2020
Reversing the Cheika effect.
— MollymookMick (@ainsliegrotto) October 11, 2020
Rennie influence was immense. Our basics were leagues ahead of where we have been under the Cheika years. Discipline was much better, ball handling and carrying skills were very impressive. Honestly can’t remember the last time I saw a wallaby performance like this
— Jonathan (@JonMickie17) 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.
Michael Cheika halted the tradition going right back to men who served as ANZACs together of the @wallabies & the @AllBlacks having a drink together after a Test match. Pleased that Dave Rennie has restored the tradition. ?? https://t.co/ByVvUaoUB9
— Stephen Clark (@ClarkHistoryPol) October 11, 2020
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.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
29 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
29 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
29 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
29 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
29 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments