Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
34 - 29
FT
International

The Autumn Internationals Preview: Australia

Israel Folau

Rugby Pass is the only place to watch the Autumn Internationals, live and on demand in HD. Sign up during the international window and receive 25% off.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wallabies Schedule
vs Wales – Saturday November 5, 10:30pm (HKT)
vs Scotland – Saturday November 12, 10:30pm (HKT)
vs France – Sunday November 20, 4:00am (HKT)
vs Ireland – Sunday November 27, 1:30am (HKT)
vs England – Saturday December 3, 10:30pm (HKT)

[rugbypass-ad-banner id=”1475535264″]

The Wallabies have had a disappointing year after reaching the final of the Rugby World Cup in 2015. They lost a test series 3-0 to England in Australia and were largely unconvincing in the Rugby Championship despite finishing second. Can they turn their fortunes around on a Grand Slam tour of Europe this Autumn?

What to look out for
Whether Israel Folau is still Israel Folau. The Wallabies star has scored just three tries in the last two international seasons, and looked flat during the Rugby Championship. Australia’s success will hinge on whether he returns to his terrifying top form. Luckily he’ll have a clear, focused mind for the tour, after getting the nerve-wracking work of asking New Zealand netballer Maria Tutaia to marry him out of the way.

Strengths
The Wallabies are still resplendent with strike weapons, from Folau to Will Genia, Quade Cooper and the debutant league crossover Marika Koroibete. When David Pocock and Michael Hooper are good they are one of the best loosehead combinations in the world. But mainly, the side will rely on the intimidation inflicted on opposing sides by their terrifying mascot Wally the Wallaby.

WALLY IN TERRIFYING ACTION. PHOTO: GETTY
WALLY IN TERRIFYING ACTION. PHOTO: GETTY

Weaknesses
A visceral, paralysing fear of clowns. Just being drawn as a clown was enough to send Australian coach Michael Cheika into a paroxysm of anger and recriminations recently. His terror revealed a crack in the Wallaby armour. Expect Gethin Jenkins to dress up like Pennywise from It on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

It’s not just the coulrophobia though; the Wallabies’ forward play is a concern. They missed roughly 36,000 tackles in the Rugby Championship. According to Ian McGeechan, and most people with eyes, their scrum has been terrible. They were also apparently short on conditioning coming into the international season, after being churned out soft and blubbery by their tackling-averse Super Rugby franchises. Has the Australian pack run up enough hills and sand dunes to match up with the borderline criminal ruffians that litter sides like England and Wales?

Coaching situation
So what if Michael Cheika isn’t 100% competent? At least he’s entertaining. The Wallabies coach is the antithesis of monotone All Blacks schlub Steve Hansen, raging out out loudly and at-length over everything from disallowed tries to contract decisions.

He recently expanded into physical comedy, getting his shoulder broken by one of his own players, then declaring himself “out for the season”. It may get some people off-side, but it’s definitely popular with players, and good for the game.

Player to watch
Stephen Moore. The inspirational Wallaby captain / orc chief Azog from the Hobbit movies has taken to moving around the rugby field with the agility of a middle-aged drunk. He’s tough and quick to breakdowns, but is increasingly prone to looking like he has a mix of arthritis and diarrhea when forced to move laterally. Can he still inspire improved tackling performances from his forwards?

ADVERTISEMENT

If his effort against the All Blacks on October 22 is anything to go by, the answer is “probably”. Moore played one of his best games in ages in the Eden Park test. Unfortunately the Wallabies still lost 37-10.

Best chance of an upset
Getting the Grand Slam. It’s still not beyond the Wallabies. But it’d take a momentous effort.

Prediction
Win vs Wales. Win vs Scotland. Win vs France. Win vs Ireland. Loss vs England.

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 42 | Investec Champions Cup Final Review

Saitama Wildknights vs Kubota Spears | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Semi Final Replay

Spain's Incredible Rugby Sevens Journey to the World Championship Final | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 14

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Trending on RugbyPass

1

'I don't get it': Mike Brown's take on shock England omission

2

'I can see us being a serious challenger': Newcastle investment edging closer

3

Controversial Super Rugby rule could be introduced for Wallabies-Lions series

4

Fresh twist to Owen Farrell exit rumours as potential new role emerges

5

Robbie Henshaw's Leinster season over as 2 Lions pulled from URC QF

6

'We just hope he pulls through - Edinburgh issue Duhan van der Merwe update

7

Fissler Extra: The Paddy Jackson rumour that may have legs

8

144kg monster among 3-man SA URC Player of the Season shortlist

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

LONG READ

Are Bordeaux-Begles, not Toulouse, the future of French rugby?

UBB's Champions Cup triumph and their plethora of free-wheeling internationals have shifted expectations for a France side shorn of Antoine Dupont.

LONG READ

Putting for birdie, saving par, or rounds to forget? How have Aussie sides fared in SRP?

What to make of the campaigns of the Brumbies, Reds, Waratahs and Force heading into the final round of Super Rugby Pacific?

LONG READ

The era of the hybrid player is upon us

Forwards who can play as backs and even backs who can move into the pack could be considered as rugby evolves

Comments on RugbyPass

C
Cantab 15 days ago
Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments
J
James 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments
d
dw 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments
d
dw 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments
d
dw 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.


Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments
R
RedWarriors 15 days ago
'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments
J
JM 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments
R
RedWarriors 15 days ago
'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments
O
OJohn 15 days ago
Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments
C
Carlos 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments
C
Carlos 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments
S
Solenn Bonnet 15 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.


Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments
B
BC 15 days ago
Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments
O
Otagoman II 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments
N
NB 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍

37 Go to comments
N
NB 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Always the same at the other place. Some of those perceptions of him at the Tahs - lazy, overweight and slow - were impossible to shift!

37 Go to comments
N
NB 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Hang on to Miz Carlos!

37 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Putting for birdie, saving par, or rounds to forget? How have Aussie sides fared in SRP? Putting for birdie, saving par, or rounds to forget? How have Aussie sides fared in SRP?
Search