The Wallabies broke their Rugby Championship drought in Canberra on Saturday night.
What are we talking about after the 45-20 win?
1. Wallabies have their win
It was from the most impressive outing we’ve seen this season but a win, as they say, is a win. Error-riddled at times, the Wallabies showed glimpses of the progress they’ve spoken of, particularly in attack. Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley were a strong duo, while Sean McMahon was a force on both sides of the ball. The result means they will not finish last in the Rugby Championship and may have some momentum heading to South Africa in a fortnight.
2.Wallabies' set piece shows up
The Wallabies battled in the set piece against South Africa but their pack will have a huge confidence boost after an immense effort against Los Pumas. Argentina's scrum is always a scary proposition but the Aussies got the better of their South American counterparts, and laid the foundations for the Wallabies' attacking charges.
3. Foley provides the perfect mix
Israel Folau found his finishing ways again in the nation’s capital but Foley was the dark horse when it came to effective attack. The flyhalf played a crucial role in the Wallabies’ second-half turnaround and Michael Cheika was full of praise for the playmaker after the match. If he and Kurtley can find their best rugby together, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
4. Canberra crowd braves the cold
The crowd exceeded expectations on a chilly Canberra night, but it wasn't quite a packed house at GIO Stadium. A group of 14,229 came out to watch the Wallabies, despite temperatures dropping to near-freezing. It was a lower crowd than featured in Perth last week for the Springboks draw and also below the 18,535 that came out to support the NRL’s Kangaroos against New Zealand in May. The Raiders have bested the tally seven times this season, but it was far greater than the 9,971 that watched the Brumbies bow out of Super Rugby in July.
5. Boks await in Bloem
Bernard Foley was man of the match. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley
The Wallabies had a win on Saturday night but they’ll be wary of a Springboks side with revenge in its sights in a fortnight’s time. South Africa suffered its worst-ever loss to the All Blacks in Albany earlier on Saturday, held scoreless across the ditch. Though it throws the Springboks’ state into some kind of disarray, the one certainty is that they’ll be hungry to ensure they make an already hostile trip to Bloemfoentein even more painful for the Wallabies.
The Wallabies finished strong to take a 45-20 win over the Pumas in Canberra.
What are we talking about after that?
1. Wallabies have their win
It was from the most impressive outing we’ve seen this season but a win, as they say, is a win. Error-riddled at times, the Wallabies showed glimpses of the progress they’ve spoken of, particularly in attack. Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley were a strong duo, while Sean McMahon was a force on both sides of the ball. The result means they will not finish last in the Rugby Championship and may have some momentum heading to South Africa in a fortnight.
2. Wallabies’ second stanza switch
When the Wallabies have space and time they are a major threat, but they got little of either in the opening half. Sluggish at the breakdown, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was frustrated early in the second half at his side’s lack of urgency, but that was all forgotten by half-time as the side lifted its intensity.
3. Foley provides the perfect mix
Israel Folau found his finishing ways again in the nation’s capital but Foley was the dark horse when it came to effective attack. The flyhalf played a crucial role in the Wallabies’ second-half turnaround and Michael Cheika was full of praise for the playmaker after the match. If he and Kurtley can find their best rugby together, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
4. Canberra crowd braves the cold
The crowd exceeded expectations on a chilly Canberra night, but it was far from a packed house at GIO Stadium. A group of 14,229 came out to watch the Wallabies, despite temperatures dropping to near-freezing. It was a lower crowd than featured in Perth last week for the Springboks draw and also below the 18,535 that came out to support the NRL’s Kangaroos against New Zealand in May. The Raiders have bested the tally seven times this season, but it was far greater than the 9,971 that watched the Brumbies bow out of Super Rugby in July.
5. Boks await in Bloem
The Wallabies had a win on Saturday night but they’ll be wary of a Springboks side with revenge in its sights in a fortnight’s time. South Africa suffered its worst-ever loss to the All Blacks in Albany earlier on Saturday, held scoreless across the ditch. Though it throws the Springboks’ state into some kind of disarray, the one certainty is that they’ll be hungry to ensure they make an already hostile trip to Bloemfontein even more painful for the Wallabies.
