it was a scrappy Sydney affair to farewell the Walllabies before Spring Tour.
What are we talking about after the Barbarians' visit?
1. Depth still building
The Wallabies rested 13 of their top-line players on Saturday and it showed at times against the world’s most-famous invitational club. Australia looked hesitant at the start and it took a reversion ro a more familiar backline setup for them to find their attacking groove. All the new additions worked hard but with little time together, the gap between the depth and the first-liners showed. The major positive is they snatched a win and will also take plenty from being given game time.
2. Victory comes at a cost
The Wallabies avoided a shock loss to the Alan Jones’ Barbarians but they’ll be licking their wounds for a long time. Lukhan Tui came off in the 35th minute with a hamstring injury and then Jack Dempsey’s day ended in the final stages with a serious-looking hamstring. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said post-match Dempsey would definitely miss the Spring Tour, while news is yet to be confirmed on Tui, who is still an outside chance of being fit for the back end of the month-long trip.
3. Small crowd treated post-match
Just over 17,000 showed up to Allianz Stadium at a game marketed for the fans. It was a warm Sydney afternoon but awkward timing and a lack of high-profile stars probably hurt. Those that were there, though, were able to run on to the ground post-match and mingle with players, a sight that will do as much good for Australian rugby as anything else.
4. Naisarani on the radar
MIchael Cheika must be counting down the days until Isi Naisarani becomes eligible to play for the Wallabies. The backrower was an absolute beast for the Barbarians in Sydney and it’s what people have come to expect from the Fijian. The 22-year-old was the Force’s best this year and the Brumbies will be licking their lips that he’ll be in their backrow in 2018. He’s not eligible for the Wallabies until 2019, but he’s surely on the radar.
5. Barbarians tricks don’t always fly
Players can tend to get away with more when it comes to Barbarians games, but Taniela Tupou discovered that’s not always the case on Saturday. Tongan Thor came out of a Baabaas huddle, with the ball up his jumper, crashing over the line. The tighthead prop was pulled back, though, with referee Brenton Pickerill calling him out for unsportsman-like behaviour. "You can't intentionally put the ball inside someone's jersey. It's unsportsmanlike behaviour and I can't allow it,” he said. Even though it was denied.
