The French farce that robbed the Wallabies of victory in the most dramatic of finales in Melbourne would have been laughable but for the consequences.
Think about it for a moment. Forwards drop to their knees to have phantom injuries looked at to waste time. Scrums take forever to set. Endless TMO decisions waste time.
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French referee Mathieu Raynal plucked a law never sighted before to penalise Bernard Foley for a delay in taking a kick for touch in the final minute of a Test. He was a ref who wanted to own the result. Le Diabolical.
The All Blacks took advantage and stole it 39-37 at the death to keep the Bledisloe Cup.
It was a sour end to a thrilling Bledisloe Cup clash at Marvel Stadium.
So what else did we learn?
1 VALETINI TIME
The high-octane fuel to the Wallabies’ first half fightback from 10-all down to 10-was Rob Valetini. Just as forwards Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) and Pablo Matera (Argentina) had huge games to inspire their sides to upset wins over the All Blacks this year, the Wallabies found a man willing to crank it up to that level.
He found an urgent second effort to bullock over for the Wallabies’ first try. He was in a rolling maul but extracted himself to get into position for his big run.
He hurtled forward on other occasions, made a steal and was generally the forward leader who was needed.
With five minutes to play, his forced penalty looked to have won the Test when Nic White slotted the penalty goal.
2 BERNARD FOLEY COMEBACK
There were queries over whether Bernard Foley still had any juice to play more Test footy at 33 after three years away from this level.
In six quick minutes in the second half he proved he has. His short pass for the first Andrew Kellaway try came after he’d wriggled a way through two big forwards.
His follow-up was a perfectly weighted long pass that hit Kellaway on the fly for another try.
Foley got better and better. He definitely has a part to play for the rest of the year.
3 TRIGGER HAPPY
Just how many Tests worldwide have been played 15-on-15 for the full 80 minutes this year? It wouldn’t be many.
Four yellow cards in the Test distorted the action. Some riveting play made up for it but mismatched numbers is no way to play the game.
Pick just one. The Jake Gordon yellow card for collapsing a maul just didn’t stand up. Fair enough on others. The Wallabies still need to be more disciplined generally.
Frustrating.
4 HUGE EFFORT
This was the effort Australians wanted to see. Coming back from 31-13 down against the All Blacks is rarely done.
To do so with 13 men defending for nearly 10 minutes is nearly impossible.
There was huge heart to the Wallabies display. There were desperate bodies everywhere, making tackles, forcing pressure on the Kiwis and fighting back.
What a Test.
5 THE FULLBACK QUESTION
Andrew Kellaway is the fifth player used at fullback this season. He certainly showed enough to suggest he might be the answer.
His speed and timing into the line was excellent and he has a knack for making those few valuable metres out of his own territory to settle things until the cavalry arrives.
