Opinion
The ref’s call that cruelled the Wallabies
Paul Cully
Rugby columnistSpringboks fullback Aphelele Fassi should have been sin-binned in the 63rd minute for cynically preventing a try-scoring opportunity under his own sticks – it was blatant infringement at a critical moment during the Wallabies’ 30-22 loss in Cape Town.
After a break and chip over the top by Corey Toole, Andrew Kellaway regathered and was heading towards the try line when tackled by Fassi. But the South Africa No.15 never released Kellaway as he got to his feet and contested the ball.
Should Springboks fullback Aphelele Fassi have been sin-binned for this incident?Credit: Stan Sport
He should have been penalised and shown a yellow card by referee James Doleman, but was instead awarded a penalty. With the score 23-17 to the Springboks but the momentum heading towards the Wallabies, it was a pivotal decision and denied the visitors a chance to take the lead and potentially establish a Test-winning position. The Wallabies really are due a few big calls for the rest of the year.
Toole was Wallabies’ best on debut
It was apt that Corey Toole was a key figure in the incident above – the Brumbies’ speedster was superb on debut. He took his try well – alive to where the space was – and looked dangerous every time he got the ball. In fact, in the ultimate compliment, he looked on par with South Africa’s brilliant No.11 Cheslin Kolbe. That was also due to the quality of Toole’s aerial work, as he got up high and with accuracy when needed. Toole got the opportunity because of injury to Dylan Pietsch, who himself was deserving of that chance. But Toole will be very hard to drop on the evidence of his Cape Town performance in tricky, greasy conditions. The Wallabies have unearthed a new weapon.
Corey Toole scores on debut for the Wallabies against South Africa.Credit: Getty Images
Replacing White isn’t going to be easy
Joe Schmidt’s selection of Nic White to replace the injured Jake Gordon during the British and Irish Lions series turned out to be a masterstroke, and showed that the White-Tate McDermott balance was right, with the Reds halfback providing great value off the bench. Losing White after only 12 minutes in Cape Town (failed HIA) was a big blow for the Wallabies, just five minutes after he set up Toole’s try with a sharp piece of play. McDermott wasn’t poor by any stretch of the imagination, but some of his kicking wasn’t as accurate as White’s and there was the odd moment of hesitation at the ruck when the Wallabies needed to be decisive. White, of course, has already signalled his intention to retire. What Schmidt wouldn’t give to have him five years younger.
Rugby Championship team of the week, round 2
- Ox Nche (South Africa)
- Juan Montoya (Argentina)
- Thomas du Toit (South Africa)
- Pedro Rubiolo (Argentina)
- Nick Frost (Australia)
- Pablo Matera (Argentina): Player of the round
- Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
- Rob Valetini (Australia)
- Finlay Christie (New Zealand)
- Handre Pollard (South Africa)
- Corey Toole (Australia)
- Santiago Chocobares (Argentina)
- Lucio Cinti (Argentina)
- Mateo Carreras (Argentina)
- Juan Cruz Mallia (Argentina)
Wallabies scrum is unrecognisable
When the Wallabies lost heavily to South Africa in Brisbane last year, the visitors’ scrum dominance was such that the set-piece barely looked safe at times. What a difference 12 months can make. While the Springboks did squeeze a few scrum penalties out of the Wallabies in Cape Town, it was nowhere near the complete domination they had clearly been training for. The Wallabies’ ability in this area has gone through the roof under the tutelage of Mike Cron, and every prop who took the field in the second Test did their job. The Springboks have some big, experienced men in the front row, players with big reputations in both South Africa and Europe, but they struggled to go forward in a major endorsement of the Wallabies’ work in that area. Their depth is building too, with one-Test All Black Aidan Ross waiting in the wings.
Los Pumas run the All Blacks ragged
The All Blacks have issues. Although it is far too early to say if the Bledisloe Cup is in play, Argentina provided something of a road map for the Wallabies with their 29-23 win in Buenos Aires. Remarkably, Los Pumas ran for 538 metres compared to 186 metres for the All Blacks. In the process, Los Pumas beat 40 defenders, exposing the All Blacks lack of pace on the edges and through the loose forwards – Ardie Savea excepted. For All Blacks fans, it was an alarmingly one-paced performance that again showed their weakness under the high ball. The pity for the Wallabies is that it will likely prompt a serious review of their trajectory and selections, particularly on the wings. And the more imminent threat will come from Los Pumas, who coped superbly with the early loss of No.10 Tomas Albornoz and sorted out their scrum problems from the previous week. The two-Test mini-series in Australia promises much.