Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was a relieved man after his team held off Wales’ challenge to claim a 2-0 series win – and flagged some changes for the next challenge – against Georgia on Saturday.
“We made five changes this week, I think, and there could be that many again,” said Schmidt, who expects to have Liam Wright, Len Ikitau, Tom Lynagh and possibly Harry Wilson back in the mix after injuries.
He was in a cautious mood after the Wallabies went 17-0 up in 24 minutes only to be pegged back in the second half before pulling away for a 36-28 win in a wet and wild affair in Melbourne.
Schmidt had watched the Wallabies lineout maul destroyed twice in the first half, but was happier with the second term, where steals from Charlie Cale and Langi Gleeson helped the team over the line.
“I’m always worried. I don’t care who we’re playing, I’m worried. Worried makes you work hard and makes sure that you try to be thorough in the selections you do but I think we’re trying to build a real squad mentality and have confidence in the players across the board,” Schmidt said.
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“It was a weird game, wasn’t it?” said former Wallaby skipper Michael Hooper on Stan Sport. “At so many points you think the Wallabies are going to run away with it and the Welsh just kept hanging in there, hanging in there.
“It’s raining, it’s almost torrential at one point and then it clears up completely, it gets cold. It was just back and forth all over the shop and the boys still managed to get the job done.”
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
So who starred and who struggled at AAMI Park?
DIAMONDS
Flying Filipo Daugunu won the plaudits for an all-action impact. He was on hand to finish off the seventh minute try that sent the Wallabies on their way, made an excellent covering tackle to knock James Botham into touch as the loosie looked likely to score, and then came up with the play of the game, reacting brilliantly to maximise an error from Wales winger Liam Williams.
Afterwards Daugunu said he had been surprised to get two starts in the gold jersey after playing in a No.13 for the Rebels this season.
Schmidt was full of praise for his winger.
“The way Filipo Daugunu chased the ball tonight and got into support positions was a difference maker for us,” said Schmidt.
Filipo Daugunu of the Wallabies makes a break to score a try during the International Test Match between Australia Wallabies and Wales at AAMI Park on July 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
“I absolutely love the fact that he chased the chance,” the coach said of the second half score, where Williams leapt to keep a Noah Lolesio kick in play, only for Daugunu to be on hand to scoop it up and scoot away for the try.
“It might be a one in 10, might be a one in 20 or a one in 100 chance, but if you don’t chase it, you’re not in a position to make the most of it.
“[For the first try] where he comes from when Fraser [McReight] gets into space, he comes from way back and chases so hard to get into a position where he can finish that try off.
“It was a bit fortuitous, but it’s happened two weeks in a row that people have tapped balls back in field and tries have resulted.”
Schmidt explained why he wanted Daugunu on the wing in his Wallabies team.
“He’s a good kicker of the ball. Defensively, he’s smart defending on the edge,” Schmidt said.
“He’s obviously got power in the carry. He’s got enough pace to play on the edge. A couple of times he hasn’t quite got the timing right to get either into the tackle or up at the ball, but I think he’s capable of those things and it’s just a case of continuing to work on those elements.”
John Eales Medallist Rob Valetini and his fellow backrower Fraser McReight were outstanding – and needed to be with some of their fellow forwards struggling.
The pair combined for a telling intervention on 58 minutes when Wales looked destined to score. McReight played a key role in the first try – backing up after some brilliance from Andrew Kellaway – while Valetini opened the game with several line denting carries that forced Wales into the back foot.
Another to shine was Jake Gordon, who was a clear Australian rugby flight risk at the end of Super Rugby and is playing like a man transformed.
Jake Gordon of the Wallabies scores a try during the International Test Match between Australia Wallabies and Wales at AAMI Park on July 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
His kicking game in on point and his try showed off a range of his attributes – particularly his calmness in the chaos to seize on an awful mistake from Cameron Winnett and his power to get over the line.
ROCKS
The Australian tight five was all at sea against the Welsh rolling maul – fired up by inspirational Wales skipper Dewi Lake.
James Slipper and Taniela Tupou – who appeared troubled by a tight calf – struggled at times, while Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was yellow carded for a shoulder to the head of Wales prop Archie Griffin – and later had a petulant moment where he rag dolled an opposition player out of pure frustration.
Wallabies assistant coach Mike Cron said the team’s defensive mauls woes need a combination of fixes – techincal improvement and a “bloody attitude” shift.
Jeremy Williams and Charlie Cale – in their second Tests – are likely who Schmidt was referring to when he said: “It was a tough day at the office for some of those young guys today.”
Tom Wright is the ultimate “rocks and diamonds” player in this team and he was down off the peak of game one where he was the Wallabies’ best player.
Wright gave his coach heart palpitations late in the game when he took a quick tap at a time when a penalty goal would have made the margin eight points. No harm done in the end.
It was another example of a heads up play – like the Kellaway chip and chase for the first try – that Schmidt was happy to see.
“I think you have to because if you get too staid, too static, then it’s so hard to play,” said Schmidt. “While Tom’s timing of his tap probably wasn’t perfect, the result almost ended up with a try in the left-hand corner. So we weren’t far away from it and got the advantage from the offside. Again, it was a slightly easier kick and gave us that differential of eight points.”
Wright was not great under the high ball – although conditions are a plausible excuse – however he did recover well when a Lolesio pass put him in all sorts of trouble before Daugunu’s opening try.
Lolesio’s performance will have done nothing to appease the doubters. His first kick was charged down, and his pass to Wright could have ended so much worse.
Joe Schmidt (C), head coach of the Wallabies talks to James Slipper (R) of the Wallabies after the International Test Match between Australia Wallabies and Wales at AAMI Park on July 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
He was, however, much better from the kicking tee but an enduring iumage will be Rio Dyer running over the top of the Wallabies No.10 for a late try.
Ben Donaldson looked an upgrade in a short cameo – and with huge opposition to come in the next month this position is very much up for grabs.
Schmidt has made it clear he requires better execution near the opposition line.
“When we got down in the 22, twice we got turned over, very close to the goal line. The same thing happened last week as well,” said the coach,
“Ireland convert those opportunities, and we’ve got to build enough confidence, enough accuracy in that area to be every bit as good as they are at it.”
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