MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australia’s one-point loss to Wales and Dave Rennie’s indignant tirade towards match officers neatly captured the frustrations of the Wallabies on the finish of a see-sawing season that finally fizzled out.
Decreased to 14 males after an early crimson card, Australia have been gallant within the 29-28 defeat in Cardiff however the reverse ensured they completed their European tour and not using a win for the primary time in 45 years.
The season’s tally of seven wins and 7 losses was an enchancment on 2020’s one win from six assessments, Rennie’s first 12 months in cost.
However the run of defeats to Scotland, England and Wales put the Wallabies proper again the place they began, at sixth on the earth rankings and decidedly sad about their place within the world pecking order.
“We’ll mirror again on three video games that have been winnable so it is irritating,” mentioned Rennie.
After a 3-0 whitewash by perennial nemesis New Zealand, there was a lot to love about Rennie’s mid-season shakeup when he introduced flyhalf Quade Cooper and centre Samu Kerevi in from Japan.
The pair rejuvenated the Wallabies’ assault throughout a five-match profitable streak that featured back-to-back wins over world champions South Africa.
Nevertheless, their resolution to stick with their golf equipment throughout the Japanese pre-season reasonably than tour Britain with the Wallabies was massively disruptive and uncovered Rugby Australia’s advert hoc coverage surrounding the collection of overseas-based gamers.
Indiscipline additionally proved expensive, and although Rennie pounded the desk about it all through the season, the Wallabies’ assortment of 4 yellow playing cards and a crimson on tour was an indictment on the taking part in group.
Nonetheless, two years out from the World Cup in France, Rennie can chalk up some positive aspects, together with the notable debut season of winger Andrew Kellaway, who completed with 9 tries from 12 assessments.
Centre Len Ikitau was one other good discover, whereas the scrum was strong towards the world’s greatest packs.
Rennie nonetheless has a lot to ponder over the low season, not least which gamers he’ll have the ability to choose underneath Rugby Australia’s (RA) obscure choice coverage.
Having been burnt badly by Cooper and Kerevi, the coach wants readability from each RA over alternatives and from gamers relating to their dedication to the Wallabies jersey.
That will no less than assist Rennie resolve whether or not to stick with Cooper, who can be 35 by the point of the World Cup, or make investments extra in James O’Connor and rookie Noah Lolesio as playmakers.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Enhancing by Shri Navaratnam)
