A first-up win, no injuries and plenty of green shoots.
Joe Schmidt won’t be the only happy camper with the result of his new Wallabies, who managed to overcome Wales 25-16 in Sydney. The 35,945 people who turned up will be, too.
The clash between ninth and tenth in the world didn’t reach any real heights, but on closer inspection – and a closer inspection of the tape – Schmidt will be pleased with several areas of the Wallabies’ first-up performance.
The Wallabies’ set-piece, with the exception of their dodgy defensive maul, completely dominated their opponents – the sight of forwards falling over like dominos in Lyon a distant memory.
For the most part, the Wallabies’ exit from inside their 22-metre zone – one of Australian rugby’s shortcomings in recent years – was significantly better, with recalled halfback Jake Gordon filling the role Conor Murray played under Schmidt with Ireland superbly.
Jake Gordon produced his best performance in gold against Wales at Allianz Stadium on July 06, 2024 in Sydney. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
The Wallabies’ seven debutants – the most in a Test since 1980 – also showed they have a future on the international stage, with Jeremy Williams, Isaac Kailea and Charlie Cale delivering eye-catching performances.
Yet, the Wallabies still have a long way to go before they can be considered top-tier class.
They lacked penetration through the middle and weren’t nearly as potent inside the attacking zone as they’ll need to be either.
That’s not fixed overnight, with the Wallabies in need of finding one or two dominant, power forwards to dent the line and blow open oppositions on both sides of the ball.
The Wallabies also need to find a dominant game-controller in the inside channels.
As Schmidt commented, the Wallabies must make the leap from playing a Super Rugby brand to a pragmatic and ruthless international game.
“A win is really important, and it always is, because that’s what you get judged on externally,” he said.
“Internally I think just some of the moments that we did really well to earn the win, that’s what will be the focus for us this week building into Melbourne.
“We have a few things that we’ve been working on that are maybe a little bit different from how teams have played in Super Rugby.
“So the adjustment time for that to become second nature is inevitably going to take time. Hopefully it can take until Tuesday, and we can be really good at it. I’m not sure [it will].”
So how did the players rate?
Tom Wright – 7
The recalled Wallabies fullback produced the match-turning moment, skinning Nick Tompkins to run 60 metres and score. It was a classy moment that showcased Wright’s ability to turn it on.
The decision to run the ball also showed his improved decision-making. Although, Wright made it look easy, it was also the fullback’s first decision to run the ball back. It came off a treat.
Earlier, Wright was tackled by his opposite Liam Williams after Andrew Kellaway found space following a lovely ball from Hunter Paisami.
Andrew Kellaway – 7
Shifted onto the wing, the versatile outside back showcased his quality from the outset as he found the space created by Paisami in the ninth minute. He also had the balance to keep his feet despite being ankle tapped.
Kellaway did the little things well. He offered support, made his tackles and was safe.
Case in point was in the 73rd minute as he banged Mason Grady into touch.
Josh Flook – 6
Every bit the performance we’ve come to expect from the Queensland Reds outside centre.
On debut, Flook’s decision-making was first class.
He held onto the ball in the 19th minute and made metres when others might have tried to find the space on the outside. It was a smart decision.
All night he was defensively sound, including in the 72nd minute as he shut down Welsh winger Josh Hathaway.
Hunter Paisami – 6
Penalised harshly once or twice, including at the ruck when Pierre Brousset said Paisami went off his feet in the 27th minute. It came despite Taine Plumtree stepping backwards at the ruck – an aspect that referees accounted for in Super Rugby.
The midfielder showcased his triple threat against Wales, with the recalled inside centre producing several kicks in behind.
Some came off – his initial cross-field kick to Liam Wright was a beauty in the ninth minute – and others didn’t like his chip in the 30th minute, where the kick was on but the accuracy let him down.
He also took the ball to the line in the ninth minute to put Kellaway into space.
Defensively Paisami was tough, too.
Filipo Daugunu – 6
Scoring early in the second half was clearly the winger’s highlight.
As vision showed, he sprinted from his left wing to third receiver to burst onto a Noah Lolesio ball and find space and eventually get to the tryline. It was a winger’s try, with his instinct putting him through the hole.
Elsewhere, Daugunu was targeted off kick restarts by the Welsh.
Daugunu mostly handled it well, but his attempted clearing kick in the 22nd minute showed why oppositions will continue to pepper him as his effort went just past the 22-metre. Shortly after Wales had a penalty try, as the Wallabies’ defensive maul had no answer.
He also failed to find touch in the 29th minute, as he simply hacked the ball down field. Although Wales didn’t capitalise on the counter-attacking movement, other nations would have.
Daugunu also gave away a penalty for tackling Hathaway in the air. But he made up for it by tackling the winger into touch early in the second half.
Noah Lolesio – 5
Similarly to Paisami, Lolesio left the door ajar for people to continue to debate his worth.
The 24-year-old produced a fair effort given it was his first Test in 18 months and the many moving parts under Schmidt’s first team.
But a roller-coasted two minutes early in the first half showcased the good and bad in his game.
After missing a shot at goals in the 11th minute, Lolesio then produced a lovely chip and chase for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. But then next phase the fly-half spilt a simple pass and the attacking raid fell flat.
Later, in the 61st minute, Lolesio needed to put the ball through the hands and Wright or Kellaway would have scored. Instead, he opted for a cross-field kick and it was just a fraction long. As Tim Horan said, it was a low percentage play.
Noah Lolesio finds touch against Wales at Allianz Stadium on July 06, 2024. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
In-between, however, Lolesio had some strong moments.
He saw and successfully found space in the fifth minute and the Wallabies got a penalty moments later by trapping Wales in their corner.
He also got on the ball and made a clean steal in the 56th minute after Aaron Wainwright found space but was ankle-tapped from behind by Gordon.
Jake Gordon – 8.5
The halfback’s best match in gold.
It wasn’t because of Gordon’s flashy play but by doing the fundamentals well.
Gordon’s pass had the fizz Schmidt had spoken about but it was his excellent box kicking and defence that stood out.
The Waratahs captain not only kicked well to exit successful inside the 22m, when he chose to make it a contestable more often than not the Wallabies came away with the ball. That happened in the fifth minute and 59th minute.
Gordon also milked a couple of penalties beautifully by tripping over at the base of the ruck and being played at. That’s gamesmanship.
The other standout moments came with Gordon ankle-tapping Wainwright when the No.8 looked set to send his halfback Ellis Bevan in to score.
His pressure at the back of the lineout in the 63rd minute also showed his tenacity.
Rob Valetini – 8
The Wallabies’ best forward, Valetini was physical and made the hard carries and flexed his muscle in defence.
His carry in the 68th minute typified his performance.
Then his two shots in two minutes, including on flanker Tommy Reffell showed his presence.
Fraser McReight – 5.5
Quiet by his own standards, McReight wasn’t allowed into the game because Wales didn’t have much ball all night.
The Reds openside flanker was also sent to the sin bin for collapsing the maul in the 25th minute.
But he eventually got some pay in the 78th minute, as Wales were forced to try and tackle McReight around the neck after the No.7 got to the breakdown quickly.
Liam Wright (c) – 7
A strong first start by Wright, who became the Wallabies 89th captain.
Early on Wright made some nice carries, including showcasing his footwork in the 18th minute.
A minute later the Reds back-rower made a lineout steal.
He also showed his hardworking nature in defence, getting off the scrum like a flash in the 43rd minute to shutdown Wainwright.
Jeremy Williams – 7
Hit plenty of rucks inside the opening 20 minutes and built into the game with his carrying, including in the 48th minute with some nice leg drive.
Williams also pinched a lineout in the 27th minute.
Jeremy Williams showed his quality at the lineout on Test debut against Wales at Allianz Stadium on July 06, 2024. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – 5.5
Physically strong during the opening half-hour, Salakaia-Loto flexed his muscle and plucked Lolesio’s early chip kick nicely.
Later, he fumbled the ball in the 40th minute.
Taniela Tupou – 8
Superb during his 40-minute effort.
Tupou did what he does best: he blew open the Welsh scrum to give the Wallabies three points and later burrowed his way to the tryline through sheer power.
But just as pleasing was his five-pointer, were the two carries he did in the build up, as well as the ruck he hit to ensure Reffell didn’t get on the ball to deny the Wallabies.
Later, in the 33rd minute, Tupou won another scrum penalty.
Tupou made one error in the 29th minute, but it was a strong return for the tight-head prop who missed three of the Wallabies’ four World Cup matches.
Along with needing to get fitter, Tupou must address his defensive mail deficiencies. It’s an area of the game he’s lazy at.
Matt Faessler – 7
A quality first half, where Faessler’s set-piece was perfect.
In the second half, Faessler kicked the ball back when scrambling back in defence. It resulted in a five-metre scrum as Wright was forced to ground the ball.
He later missed a cleanout from a Kailea carry in the 64th minute, as he was just a fraction slow. It allowed Wales to cut the score to 18-16.
James Slipper – 5.5
Played his part in a strong set-piece in the first half.
Slipper was also penalised early for a no-arms tackle to allow Wales first points in the night.
Reserves
Billy Pollard – 5
Came on in the final quarter and showed his pace by scampering back to clean up a chip-kick in behind.
Isaac Kailea – 7.5
A very promising cameo indeed.
After coming on for Slipper, Kailea showed he’s a Test match player to be excited about. With a great physique, the loose-head prop was busy on both sides of the ball.
His super shot on Kemsley Mathias forced the ball loose.
Allan Alaalatoa – 6
He might not have been as eye-catching as Tupou, but Alaalatoa was quality during his 40-minute effort in the second-half. The tight-head prop didn’t put a step wrong and was defensively tough.
Angus Blyth – 4.5
One anxious pass to nobody resulted in a turnover, but otherwise the replacement lock showcased his physicality during the second half. Bevan then bangs a 50-22.
Charlie Cale – 6.5
An eye-catching performance after coming on for Wright, Cale looks the perfect super-sub at this stage of his career.
The Brumbies back-rower was busy on both sides of the ball, tried to slow down the ruck and made one lineout steal in the 77th minute.
Tate McDermott – 5
Came on with 16 minutes left and did his job well.
Tom Lynagh – 6
After a rocket pass to Wright contributed to an error, his early pass to his fullback in the 68th minute freed up the fullback to take full advantage to score. Then Lynagh converted from out wide.
One huge dropkick restart and several well-made tackles saw the 21-year-old have a memorable debut.
Dylan Pietsch – N/A
Got on very late to become the 15th Indigenous Wallaby.