Although IFS and Bus are in vain in the ruthless world of Test Rugby Union, Australia must hang on to the hope of rebounding next weekend at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to force a decision maker.
Harry Wilson, Captain of the Wallabies, seemed inconsolable after the 27-19 defeat of his team at Suncorp Stadium when the series was opened. Joe Schmidt must supervise a disappointing defeat against optimism.
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Yes, the British and Irish lions have a lot of room to improve and were undeniably superior. However, Australia was still less than eight points at the end. If they had won one of the two conversions they missed, there may have been much more tension in the last moments.
Games with so much play invariably have controversial turning point. While Joseph Suaalii’s test was properly extinguished, for example, Wallabies supporters may feel that Ben Earl was lucky to escape a yellow card during this same attack on the hour. With the Lions on a final warning, the back record seemed to bend under Suaalii in the shade of his own messages.
Australia followed 24-5 at the time and still needed an extraordinary turnaround. As they come together for the second test, they must believe that an upheaval is possible. The 2001 emulation with a triumph 2-1 may seem far, it is therefore essential for them to linger on the reasons for positivity.
Reinforcements on the way
Power was a major problem for Australia in the first half and their team will be more imposing if Rob Valetini and Will Skelton are able to appear in the second test. Being without these two as well as Langi Gleeson turned out to be predictable debilitating for Wallabies.
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A pack containing Skelton would simply not have been missed by a man in a driving maul like Australia when they opted for child’s play in the second period:
Australia had used a peel movement for a few minutes earlier, but the Crespigny nick champion was wrapped by Tadhg Beirne and Dan Sheehan and conceded a turnover.
While the selection of James Slipper to start paying in the trade of Trustmal, it is difficult to consider that Angus Bell is upset as spectacular as the veterinarian was in the first seconds. Tom Curry and Sheehan Whack Slipper in a tackle of tones…
… And Beirne rushes in the next phase to obtain the penalty that put the lions 3-0 forward. For everyone to go and Schmidt can be better served with Bell playing 50 minutes rather than 30.
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The Wallabies boss may change other positions. Tate McDermott, the half-machine of scrums, marked a test of the bench and is a very effective sniper around heavier runners. There is another launch of stick or twist in half of the fly concerning Tom Lynagh. The 22 -year -old endured a difficult outing and Ben Donaldson could carry 10.
As always, the physical battle between the attackers will be essential and would represent a significant swing if the Lions lost Joe McCarthy while the Wallabies reintegrate Valentini and Skelton.
Promise
In the end, the fray was a boring drawback rather than something more bad for the lions. But they conceded two penalties and a free kick in all. Australia had the ascendant, which could be surprising for many spectators.
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The civil servants were obviously satisfied with the work of Wallabies Tighthead Allan Alaalatoa, who worked for offenses in Ellis Genge and Andrew Porter.
Porter is cracked here on the lions set up, Ben O’Keeffe believing him to collapse under pressure:
Mike Cron, a highly experienced Australian scrum coach, will be satisfied with the procedure as a whole. The flight of Nick Frost on the final game was also emblematic of a last disturbing quarter to alignment.
More to come from Suaalii
One of the discouraging aspects of Australia’s performance was their inability to injure the lions with strike movements. Indeed, one retaliated horribly while Curry took over a Matt Faessler throw that had sailed over the line towards the midfielder. Sheehan marked the attack that followed.
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The peripheral nature of Joseph Suaalii’s display was another curious and frustrating factor for Wallabies. Led by Curry and Beirne, the Lions smothered their opponents and made Australia ‘attack seems confused and without rudder.
Despite this, Suaalii could have been more important. Dierre shallow restarts for him to continue was an easy victory for the Wallabies, but they did not turn to this strategy until they had 17-5 behind. Here is the Australian restart map:
Despite the Lions’ oscillations during the tour matches, the first two restarts of Australia were affected for a long time and taken in the event of pressure. It took until their third for Suaalii to be able to jump against a lifting pod:
When it happened, even if Australia did not settle one all evening, the tactic caused problems.
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This Lynagh chip, well moving by the lions, was another attempt to bring Suaalii. The idea is right, but disappointed with a bad execution and a kick that moves a little too long:
Schmidt hopes that Australia will be smooth and more able to release an exceptional athlete, after 80 more minutes together. Max Jorgensen, a gliding runner, threatened the lions despite limited opportunities.
If the Wallabies generate more momentum and rapid rucks at MCG, Suaalii and the great-back Tom Wright should be able to disturb the defense of the Lions.
Wilson as a focal point
On their credit, Australia was admirably provocative and asserted itself in physical exchanges during a second half in which they scored 14 points in total of the lions of 10.
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Carlo Tizzano moved for a close test and Wilson, which had been well contained earlier, began to eliminate meters. Here, the latter is forced before Maro Itoje and Beirne before lifting an unloading to Nick Frost:
A few minutes later, Wilson chose the base of a ruck and slips through marginal defense. Only a rapid thought of James Lowe prevents a test:
Wilson, a clever kicker, almost created a test for Harry Potter with this cute cap…
… And will be more influential if others can help him share the transport burden.
Decomposition disturbance
The uncertainty of the back of the Lions three gave Australia some brilliant moments in kicks, such as Jorgensen’s jump to beat Hugo Keenan and mark.
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On the ground, even if the attack work of Australia could have been sadded in the middle of Beirne’s jackalling, Fraser McREight underlined his reputation as an exceptional scavenger. Here, he follows Len Ikitau in a ruck and emerges with the ball:
The position on the ground of the above turnover is important to highlight. Ben O’Keeffe granted a ruck competition and, on the whole, the Wallabies have targeted large breakdowns, where the lions seem vulnerable all the tour.
On a few occasions, they have timed a barge when Jamison Gibson-Park reached disorderly breakdowns. Schmidt is a stick for such details.
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Andrea Piardi is the man in the middle of Melbourne. If McREight can remain on the right side of the Italian referee, he can drag the lions in another dog fight.
A return victory would be an extraordinary feat for the Wallabies after the defeat in Brisbane, but there are crumbs of comfort in the clutch. Next weekend is the territory to do or die. They must deliver.
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