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The internet attributes the quote to Nelson Mandela, but it may as well have come from Ted Lasso: “You either win or you learn.”
Whoever coined it, modern athletes have wholeheartedly embraced the cliché and its derivations. Listen to any post-match media comments of a losing team, and you will hear endless chat about taking “ learnings ” from the defeat.
There’ve been countless learnings for the Wallabies in recent times, we are told. And no wonder, given the last three games for Australia have all been monster losses that have exposed a litany of problems.
But just as we came to ruefully understand at school, there comes a point where the learning stops and exams have to be passed.
For the Wallabies, that moment arrives in Edinburgh. Up against a skilful Scotland side that sits one place above them in the world rankings, and are captained by the pugnacious ex-Australian Sione Tuipulotu, the visiting Wallabies will be given another stern test in all the areas they’ve been painfully learning from in recent outings.
They have come in a number of places, but it’s hard to not start with the defence . The Wallabies have leaked 138 points in three Tests, and while that’s an obviously ugly headline figure, other stats are insightful.
The Wallabies have missed an average of 31 tackles per game, and conceded an average of 12 line breaks, in the two losses to New Zealand and against England.
In July, however, against Ireland, France and Italy, they only missed 20 tackles per game and gave up an average of six line breaks. The fact the Wallabies had one centre pairing throughout July – Ikitau and Suaalii – but had a new midfield combination for each of the past three, points to a contributing cause: constant change brings a lack of connection and understanding, under pressure.
Whatever system the Wallabies are trying to use – and it has felt confusing – almost doesn’t matter when individuals make a rash decision to shoot up solo or bite in, and then everything rapidly unfolds.
“Once you lose one connection piece, you get on the back foot, and then you’re not getting into a set piece or a set position where you can get off the line hard as you’d like to,” Kiss said on Friday about the “learnings” in defence. “That’s been — it sort of dominoes on us a bit. That’s obvious, I think we can all see that once a little bit of a chink happens, that domino effect on you happens quickly.”
The return of Ikitau and Suaalii, and the instinctive trust earned in 19 Tests together, will help shore up the Wallabies defence. Some old-fashioned dominant tackling is needed, too, however. England crossed the gainline with 56 per cent of their carries, and averaged almost five metres per carry.
Any defence, when back-peddling, will find it tough to maintain shape.
Indeed, that’s the basis of the Wallabies’ attack plans: punch through the line and then use momentum, pace and skill to play on top of a rival.
But the Wallabies haven’t recently won the physical battle when they have the ball, either, and have this week been working on those “learnings”.
Some of that will be more variety in ball-carrying to be less predictable with one-out running, more ball-playing from Ryan Lonergan near the ruck, more deception at the line, and more smart kicking against rush defences. But it will also be a healthy dose of “just give the ball to Bobby V”, given Rob Valetini’s reputation of carrying like a concrete truck.
But the biggest “learning” the Wallabies will need is a reminder that winning can often come down to who wants it more.
Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said on a podcast last week he was stunned by the Wallabies’ “lack of urgency” against England. Harry Wilson conceded post-game that, for some reason, they didn’t arrive with the right mindset. England were hungrier.
Ensuring this doesn’t happen again in Edinburgh must be the Wallabies’ biggest “learning”.
Mindset and hunger levels will be the decisive battleground at Murrayfield. Scotland are, lest we forget, also coming off a humbling loss to the All Blacks.
They have had a similar week of “hurting” and “soul-searching” and will be just as fired-up as the Wallabies, and they’ll have a buzzing Murrayfield at their backs.
There is yet another layer of pressure to ensure they get mindset right, and be dominant early.
Given what they’ve recently been through, it’s easy to imagine the team that doesn’t start well quickly loses confidence and gets the dreaded “here we go again” feel.
The side that rediscovers their mojo will, by contrast, likely keep it, and use it to push it away.
Less than one year out from the World Cup, Monday brings a test the Wallabies must pass, if they are to prove to the world – and, more importantly, to themselves – that they are contenders.
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