AUSE01Z50MA - V1 , MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 26 SPORT theaustralian.com.au/sport

Refs having too much Connolly: say in outcome of games McKenzie slams ‘yo-yo’ bring in

Referees don’t have to worry WAYNE SMITH about getting physically smashed Robinson — although Kiwi Glen Jackson did cop a devastating “don’t media on Beale selection for scrum argue” from Ben Tameifuna in a recent ITM Cup match that cost “You blokes are like yo-yos, But McKenzie said that was the gible to play for the Wallabies this for a reason. We thought he was the huge Waikato prop a five- The press focus on the aren’t you?” said McKenzie, who sort of impact he expected from week but his Test debut has been pretty close and he is. It would be week ban — and yet still they No 10 spot exasperates was clearly exasperated by the the bench players, indicating Beale delayed by the aggravation of a nice if he was available.” make some appalling mistakes, so question. “You go backwards and would remain a super-sub for the hamstring injury and he will be One of the best scrummagers in WAYNE SMITH perhaps the Wallabies should be the Wallabies coach forwards. You go round and round Argentinian Test. “I think you sidelined indefinitely. , Polota-Nau would cut a little slack when they err. on the 10 thing. I don’t know what know me pretty well. You know I “His comeback trail has been certainly be handy against Argen- is expected to be IF there is one theme rugby And they did err in , early BRET HARRIS you want me to say. like to use the bench. Apart from pretty seamless. He literally woke tina, who pride themselves on fit to play against the Pumas on the critics, and indeed rugby’s critics, and often on Saturday night, but “We picked the combination one game, I think we’ve used the up sore. It’s not like he has had an- their powerful scrum. “It’s part of Gold Coast on Saturday, but for- consistently harp on about, it’s in the end they composed WALLABIES coach Ewen Mc- we thought would work for the bench pretty well,” he said. other episode. He has woken up their rugby psyche, the scrum. mer Wallabies coach John Con- consistency. themselves enough to get the job Kenzie has described the media as game and that’s what we’ll do “We want players to go out sore in the same spot, the same They certainly did a great job on nolly believes the moment has The Wallabies lack it — more done, even if the feeling lingers “yo-yos” after he was asked again.” there and make a difference be- area,” McKenzie said. the other week,” Mc- arrived to recall ’s best on that in a moment — but so do that the better side lost. whether deserved to McKenzie would not have had cause we actually value them. “I’m not interested in creating Kenzie said. scrummaging loosehead, Benn match officials, and never was Greg Martin was way off-base start against on the to field the question about Beale if Everyone seems to think the play- some sort of chronic issue. He is “We had that discussion last Robinson, to the Test side. that shortcoming more evident with his claim that Gold Coast on Saturday night he had not flip-flopped on the five- ers outside the 15 are inferior play- with the and they have time we played them in Argentina There is only one scrummaging than in the back-to-back Rugby “dogged it” against the All Blacks after his cameo off the bench eighth position. ers. They are actually good players been rehabbing him well. We’ll and we handled them well on the challenge the Wallabies will face Championship Tests on Saturday. but there is no denying that the against the Springboks in Perth. started at five-eighth in the clean … in their own right. They’re quite wait and he will be available when day. Without getting too technical, this year more daunting than the Australia’s epic next-to-last- No 8’s rugby is flat at the Notwithstanding that the sweep of France in June, but Mc- capable of going out there and he is available.” some scrums go well against some one awaiting them at Skilled Park gasp victory over the Springboks moment. Springboks were a man down with Kenzie handed Beale the gold No making a difference. McKenzie was hopeful hooker scrums and other scrums don’t. on Saturday night and that is when will forever be tainted, at least in It was commendable of winger Bryan Habana in the sin 10 jersey for the opening two Bled- “They are quite capable of Tatafu Polota-Nau would recover “As you go through, you have they again confront Argentina on the memories of South African Michael Hooper to pull out Palu’s bin, Beale enlivened the Wallabies’ isloe Cup Tests against the All starting and making a difference, from a knee injury in time to play your bogey teams. We scrummed their home soil in Mendoza on and neutral fans, by Irish referee impressive run and tackle stats attack when he came on at inside Blacks. too. You can only put 15 on the against Argentina, but he was still well against Argentina last year so October 5. George Clancy handing Bryan from the Test but high centre in the 73rd minute, combin- After the Wallabies’ record field. The rest have to come off the doubtful. “He has been progress- I expect us to do the same.” In recent weeks, the Pumas Habana a yellow card in his 100th numbers don’t compensate for ing superbly with his NSW Wara- 51-20 loss to the All Blacks in bench. We’ll just use them the best ing really quickly. He did a bit of McKenzie was pleased with the have dealt harshly with both the Test. low impact and it may be that tahs teammates in the backline three weeks ago, Mc- way we think we can get an out- contact work yesterday morning. Wallabies’ scrummaging against All Blacks and Springboks scrums, The moment Habana went Palu simply needs a breather. such as fullback . Kenzie recalled Foley and put come for the game.” A little bit more to do yet, but he South Africa, but they still con- both of which have troubled Aus- high on Adam Ashley-Cooper, If can be Beale’s performance in the Beale back on the bench. While Even though the Wallabies got has progressed very well. ceded six points from penalties for tralia, and while it doesn’t necess- Clancy was reaching for his stood down to the bench for 24-23 win against the Springboks Foley kicked the match-winning out of jail against the Springboks, “If he is fit, we will obviously scrum collapses. If Polota-Nau is arily follow the Wallabies pack will pocket, although Kiwi assistant looking tired, why not Palu, has commentators questioning conversion of winger ’s McKenzie is unlikely to make consider him (as a starter). We unavailable, James Hanson will struggle against them, there is no referee momentarily especially since Scott whether he should start at five- try, Beale arguably made more im- many, if any, unforced changes for aren’t going to take damaged play- start at hooker with Saia Faingaa question Argentina will view Sat- stayed his hand by beseeching Higginbotham delivered so much eighth or inside centre against pact on the game in his seven min- Argentina. Brumbies winger ers into the game. likely to reclaim his place on the urday’s set piece battle as the key him to take another look at the in the final quarter without, Argentina. utes off the bench. will become eli- “We brought him in this week bench from Josh Mann-Rea. to claiming its first Rugby Cham- incident on the big screen. remarkably, giving away a single pionship scalp. Springboks captain Jean de penalty? Slipper has been the pick of the Villiers seized the moment to Australian pack this season, regis- remind Clancy that not 10 Modest match-winner celebrates milestone tering more carries than any other minutes earlier he himself had All he ever will forward, but Connolly believes he been collared high by Rob is far better suited to tighthead, his Simmons at the other end of the recall of his 100th original front-row position. field, which was true enough, Test is that he cost It will take another season of though Habana’s tackle did look South Africa the for him to readjust to marginally the more dangerous. match and quite the right-hand side but in the Maybe by now Clancy had had meantime, and certainly for this enough of high shots — Duane possibly the Rugby Test, Connolly is adamant Wara- Vermeulen had also been Championship tahs stalwart Robinson would rep- penalised, also contentiously, for resent better value at scrum time. his bell-ringer on James Slipper in Overall the Australian Connolly is well aware Robin- the first half — because he backrow looks out of balance at son has fallen out of favour with refused to be deterred and the moment and not just because Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie officiously pointed Habana in the of Palu. direction of the naughty chair. Only a year ago it seemed It was a sickening moment, was on course to ‘If the Wallabies not for Ashley-Cooper who develop into a world-class six but can defuse the seemed fine, but for the it hasn’t happened, at least not universally respected Springbok yet. Pumas scrum, it winger. There is no denying he works would be a huge All he ever will recall of his hard, compensating in part for the psychological blow’ 100th Test is that he cost South fact that Hooper, for all his many Africa the match and quite other outstanding virtues as a JOHN CONNOLLY possibly the Rugby footballer, doesn’t have nearly the FORMER WALLABY COACH Championship as well, although if same presence over the ball of a any fingers are to be pointed, they or a Liam Gill, let after playing seven Tests under should be at Morne Steyn for alone a . him last year but insists this is the missing touch in the 77th minute But there is no denying some moment to reactivate his career. and presenting Australia with the of the sparkle has gone out of “I’d take my best loosehead in ball that Rob Horne soon after Fardy’s play and the Wallabies against the Pumas and I think he’s deposited over the tryline. desperately need him to the best. You have to evaluate Barely two hours earlier in rediscover it. whether what he adds to the scrum Napier, French referee Pascal And what to do with Kurtley offsets what the Wallabies will lose Gauzere conjured up an even Beale after his seven game- around the field by not starting more contentious moment when changing minutes off the bench? Slipper, and the danger is that he disallowed a try to Leonardo Does that build the case to put Robinson hasn’t played at the top Senatore after the Argentinian him in the starting side at inside level in a while. But if the Walla- lock charged down a Ma’a Nonu centre in place of bies can defuse the scrum as a kick, regathered and scored. or merely provide compelling Pumas weapon, psychologically it Gauzere ruled no-try because evidence of his worth as a super- would be a huge blow and I think Senatore supposedly knocked on, sub? Robinson is worth the risk.” even though the replay clearly The primary argument for The Wallabies won that showed he hadn’t. starting with Toomua ahead of psychological battle last year in Once again rugby fans were him is that he is a far stronger GETTY IMAGES Rosario, albeit with some unex- presented with one of life’s great defender than Beale. Kurtley Beale, right, begins the celebrations as Wallabies winger Rob Horne streaks to the line to score the winning try against the Springboks pected help from English referee conundrums: bad enough when Yet twice he ineffectively Wayne Barnes after being trapped referees miss something that did rushed up out of the line in Perth, brating Bryan’s 100th Test,” Law. After holding out the Walla- about his try or Habana’s sin- “Hopefully, we showed the in a scrummaging battle on their happen, but how is it they so often opening the door for the South BRET HARRIS Horne said. “Just enjoying that to- bies, the Springboks received a binning, preferring to praise the rugby community and the Aus- own line early in proceedings. see things that didn’t happen? Africans’ only try. gether. We’re doing a presentation relieving penalty near their own character of the Wallabies for tralian public what we can do.” Barnes awarded three success- Gauzere’s mistake, which cost So, arguably, what Toomua THE Wallabies may have ruined to him at the moment. line in the 76th minute after coming back. Horne said Wallabies No 8 ive penalties to the Pumas, who the Pumas the chance to close to offers in defence is not enough to Springboks winger Bryan “I congratulated him after the replacement back Kurtley Beale “It was good just to get on the Wycliff Palu “rubbished” claims by each time elected to set another within five points of the All offset what Beale offers in attack. Habana’s 100th Test in Perth on game on his 100th. Anyone who failed to release the ball in a tackle. end of it really,” Horne said. former Test fullback Greg Martin scrum. After putting both Austra- Blacks, must have been evident Clearly, too, from an ensemble Saturday night, but they helped can get 100 Tests for their country, All the Springboks had to do “It was tough out there. It was a that he “dogged it” in Auckland lian props, Slipper and Ben Alex- even to himself when he watched perspective, the Tah-ing of the him celebrate the milestone after it’s a privilege to play against was kick the ball out, win the line- bit of a war, a true test of character and let Australia down. ander, on a final warning, Barnes the big screen yet he chose to Wallabies backline is no bad the game. someone like that.” out and close out the game, but of our side. We were coming off “Anyone who has played with finally lost patience and gave Slip- ignore it. thing. Arguably the greatest winger in The sin-binning of Habana was Morne Steyn’s kick did not find the back of the other week. We had Wycliff knows what he brings to per a yellow card when the Walla- Earlier, however, when replays At least Australian rugby is South African rugby history, the turning point in the game. Irish touch, which gave the Wallabies to show our identity and what we the side,” Horne said. bies collapsed again but did not showed that Israel Dagg had having these discussions on the Habana’s century was marred by referee George Clancy went one last chance to score. are all about. “If you play with Cliff, you award Argentina a penalty try. indeed been inside his 22 when he back of a victory. And what an his controversial sin-binning for a straight to his pocket, but an assist- With Habana still in the bin, the “We didn’t give in and we kept know what he brings. I think that When the Pumas inevitably cleared for touch, not outside it as important victory it was in the head-high tackle on Wallabies ant referee advised him to watch a Wallabies backs combined bril- on playing footy. Our supporters he rubbished those comments went for a pushover against the the touch judge initially ruled, the context of how rugby is travelling winger Adam Ashley-Cooper in replay of the tackle on the big liantly to put Horne into the clear could see how much it means to us. pretty well.” seven-man pack, the Wallabies Frenchman reversed the decision in the Australian marketplace. the 65th minute. screen. down the left-hand side and he “Heading into the game that Horne said the Wallabies unexpectedly fractured them, the after watching the replay. It wasn’t just that the While Habana was in the bin, Springboks captain Jean de Vil- swerved inside Steyn’s attempt at was our main focus … to make it would face a different challenge ball squirted loose and Michael Why overturn such a trifling Wallabies won — it was how they the Wallabies came back from liers argued that Habana’s high cover to score in the 77th minute. happen. It did take us to the last when they played Argentina on Hooper pounced on it for Will decision while allowing a clanger won and what that said of their 23-14 down to snatch the win tackle was no worse than the one Five-eighth Bernard Foley’s minute to make it happen, but op- the Gold Coast on Saturday night. Genia to clear downfield. to stand? character. 24-23 with a try to winger Rob Horne had made on him earlier in conversion gave the Wallabies a portunities in Test matches come “They are improving every In that moment, the spell was Come to think of it, why didn’t There’s talent in the side Ewen Horne in the 77th minute. The the game, which resulted in a pen- fortuitous 24-23 win. along few and far between. In the year,” Horne said. broken. Having failed to knock out he act on replay evidence that McKenzie has assembled and Wallabies invited the Springboks alty, but Clancy thought it was As soon as Horne scored, end we were fortunate enough to “We’re going to have to play the Wallabies with their best clearly showed All Blacks winger even a certain unreliable level of into their dressing room after the dangerous and sent the veteran Habana came back on, but his re- get it done.” well because they are an improv- punch, the Pumas then looked being taken out skill. game to share a beer and present- winger off. entry had been delayed by almost Horne said the Wallabies had a ing team. Hopefully, we’ll get a clueless as Australia romped away without the ball when a try was in But Australians needed proof ed Habana with a signed jersey to It soon became evident that the two minutes while officials waited point to prove after their record good crowd on the Gold Coast and to a 54-17 victory. the offing in the opening minutes these Wallabies would dig deep to honour his 100 Test caps. Springboks were not playing for a break in play. 51-20 loss to the All Blacks in we can really roll off the back of Indications are, however, that of the game? deliver, and now they have it. “We’re in the same shed cele- under Clancy’s law but Murphy’s Horne was reluctant to talk Auckland two weeks ago. them.” McKenzie will keep the faith with Slipper and his back-up, Pek Cowan. Certainly he played down Stunned Springbok veteran Matfield accuses Wallabies of cheating in maul Slipper’s early departure against the Springbokson Saturday night. “That’s just the perils of putting was, but it was one area that didn’t De Villiers hints experience and playing in “I’m getting to the end of my Springboks backrower Jacques came through for us. Set piece very your head in the front row,” said BRET HARRIS work for us. Australia was an option. career now. I don’t know how Potgieter at the NSW Waratahs good. Kick-offs. That first one they McKenzie. “He’s all right, just a bit “I went to George a few times at a Super Rugby “It’s actually something I long I’ll be going. When my side has not escaped De Villiers’ won back and went on to score, stiff.” CHAMPION second-rower Vic- and asked him to look if they were stint in Australia thought about yesterday,” said contract ends again I’ll definitely attention. “He (Potgieter) has that was a bit of a problem, and Winger Henry Speight’s hopes tor Matfield has accused the Wal- coming from the side. It’s difficult De Villiers, who will play his be looking at all options and if made a fantastic move. It has from then we were very good at of kicking off his Test career next labies of using illegal tactics to to say now. We’ll have to have a SPRINGBOKS captain Jean de 100th Test for the Springboks my body is still ready to go, I’ll be rejuvenated his career. He has the kick-offs as well. weekend, after finally becoming nullify the Springboks’ rolling look at the video and maybe they Villiers will consider playing against the All Blacks in looking everywhere. been fantastic for the Waratahs. “We have an attacking mindset eligible on Thursday to play for maul in their loss in Perth on Sat- were fine and we have to improve Super Rugby in Australia when on Saturday night. “I’ll definitely look at a “Obviously, — we want to go out there and Australia, were dealt a minor blow urday night. in the way we set our maul.” he retires from the international “Looking at the new national different experience. But that’s (Waratahs coach) is doing score tries. Last year we scored the when his hamstring twinged The rolling maul is one of the Matfield said it was disappoint- game after the World Cup in league (NRC) that they’ve got just throwing thoughts around. something right. What he did at most tries per game of any interna- ahead of the Vikings’ Springboks’ main attacking weap- ing for the Springboks to play with England next year. going here, I think that’s great It’s not really something I’ve Leinster, again now here. Must tional team, even more than the NRC clash with Queensland ons and the Wallabies were de- 14 men after star winger Bryan De Villiers, 33, said he would for rugby in Australia and rugby thought of for too long.” be a good coach.” All Blacks.” Country on Saturday. lighted they were able to negate it Habana was sin-binned in the be looking for a different as a whole. The success of former BRET HARRIS Matfield, 37, said he felt good in Genia’s hopes of an immediate in their last-gasp 24-23 win. 65th minute for a high tackle on his comeback for the Springboks, Test recall also were dealt a blow But Matfield suggested the Wallabies winger Adam Ashley- but his fitness was not tested fully on Saturday when he barely made Wallabies had illegally joined the Cooper. “It’s difficult, but it hap- fingers after leading 23-17 with really impressive. Bismarck (du Town, Matfield said: “I won’t say prevented the Springboks from because of the wet conditions. half a dozen passes as Springboks maul from the side to pened,” Matfield said. four minutes to go. Plessis) came on and made a huge that. We want to go out there every playing the attacking style of game “It felt pretty good. I don’t think City meekly capitulated against stop it and he had alerted Irish ref- “It’s a pity we had to play with “With six points up in difficult steal that almost got us out of it. game and win every game we play. they wanted to play, but he felt it was the quickest game ever to Rising at Ballymore, eree George Clancy to the tactic. 14 men in that last 10 minutes. We conditions, the game was there to Unfortunately, we let it slip and “It doesn’t matter what hap- they adapted well. play. That helped a little bit, but I losing 79-18. “I must say they did very well in need to make sure when you be won,” Matfield said. “Unfortu- they came back and scored the pened the previous week, on the “The conditions were very diffi- think next week (against the All “We were very weak and pass- stopping our drives and our tackle you go low and hopefully nately they kept the ball pretty try.” Monday all the intensity is there, cult, especially in the first half. We Blacks) I’ll be tested,” he said. ive at the ruck and just got blown mauls,” Matfield said. next time we won’t do it again. well. We were ready to get our 15th Asked whether the controver- all the focus is there.” turned them pretty well. We put Matfield, who was a key mem- off the ball,” said Genia, who has “That’s something we’ll have to “It’s very difficult to say any- man (Habana) on the field and sial sin-binning of Habana in his He then added, pointedly: “It’s them under a lot of pressure at ber of the 2007 World Cup-win- no expectations of a recall after have a look at. That’s a big weapon thing about that.” they did very well. It was very dis- 100th Test would motivate the nice we get another opportunity to lineout time and stole a few from ning team, said playing in next Nick Phipps turned in a generally of ours and it didn’t work for us. Matfield admitted the Spring- appointing. Springboks for their return match play them.” them. year’s tournament in England was efficient game for the Wallabies, “We’ll have to see how legal it boks let the game slip out of their “Our defence on our line was against the Wallabies in Cape Matfield said the wet weather “Also our scrum at big points the reason for his comeback. save for a couple of errant passes.