My spouse is sick and uninterested in listening to me complain concerning the Wallabies after a loss. Oddly sufficient, she additionally doesn’t care about my optimistic suggestions once we win.
Robust crowd I suppose, so right here I’m writing a evaluate of the yr that was and the place I believe we have to enhance in 2026. Having by no means written something since what I can solely assume was a poor lead to an English Take a look at a few years in the past, I don’t count on many to take pleasure in this piece however studying it absolutely can’t be worse than watching the Wallabies play Italy.
Beginning with the positives. The British and Irish Lions tour was an enormous success. Though not a profitable marketing campaign, it was an important commercial for rugby. Large crowds, tight contests with an combination rating of 67–68 in favour of the Lions, dramatic finishes and an total optimistic vibe that exceeded most expectations.
The tour of South Africa was additionally good. We noticed video games that have been hotly contested, wild swings in scorelines (severely, who noticed us placing 38 factors on the Boks after they raced out to a 22–0 lead inside 18 minutes) and in the long run, the outcomes have been cut up. Equally, the 2 video games towards Argentina had drama, glorious comebacks and vocal crowds, with the outcomes cut up once more.
As a fan of rugby basically, it’s exhausting to ask for far more. As a Wallabies fan, I’d have preferred a pair extra wins, the second Lions Take a look at being an apparent alternative, but additionally the sport in Cape City, the place I assumed we had each proper to return away with one other win. Alas, I’m a realist, in order that was by no means my expectation. Though we misplaced at Eden Park (dying, taxes, blah), there’s a strong argument that this was one other good commercial for the sport.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of the Wallabies celebrates with teammates after scoring a strive throughout The Rugby Championship match between Australia Wallabies and Argentina Pumas at Allianz Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Picture by Jason McCawley/Getty Pictures)
Sadly, issues fell aside on the staff’s return from New Zealand. The Bledisloe in Perth was the worst efficiency at that cut-off date for the yr, a slide that continued till the tip of the European tour. Whereas we got here away with a win towards Japan, it was not a recreation to recollect or for followers to rejoice. We have been fortunate to get any factors on the board towards England, Italy was a masterclass on learn how to shoot your self within the foot, Eire was a document defeat and the ultimate recreation towards the French stunned nobody.
So, the place do the Wallabies go from right here?
Earlier than we begin on 2026, right here are some things that aggravated me this yr. I don’t need to dwell on these however they deserve a point out:
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Taking part in one warm-up match towards Fiji was not enough preparation for the Lions sequence and value us.
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Give us a transparent harm replace each week. The NRL lets everybody know who’s injured and provides an anticipated return recreation, up to date weekly. The Wallabies let the followers down by poor communication with the rugby group. I’ve misplaced rely of what number of occasions I’ve criticised the selectors for dropping somebody, solely to search out out a lot later that they have been really injured.
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We’ve got seen coaches from nearly each nation complain concerning the refereeing in some unspecified time in the future within the yr, and on many events, this got here after that they had received. I wish to see some extra communication right here too. I perceive that the refs will make errors, however like every mistake, when you personal it, everybody can transfer on. The dearth of communication solely highlights the errors additional and shifts the main focus away from the sport itself.
2026 is an fascinating prospect. Can the Wallabies construct on their early 2025 kind, or will they proceed the slide of the second half of the yr? Though the previous few months have been robust as a fan, I’m optimistic that with a couple of adjustments we is usually a severely good rugby staff.
The primary repair everyone knows is required is a comparatively easy one: be taught to throw right into a lineout. This shouldn’t be too exhausting, we managed to do it for the primary seven or so Exams earlier than it fell aside. Our depth at hooker (if we get the throwing sorted) is superb. All prospects are incredible across the subject, good defenders, good within the ruck, good with ball in hand. In Pollard, Faessler, Nasser, BPA and Asiata, we must always have the depth to deal with a number of accidents. It can all come right down to the teaching.
The following repair can be apparent, we have to kind out our 9 and 10. Recreation administration and tempo are managed by these two key positions. Since Nic White retired and Tate McDermott was injured, we have now misplaced all potential to manage a recreation and alter the tempo when required. Since their departures, we have now performed very one-dimensional rugby, and once we fall behind, guess what? We don’t change it, simply preserve enjoying the identical recreation. The top outcome? A loss, shock me. It’s no coincidence that our run of poor kind coincides with Nic and Tate’s absence. To a lesser extent, the identical could be stated for JOC. I hope that having Carter Gordon and Tom Lynagh on the Reds will create competitors to profit the Wallabies. I’d additionally say that Ben Donaldson has proven sufficient this yr to stick with. Once more, with the best teaching, we may have the ability to construct some high quality depth.
Carter Gordon. (Picture by Warren Little/Getty Pictures)
My subsequent repair is to make JAS earn his jersey, like each participant ought to. He has all of the expertise on the planet, however I worry that gifting him the 13 jersey is damaging his confidence. We’ve got a wonderful 13 in Ikitau, and Daugunu is a critical participant as properly. If you wish to create the very best participant, you must make them work for it. Worldwide rugby is so aggressive that you simply can not get by on expertise alone. If the Wallabies need JAS to play 13, then drive the Waratahs to play him there. Give him the possibility to show to everybody, together with himself, that he deserves the jersey. I promise you he can be a greater participant for it.
My last repair is to cease with the passive defence. What I’ve liked about Peitsch enjoying is his aggression in defence. He shoots up and occasions it completely, reducing down the attacking raid immediately. We all know that our blokes can deal with. JAS, Ikitau, Daugunu, Paisami and Peitsch can all cease an attacker straight away, however our defensive system fails them. It by no means provides them an opportunity to make that influence. Give them a system that permits them that chance. A optimistic defence means we’re all the time attacking the sport, assembly it head on always. It absolutely can’t damage to strive.
