having watched the game on replay this morning. one simple observation as alluded to by others.
a simple game plan, that plays to your strengths and
well executed will almost always win at test match level. the australian plan also plays to our supposed strengths, but because it involves a higher level of skill execution is much more vulnerable. execution errors once gain cost the wallabies badly. the last two weeks we have seen try scoring chances butchered/fucked up/gone begging/not taken..., that would have seen both Ireland and England beaten. i really do not know if we have the cattle to play at test level the multi phase, off loading game the Waratahs played this year. This EOYT has exposed once again the Wallaby fragility at scrum time, not just execution but "nous" as well. The lack of power in the back row also evident.
in patches the wallabies looked formidable, but then at other times simple things get fucked up. the set piece remains a significant problem because it is inconsistent, i believe there is an upside, but we have been waiting for a long time, at least since 2010 and probably longer for consistency.
the great myth of australian rugby is the "smarts", well it hasn't been obvious for at least the last 7 - 10 years, plenty of dumb football and dumber off field/administrative decisions.
can cheika turn it around in 12 months ? we will see and i will hold off judgement till then.
great team work, backing up, running from deep, off loading, multiple touches is the sort of rugby that we as australians like to see played and think we can do it instinctively. it ALWAYS relies on good set piece ball however. it also relies on a high level of skill execution, something the current squad lack consistency in. and there's the rub, some times it will come off and at others the more conservative plan of the opposition will prevail. really at the moment only NZ have the capacity to play the all around game. SA can, but too often revert to type, Wales possibly but don't seem to be able to do it, Ireland are the ones capable of adapting to thwart their opponents and England remain one dimensional but very effective.
a long and at times frustrating year for australian rugby and its supporters. hopefully this time next year the glass half full GAGR's get to say "i told you so", not the others
ps the parochialism just gets a whole lot worse when the Wobs lose doesn't it
pps as an aside i thought QC (Quade Cooper) was really pretty good when he came on. he laid on the initial wide pass that put the outside men away down the touch line, eventually leading to the Skelton try. he did make a big error in not opting for the line out option over the 5m scrum when chasing the kick through. Phipps did well with the crap ball he was and the protection he wasn't getting. To'omua my MOM.