For a team on the cusp of a record 11 consecutive wins in the Rugby World Cup, Australia is facing an extraordinary backlash ahead of Saturday’s quarterfinal showdown with Scotland.
Despite scoring 38 tries, more than at any other World Cup campaign, and racking up a tournament record 142-0 win over Namibia in preliminaries, it was some glaring defensive and ball-handling errors that have been the focus of their campaign.
A 17-16 win over Ireland last weekend secured the Wallabies top place in Pool A, and helped them set up what, on paper, appears to be the least difficult quarterfinal assignment of the top contenders.
But there’s no chance of the Wallabies relaxing, with commentators and former internationals writing off their chances and their Australian Rugby Union demanding an improvement.
ARU chief John O’Neill joined a chorus of critics, saying it was time for the Wallabies to ”deliver” on the multimillion dollar investment in salaries.
”He’s made some good points and we’re certainly working hard to bring them to the fore,” Wallabies assistant coach Ewen McKenzie, a Cup winner in 1991, said Thursday. ”We’re obviously trying to deliver and we haven’t delivered on every front.
”The important thing is that to date, we’ve done what we’ve had to do in the tournament to get where we are and we’re still alive and moving on.”
The Wallabies have a myriad of factors in their favour ahead of their first knockout match.
The two-time world champions have won the last 10 encounters against the Scots, who’ve featured in four World Cup quarterfinals and only come out on top once — against Samoa in 1991.
The Wallabies have figured in four quarterfinals and only lost once, to England in 1995. Since then, they’re unbeaten in the quadrennial tournament.
Eddie Jones took a selection gamble to spark his attacking backline, giving Lote Tuqiri a start on the left wing in place of veteran Joe Roff, a hero of the last World Cup and the 2001 series win over the British and Irish Lions.
Tuqiri joins former rugby league internationals Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers in an Australian back three that is stacked with attacking capabilities but a bit light on positional knowledge in the 15-man code, which can lead to errors in defence.
To add some extra attacking impetus in midfield, Jones recalled Stirling Mortlock at outside centre in place of Matt Burke. Mortlock missed the entire domestic season with a shoulder problem and returned initially as a substitute in Australia’s earlier games here.
McKenzie said Australia’s best performances were ahead.
”We’re very realistic in our expectations and while no one enjoys criticism, we’ve become quite good at criticising ourselves,” he said.
Scotland made the quarterfinals after a last-ditch 22-20 win over Fiji at the end of an uninspiring Pool B campaign that included wins over Japan and the United States and a 51-9 loss to France.
Flanker Phil Waugh said the form in preliminaries could be discounted, because the knockout stage ensured a higher level of intensity.
”I guess the critics have been pretty harsh on them but they have performed pretty well and they’ve improved every game,” Waugh said.
”At this stage, they have to win and we have to win and that’s the attitude that they’ll have and I’m sure they’ll rise to the occasion.”
The only change to the Scotland side that edged France was Jason White replacing Ross Beattie in the backrow to add a ball-running option to counter the mobile Australian flankers Waugh and George Smith.
Goalkicker Chris Paterson was retained at flyhalf, with regular pivot Gregor Townsend holding his place in the centres to add another kicking option and ensure a running gameplan from the Scots.
”We’ve spent five months trying to” switch Paterson to flyhalf, said McGeechan. ”Last week he showed he’s taken a lot on board, he’s playing the way we hoped he would and we’re very pleased with that.”
Scotland’s last victory against Australia was 12-7 in July 1982 at Ballymore, about five minutes from the venue of this quarterfinal.
Teams: Australia – 15-Mat Rogers, 14-Wendell Sailor, 13-Stirling Mortlock, 12-Elton Flatley, 11-Lote Tuqiri, 10-Stephen Larkham, 9-George Gregan (captain), 8-David Lyons, 7-Phil Waugh, 6-George Smith, 5-David Giffin, 4-Nathan Sharpe, 3-Ben Darwin, 2-Brendan Cannon, 1-Bill Young.
Replacements: 16-Jeremy Paul, 17-Al Baxter, 18-Justin Harrison, 19-Matt Cockbain, 20-Chris Whitaker, 21-Matt Giteau, 22-Joe Roff.
Scotland – 15-Glenn Metcalfe, 14-Simon Danielle, 13-Gregor Townsend, 12-Andrew Henderson, 11-Kenny Logan, 10-Chris Paterson, 9-Bryan Redpath (captain); 8-Simon Taylor, 7-Cameron Mather, 6-Jason White, 5-Stuart Grimes, 4-Nathan Hines, 3-Bruce Douglas, 2-Gordon Bulloch, 1-Tom Smith.
Replacements – 16-Rob Russell, 17-Gordon McIlwham, 18-Scott Murray, 19-Jon Petrie, 20-Mike Blair, 21-James McLaren, 22-Ben Hinshelwood. – Sapa-AP