The Growden Report
Toomua right foil for Giteau
Greg Growden
July 20, 2015
Australia 24-20 South Africa (Australia only)

It was messy. It certainly wasn't convincing. It revealed some festering sores. But the Wallabies will gladly take it.

Beating the Springboks in the final seconds of Michael Cheika's first home game as Australian coach will delight the Wallabies no end, and provide them with a timely spurt of confidence as they head to Argentina for a tricky assignment in Mendoza next weekend. That they won in over-time when rewarded for their diligent pursuit of the tryline, and then finished it off through a precise pass from replacement half-back Nick Phipps to Tevita Kuridrani will only add to the relief and belief that they may actually do something productive this season.

Winning from behind is always the most satisfying of victories, and will reinforce the belief within the playing group that if they persist at the tough tasks rewards will come. To do it against an excellent opposition - as the Springboks produced a formidable lineup including an unexpectedly good even if inexperienced midfield on Saturday night - will help to ease much of the ill ease this week of having to travel halfway around the world for their next game.

But the Wallabies should not get ahead of themselves- as their Brisbane win also showed once again there are obvious frailties in their game, which are bound to be exposed in September/October when they have to negotiate their way through the most treacherous of World Cup pools.

Wallabies had right attitude - Cheika
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England and Wales are certainly hovering, and would have taken note that against the Springboks the Australian scrum was early on about as steady as a drunkard on a weekend bender. Playing on wet Northern Hemisphere surfaces will only help England and Wales' aim of disintegrating the Wallabies' pack and so nullify any attacking potency they may boast.

Cheika would also now know that his starting XV isn't quite right. At least the second half provided numerous clues to Cheika as to how the team should look at World Cup time. The only time the Wallabies really looked threatening was when Matt Toomua, Nick Phipps, Greg Holmes, Scott Sio, James Horwill and David Pocock were on the field. The Wallabies reserves bench worked a treat, with Holmes, Sio, Horwill and Pocock succeeding in stabilising the Australian scrum - with the tantalising addition of watching the openside specialist Pocock playing well at No.8. Admittedly their task was helped by Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer strangely replacing the Du Plessis brothers- prop Jannie and hooker Bismarck - far too early.

Toomua provided direction to the Wallabies backline, while Phipps, obviously stung by losing the starting position after an average final month to the Super Rugby tournament, was back to his best, providing countless crisp passes and variety from the tackle area. South Africa dominated the breakdown, and pilfered an enormous amount of Wallaby ball early on, but Phipps and Toomua were able to settle the home team down, and most importantly get them to run straight.

Adam Ashley-Cooper scored the game's opening try © Getty Images
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The Will Genia-Quade Cooper combination was worth trying, but it failed. Cooper played as if it was the horrible 2011 World Cup all over again. He looked distracted, at times rattled, and even though there were some bright moments, there were too many irrational moments. His biggest sin was constantly running across field, which put extra pressure on his inside-centre Matt Giteau, who during the first half did much the same, and was soon imitating Cliffy Lyons of Manly NRL fame by constantly heading across field.

Genia also at times appeared frazzled, and even though he had to be replaced at half-time due to a dicky knee, he was in danger of being hooked during the break because the Wallabies were too often victims of muddled, speculative options. That all changed when Toomua came on. Everything became more direct. Giteau went forward, not sideways.

Toomua and Giteau looked relaxed in each other's company- and it is now worth considering whether they should be used in a tag team partnership - where during the game both flit between No.10 and No.12 - depending on the circumstances. Each are accustomed to both positions, and with Toomua's excellent use of space it should have the desired effect of making full use of a promising attacking combination.

Toomua and Giteau at No.10 and 12, and vice versa, is certainly worth a try, but the news of the latter's sternum injury that has ruled him out of the trip to Mendoza means we will not see the combination from the opening whistle until the Bledisloe Cup Tests at the earliest; perhaps there's no better fixture for them to face the acid in battle.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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