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Dave Rennie has seen good and bad in his first season at the helm of Australia.
OPINION: The one-win, three-draw, two-loss season for the Wallabies could be cut and cut in two ways.
If you’re wearing the gold-colored glasses, Dave Rennie’s team came within a penalty shootout from Reece Hodge of beating the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time since 2001, a 2-0 record against Argentina, ending the season with four wins and lifts the Trophy of the Three Nations.
Not bad, given the young and inexperienced team the two-time Super Rugby-winning coach has been forced to work with after another post-World Cup exodus.
Let’s put those gold glasses on for a few moments.
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Nic White, James O’Connor, and Matt To’omua have shown that they can thrive at the test level when given a certificate of good health. They will be a key trio for next year, but only started two of the six tests side by side.
In To’omua’s absence, Hunter Paisami has been a huge find inside the center. He will pressure To’omua and Jordan Petaia as an outside center next year.
Mark Kolbe / Getty Images
Reece Hodge missed a ton of crucial kicks for the Wallabies this season.
Petaia has infinite potential, but is still prone to making too many mistakes. More minutes at the highest level will only help improve that.
Marika Koroibete is a world class winger. Tom Wright has shown that he can shoot consistently, and Suiliasi Vunivalu is waiting behind the scenes.
Up front, Petrus du Plessis has started to work wonders with a scrum that is becoming a weapon, thanks in large part to Taniela Tupou and James Slipper.
Matt Philip has become one of the first players chosen by Rennie, and both Harry Wilson and Rob Valetini will be Wallabies for many years.
Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto of the Wallabies receives a red card against the Pumas in the final Three Nations game on Saturday night.
Individually, all of the above is positive.
But without the gold-colored glasses, there are some harsh realities Rennie and his coaching staff are sure to face during the summer.
While the key 9-10-12 combination was forced to change too many times due to injuries to O’Connor and To’omua, the Wallabies failed to produce enough points.
His attack in both games against Argentina was rancid. It was raining heavily at Bankwest Stadium, but the Australians were still coughing up too much ball.
Mark Kolbe / Getty Images
The Wallabies’ first season with Dave Rennie could have been so much better if it had been for a few shots on goal.
The lineout is still prone to errors at key moments and in critical parts of the field.
A world-class hooker, lock, fullback, and hitter are still required in the last row.
And the defensive performance against the All Blacks in the losses at Eden Park and ANZ Stadium was disastrous.
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Rennie has time on her side. And the normal international season will resume in 2021.
But without the gold-colored glasses on, a victory in six rounds was not the best outing.
By this time next year, Wallabies fans will know if they can turn to the one word that has kept them back in the pit for the past two decades: hope.
