Ian Foster has grim news for the Wallabies fans who staggered around Sydney last weekend, pleading for anyone with a kind heart to confirm the desperate comedy act they had just witnessed wasn't for real.
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Following the 54-34 defeat to the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium a flood of shellshocked Australians asked how their team's backline defence could be so dreadful, and who was going to be held accountable.
While Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was the obvious target of their discontent, the rotten fruit could also have been reserved for another man in the Wallabies camp: the team's minister of defence Nathan Grey.
And, boy, he must be happy to be stationed in Christchurch, where he can avoid supporters' death stares as a tries to lift the tackling percentages for the re-match in Dunedin on Saturday night.
Sitting in a Dunedin hotel about 360km south of Christchurch, Foster, the boss of the All Blacks' attack, gave Australian fans something more to chew over. The All Blacks always thought the Wallabies would defend the way they did, and to see five-eighths Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale be shifted about the backline wasn't unexpected.
"We weren't surprised," Foster said. "They have been doing that for a couple of years where they position the 10 in different positions. And I guess when they have got both Foley and Beale on the park, they are more inclined to put them elsewhere than the traditional roles."
The All Blacks had a field day in the first 50 minutes, scoring eight tries prior to concentration lapses allowing the Wallabies to score four of their own.
Although Cheika was adamant Grey had his full support, he must have been clenching his back teeth in anger when he realised a month-long training camp, aimed at striking the Kiwis with all their might in Sydney, amounted to nothing but discontent for his team and their supporters.
It seems like Wallabies D is different at every set piece. Constant swapping of positions depending upon field position. Can't fathom it.??? Laurie Fisher (@LordLaurie58) August 19, 2017
No-one was more confused than former Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher, who tweeted: "It seems like Wallabies D is different at every set piece. Constant swapping of positions depending upon field position. Can't fathom it."
Grey cannot overhaul his systems in the space of a week as they Australians try to win in Dunedin for the first time since 2001. And Foster doesn't seem to be expecting any surprises.
"So they have been consistent with that for a couple of years, to be fair," Foster said in reference to the Wallabies changing positions in the backline on defence. "We kind of expected to see what we saw in the midfield. Will they change it? I am not sure."
Dominant outfit: 'The All Blacks always thought the Wallabies would defend the way they did.' Photo: Dean Lewins
Having studied how the Australians defended during their June tests the All Blacks had done their due diligence. But it's unlikely they would have dared dream that the Australians' application would be so poor.
"I am not sure it is the structural issues that I hear them talking about, it is more of an individual tackle thing," Foster noted. "We will see."
Apart from reserve loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett, who suffered a head knock last weekend, Foster said the All Blacks had a full squad to choose from.
Midfielder Sonny Bill Williams suffered no ill-effects from the head knock he suffered in Sydney, and hooker Dane Coles, who didn't play last weekend as a precautionary measure following his headaches, will be available for consideration.
Blindside flanker Jerome Kaino is still dealing with personal issues. Akira Ioane has joined the squad as cover.
"We are just giving him (Kaino) his own personal space at the moment, so Akira has come in in the meantime," Foster said.
Stuff.co.nz
