The Wallabies have problems, but they are of the good variety. In the return Test against Japan in Townsville on Saturday, they produced their most promising performance in 12 months, and not a moment too soon.
The 56-17 victory included a professional, five-tries-to-none second half and a number of standout performances that will have the new coach, Les Kiss, wondering just how to craft this side into the best version of itself.
Centre Isaac Henry made an impression on his first start in gold, roaring through the Japan line to win the field position that set up the first try. Hard to tackle throughout and hungry for metres, the 27-year-old looks like he has timed his run into the team well, with the World Cup in October next year.
His problem, however, is opportunity, and whether he will get another. This was a rare chance for Henry and the solid Hunter Paisami to start in the absence of regular midfield pairing of Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii and Len Ikitau. The former is the Wallabies’ golden recruit, while the latter is perhaps the side’s most consistent player and last year’s recipient of the John Eales Medal.
Time for experimentation is running out, with eight matches this year before the sprint to the World Cup. Could Kiss deploy Aukuso-Suaalii at full-back or on a wing to accommodate the apparent centre depth? Henry’s was the kind of performance – even if it was against an opponent not yet in Australia’s class – that gets a fan’s mind whirring about selection what-ifs.
It is not the only one. Flanker Carlo Tizzano was impressive against Japan, with three takeaways, serving as a reminder of the depth at openside. In his desire to get the most of out Tizzano, Kiss is already showing derring-do.
The coach brought on Australia’s regular No 7, Fraser McReight, to play alongside Tizzano in the second half, creating a mobile pack that at its best promises a turnover avalanche. The rested Rob Valetini – Australia’s best player – is usually deployed at blindside flanker or No 8, where the captain, Harry Wilson, has become comfortable. Working out how these players could contribute together is clearly on Kiss’s mind.
“It’s a new coaching team, so we wanted to see a couple of combinations,” he told Channel Nine. “We got Fraser on probably fractionally later than we would have liked to, but we had good presence on the ground [at the breakdown], so we’re a good jackal [turnover] threat across the park.”
Then there is Charlie Cale, the dynamic backrower who made his Wallabies starting debut at blindside flanker and rolled over for a late try. For the last 15 minutes, the 25-year-old moved into No 8, shifting Wilson into lock. It was a bold statement from the coach, a sign the transition from Joe Schmidt may be less smooth than some players might have expected.
“We ended up with Wilso in the second row,” Kiss said. “That’s probably one of the things I want to build, that depth of what every player can do and play. It’s never going to be perfect, we know Test rugby tests you in a different way and challenges you a different way.”
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With Kiss’s arrival a new Wallabies era has dawned and it was best celebrated by the debut of Massimo de Lutiis. The 22-year-old prop came on to become the 1,000th player to appear for the Wallabies and celebrated that milestone by scoring a try, for which he was mobbed by gleeful teammates.
De Lutiis can bench-press more than 200kg, but he has a soft side. “When Les told me [I would play], I started tearing up a bit and started crying in his lap, which was pretty embarrassing,” he said. “I’m just so stoked. [Cap] 1,000 is awesome, but just to be a Wallaby is just crazy to me.”
His was one of six tries that came from front-rowers, a reminder that Australia should not get ahead of themselves. Indeed, the Japanese front row gave up roughly 60kg to the Australians, so it was no surprise to see Taniela Tupou and co cross time and again.
Despite the gulf in overall talent, Australia fans have reason for envy while watching the Brave Blossoms. Few would want Eddie Jones back at the helm of the Wallabies, but in the Queensland-born Harry Hockings – the best player in an even first half – it is hard to avoid the thought that the towering second rower is one that got away. While the returning five-eighth Carter Gordon delivered directness in attack and quick decisions, Japan’s No 10, Ryunosuke Ito, showed again he is the kind of talent who could inspire a rugby nation.