Some interpreted Andy Farrell’s praise for the Wallabies being a “hell of a team” and a “force to be reckoned with” as a cynical deflection away his team losing the third Test, and maybe some of it was. But it was also pretty spot on.
Consistency is key
It got a bit lost in the confusion of James O’Connor’s selection – and a reshuffling bench – but the value of selection consistency by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was clear in the Boks’ upset. Schmidt named the same starting side from Sydney, bar one, and mostly the same bench, too.
The last time Schmidt named just one change in the starting XV? The team that ran on against England at Twickenham last year.
It can take some luck with injuries, but cohesion and consistency haven’t been a strong point of the Wallabies in recent years, with lots of tinkering from lots of coaches. But when looking at World Cup-winning sides, fielding most of the same team over a number of preceding years is always a common trait.
Don’t rush veterans out the door
Nic White of the Wallabies applauds the fans after being substituted off.Credit: Getty Images
The contributions of Nic White recently, with gritty defence and pressure kicking, show the value of time in the Test saddle. It simply can’t be faked. And even after several years in the wilderness, and after a patchy start, James O’Connor’s muscle memory had him pulling all the right levers in the second half, when every bad decision can concede territory and points. Longer-term No.23 anyone?
We can be quick in rugby to search for the next young thing, rising up the ladder. But mostly, when it comes to Test rugby, the proven old thing is way more valuable.
Leadership is about action
Harry Wilson is not the most naturally athletic footballer, and that was his downfall in the eyes of Wallabies coaches before Joe Schmidt. Dave Rennie had him in and out of the Wallabies, and Eddie Jones just had him out.
But Schmidt has figured out that there have not been many more passionate Wallabies ever, than Wilson, and his choice as captain has materially improved the side. He lifts as a leader, and the Wallabies take their emotional cues from the skipper. If you are looking for answers about why the Wallabies “have no quit in them”, as Michael Hooper said, look no further than the example set by the captain.
Jorgensen is a freak
At what point do we stop being surprised by the stuff ‘Mild Max’ can do on a rugby field? In yet another superb Test performance – coming after a superb spring tour and a super Lions series – Jorgensen scored a crucial try with his trademark side-swerve that regularly embarrasses teammates at training.
But it was his gritty defence that shone just as much at Ellis Park. Even with forwards down his channel, Jorgensen stood his ground all night.
Rank improvement
The win over the Springboks may help the Wallabies go deep at the 2027 World Cup, and not just boost belief. It also boosted the Wallabies’ world ranking in a major way, with the 16-point win harvesting three valuable ranking points.
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The Wallabies need to finish the year in the top six to get a top seeding for their home World Cup. That way, you avoid having one of the very big boys in your pool, and likely avoid major teams in the early finals, too.
The Wallabies are still ranked sixth, but the win over the Boks turned a narrow margin ahead of Argentina into a big buffer. And get this – if the Wallabies beat SA again with the same margin, they can even leapfrog the Boks into third this weekend
Nick Frost is world-class
The giant Brumby was demoted on the spring tour last year because the Wallabies coaches wanted more edge and physicality from him. Frost has vastly improved his contact strength and a thumping one-on-one shot on Eben Etzebeth in the second half spoke volumes.
Throw in the fact Frost is arguably the best lineout forward in the game, and the 206cm giant is shaping as a vital World Cup weapon.
Schmidt is a mind-gamer
It was an historic win, but it didn’t stop Joe Schmidt going hard on the mind games straight after the Wallabies win, saying he felt the team had been lucky and the scoreboard didn’t reflect the contest against a Boks side who’ll be fired up next week in Cape Town.
It would be interesting to hear if the language used in the dressing rooms was the same. You’d doubt it.
Hot takes may burn
There was no shortage of pundits and columnists keeping a low profile on Sunday, or audibly beeping as they swiftly reversed their views. Scepticism about a Wallabies win was understandable, but the scalding hot take of one RugbyPass columnist – titled The Wallabies have no chance against the Springboks – ended up particularly egg-on-facey.
“Let’s be honest: if the Springboks don’t pulverise the Wallabies at Ellis Park, it’s a major upset. Ellis Park doesn’t deal in fairy tales. The altitude is unforgiving, the Boks are unrelenting, and history is unyielding. This is the double world champions against the sixth-best team in the world. How good are the Wallabies? We’re about to find out. Keep an ear out for the audible thunk as they come back down to earth.”
We heard a thunk, alright.
Are the Wallabies hoodoo gurus?
This Wallabies side is quietly ticking off some hoodoos and records. The win at Twickenham was the first against England there since 2016, the Wales’ win was a record, and victory over the Lions at Accor was the first win at Sydney Olympic Park in a decade. The win in Newcastle was a first, too.
The Wallabies celebrate with the Ella Mobbs Cup after their victory.Credit: Getty Images
The breakthrough win at Ellis Park now means the longest drought at a regular venue is Eden Park, at 39 years. The Wallabies play the All Blacks at Eden Park next month.
That is all. Just leaving it there.
Fraser McReight is the world’s best no.7
As far as a pure openside fetcher goes, it’s hard to find anyone as good in the world game as Fraser McReight. His performance against the Boks continued a remarkable tradition of No.7s in gold, and his and names sits comfortably with Poidevin, Wilson, Waugh, Smith, Pocock and Hooper.
Fraser McReight is world class.Credit: Getty Images
Discipline is key
As recently as three years ago, the Wallabies’ discipline was the worst of any tier-one nation. They routinely conceded 12-13 penalties a game and lost at least one man to the sin-bin each game.
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It pointed to a team that struggled for belief and was more often on the back foot than the front. That has changed dramatically under Schmidt and his obsession with strong fundamentals, particularly in the carry-clean. The Wallabies conceded just four penalties at Ellis Park, and have now gone seven straight Tests without a card; the longest since 2017.
Depth is developing
The Wallabies’ depth has been a problem in recent years, but it is worth noting Schmidt’s side claimed back-to-back wins against the British and Irish Lions and the Springboks without star forwards Rob Valetini and Allan Alaalatoa, their first two choices for the No.10 jersey and the first-choice No.9. And with a couple of hookers missing as well.
Giteau law demise timely
The recent strong form of Tom Hooper, Taniela Tupou and Langi Gleeson – who are all heading overseas at the end of 2025 – has shown there is wisdom in discarding a hard-and-fast mentality around the Giteau law, and overseas-bound players in general.
Hooper and Gleeson were not involved in the first Wallabies camp this year, but both have grown incredibly this season and need to be involved in the Test squad as often as possible through to 2027.
