The Wallabies’ midfield combination was on their heels, quite literally, for most of the time Fiji were in possession, and if Fiji had enjoyed a functioning lineout, the Wallabies would have lost by three scores.
When Fiji did get the set-piece right in the 45th minute, halfback Simione Kuruvoli took the clean lineout ball off the top and was allowed to run a 10-metre arc without anyone closing down his space before finding Kalaveti Ravouvou, who charged through a gap between Ikitau and Fraser McReight.
A loose offload prevented a try, but the Wallabies’ defence was cooked with Ikitau and Suaalii again on their heels.
This can’t be – and presumably won’t be – the way the Wallabies defend against the Lions, because all the clues of how to do it have already been offered by the Super Rugby sides, to varying degrees.
The Waratahs, in particular, got into the faces of the Lions, showing that the tourists’ skill levels have not yet matched the ambition and complexity of their attack.
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In some ways, last week’s Wallabies performance in Newcastle underlined the futility of the Test as preparation for the Lions series. It was evident from the body language that the Wallabies weren’t quite present, at least not to the extent they needed to be.
It felt like it was a Test they were trying to get through rather than control, and it’s doubtful that Ikitau has played a worse game of rugby – and he’s one of the world’s best midfielders.
If his partnership with Suaalii is wobbly, there is a selection solution by naming Hunter Paisami alongside him and shifting Suaalii into the problematic No.14 jersey, but last week’s issues are just as likely to be solved by an improved defensive mentality.
At least the Wallabies won’t have to go searching for an edge next week: it should be delivered naturally by the occasion and the sight of red jerseys in the stands.
The real business of this tour is at hand, and while all Wallabies will spend the next week fixating over the man to wear the No.10 jersey, it will be a peripheral issue unless their intensity without the ball goes up by a factor of 10.
All nine matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.
