1. A drawn Bledisloe series would fuel Wallabies’ belief: There is a booby prize awaiting the winner of the Wallabies-All Blacks pool stage clash at the Rugby World Cup next year - a likely quarterfinal against the Springboks.
asserted
series → draw → Springboks
So, beating the All Blacks might not actually serve the Wallabies well at the home tournament in 2027.
uncertain
beating → beat → 2027
That said, the momentum starting to build under Kiss would be maintained if the Wallabies can go 1-1 with the All Blacks in the next two weeks.
asserted
Wallabies → say → weeks
As tempting as it must be to rush Len Ikitau back from his ankle injury, holding him back until the Sydney test might be the smarter play.
uncertain
holding → rush → test
A win by the Wallabies at Eden Park would be an extraordinary achievement, but a loss isn’t the end of the world if they can reverse it in Sydney.
asserted
they → reverse → Sydney
With two out of the three Bledisloe Tests set to be in Australia next year, including the Anzac Day fixture in Brisbane, winning back the famous trophy won’t be an unrealistic goal if they get one win across the line in Sydney in a fortnight.
asserted
they → set → fortnight
Fitzy’s chat with Kiss chat taps into something valuable: Colleague Peter FitzSimons’ piece with Wallabies coach Les Kiss made me want to drape myself in an Australian flag and belt out Waltzing Matilda, even though I’m not Australian.
asserted
I → tap → Matilda
It was stirring stuff, full of promises to play the Wallaby way and references to “the backyard spirit”.
asserted
It → play → spirit
If this is not authentic it could come across as glib marketing drivel, but the Wallabies’ performances over the past five Tests suggest it is a genuine motivational tool.
uncertain
it → come → Tests
Kiss is obviously a technical coach as well, but in Test rugby a sense of national purpose is vital even if it gives the team an extra few per cent in performance.
asserted
it → give → performance
Can anyone other than an Australian coach deliver this messaging?
asserted
anyone → deliver → messaging
Looking from the outside, it appears this Wallabies squad can almost feel the home Rugby World Cup next year - it has given them something tangible to aim towards, and everyone saw how the British and Lions tour lifted the players.
asserted
tour → look → players
How the All Blacks could line up:
uncertain
Blacks → line → ?
Does item 2 mean a famous win at Eden Park next Saturday is on the cards?
asserted
win → mean → cards
It’s not that simple, especially with the unavailable Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper representing huge losses for the Wallabies.
asserted
Tupou → ’ → Wallabies
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie gave a radio interview at the weekend and was still frustrated with the tour of South Africa - both the All Blacks’ own mistakes and some of the officiating at the scrums.
asserted
Rennie → give → scrums
After three straight Test losses the All Blacks will likely attack the first Bledisloe Test with some purpose of their own.
asserted
Blacks → attack → own
They are down a few troops with injury - notably captain Ardie Savea - but this starting XV won’t be too far from what Rennie reveals on Thursday: Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby, Richie Mo’unga, Cam Roigard, Peter Lakai, Anton Segner, Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland, Josh Lord, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot.
asserted
Rennie → reveal → Thursday
4 Waratahs cop an old-fashioned hiding: The Western Force were crowned Super Rugby AUS champions with a 53-26 win over the Waratahs, and in perfect Perth conditions they again showed what a well-run rugby team they are.
asserted
they → cop → conditions
New recruit Harry McLaughlin-Phillips played as if he had been in the Force system for about a decade, former Waratah Will Harris has used the competition to reinvent himself as a hard-nosed option in the second row, and midfielder Boston Fakafanua is one to watch.
asserted
Fakafanua → play → row
Fakafanua, out of the King’s School, is built low to the ground and played in the No 13 jersey on Saturday, although his long-term position could be at No 12.
uncertain
position → build → No
The Waratahs were never at the races against the Force and it was a reminder of the size of the job facing Michael Cheika, especially with NSW losing so many good players across to Perth.
asserted
NSW → face → Perth
Suaalii’s versatility could be his trump card: Cross-code star Mark Nawaqanitawase has conquered the NRL over the past few years, but there is a real logjam building in the Wallabies’ back three.
uncertain
Nawaqanitawase → conquer → three
Dylan Pietsch was the headline act in the Force’s big win over the Waratahs in the Super Rugby Aus decider after his return from injury, and it is easy to forget that he was arguably the form winger in the country before his layoff.
asserted
he → forget → layoff
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii also enjoyed his best Test in ages against the Springboks last week, and as remarkable as it sounds Nawaqanitawase doesn’t just walk back into the Wallabies’ best 15.
asserted
Nawaqanitawase → enjoy → 15
Tom Wright and Max Jorgensen are banks, so in effect there is only one place up for grabs, pitting Nawaqanitawase against Suaalii, Pietsch and Harry Potter.
asserted
Wright → be → Suaalii
That’s a good problem, of course, but it is still an interesting situation given the Wallabies now have two blokes with star billing who could be the face of the Rugby World Cup.
uncertain
who → ’ → Cup
In that respect, Suaalii’s ability to cover the midfield is a big advantage.
asserted
ability → cover → midfield
The Aporia
