Aussie World Cup warning

13 April 2012

With 74 days to go to the start of the World Cup, Australia are beginning to contemplate a meek surrender of their title after Saturday's 50-21 record rout at the hands of New Zealand in Sydney.

For Eddie Jones' beleaguered side, this Bledisloe Cup noncontest brought humiliation on a grand scale. The Wallabies sank to a third successive defeat - their worst ever at home - and appeared one-dimensional throughout.

The team who conceded just one try in winning the last World Cup leaked seven in the face of fast and fancy All Black magic.

While the home pack competed gamely and plundered the line-out at will, behind the scrum they failed to contain New Zealand. Australia's defence fell away as Aaron Mauger provided inspiration in midfield and wing wonder Joe Rokocoko grabbed a hat-trick.

This was the latest in an alarming sequence of setbacks for Jones, who has now suffered 10 defeats in his 23 Tests in charge. After his team began their season by seeing off an under-strength and surprisingly poor Ireland, it has been all downhill. Australia laboured to victory against an inexperienced Wales side before being overpowered with worrying ease by England.

Now they are suffering Tri- Nations torment - first shocked 26-22 in South Africa and then crushed by the Kiwis.

Jones has five days to galvanise his squad before the return against the Springboks. Defeat would be catastrophic and at any other time his job would be on the line.

On October 10, the Wallabies face Argentina in the World Cup curtain-raiser in Sydney. They had better hit the ground running as the Pumas, armed with a mighty pack and top- class half backs, are capable of causing an upset.

Further down the tournament trail lie Ireland who, with Brian O'Driscoll and Keith Wood back in harness, should provide a far sterner test than last month.

And if the Wallabies go through as top of their group and survive a quarter-final, it would leave them up against New Zealand again.

The inquests are already in full swing Down Under and most observers believe the prospects are bleak for Australia.

Jones remained defiant, saying: 'We were outplayed but it can be turned around pretty easily. We've got the squad in place to come back.' Captain George Gregan was adamant they could turn the tide despite 'being in a rut', but the Press response was damning.

Peter Jenkins, writing in The Australian, said: 'The Wallabies' defence of the World Cup might have been buried last night as the title-holders were embarrassed by the All Blacks.' In the same newspaper, former Wallaby coach Bob Dwyer added: 'As for the World Cup, we'll hack it with Ireland and Argentina. maybe even with South Africa. But we won't hack it with New Zealand, England and France the way we are going.' The reaction in Sydney's Daily Telegraph was even more severe: 'If the Wallabies don't make dramatic improvements, they may as well pack it up tomorrow, as well as the World Cup, with their defence of that trophy in disarray.'

For New Zealand, the garden looks rosy as they seem to be heading for a World Cup peak of form.

Following narrow defeat to England, they have savaged Wales, South Africa and Australia, and on this form seem certain to blaze through to a Final against Clive Woodward's men or France.

Wales wing Dafydd James is in serious danger of missing the World Cup because of a shoulder injury.

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