There would have been fewer keener observers of the Waratahs' loss against the Chiefs than Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, and his notebook would have been full of observations about Taqele Naiyaravoro's defence.
The big winger has had a great campaign but the Chiefs targeted his positioning and agility ruthlessly and picked up two tries to his opposite Toni Pulu. Both may have set the alarm bells ringing within the Wallabies camp, particularly when Brad Weber kicked into acres of space down the Waratahs left side with Naiyaravoro caught defending up in the line close to the ruck.
Weakness: Taqele Naiyaravoro's power in attack isn't in doubt, but his defensive weaknesses have been exposed.
Photo: SNPA
It's an area that is already an issue for the Wallabies as we have seen this year that Marika Koroibete's kicking game is poor and Israel Folau struggles a little when covering that side of the field from fullback, despite his incredible ability elsewhere. With Ireland possessing the world's best kicking No 9 in Conor Murray, Naiyaravoro's risk profile may be greater than the rewards.
2. The lost art of Australian backline defending
Sometimes you don't know what you've got until you lose it. It's almost comical now to think that Adam Ashley-Cooper and Rob Horne were often questioned about their attacking skills – what was rarely acknowledged was their defensive excellence. It's gone now, and the Australian game is poorer without that IP.
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This weekend, some good players – and Wallabies – showed they are making bad decisions on defence with Naiyaravoro, Curtis Rona, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese and Koroibete all caught out. It's not the contact area where they have problems, it's deciding when to rush out, and how hard to go. We've seen Henry Speight has similar issues this season, as well. It's definitely an area that will keep Nathan Grey busy at the Wallabies.
3. Banks is ahead of Maddocks in my squad
Jack Maddocks is going to be a Wallaby but why the rush? The Rebels youngster is a natural footballer but the return of Dane Haylett-Petty in the Sunwolves game was more significant.
Haylett-Petty is rusty but you could still see he is one the country's better footballers – and he has the frame that is ready for Tests. In fact, if there are a few decisions in the Wallabies squad between old 'uns and young 'uns I'd go for experience every time, and that applies to Izaia Perese, too.
The one exception might be Tom Banks, who has been playing good football for two years now. He scored a superb try against the Bulls in the Brumbies' great win in Pretoria but the best part of his game was his covering work in defence under huge pressure. Banks is a tough and resourceful footballer as well as a fast one.
4. Coleman and Sio hit their straps
Adam Coleman and Scott Sio had strong games on the weekend and that is a massive relief to the Wallabies. Coleman is really starting to run onto the football at pace again and with Ireland around the corner Australia really need the big man to be firing. It's going to be a challenge for him to get his body position right against the Irish two-man tackles as they attempt to create turnovers from mauls, but at least he is showing the aggression levels needed in June.
Sio largely dominated the Bulls at scrum time and made one barnstorming run up the guts, but what a disappointment it was to see Folau Fainga'a succumb to the red mist and get sent off just as he was having his best game for the Canberra side. Still, with British and Irish Lion Tadhg Furlong in the Irish squad, Sio's strong form is very timely.
5. Reds hurt by end of the turnover era
Unless your name is David Pocock, going for the pilfer is basically a mug's game in 2018. For a team such as the Reds, who go hard at the ball, that's bad news. Not so long ago the Reds might have got home against the Highlanders on the back of a style of refereeing that gave the defending side more rights over the pill but those days are gone.
Of course, wasteful kicking also hurt the Reds late on but it's the ability of the attacking team to build phase after phase that eventually took its toil on the Reds. It's a dilemma for Australian rugby as a whole. It has so many players who are strong on the ball but with players being sucked into the ruck – for very few turnovers – there is space opening up elsewhere.
Team of the Week
1. Scott Sio (Brumbies)
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Reds)
3. Taniela Tupou (Reds)
4. Matt Philip (Rebels)
5. Adam Coleman (Rebels)
6. Angus Scott-Young (Reds)
7. David Pocock (Brumbies)
8. Isi Naisarani (Brumbies)
9. Joe Powell (Brumbies)
10. Bernard Foley (Waratahs)
11. Marika Koroibete (Rebels)
12. Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)
14. Izaia Perese (Reds)
15. Tom Banks (Brumbies)
Paul Cully is a rugby columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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