Five tests, three wins. Another loss to Eddie Jones’ powerful English outfit but several new players blooded and combinations tested.
In a tortuous 12 months where the Wallabies failed to end their Bledisloe Cup drought, were white-washed by England at home and missed out on winning the Rugby Championship, relief is yet to fully come.
After the high of last year’s World Cup, 2016 was tough to swallow. With a mammoth campaign of 16 matches completed, easily the most in a non-tournament year, Michael Cheika will be still struggling to broker a smile today.
A wobbly Wales were blitzed in a high-tempo first half in Cardiff. A slip-up against Scotland was avoided at Murrayfield, thanks to the boot of Bernard Foley. France were downed, only just, as the Wallabies recorded their first win on French soil in six years.
They came unstuck in Dublin, as Ireland continued their amazing assault on the top of world rugby. At the Aviva Stadium the Wallabies were guilty of only turning up in the second half and were penalised within an inch of their life. The result was a 27-24 defeat, Irish eyes smiling and the end of the green and gold’s faint Grand Slam hopes.
And at Twickenham, scene of that wondrous demolition at the World Cup that marked the end of Stuart Lancaster’s coaching reign and Sam Burgess’ brief union jaunt, the tour ended on a low note.
The England game was the one that really mattered, especially after the humiliation at home. Former Wallaby boss Jones has done a tremendous job with England and he has done it with a cohort of Aussies at his side at different times – Glen Ella, Jason Ryles and Dean Benton. Being beaten by the colonial cousins 3-0, and with their fellow countrymen at the heart of it, certainly smarts.
Now make it 4-zip. Considering the intensity of the Anglo-Australian rivalry in every sporting pursuit around, it’s a painful stat.
It was a familiar script for the Wallabies. Play well in fits and bursts but be architects of your own downfall. Look brilliant at times and diabolical at others, with handling errors and poor discipline aplenty. Of course the higher the quality of opponent the harder it is to impose yourself on the match.
Australia have long been guilty of matching the All Blacks for periods – a first half here, 60 minutes there – but falling away as the clock ticked down. Now they can add Scotland, France, Ireland and England into the mix.
They rode their luck against the Scots and French and come out the other side, but their lethargy was brutally punished in Dublin and London.
After a week of barbs and insults in the media, with ex-Randwick teammates Jones and Cheika sledging each other within an inch of their life, the Wallabies fell apart in the Twickenham pressure-cooker.
England appeared tired and scrappy early, perhaps weakened from their match against Argentina the weekend before where they were forced to play nearly 80 minutes with just 14 men.
They were missing the brutish Billy Vunipola and Jones’ find of the series down under, star second-rower Maro Itoje. Essentially they appeared there for the taking.
Whatever the reason, they started slow and Australia raced to an eye-catching 10-0 lead. The Wallaby passing was crisp, their running lines superb and they should have been further ahead.
However, a few crucial errors and mistake or two allowed England back in. Jonathan Joseph touched down under the posts after Sekope Kepu dropped the ball and it was hacked through, which gave the home side an unlikely lead.
Australia poked their noses back in front 16-13 at half-time but it was a mirage. England upped the ante and broke the Wallaby resolve. The men in white caught Israel Folau and co napping at the back with a number of well-time grubber kicks, while the knife to the heart was Ben Young’s dummy on the way to his try.
37-21 to England, the ninth loss of 15 tests in 2016. Yes, three of those came against New Zealand, but it remains an alarming record.
Twickeham might have been turgid but several Wallaby newcomers enhanced their reputations in Europe. Fijian freak Sefa Naivalu established himself as a potential star of the future. All hard-running and try-scoring, Naivalu is a winger of extreme promise.
Outside backs Reece Hodge and Dany Haylett-Petty continue to learn the ropes at international level. Both have demonstrated signs to show that they are up to rigours of Test rugby.
Then there’s Adam Coleman and Rory Arnold. The two locks have given Cheika depth and food for thought in a position that has been a worry for the Wallabies for several years.
The much-hyped Kyle Godwin debuted against France and was solid under heavy Parisian pressure, while Nick Frisby got some valuable experience. Lopeti Timani added some power and aggression in periods to the back of the scrum that was sorely needed.
But the tour re-empathised two sore issues – the Wallabies heavy reliance on Will Genia and David Pocock. Genia was in and out on the tour with club commitments, while Pocock will be unavailable for the next 12 months as he goes on a sabbatical.
Nick Phipps is too inconsistent and the Australian back-row will need to be reshuffled without the presence of Pocock. It remains to be seen if Timani, Dean Mumm or Sean McMahon wins a regular spot alongside Michael Hooper in 2017.
Two important points for Cheika to ponder over Christmas. That, and the small problem fixing the Wallabies’ inability to remain composed and compete for the full 80 minutes. The coach might be hoping Santa is especially generous this year.
In a season when Ireland and England submitted their strong claims to be the second-best team in world rugby, while South Africa disintegrated and Argentina struggled, Australia are clearly in fourth position.
