Wins over Lions, Springboks offered hope. But it is now undeniable the Wallabies have gone backwards

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Opinion

November 16, 2025 — 1.49pm

It is becoming a truism in the modern game that an accumulation of individual errors can translate into an absolute hammering on the scoreboard.

In the past year and a half, the Wallabies have been thrashed in Argentina, the Irish have been walloped by France in Dublin, the All Blacks have been thumped by the Springboks, and even South Africa conceded 38 unanswered points at home to Australia.

Big loses are becoming surprisingly common all round, and the Wallabies’ record 46-19 defeat against Ireland on Sunday morning (AEDT) is part of that new trend.

It was sparked by a high-ball nightmare and lineout meltdown, but although those two areas are fixable, it is now undeniable the Wallabies have gone backwards recently. These are hard times because the hope that was delivered during the British and Irish Lions series and the remarkable win at Ellis Park looked like more than another false dawn. But that is now uncertain.

Tom Wright’s loss has been immeasurable

Anyone who has been in Ireland from November until about March knows exactly what the conditions in Dublin are like: the rain surrounds you like a cloak.

The Wallabies come to terms with a big loss against Ireland.

Those hard conditions made life miserable for the Wallabies’ back three under the high ball, especially when there was a bit of blustery wind in the mix as well. But in truth, the Wallabies’ outside backs have been in a state of flux since Tom Wright suffered a serious knee injury against the Springboks in Cape Town in August.

The Wallabies have won just two Tests since then – narrow victories against Argentina and Japan. It always looked like Wright would leave a gap, but it has turned out to be a chasm.

No end in sight to the pain as France await

The French got the wobbles midway through their 34-21 win against Fiji in Paris on Sunday (AEDT), but that was arguably a reflection of the competitiveness of the Pacific Islanders, who pushed England last week as well.

However, Les Bleus still have more than enough quality to condemn the Wallabies to a winless tour of Europe next weekend. Hopes of a top seeding in the World Cup draw are long gone for the Wallabies, but that’s not the main issue.

Robbie Henshaw crosses for Ireland’s sixth try in their thumping win over Australia.

The recent losses – or more accurately the performances – have highlighted that incoming coach Les Kiss has a short runway to address the issues that still persist within Australian rugby before a home World Cup.

As the year ends, it looks like opponents have worked out Joe Schmidt’s side – and he will have them for another three Tests before the awkward handover process is completed.

Hockings makes horror start for Japan

Former Queensland Reds lock Harry Hockings made his debut for Japan against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday morning (AEDT) – and it’s one that he’ll remember for all the wrong reasons.

With Japan leading 23-21 in the dying stages, Hockings was sin binned for a shoulder to the head of Welsh flanker Alex Mann as he charged down the sideline.

Hockings had been injected into the game in the 48th minute as Eddie Jones’ team chased an important scalp, and the 27-year-old is certainly a more imposing figure than the beanpole who left the Reds in his early 20s.

However, his lack of composure ultimately cost Japan as Wales kicked to touch, won another penalty from a maul and then kicked the three points that won them the Test.

All Blacks share in Wallabies’ misery

If there were any lingering doubts about how far northern hemisphere rugby has advanced in the past decade or so, England ended them with a 33-19 win against the All Blacks at Twickenham.

In doing so, England employed the same game plan they did against the Wallabies, with similar effects.

Their kick pressure was strong, winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was a menace on the edge and their British and Irish Lions-stacked bench came on and finished the Test with an enormous amount of energy.

There were also some lovely touches by midfielder Ollie Lawrence, who missed the Wallabies Test.

With the World Cup in Australia just two years away, it confirmed England are a team on the rise, and reflected the definite shift of power away from Australia and New Zealand and towards Europe since the 2015 World Cup.