Among all the comments coming out of the Wallabies after the second Test loss in Brisbane last weekend — they lost the collisions, too many unforced errors, the lineout misfired — there was one main underlying message.
Australia just didn't have enough patience to outlast a canny England side who, via Owen Farrell's boot, just managed to stay ahead the whole game.
As a result, while they came back in the first match of the series in Perth, they just couldn't in Brisbane — all because of the unforced errors they made in the face of relentless pressure from an English side desperate to break a run of four-straight losses.
There wasn't even a pattern to it. It started with an overthrown lineout with 10 minutes to play. James O'Connor got himself isolated in the ruck in the 72nd minute.
Jake Gordon threw a ridiculously forward pass to Marika Koroibete in the 77th minute. Angus Bell was pinged in the scrum a minute later. Rob Valetini entered an 80th-minute ruck more from a side-fence angle rather than the required "through the gate".
When it mattered, and when they needed composure more than ever, all they came up with was mistakes.
Essentially, they ran themselves out of time to chase down England's 25-17 lead.
And it didn't help that the Wallabies gave England — and Farrell in particular — opportunities for regular points.
Four first-half penalties to follow Billy Vunipola's try had England 19-0 up after 32 minutes, but this has been a trend across both tests to date.
Farrell has kicked nine penalties from 11 attempts this series, with the Wallabies' ill-discipline responsible for the vast majority of them.
By contrast, and even with the Wallabies electing to kick for the corner and chase tries on occasion, Noah Lolesio has only taken four penalty goal attempts for the series.
The Wallabies' worrying injury toll only continues to grow, too.
World Rugby's newly extended 12-day concussion stand-down ruled Jordan Petaia out of the Sydney Test as soon as he failed his HIA in Brisbane, while Izaia Perese (patella), Scott Sio (shoulder) and Cadeyrn Neville (knee) were added to a casualty list that will see roughly a third of the Wallabies current squad unavailable for the third Test.
Thus, Rennie has been forced into change at the selection table, making four changes to his starting side for the third Test and another six for the bench.
By full-time on Saturday night, he'll have used as many as 32 players across the three matches.
He only named 35 before the series began.
So as well as promoting Brumbies pair James Slipper and Nick Frost from the bench last week in Brisbane, he's called in hard-carrying Queensland Reds backrower Harry Wilson and Melbourne Rebels fullback Reece Hodge.
Wilson, famously or perhaps infamously, was left at home during last year's spring tour to Europe and instead given a few things by Rennie and the Wallabies hierarchy to work on over the off-season.
Things like speed into contact, and a bit of footwork and subtlety with ball in hand, rather than the bulldozer approach favoured by past number eights and some politicians alike.
It worked — not only did Wilson lead the Super Rugby Pacific in carries by a good margin in 2022, he was the only forward to crack the top 10 for metres gained.
So not only was Wilson prepared to tuck the ball under the arm more than any other player in the competition, but he was also the most effective ball-carrying forward.
"He's pushed really close for selection over the last couple of weeks, and it's great to give him his opportunity," Rennie said.
"It's been a pretty brutal series, so far as injuries on both sides tell us, but Harry's fresh and ready to go, and keen to rip in."
And though there were some — mostly parochial — arguments for Reds fullback Jock Campbell to win a test debut, it was entirely unsurprising that Rennie went with 55-test Hodge for a series decider against the Old Enemy.
After losing three different fullback options in two matches, Rennie needed surety in his number 15 jersey.
"We've got a huge amount of confidence in Reece. He's been Mr Fix-It and he fills lots of different positions," Rennie said.
"He's come straight in and slotted in really well. He's got a big kicking game which we think will be advantageous.
"He'll also fill holes during the game as well. He's one guy we know that, based on injuries or need, he can slot in somewhere even if he hasn't trained there all week. He'll be really clear around the roles and what's expected."
England coach Eddie Jones has similarly been forced into change, with Ollie Chessum coming into the second row, after Maro Itoje was ruled out after leaving the second Test in Brisbane early with concussion.
Backrower Lewis Ludlam comes in as well, with Sam Underhill returning to England after his latest head knock.
Veteran scrumhalf Danny Care returns to the starting side as well, pushing youngster Jack van Poortvliet back to the bench.
Rennie said the Wallabies would tap into whatever Sydney Cricket Ground rugby history they could as they strove to get the job done and secure the series win in front of a confirmed sell-out crowd.
It will be the first time the Wallabies have played at the SCG since 1986.
"And maybe the last time, too, with the new Football Stadium opening," Rennie said.
"The first Wallabies test was played there against the British Isles in 1899 and now maybe the last test against England, so it'll be a fitting finish for the SCG.
"A full crowd, fitting for the occasion, one-all and going into a decider."
