While the long list of Wallaby faults have been well pointed out over the last two weeks, I want to indulge in a little bit of cautious optimism. First of all, an overview. Half-empty rightly points out that the Wallabies gave away tries through errors in the first test and produced an abominable half of rugby in the second.
Half-full says that in the first test the Wallabies re-found the long lost ability to claw back a lead and have the nerve to win at the death; like that Eales kick, like that pass from Campo to Lynagh. It also says that in the second test Australia posted 25 unanswered points in 40 minutes through expansive play, and could well have had more. A complete change of gear.
Of course, this wasn’t the strongest Welsh side (it also wasn’t nearly as bad as many would have you believe). However, not only can you only play what’s put in front of you, there’s plenty of top drawer competition to come in the Tri-Nations. The two “we can actually do it” confidence lessons mentioned above could prove vital in the months ahead.
Then to the detail. In the backs it would seem that the results of the experiment are now conclusive; Giteau makes a below average half back and a world class inside centre. I say that if two halves of turgid back-line play is what it costs to put this craziness emphatically to bed, then well worth it. But for the half-empty mind-set, this seems to be a ‘Back to the walls’ retreat.
Greg Growden claims that ‘This long-time midfield set-up, which has played together regularly since the 2003 World Cup, has been unable to stop numerous Test losses away from home’. I’d be interested to see the real stats on how much test game time the Gregan, Larkham, Giteau (at 12), and Mortlock combination has actually seen. My rusty memory has at least one of them (except Gregan) injured at any one time.
Regardless, this is the best half and centre combination that Australia has now. It also actually ‘clicked’ when allowed to play. Add to this some promising glimpses (and tries) from Ioane, Mitchell and Huxley, all names outside the usual suspects. Not only do they add depth to the squad, but also true pace and even some tactical kicking.
For the forwards, plenty of positives. The scrum found parity (without Baxter, go figure), the line-out largely dominated and players like Sharpe and Palu came into their own. Elsom has claimed 6 and Vickerman is working his way back. Don’t forget that when the back-line experiment was at its worse in the first test, the forwards stood up and pegged back a win almost single handedly.
To paraphrase the last world cup winning coach, you need to spend twice as much time finding what went right and figuring out how to reproduce it, than the time you spend dwelling on what went wrong. I hate to say it, but perhaps we could take a leaf out of his book.
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June 6th 2007 @ 3:52pm
Paulmc said | June 6th 2007 @ 3:52pm | Report comment
Nate
McCaw! His toiling is enhanced by his ability in bending the rules – I note with interest that in the last couple of S14 games he was penalised & binned and the crusaders were flat. If the RWC refs are as consistent then will the AB’s loose some of their fizz?
June 6th 2007 @ 4:07pm
Phil Coorey said | June 6th 2007 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
Paulmc, every great breakaway bends the rules.
Michael Jones and Josh Kronfeld would be offended , if they were left off the list in a similar discussion. `
The point being made I think as well, was that his general skills are far superior to George Smith’s.
June 6th 2007 @ 4:36pm
Nate said | June 6th 2007 @ 4:36pm | Report comment
Paul… Agreed, he has previously been able to get away with things purely cos he’s Richie McCaw!! However, I am referring to toiling as workrate around the field; not just menacing (legally or not) the opposition breakdown. He is at the breakdown majority of the time (in attack as well) and he makes many tackles. All the things an openside should be doing.
That is why I state the he and Waugh are much harder workers than Smith. Does no-one else notice our breakdown is more stable when Waugh is on the park!? He (and McCaw) also doesn’t drop the ball nearly as often… Anyway…
I do agree that the glass is half-full… I’m not saying we can win the RWC but I think we may end up fairing better than how we’ve been written off. I also believe Giteau is a #12 or #10 in future. We have MANY good options at scrum-half: Gregan (in good form), Cordingley, Holmes, Valentine and co… Gits is wasted there.
June 6th 2007 @ 6:07pm
Paulmc said | June 6th 2007 @ 6:07pm | Report comment
Phil – every good flanker stretches the rules & cops it when he goes too far. McCaw on the other hand tries to set his own rules & gets a little too miffed when pinged. I agree with Nate “He’s Richie McCaw” and whats more he’s the AB captian so (his ego says) he’s untouchable!
June 6th 2007 @ 8:20pm
Phil Coorey said | June 6th 2007 @ 8:20pm | Report comment
I have never known a player to ‘cop it’ when he goes too far.
The idea of rugby (and in my opinion the absurdity of it) , is that you can push the rules as far as you want until you get caught. Every player does it, and never cops it. Australian teams this year gave away some hilariously bad penalties in the Super 14. I swear they don’t know the rules or want too. They never copped it, though.
Examples of pushing the rules too far
Props – Binding in the scrums. Sometimes the ref has not got a clue who to penalise. Remember that early Reds loss, when Qld were penalised with the feed? No way I would cop some of the strange rulings in the scrums this year.
Halfbacks – Annoying play at the base of the ruck and maul, to disrupt opposition ball. Halfbacks will often test their luck and be prepared to give a penalty. They never cop it, though.
Backs – Standing offside, especially second and third phases. Backs never make mistakes anyway, so they ain’t cop it from the ref!!!
The queen of all though has to be players off their feet. What makes Richie McCaw so good, is that you could never tell half the time, if he was off his feet when he won his team a penalty. He pushes the rules and gets done every now and then, but I have seem thousands who get penalised and don’t cop it either.
Another point is why should McCaw cop it? He is a breakaway, that is his job to win 50/50 ball and bend the rules doing it.
I don’t think you should have singled him out.
June 7th 2007 @ 12:16am
Ben from Pretoria said | June 7th 2007 @ 12:16am | Report comment
Springbok team for the Samoa test
Francois Steyn, Ashwin Willemse, Waylon Murray, Wayne Julies, JP Pietersen, Derick Hougaard, Ricky Januarie, Bob Skinstad, Danie Rossouw, Luke Watson, Albert van den Berg, Johan Ackermann, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Os du Randt.
Replacements: Gary Botha, Deon Carstens, Johann Muller, Pedrie Wannenburg, Ruan Pienaar, Jaque Fourie, Percy Montgomery.
June 7th 2007 @ 9:01am
Terry Kidd said | June 7th 2007 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Guys I have chuckled reading this thread cos my mind has cast back to other threads over the last 4 months where we have all moaned about the lack of hope in the RWC for Oz rugby yet now, after 2 test wins, the consensus seems to be that things are not so bad after all.
I happen to believe that we will make the semis but anything after that is definitely a bonus and we will have punched above our weight.
Why the push for Blake at TP? Is he match fit? Where is he playing right now? Shepherdson is doing ok, leave it alone. Where is Holmes right now? Where is he playing? Match fit? Not likely. Robinson and Dunning are doing ok, leave it be.
Polata-Nau should be the hooker. If he starts at hooker in the WC then the glass will be better than half full. I like the inclusion of McMenimen if he is fit on the bench with Waugh, and I like Vickerman as Captain. He is a certain selection, respected, a doer and a leader.
The backs have picked themselves … Gregan, Larkham, Giteau, Mortlock, Mitchell, Tuqiri, Latham (when fit) with Shepherd, Turner, Holmes and Staniforth on the bench.
I’d put my hard earned on that team for a semi win.
June 7th 2007 @ 9:25am
jimma said | June 7th 2007 @ 9:25am | Report comment
Terry:
Good question! (re Blake and Holmes) One I have been asking for a while. Blake should be playing again as his surgery was scheduled by the ARU to have him fit come RWC time.
If you saw his performances before then you will know that he is essential to the Wallabies. I saw him live against the Highlanders in Dunedin and he was best on ground. The scrum didn’t move and he made many runs over the advantage line at first reciever with three blokes hanging off him. I haven’t seen a eprformance like that from an Australian prop ever (although I am relatively young!) and even the hardened scarfies on the terrace at the house of pain were murmuring praise for ‘Rodzilla’
As good as Shep’ is he is nothing when compared to big Rodney. Who would have thought only a short time ago that we would have two class tight heads fighting for a front row spot!? I have heard Brumby fans claim that he can play loose head, if he can then he should be there with Blake.
As for Holmes I was under the impression that his shoulder injury was season ending, so I don’t know is he will be back.
Quick Draw McCraw Bashers:
As much as I hate to admit it, he does not “cheat” all good loose forwards push it. He is just too good. He is where George Smith was a couple of seasons ago. Everywhere, omni present, always on his feet. Easily the best player in the world, a leader, and soon to be a world cup winning captain. The only way the Wallabies can nullify him is for LT to dump him on his head again and for Phil to give a few roundarms – even then you can’t keep him down. I wish the Wallabies had such a leader.
June 7th 2007 @ 10:03am
Terry Kidd said | June 7th 2007 @ 10:03am | Report comment
G’day Jimma, my comment re: Blake is that if fit he should be playing. He hasn’t been picked for Oz A, so is he playing club rugby? If not, forget him for the RWC and 3N. Likewise Holmes.
Something to ponder …. against Wales Mitchell, Ione and Huxley scored the first 3 tries. When is the last time that the Wallaby back 3 scored the first 3 tries in any test and when is the last time that all of the back 3 scored a try in the same test?
Without resorting to spiro’s host of records, I’ve scratched my head enough and can’t remember. Can anyone else?
June 7th 2007 @ 10:04am
jameswm said | June 7th 2007 @ 10:04am | Report comment
On McCaw
Yes he is a very good player. But he is the biggest cheat I have seen for a couple of years. And he has his one speciality. It is when he tackles someone, he holds onto the ball while on the ground, then gets to his feet. Refs are too slow, too blind or too intimidated to penalise him for it. He is not allowed to touch the ball till on his feet, but this illegality means the ball carrier has no opportunity to play it. Yes he does it fast and probably better than anyone (note at the Crusaders others like Tuilai’i have learned to do it too), but it is illegal and slows down the play.
The AB special, evident again on Saturday, is when they have ruck ball. They stand forwards in front of it on the side, blocking defenders. They only occasionally get pinged for it, and teams like Australia have started shoving them backwards. I have seen the Wallabies penalised for this, when it is not foul play and if the ref could see he would have noticed it. They scored a try from it against the French last weekend – have you ever seen a team have the rub of the reffing like the ABs did last weekend?