By James Mortimer
November 12th 2008 @ 1:53am
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British journos unleash on Wallabies
One game played, and the floodgates open against the Northern Hemisphere invaders. It’s a usual tirade, with the British press incredibly uncompromising on any antagonists that dare invade their hallowed shores.
But now with the first game of the spring internationals out of the way, the attack has begun in earnest – especially considering that the Wallabies have effectively played their weakest tour opposition in their first game.
But unlike the Springboks and All Blacks – the latter all but unbeatable when playing their Northern Hemisphere foes – the Wallabies have not fared well in recent years against European opposition. England holds a 7-4 advantage over Australia since the turn of the century, with most of their wins coming from dominance in the set piece.
So, of course the assault on Australia is of the usual fare.
Former England lock Paul Ackford wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: “Time to expose Australia’s flaw” – an article written well before the Wallabies had touched down in London. In this timeless piece, Ackford took great pleasure in pointing out the serious disregard that Australian rugby has given to their scrum.
“In my experience, no other side of Australia’s stature and quality existed at the sharp end of international rugby for so long with such a fundamental flaw to their game, begging the questions, how and why have they gotten away with it for so long,” Ackford detailed.
I believe that this was the case in years gone by – especially in the 2003 World Cup final where referee Andre Watson was completely oblivious to tactics by the Wallabies in the scrum.
Indeed, Eddie Jones – a pioneer with the Brumbies concerning exquisite back line attack - believed that tries that were scored within two to three phases and that pronounced forward pressure was somewhat redundant in the modern game.
However, he did try to persuade the ARU to initiate a scrum school – unsuccessfully.
But John Connelly made it no secret that he was all but charged with shoring up the Australian forward machine, a job that Knuckles was well qualified to do. He seemed to be fulfilling his mission statement, until the old foes knocked Australia out of last year’s World Cup, courtesy of a dominant England scrum.
Connelly, and now Robbie Deans, have introduced a plethora of young frontrowers to the international scene, and while the world – and England – remain unconvinced, there is no doubt that the Australian set piece is becoming stronger.
It is somewhat incongruous that the Wallaby forwards are so maligned, as the Australian locks and accompanying lineout that have followed on from the Eale’s era are world class.
Ergo the Wallaby back rowers.
George Smith is among the top three fetchers in world rugby, and with Deans’ influence, the overall control the Australians exert on the ruck is a notch above what we have seen in the past.
Against Italy, a powerful scrum that caused problems against all comers in this year’s Six Nations, the Australians had absolute parity, and in the loose, were dominant more often than not, anchored by the efforts of Ben Alexander.
But the lack of balance came back to haunt Australia.
It seems that in recent years when their forwards were wilting, it was only the class of their back division that kept them in the contest.
Mockingly now, when their forwards are beginning to adapt to the rigours of the international forward contest, their esteemed three quarter line appears to be suffering.
It is difficult for Robbie Deans as he does not have the surfeit of class available to him in his beloved province of Canterbury, and while there is no doubt that he is making progress, it still seems for every step forward, the Wallabies are taking half a step backwards.
This leads to the dreaded reality that may fall on Australian rugby in the future.
Is Robbie Deans only perfecting his craft as an international coach, biding his time for when the All Black post becomes available?
Of course, I deviate.
Martin Johnson’s England await in fortress Twickenham, ironically with one of the weaker forward packs in English memory and one of the sharper looking backlines employed by the Rose of England.
For all of the media talk, Australia may well stare the challenge of England’s pack straight in the face and hold the better hand. And like the Wallabies past, it may be the wizards of the English backline, in the form of Riki Flutey and Danny Cipriani, who will dazzle their way out of the proverbial jail.
For there will be hell to pay if England fall to such a ’soft’ Wallaby pack.
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Tim O'Connor said | November 12th 2008 @ 2:29am | Report comment
An interesting take on the Springboks “faring well” on tour.
On their last two tours to the NH when they’ve played Ireland, 2004 and 2006, they lost both times.
It also sits uneasily with those who remember England putting 53 points past them in 2002. Or, indeed, the Barbarians soundly defeating them last December.
Whatever about the All Blacks, that statement about the Springboks simply doesn’t stand up in the light of the results.
Bring Back Melon said | November 12th 2008 @ 8:29am | Report comment
On Dean “only perfecting his craft as an international coach, biding his time for when the All Black post becomes available”…
If Deans hasn’t made some significant, noticeable improvements to the Wallabies, he would be passed up as a replacement to Graham Henry. Even were Graham Henry to coach the All Blacks through a terrible next World Cup, there is no way they would sack him and pick Deans if the Wallabies didn’t do SIGNFICANTLY better.
Deans could have ‘bided his time’ much more comfortably back in NZ. He took a big gamble (and backed himself) when he came over here. And good on him for doing so.
LeftArmSpinner said | November 12th 2008 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
i suspect that they are not reading the rantings of the UK papers. That would be sensible!!!!
Blinky Bill - Bellingen said | November 12th 2008 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
LAS - They in fact are reading them and quite sensibly (in my view) appreciating the fun of it all. When it’s all said and done, a journos job is to sell newspapers.
Personally I’m seeing this as a beaut opportunity to see where our scrum is really at. I think we will be far better prepared. Bring it on!!!!!
Jerry said | November 12th 2008 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
Tim - while SA often don’t fare that well on NH tours, the 50 point drubbing was a completely different side (and the best Engish side ever against 14 men for most of the match remember) and the Barbarians fixture was a B team from memory.
ohtani's jacket said | November 12th 2008 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
Deans needs a win here.
It’s one thing to gain parity against the All Blacks, but England is a whole different story. There’s a degree of familiarity in playing the All Blacks and NZ forward play is a platform for the attack. In England’s case, the forwards often are the attack. I’m not sure how strong the current English pack are, but I doubt the ref will do Australia any favours.
Personally I’m glad Deans isn’t the All Blacks coach, but his progress as an international coach is interesting. If the Wallabies lose, I think he needs to readdress what he’s doing. A lot of what was successful at Super 14 level doesn’t fly at Test level.
James Mortimer said | November 12th 2008 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
Good point OJ.
I think that the Australian Media especially were tripping up over each other extolling the virtues of Robbie Deans. But coaching a rugby rich province like Canterbury is alot different from managing a country where rugby must compete with league and AFL, two codes which realistically are dominant in the local landscape.
Remember that despite some successes, the Deans and Mitchell AB combination was not tremendously successful. And to cut of those who would throw winning percentages - remember not only the 2003 RWC loss, but also how after guiding the AB’s to post 50 points on both Australia and South Africa, that both those nations came close to beating New Zealand in the return games.
Quite simply, Deans must not lose to England. Because while the ARU may then
Blinky Bill - Bellingen said | November 12th 2008 @ 7:05pm | Report comment
“Because while the ARU may then”………………. May the what?
matta said | November 12th 2008 @ 7:16pm | Report comment
“In my experience, no other side of Australia’s stature and quality existed at the sharp end of international rugby for so long with such a fundamental flaw to their game, begging the questions, how and why have they gotten away with it for so long,” Ackford detailed…
hes right
ohtani's jacket said | November 12th 2008 @ 8:16pm | Report comment
James,
The impression I get is that Deans thought if he got guys with the right attitude, guys who wanted to play, it would all sorta gel. Sadly it’s not as easy as that.
bennalong said | November 13th 2008 @ 12:46am | Report comment
Deans is respected by his players because he respects them. His commitment is to the team. And that team is the Wallabies. He’s old school Rugby and when his like are gone I’ll give the game away.
This is an incredibly difficult time with an incomprehensible array of different rules to play by.
Don’t think it’s an accident. I repeat with all the strength I can muster, the ERV’s with full arm penalties allow the referee to dominate as in Hong Kong.
Northern Hemisphere Referees aren’t impressed by running Rugby. The game will NOT favour the bold (I mean us)
Rowdy said | November 13th 2008 @ 1:41am | Report comment
More ignorant and hypocritical cant from an Australian correspondent. If you want to see media ‘unloading’ on anyone, take look at any Aus sports ‘journalist’ sometime over the last 10-15 years when they write about England. What are they writing ahead of this game ? That they expect England to play 10-man rugby and maul their way upfield looking for penalties and a final scoreline divisible by 3 ?
For the record, I expect the crims to win, England to socre tries in the backs and Australian journailsts to further expose their ignorance about rugby outside NSQ by professing shock at England running the ball.
Colin N said | November 13th 2008 @ 3:18am | Report comment
Bennalong,
Here we go, another typical Southern Hemisphere stereotype (not all, but there are some, like this guy)
who doesn’t watch the NH domestic competitions. Or the internationals or Ireland or Wales in recent times for that matter. He also obviously didn’t watch the negative style employed by South Africa against Wales.
“Northern Hemisphere Referees aren’t impressed by running Rugby”
Not the case-it’s just that the SH teams keep bloody infringing at the breakdown.
The problem is that NH referees have been told to be stricter at the breakdown and thus there were plenty of pealties in the early rounds of the GP. Now that players seem to have adapted, there seems to be less infringements-I’ve explained this three times today, does anyone listen.
The reason the refs may have been ‘poor’ is because it is another one of those IRB directive. I said before the AI’s that the SH teams may struggle to adapt to this and thus that seems to case.
Benjamin said | November 13th 2008 @ 3:53am | Report comment
I don’t recall Scotland emloying a conservative game plan on the weekend either, but maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention.
Colin, why would anbody want to watch European rugby? It’s rubbish. Kick, kick, kick. Maul, maul, maul. Scrum, scrum, scrum. No thank you.
Colin N said | November 13th 2008 @ 3:57am | Report comment
“why would anbody want to watch European rugby? Kick, kick, kick. Maul, maul, maul. Scrum, scrum, scrum.”
Just what I was thinking Benjamin, apart from the fact that there aren’t any mauls remember, because of the ELV’s ;).
Benjamin said | November 13th 2008 @ 4:00am | Report comment
Don’t get me started on the ELVs! Those bloody poms always find a way to ruin the game for all of us. Bastards. I’m sure Martin Johnson will run onto the pitch and stuff the ball up his jumper for 80 mins. Typical bloody Pom gameplan.
Brendan said | November 13th 2008 @ 6:10am | Report comment
Tim O’Connor
I recall the boks playing Eng 6 times over the past two years, four times last year and twice back in 2006 for 5 wins out of 6 that included three decent hidings??? Talk about a selective memory, pal??
Yes the 50 pointer still hurts but if you want to go back far enough in history you’ll notice plenty of other hidings comparative to the 50 pointer you refer to (taking into account the old point scoring system) and they were all dished out by the team wearing green & gold.
Cheers,
Brendan
Benjamin said | November 13th 2008 @ 6:31am | Report comment
Brendan,
SA have not won in France since 1998. They have lost their past two visits to Dublin and they have only won once at Twickenham this decade. Tim was talking specifically about the European tour. Thus the games you mention are completely irrelevant. Tim is perfectly correct to question the SA touring record.
ohtani's jacket said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:27am | Report comment
Uh Colin the NH sides infringe at the breakdown too.
stillmissit said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:29am | Report comment
Benjamin - you have not fired up on this string. What is wrong with you mate are you losing it? A bit of irony is nice but we all want to see you with all guns firing.
The English team will try some fancy stuff and at half time pull their heads in and go backwards 5 years to a time Martin Johnson understands.
Australia to continue the mistake ridden game we have come to expect but will get away with it by 2-8 points.
More work to be done by both teams and dont expect a great game or even a spectacle.
Benjamin said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:39am | Report comment
Stillmissit, I read Spiro I become agitated. I read Stephen Jones I become agitated. Why bother? Life’s too short. In any case I think the press response to Baxter has been remarkably overhyped, a breif review of the actual articles will reveal that so it’s up to others to decide for themselves.
I think the game will be a good spectacle. I hope so at least. I’m not sure what you expect England to rever to during the second half? I’m guessing forward conservatism but I doubt it given the weakness of the 2nd rows. Apparently Martin Johnson has made a big effort to separate his playing reputation from his current ethos. I’ve read quite a few times that he is a very deep thinker so I would be willing to hope that this is a new dawn for England. The same applies to Deans. Two young teams with a lot to prove. Here’s hoping it’s a classic.
Colin N said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:45am | Report comment
ohtani’s jacket,
I know, but the SH keep complaining about penalties being awarded against their sides, I was explaining why. The reference made by a previous poster was suggesting that the NH refs were ’stopping’ the SH from playing-again I was explaining why.
stillmissit said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:47am | Report comment
Benjamin - I hope you are right and I suppose with two teams in rebuilding anything can and will happen.
Looking forward to the Australian team selections when they are announced.
My gut feel is that neither team will have the consistency to apply pressure over any time and the game will turn on individual peices of brilliance as opposed to a great team game where one team exerts its domination over the other.
All too ‘hairy fairy’ for my liking.
Colin N said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:49am | Report comment
They already have been anounced,
Ashley-Cooper; Hynes, Cross, Mortlock (capt), Mitchell; Giteau, Burgess; Robinson, Moore, Baxter, Chisholm, Sharpe, McMeniman, Smith, Brown.
Replacements: Polota-Nau, Dunning, Mumm, Palu, Cordingley, Cooper, Ioane.
Benjamin said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:52am | Report comment
Stillmissit, the selections are available on rugbyheaven.
I agree that the game will not be won through team brilliance, more through individual brilliance. However I would expect both sides to have gelled more over the next 18 months thus It will take a while before there will be the rivalry of the Jones-Woodward years. I note that the bookies have both teams at evens which is interesting in itself. Personally I like the idea that both teams could potentially grow alongside each other in terms of experience and caps etc. The past four years has been plain sad.
I’ve always wondered. Is the term ‘hairy fairy’ not a paradox?
stillmissit said | November 13th 2008 @ 8:23am | Report comment
Benjamin - ‘A paradox a paradox a most amazing paradox’. To quote one of your countrymen. Lets hope the game is not a paradox ie England running and Australia scrumming.
Thanks Colin N - Worried about the selections for the bench Cooper and Ioane are not our best backs, but maybe that is all thats left after injuries. Cooper although the hero in Italy could easily lose us this game - he is like that. I would rather have seen Sheehan as the back up half back as his agressive style would have been useful particularly if its wet.
What is the weather forecast over there for the game?
Colin N said | November 13th 2008 @ 8:30am | Report comment
Cooper was the one who played in the U-20 world cup wasn’t he, because of the injury to Beale? If so, he was inconsistant and struggled with the rush defence employed by the England juniors (I use that term lightly). He did some good things but also some pretty awful things. We’ll just have to see if he’s matured since then.
stillmissit said | November 13th 2008 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Colin N - I dont expect so he has played like this all through the S14 and his efforts in the U-20’s was dreadful. He strikes me as a young guy who is very arrogant and has no control over his skills or is good enough yet to warrant the arrogance.
Beale is a mile above him in terms of raw talent.
Colin N said | November 13th 2008 @ 9:07am | Report comment
I know Beale was injured during the tri-nations I think, but isn’t he back now, so why hasn’t he been selected?
Chris Ash, syd Aust said | November 13th 2008 @ 9:33am | Report comment
basically because he hasnt had any game time since the super 14 final when he got injured.
this is due to australia’s awesome 3rd tier competition… o i mean it’s because we don’t have one.
mudskipper said | November 13th 2008 @ 10:19am | Report comment
let’s see whatthey write about in the Sunday papers the morning after…They also have a developing side with an inexperienced play maker…Wallabies by 6-10 points
ohtani's jacket said | November 13th 2008 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
I see Colin.
You’d think we had enough to deal with in regard to different ELVs and different interpretations, now the refs have a new directive. And people wonder why I like Lawerence who lets the game flow.
stillmissit said | November 13th 2008 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
OJ - I have received a spread sheet of the ELV’s for 2009 and who plays what. I havent got into it yet but it looks very messy.
This has to be the worst implementation of anything I have come across. It is as if they liked the idea but are too afraid to implement a structure and sort it out from there. The IRB has shown the kind of people who are working there.
Mitch (in Valencia) said | November 13th 2008 @ 8:01pm | Report comment
A little off the topic that has developed in the comments, but referring back to a remark James made in his article regarding the underperforming aussie backline - “It is difficult for Robbie Deans as he does not have the surfeit of class available to him in his beloved province of Canterbury,…” . This suggests to me that most of the Cantebury backline would surpass the current selected aussies and be hypothetically playing for the wallabies. Or to put it another way, none of the aussie backs would make the crusaders side? I know I shouldn’t go any further, but lets compare the crusader’s S14 final backline and the wallabies backline for this weekend:
9 Andy Ellis Burgess
10 Daniel Carter Giteau
11 Scott Hamilton Mitchell
12 Tim Bateman Mortlock
13 Casey Laulala Cross
14 Kade Poki Hynes
15 Leon MacDonald Ashley-Cooper
Ok, I admit that Carter and McDonald (who, in my opinion, are amongst the best backs of NZ in the past ten years) have the wood on Giteau and Cooper, but through the rest of the line I don’t think there is a “surfeit of class” outmatching the wallabies. Tim Bateman and Kade Poki?? Who the hell are they? I’m a reasonably up-to-date rugby fan, but I sure as hell dont remember those two players from the final. Forgive me if I’m terribly wrong.
So my point is, after all this blabbering, is that to suggest Robbie Deans is resting on laurels from classy days at Cantebury is wrong. I think he is working with class at the wallabies, and working bloody hard. The wallaby backline had a rubbish day in Padova, but considering a few debutants and fresh combos, I give them well over a pass mark under Deans’ tenure.
Too long, sorry, got carried away…
Mitch (in Valencia) said | November 13th 2008 @ 8:02pm | Report comment
Ok, formatting didnt really work there. I guess ol’ WISIWYG was having a coffee break…. But you get the idea with backline lists.
westy said | November 13th 2008 @ 8:12pm | Report comment
Mitch…in my opinion and it is only my opinion Australia do not have a playmaking 5/8. I believe Giteau is anumber 12. He can put someone through a gap and pop up those exquisite little passes but his tactical foresight and kicking are not in Carters class. Our 5/8 is Barnes/Cooper/or Beale. Whoever can grab the mantle. As for our fullback we are also light on………Ashley Cooper has improved but again his defensive anticipation is lacking and those mindlss up and unders a real cocern. Secondly he does not possess that hallmark of a true 15 …explosive pace.. I think Cross will take over from an aging Mortlock at No 13. We need a 10 and 15 and still have not got them yey. I think a Giteau /Cross centre combination could be the best in the world with a proper 5/8.
Mitch (in Valencia) said | November 13th 2008 @ 9:35pm | Report comment
Westy, agree wholeheartedly with everything you say. Giteau survives at 5/8 on his natural ability as a footballer not on natural abilitya s a 5/8. And Ashley-Cooper did better on the wing, but like you said, doesn’t have gas like the new fellas Hynes, Turner, Ioane…
Ian Noble said | November 13th 2008 @ 10:27pm | Report comment
Thw Wallabies have the upper hand. Deans and his crew have had the 3Ns to refine their combinations and look at the scrum. The comments by the journos are smokescreens, they know this England team is under construction and hasn’t been tested at Test level.
I suppose in many Deans has more to lose than Johnson. Johnson is just starting the process of sorting out the wheat from the chaff and he needs time and consistency of performance over a number of games to see who will make the grade. A defeat whilst not desired may be more beneficial in the long run, as a win can paper over the cracks with the overhype about new dawns etc. To be frank I can’t recall such an inexperienced English team for a Home international. It has potential but there are too many unanswered questions and this weekend will certainly answer some but not all.
Johnson will cetainly have a clearer picture by the end of the Autumn as a precursor to the 6N’s in 2009.
Mart said | November 14th 2008 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Ian - regards your comment, here’s an interesting take from Stephen Jones in his article in The Times this week…..
“Australia appear to be the weakest of the three major southern hemisphere countries touring in Europe this autumn. They only just beat Italy, they are in transition anyway and they have lost Berrick Barnes, a key back, for the rest of the tour.
The spotlight is now, balefully, on England. Before, during and after Saturday’s match against Australia at Twickenham, there must be a total ban imposed on the normal excuses and claptrap which succeeding England managements and teams have been allowed to get away with for far too long.
They must win. Categorically, they must win. They have been together for nearly a month, they are at home and they have few injuries to significant players. If they are not ready now, they never will be. So what we absolutely do not want to hear at any stage of the forthcoming weekend is that they are a team in transition, or a work in progress, or a team that is getting there, or a team doing some good things and not others, or a team begging for more time, or a team that regards itself as being deserving of another outing together”
Mitch (in Valencia) said | November 14th 2008 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
Wow, talk about pressure! Looks like Johnson might be exiled if his team doesn’t win. Is it just me, or is Rugby following in a similar path to football, in that a lot of pressure, blame and praise (minimal) is placed squarely on coaches’ shoulders? Or is it warranted? Never in the past have I noticed so much talk about coaches than this year (apart from the hissy fits between whinger Jones and whinger Woodward). Its all Deans this, Johnson that, Mallet thinks this, Henry hates Deans, Johnson and Declan whatever whatever whatever….!!! Should Journos just talk about the players and their rugby? or are the coaches more interesting these days? Way off topic again, but anyway….
By the way, is Stephen Jones the biggest and noisiest menace going round? grrr!
Benjamin said | November 15th 2008 @ 2:55am | Report comment
Mart, that article is the most ignorant piece of sports writing I have read in a long, long time. He is talking about a backline with how many caps? I don’t think England have ever fielded a more inexperienced backline and yet Jones’s response to a loss is that they must be removed. Obviously he has forgotten how embarassingly bad Robinson#s and Ashton’s regimes were. The article is incorrect on so many levels that I won’t waste my time to point them out, needless to say I’m both furious and disgusted. Now that his ex-lovers like Dallaglio have left the squad he’s probably not getting much air time with the squad. Hopefully the England team will recognise him for the King Cnut he really is.
Mark H said | November 15th 2008 @ 6:02pm | Report comment
Oh well if were going to talk history I think 1998 wqas a good vintage..what was it 50-0 at one stage? British press…just like George Bushes memory. Selective.
Benjamin said | November 15th 2008 @ 8:32pm | Report comment
Did the English scrum get bashed in that loss?