By OldManEmu
November 17th 2008 @ 6:21am
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Wallabies win was all about the scrum
Let all supporters of the Wallabies savour last night’s win because it was the herald of a new age.
It was a classic test match, tense, intense, gripping, tough, controversial, and defining.
This is the beginning of a new cycle for the English who have been in a sort of holding pattern since the brutal yet beautiful RWC 03 dominance.
The English showed pluck of enormous magnitude to make the final of last years RWC, but now the broom has been put through the team and at first blush it is hard not to be impressed.
The “black three” - wow, what would the Wallabies give for a group as good as them; and young. It is a bit scary. Flutey has come on in leaps and bounds since he was playing off the bench for Wellington in the NPC; he’s the real deal.
Cipriani is dangerous and adventurous and his back up in Flood is unspeakably pretty and talented and looks the goods (wouldn’t you love to try and smash him if you were playing him?). Highest praise though for Care, the cheeky, tough, long and quick passing halfback. It all looks pretty ominous.
I focus on the backs purely because the poms will always deliver in the forwards and with Johnson at the helm, last night will prove to be an aberration. He will find the men to do the job.
So England look to be back on the way up.
The Wallabies. Well I am excited.
We played poorly in long patches. Burgess is largely to blame. The distribution was very poor. He won’t be afforded another shocker of such magnitude.
Cross ran across field. Ashley-Cooper again kicked poorly as did Giteau in general play. Hynes did well with what he was given and Mortlock was the little girl with the strawberry curl - but by God when he was good he was very very very good.
How is it possible for a man the size of Morty to just run straight over people? And the long range penalty from a very similar distance and angle as that which he missed at Marseille will put a few demons to rest. Deans will have seen the quality of the man, and the respect he commands from his peers. His is the captaincy for as long as the body holds up.
Nathan Sharpe. Where do you start? If the energy devoted to shitcanning Sharpey was capable of being harnessed you could find a cure for tuberculosis.
Time and again I am amazed at the venom of the criticism pointed his way. Here is a man who left his home town to set up a new rugby franchise in an outpost. That is a man made of stern stuff. He wins his lineout ball comfortably, he pushes hard in the scrum, he makes his tackles and trucks it up - he does all this every time he plays; but last night there was all this and more.
It must be the beard. More likely Deans has challenged him to do more for the team and Sharpe has responded. Magnificent performance for a man upon whom I think Deans will rely heavily in the next three years.
Palu made a superb impact off the bench and maybe this will be his role, which he may find hard to accept, but does seem to be his lot in life with the emergence of Brown Dog.
George Smith was peerless. Johnson will have his 6 and 7 watching the video till they have memorised the lines that Smith ran, in both attack and defence. I would take Smith any day over McCaw.
But let’s get to it. The scrum. As the Roar’s resident Wallaby apologist, I have been (ahem as I pat myself on the back) saying all year that Mortlock, Sharpe and Palu are the real deal- and I have also gone into bat for the scrum which to all but blind freddy, and oh about 85% of rugby “fans” in this country, is a joke.
I recall a quote from a fellow Roarer a few weeks back - this one’s for you Worlds Biggest - and for all the other doubters.
Our front three is one that you can build a World Cup year on. Hyperbole? Nope. Just the facts ma’am. Lets go to the video tape.
First minute. England feed. Three resets. Jonker trots around to Sheridan and Baxter’s side, has a word to them and then turns to his touch judge - one can only assume to say help me out here.
Engagement, Sheridan doe not bind and then bends at the waist which means Baxter who has taken a good bind must go to ground. Sorry, Jonkers is onto it. Wallaby free kick. Baxter 1, Sheridan minus 1 for taking the piss.
Eleventh minute. England feed. Wallaby early engagement. England free kick. Fair enough. Come on boys, we know you’re keen, but lets play the laws.
16th minute. First engagement, and Australia have the shove. My note says “Are England taking the piss or is the Wallaby scrum too strong”. Subsequent events will suggest a bit of both and by the time the Poms realised Jonkers was up for it, all was too late and Baxter, Moore and Robinson had their tails up.
22nd minute. England feed. Collapse on first set. Jonkers says “It wasn’t a proper hit. I want you to set it higher.” Next set Australia get the shove on and it is all up through Sheridan’s side. Jonkers tells Care to get it in and then the scrum collapses. Maybe it collapsed because that is what happens every know and then, or maybe England brought it down because they were on the back foot. All I know is Al Baxter did not take that scrum down.
28th minute. Wallaby feed. Good solid scrum,left side up, perfect. Australia on top.
34th minute. Sheridan has gone off, ostensibly for a blood bin but the coverage shows the trainer working on neck stretches - hello - is this the same guy who tore us apart before. Maybe he doesn’t like a bit of his own medicine.
34th minute. England feed. With Sheridan off Baxter is really fired up - the coverage shows an even more determined facial grimace than usual. First set and Australia have England on skates and twisted and the scrum collapses faster than that horse that Benjamin was riding the other day. Remember that horse Benjamin - ya goose. Jonkers told Care to get it in and as soon as he said this the scrum collapsed. Go figure.
43rd minute. England feed. Australia smash in, drive the England scrum back and then pilfer the ball at the back. Things are looking good. McMeniman goes troppo after this scrum - he knows it is good day, he can feel the England scrum wilting.
44th minute. England feed. Collpase at first set. Jonkers says “set the scrum higher”. On the reset he quickly says to Care “Get it in please”. Jonkers can see what is happening. The boot is now on the other foot.
It is scrum 101 - if you are being outscrummed you set as low as the ref will let you. A high engagement is good for the powerful scrum. Try it out Roarers - it is much easier to wrestle someone bigger and stronger than you if your centre of gravity is lower than theirs.
Anyway Australia smash the engagement, Care does not feed it quickly, England free kick. As best I can gather it is against Robinson for boring in. A highly set scrum would not in fact suit Robinson who is shorter than his opponent and the two hookers.
52nd minute. Wallaby feed, Sheridan back on. Again Sheridan does not bind and bends at the waist, carbon copy of the first scrum. Penalty Australia. Maybe Sheridan is a myth and just a hitherto good cheat…how ironic. Baxter 2 Sheridan minus 2.
62nd minute. Wallaby feed. Surely this cant last. England are going to pull out a big one here. Jonkers again says, “I want this high”. Good solid scrum except Burgess stuffs it at the back.
62nd minute. England feed. Armageddon. Lets replay that, say twenty times. How good was that? The overhead shot is scary for England. At 3.00 am there were tears in this Old Man’s eyes. The scrum comes up, Chisholm is going spare, he is in Baxter’s ear. We all know what he has probably said. “Howdo you like that Sheridan, tear yourself a new arsehole now Fatso” or something along those lines. Baxter grins. This is a man made of stern stuff. He knows his game and he is proud of what he has done.
66th minute. Sheridan off. Jonkers asks the trainer, “Is he injured or is he off.” Trainers response not recorded. My suspicion is he wasn’t injured unless a hernia from going backwards quickly counts.
71st minute. Wallaby feed. England refuse to engage. Jonkers says “do not pull back, you must take the hit.” Robinson drives in on Vickery who then gets treatment. The coverage shows a very confused looking RWC 2003 winner. “That ain’t Bill Young” - no sir, its Benn with two nns Robinson who has to carry ID with him to get into pubs. Get to know him.
76th minute. Australia feed. England have nothing left. A scrum on our line was previously heart in mouth stuff, but it is like a training run here. Care can get nowhere near Burgess because Palu has the luxury of almost disengaging to put his trunk in Care’s way.
Final whistle. A redemption of shawshank like proportion for the scrum and big Al Baxter in particular. One swallow does not a summer make, but a scrum will make a spring tour.
Not that I’m getting carried away.
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Homer said | November 17th 2008 @ 8:36am | Report comment
I love it ! Benn with two nn’s, top stuff.
Can’t wait for Horwill to come back in. Alexander, Kepu, Horwill, McMeniman, Pocock, Brown, the forward future is looking good. We just need a few hookers to come through.
I didn’t get to see the game but i think you captured the highlights i saw. Dissappointing not to score meat pies but i reckon with Barnes back those things will come.
Brett McKay said | November 17th 2008 @ 9:44am | Report comment
OME, that was gold, great read…
Dexter William said | November 17th 2008 @ 10:04am | Report comment
OME, love the passion that you wrote with. Can’t wait to read another one of your post if we do the grand slam.
Ian Noble said | November 17th 2008 @ 10:10am | Report comment
OME
I was at Twickenham and it was a hard tense test match, very enjoyable and in my opinion much closer than the score suggests. However Deans has had a major impact on the Ws with concentration on the basics through beefing up the scrum and improving technique but also coaching a win mentality regardless of the ugliness of the performance.
As for England Johnson has a major task there is alot of potential but can they raise their game at test level. I am not anticipating any great shakes for the remaning games against SA and NZ but the 6N’s in the New Year will be the true acid test of how the squad is developing. I hope he doesn’t make too many changes for the next two games but he might give Flood a crack and drop Cips to the bench, put Tait at 13 with Noon on the bench, bring back Kennedy for Palmer as the line outs were a shambles and Stevens for Vickery assuming Sheridan is not too badly injured.
Andrew Logan said | November 17th 2008 @ 10:22am | Report comment
OME - I am a tad misty after reading this. I bet you got up early on Sunday morning and slipped down to Endeavour Oval. Walked a slow lap in the morning dew. Laid a wistful hand on the scrum machine, and stuck a head into the change rooms to suck up a little of that left over liniment. Rubbed the newly grown “Sharpey” brand stubble on your chin, winked at your wallet photo of Big Al, and then drove slowly home.
Tremedous piece of analysis. I loved the “Armageddon” call.
More please.
James Mortimer said | November 17th 2008 @ 11:20am | Report comment
Good summary but please - please, perspective.
Don’t mean to play devils advocate but I will…
Honestly, what has Andrew Sheridan and the likes of Simon Borthwick done to any scrum outside of previous Wallaby games. They are overrated and am sure Johnson will quickly click on to this.
Secondly, it was quite possibly the worst back row performance by England I have ever seen at the highest level. Their ball security was terrible, and George Smith (agree he is up there with McCaw) was made to look like a demi god. But Smith has never outplayed McCaw so he is not the shining messiah.
Clearly OME you have watched the game at least a million times since. I too have watched it a couple of times, England were not trying to scrum to win, they were expecting their reputation and ego to do the job.
While I admit the Wallabies won the scrum engagements on a points decision, the engagement at this set piece was messy and unfluent, from both teams. More often than not Jonker was actually telling the Australians to correct their engagement and hit.
The real test will be against France, who, despite some shaky moments, have looked all powerful at the set piece and their scrum is looking magnifique. They dominated the Puma’s and against the PI’s, they were constantly holding the scrum and pushing it back at least 5 metres every feed.
Bring Back Melon said | November 17th 2008 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
Ahhh… nice.
I agree about the England side: They shouldn’t be too down - they are on the rebuild and have some good blocks to build with. Will be dangerous come next World Cup.
Not sure about your call that Mortlock should remain captain for as long as his body holds up. I agree he is a fantastic player and would continue to be a good captain but I think the transition should happen sooner.
I didn’t have a problem with Cross’ game either. He didn’t crab in the style of some league converts - I thought he ran some good diagonal lines, keeping the defense guessing about who has him, whether they should run out of the line to take him, offering his team-mates the opportunity to cut back inside…
OldManEmu said | November 17th 2008 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
Bring back Melon - I’ll defer to yours about Cross - it just seemed to me that the one big run he did was a cinch for a good hover defence that had the under line back inside covered as well - dont get me wrong, I like the cut of his jib and he is only gonna get better. Plus I thought the play on his surname was a clever literary device but obviously not.
James Mortimer - come on matey, I did think the small dash of irony was a bit obvious, although I do think this was a great and gripping test and a coming of age of the team - plus I did want to serve it up to the many many critics of the Wallabies on this site. I can never criticise the Wallabies because I know that every bloke that pulls on that jersey has fractured a rectum to get there - I genuinely tear up when the anthemn is played, pathetic I know, but I just love it.
Logie - this was my Sunday morning -
3.45 am - walk out into the backyard and let out a barbaric yaup.
3.46 commence to watch game again.
5.00 am conversation to the following effect with spouse; her “What the ^*& are you doing?” me “Im watching the footy.” her “didn’t it start at 1.30?” me “dont you know anything about Rugby woman?” (she in fact does, and so she put the kettle on, sat down with me and asked how Morty played? The woman is a saint who can strap knees, keep bags of ice in the freezer for Saturday nights, and leave me alone on Saturday mornings)
6.20 am commence to watch game again, this time with sons whose namesakes are up there in Heaven cheering on the Wallabies for another famous victory on British soil ala 1927-28.
6.30 am, sons collectively “Dad, this is boring. Can we watch Buzz?”
11.00 am - working bee at Endeavour Oval - my job - polishing the scoreboard in readiness for some more floggings of the Lions in 2009.
Who Needs Melon said | November 17th 2008 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
On you OldMan.
Don’t let me start to give the impression I know what I’m talking about. But that shouldn’t stop me commenting, right?
I’m thinking now is the time to stop calling myself “Bring Back Melon”.
OldManEmu said | November 17th 2008 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
I love your work WhoNeeds? Myself, I say WhoNeedElsom when you have MMM.
Andrew Logan said | November 17th 2008 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
Aaah Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass”…
“The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me—he complains of my gab and my loitering.
I too am not a bit tamed—I too am untranslatable;
I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.”
By the way…I imagine Andy Sheridan recited the following stanza to Big Al over a handshake after the game…
“I bequeathe myself to the dirt, to grow from the grass I love
If you want me again, look for me under your boot-soles….”
Nashi said | November 17th 2008 @ 5:42pm | Report comment
I’ve been trawling the web sites today, as you do when your side has a good victorty. You want to relive the joy over and over again. Loved the article it summed up beautifully!
The one thing that struck me in what I read and saw was the photo of Robbie Deans at the side of the team after the game, he looked quietly satisfied. In every quote he was pleased for the pack and Foley but recognised there is still a great deal to be done. The forwards are getting there, good but not yet brilliant, but there is truckloads of work in the backs to be done. The last two tests I have noticed that Burgess has been caught looking for a fly half, the TV coverage has been so poor you can’t see where Gits or Mortlock is.
I still think that the balance in the midfield would be better with Mortlock back at 13 and Barnes/Cooper interchanging with Gitts at 10. This way Giteau can run (as is his inclination) and still have an option at the next breakdown. The backline simply does not have the structure of Gregan/Larkham yet. It will come in time. Maybe that is why Deans was only quietly satisfied, because the backs are down to him. I have been waiting to see his NZ influence with a 2nd five eighth. When that comes and the stars have aligned, maybe then we will see us not only beat the Poms at their game but also the Blacks at theirs.
Bring on the French!
Cutter said | November 17th 2008 @ 9:04pm | Report comment
OME that is great Brockhoff analysis. Now let me provide some Macqueen objectivity.
Mortlock is a very limited 12 and a waning 13. In 12 months, Giteau will be 12 and AAC 13 (Barnes at 10 and, probably, one of Turner, Shepherd or Mitchell at 15). Cross is a solid defender but, against England, offered nothing in attack. I doubt he will be a long term first XV player.
Yes, our scrum was good. However, Sheridan isnt at full fitness and probably shouldnt have been picked. When England did dominate our scrum at Twickenham in 2005 and at Marseille last year, they had Steve Thompson and Mark Regan respectively at hooker. Mears isnt a big, strong scrummaging hooker and Johnson will probably have learnt a lesson there. His days in the England colours might be numbered as well.
It is important we follow this up with another strong game to beat the French. The inability to win tough games back to back has been a hallmark of our season. This win will have given the Wallabies enormous confidence and self belief which are both vital for dominant teams. It will also have worked, partially at least, to remove the perception that our scrum is weak. Our scrum will need to be strong for many years before that perception disappears entirely.
James Mortimer said | November 18th 2008 @ 1:49am | Report comment
OME,
True regarding the irony.
This win, and a win against France will measure to be a very successful season for the Wallabies, who are - like every major test nation - in the throes of rebuilding.
But, considering all Wallaby bashers have been doing it in relation to their pack - indeed it is a good win.
Cutter, I completely agree with all your statements, but (to use the word again) ironically I thought that Mortlock probably had his best game as a number 12 - this was impressive as before the game I totally agreed with the fact that he is a player who is past his prime.
But against the running brilliance of Cipriani and Flutey, he did pretty OK.
I don’t agree about AAC being a future 13. Cross is good, but remember, his attacking threat was nothing as Mortlock is not a creating player. Watch closely the next game where Cross partners either Giteau or Barnes in the midfield, he will be a different player.
Deans will face a tough decision in the next 12 months - should Mortlock be dropped to the wilderness. It was a decision that both Eddie Jones and John Connely were not able to make regarding Gregan - and the Wallabies suffered because of it.
Who Needs Melon said | November 18th 2008 @ 9:43am | Report comment
James,
I reckopn Mortlock should, sometime in the next 12 months, be used more and more from the bench as a bloody good impact player and give a range of others a go at 13 - Cross, AAC, others depending on their form in the Super 14 (Rob Horne???).
Mortlock can come in for 12 or 13 and, in a pinch, others rotated through the back 3.
No need to drop him completely. His experience is invaluable and he can support the next captain, Horwill.
A bit tough on Mortlock who is still a great player and captain but good for the team overall I think.
JohnB said | November 18th 2008 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Maybe England had a lot of ball in the stats because they kept taking it off the back of rucks/mauls straight into the defenders - one out in league parlance. If that’s bending the defenders back and getting you on the front foot, well and good. if it’s not, yes your can recycle the ball repeatedly and maybe get a penalty, but otherwise you’re just marking time until you make a mistake yourself. Obviously that’s not all England did with their ball, but there was a fair amount of it.
Blinky Bill - Bellingen said | November 18th 2008 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Even as an avid Wallaby supporter, I’m somewhat hesitant to bang the drum too loudly about how our pack has improved. I believe they have improved because ‘experts’ say so. But for me it’s all about the quality of the opposition. In other words would our best beat their best at scrum time. That was our best but was it England’s?
Let’s be honest about that England game. If England had not turned over so much ball we surely would have struggled. So the score seemed to flatter us compared to how the teams were playing. I thought the England backs were actually more skillful than ours in most things. They just made dumber decisions.
On the scrums, I was still left wondering some of the penalties that Jonkers awarded us. Sure some were clear (both ways) but as usual, a lot of it was more a case of “what was that about”? But apparantly that’s Rugby for you. I also wonder if Jonkers has been reading the press, felt a change in public opinion about the Wallaby scrum and felt justified in not pinging Australia on the day. Or, perhaps that box of chocolates before the game made all the difference. Who knows?
Tarpo said | November 18th 2008 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
BBB, relax & enjoy the win! The Wallas have played 3 pretty useful packs on each of the last 3 Saturdays. They have held their own or dominated, most of us would have been very happy to take that if offered before the tour started, it is a significant improvement.
Alot of dumb decisions on the field happen because of the pressure the players are feeling, Dingos strategy is to build that pressure, or stress as he likes to refer to it. The more stress on the opposition the luckier you get.
OldManEmu said | November 18th 2008 @ 6:13pm | Report comment
Benjamin
You’re not a bad bloke after all mate.
Agree with both your points, yes a lot is being made of the scrum but probably becasue it has been a bloody long time between drinks and when your thirsty you tend to gulp a bit.
Regarding the posession stat we kicked away a lot of ball, that could have something to do with it, and I guess england infringed a lot and so any repeat phases were stifled to an extent.
Borthwick is not much chop is he? and I was not that impresed with the other second rower - certainly not in the same image as the great man Johnson.
And finally you are so right about the fickle nature of Australian Rugby supporters - I really dont understand it, I hate it, I wish people would be a bit more stoic and take the hard times on the chin and then hoop and holler when we when.
Benjamin said | November 19th 2008 @ 2:14am | Report comment
OME:
Royal Tenenbaum: I’ve always been considered an asshole for about as long as I can remember. Uh, that’s just my style.
Henry Sherman: I don’t think you’re an asshole, Royal, I just think you’re kind of a son of a bitch.
Royal Tenenbaum: Well, I really appreciate that.
Probably right about the kicking. England’s boring pod system must have also been a factor - I definitely agree with JohnB’s analysis. The longer you have the ball the more likely you are to make a mistake. It’s considered safety first but it’s not. It’s just silly. It’s pleasing to see that Johnson has publicly admitted to attempting to remove this narrow mindset.
Palmer and Borthwick are never going to be rugby legends. Eddie Jones loves to talk up Borthwick - he is the Saracens captain - but he is simply not test material. Although I agree with Johnson’s logic that the pack should be given another game together hopefully a long-term positive from the Australia test will be that some players will never again don the England shirt.
matta said | November 19th 2008 @ 6:52am | Report comment
Ben - dont forget the Poms have been claiming Sherridan as the best loosehead in the world….
Also, I actually rate Vickery as the best tighthead in the world over hayman but Robbinson had a day out on him.
True Tah said | November 19th 2008 @ 10:00pm | Report comment
Benjamin,
I agree re: Sheridan, he can benchpress something like over 200kg…this no doubt impresses a lot of the gym wannabe guys, but lets face it, props are made in the scrum not in the weights room.
Give Beast a few years, he will become a Springbok great.