Will Wallaby changes bring change of fortune?
Roar Pro By Armchair-critic, 3 Sep 2009 Armchair-critic is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Berrick Barnes, David Pocock, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, Rugby Union, Springboks, Stephen Moore, Tri Nations, Victor Matfield, wallabies, Will Genia
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Lachie Turner of Australia scores a try during the Australia v Italy Rugby Union game at the Ethiad Stadium in Melbourne, Saturday, June 20th, 2009. Australia won the game 34-12. (AAP Image/Martin Philbey)
In light of recent performances, the Wallabies’ chances of victory this weekend seem remote at best. The Springbok side that will run out onto Suncorp Stadium this Saturday night is in a different league to the one that had 49 unanswered points put on them three years ago.
After being comprehensively outplayed in Perth, this week has seen a number of changes to a Wallabies side that is clearly down on confidence and in desperate need of some sort of spark.
A large majority of the Australian rugby public are hoping, rather optimistically, that Will Genia can provide this.
In his limited game time, Genia has showed composure well beyond his years.
At just 21 years old and with only one season of Super 14 rugby behind him, Genia will complete his meteoric rise to the Wallabies starting side when he runs on to his home ground this weekend.
Genia has impressed all who have seen his play through precise and sharp service as well as a positive intent to make things happen on the field.
With Luke Burgess having failed to cement the starting role over the last eighteen months, this weekend could very well be the beginning of a long Wallabies career for the Queensland halfback.
The return of Berrick Barnes is also a huge positive for the Wallabies as he will undoubtedly sure up the midfield defence, which was emphatically exposed by the Boks in Perth.
Robbie Deans has also given an indication that Barnes will spend time during the match at first receiver, particularly on attack.
This will please many pundits who have been calling for Giteau to be moved out one in the backline, especially after the success Australia had when Quade Cooper took the field in Perth.
The changes in the forwards could perhaps point to a change in approach from the Wallabies.
Tatafu Polota-Nau is a more explosive type of player than Stephen Moore and his strong open-field play is complimented well by his powerful scrimmaging. The only question mark remains over his lineout throwing which is sure to be given a thorough examination by Victor Matfield and company.
A question mark also exists regarding George Smith at No. 8 but you would have to think he will put in a better performance than Richard Brown contributed last week.
The added enthusiasm provided by David Pocock should also help Smith in the battle at the breakdown as well as injecting the Wallabies with added energy.
On paper this side seems to have a lot more going for it than last week, however this will count for nothing if the Wallabies are not mentally prepared.
It was clear at the start of last week that the players were anxious and down on confidence. It wasn’t until they had nothing to lose that they really started to play.
If they are to have any chance against this extremely confident and talented Springbok side then the Wallabies are going to have to turn up for the full 80 minutes and take the game to the Boks.
It is paramount for the Wallabies to utilise the enthusiasm that the new members to the side will provide.
If they are able to start the match with a positive intent, then we may just see an unlikely victory.
However, if the enthusiasm and error rate is anything like what it was in Perth, the players’ confidence will be all but shattered and a reversal of the 2006 score line is much a possibility.
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September 3rd 2009 @ 8:39am
fickle-follower said | September 3rd 2009 @ 8:39am | Report comment
I think the wallabies have all the pieces of a great rugby team. They just can’t pull it together on the day. They are inconsistent throughout each game, and only believe in themselves for patches. They are playing like a barbarians team, or a school boy representative team – filled with great talent, but only got together a week ago and haven’t reached the stage they can fine tune.
If I wasn’t such a huge Robbie Deans fan, I would be questioning whether it was perhaps a lack of leadership off the field.
September 3rd 2009 @ 9:02am
Blinky Bill from Bellingen said | September 3rd 2009 @ 9:02am | Report comment
‘Will Wallaby changes bring change of fortune?’ Well put it this way, stay with the same & you will just get the same. So there’s no option, ‘change’ is the only way forward.
Will we win or come closer to winning in Brisbane? That’s all that I’m concerned with right now.
September 3rd 2009 @ 10:24am
Even looser said | September 3rd 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
Totally agree Blinky. Perhaps the headline should have read ‘Should Deans have made changes sooner’?, as I’m buggered as to why he waited so long with Burgess when it’s obvious to Blind Freddy that Will Genia is worth a chance.
Not at all sure why Hynes has been dropped when all 3 wingers have made bloopers. At least Hynes has a go. Perhaps his crime was not passing with a player in support and opting for the kick ahead? But again at least he had a crack at the line.
I’d like a win in BrisVegas just to get that smarmy smile of that Bok Coach’s face. Have to concede that the Boks are playing damn good Rugby.
September 3rd 2009 @ 9:27am
84% said | September 3rd 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Let’s hope they play Union and not League !
September 3rd 2009 @ 9:35am
Gary said | September 3rd 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
When they are good they are very very good but when they are bad there just bloody awful. Hopefully we’ll see more of the good this week.
September 3rd 2009 @ 9:52am
sheek said | September 3rd 2009 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Well, they had to try something different. And making personnel changes will make the fans happy with the appearance of something being seen to be done.
Whether it will result in a win remains to be seen. The Wallabies can’t sink any lower. At least I don’t think they can. I don’t think this is the makings of a great Wallaby team that just can’t put it together. Maybe in 1-2 years, but not now.
We still have problems at hooker, lock, eightman, scrumhalf, out centre & wing. Whether some or these problems will be sorted out this Saturday night remains to be seen.
I will give Giteau the benefit of the doubt that he hasn’t been helped by poor service from Burgess. Other than that I would have to say he is horribly overhyped. I’m happy for him & his team mates to prove me wrong come Saturday night, but I’m not expecting a win.
September 4th 2009 @ 10:27am
reds fan said | September 4th 2009 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Sheek, be careful. “They can’t sink any lower” has been my mantra for the Reds for the past .. what?…5 years?? And somehow they astound me with their originality in coming up with more ways to sink lower and lower…
September 4th 2009 @ 10:31am
Pippinu said | September 4th 2009 @ 10:31am | Report comment
That’s a terrific line – it’s so true – while it’s not great for Red’s fans, general sports fans need teams like the Reds so that they shake their head in disbelief on a regular basis.
September 3rd 2009 @ 9:53am
tropmalk said | September 3rd 2009 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Wallas still have a real problem at scrum half, no point in putting Burgess on the bench, he will be a poor substitute unable to produce any spark. Every truly great team has a dominant half back, we don’t have any as yet. Also Smith is a great player but an ineffective captain.
September 3rd 2009 @ 10:17am
Vented Relief said | September 3rd 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Will be very interested in the lineout this week. If we can’t compete there, then our kicking game becomes severely restricted and in effect we have to kick it to their wingers and fullback. Hopefully we’ll just keep it in hand, make sure Brussouw doesn’t get his dirty paws in there (cue Smith and Pocock), give Tatafu, Elsom and Chisolm a few bollocking runs and then send it out wide.
But that would mean going more than 2-3 mins without an unforced error. Hmmm.
September 3rd 2009 @ 10:25am
Armchair-critic said | September 3rd 2009 @ 10:25am | Report comment
I think this is the best available side but they are still clear underdogs – worrying signs for Australian rugby.
A good finish to this Tri Nations is essential for the development of the side otherwise the Grand Slam could turn out to be a disaster
September 3rd 2009 @ 10:41am
couchnorm said | September 3rd 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Over the past two seasons the Wallabies have actually made a lot of changes (maybe not the right ones). “Changing deckchairs” won’t fix the problems, eventually they will win a game, the law of averages will see to that.
Despite all the problems maybe one easy fix would be to use the bench. Effective use can turn a game or keep you in a game.
September 3rd 2009 @ 12:31pm
Working Class Rugger said | September 3rd 2009 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
Our current Wallabies are very, very raw. But they have the ability to become a superb international Rugby side. There not there yet. But these changes are a step in the right direction. I expect a much improved perfromance this week. The question will be whether the Boks improve too. I actually think we may have seen the top gear in the first 20 min in Perth. It was frightening but not bulletproof.
I like the idea Burgess on the bench. Coming on at the 60 – 65th minute mark when the majority of the opposition are tired could open up the sides of the ruck for him to have more of a run. It’s about time TPN started, has been performing better than Moore all season.
Pek Cowan has been in good form in Club Rugby. But I wonder what Sekope Kepu needs to do. He’s a strong scrummager, he’s quick, athletic and skillful. Basically a disgrace to the front row. Deans should actually look at more player’s from Clubland. Guys like Hoiles could add that desperately needed spark missing this season. Being a Tahs fan I hope they have been watching. Ben Smith from Norths looks good, so does Eastwood’s young No.7, Dylan Smouha though a little light framed knows how to sniff out a try, Marshall Milroy has been in good form and Adam Darcy is obvious.
September 3rd 2009 @ 4:35pm
Ben J said | September 3rd 2009 @ 4:35pm | Report comment
Is it possible that the Boks are saving their “Top gear game” for the All Blacks and that the first 20 min in Perth were a dress rehearsel for Waikato?
The talent available to the Wallabies in the backs are frightening, the next 18 months will be decisive and they have to get their combinations right. The Boks are all about combinations, 2 Cheetah flankers, 2 Bulls locks, Sharks frontrow, 8,9,10 Bulls, the list goes on De Villiers and Fourie together since 2004.