By LeftArmSpinner -
November 23rd 2009 @ 6:49am
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Wallabies need a midfield strategist
The Wallabies lost to a courageous Scottish team by 9-8 yesterday morning in a wet and windy Edinburgh. This loss ended the Wallabies previous sixteen game winning streak against the Scots.
It should not be the catalyst for wholesale changes to the current Wallabies starting team and bench.
The Wallabies dominated possession, the breakdown and were strong in the set pieces for the first 25 minutes. They varied their play and restricted the amount of kicking.
The Scottish defence was outstanding throughout the game and in particular during this first 25 minutes when the Wallabies were in full flight. There is no better example than the scrambling defence that somehow stopped Stephen Moore from scoring when he had the try line at his mercy.
Eventually, the pressure told and the Wallabies were rewarded a penalty in front of the posts and 20 metres out.
Somehow, Giteau managed to miss the “unmissable” penalty kick, and in doing so, sew the first seeds of doubt in the minds of the young Wallabies team.
Not that any more examples are needed to justify why Matt Giteau is neither a flyhalf, on field leader or strategist, Giteau then made a desperate and unsuccessful attempt at a field goal just before halftime.
A real flyhalf If would have directed the forwards to patiently drive the ball forward until they got to midfield and ten metres out, then fallen back deep into the pocket, and stroked the ball over for the replacement three points.
The second half was a replica of the first, except that the seeds of doubt were growing. The Wallabies, effectively without the experienced midfield leader that Giteau believes himself to be, returned to their bad habits of excessive ill-directed kicking.
On several occasions, the Wallabies got near to or over the try line. The most glaring example was in the 65th minute when Quade Cooper unnecessarily threw a cut out pass to Drew Mitchell rather than put it through the hands for an easy try. Up until this point, Cooper had appeared to be growing into the role of a starting Wallaby. However, he is only 21 years old and the more experienced Mitchell was standing so flat that it made any pass the very difficult.
Robbie Deans has explored the depths of Australian Rugby to select the current Wallabies team. Other than that dirt trackers, there are no other players to call upon.
The Wallabies could have and should have won this game.
Courageous Scottish defence, a rare case of the goal kicking yips by Giteau and some inexperience was the difference.
These differences in the rugby cycle are being resolved. The major issue, that remains unresolved, is the lack of a playmaker together with some visionary on field leadership in the backs. Matt Giteau is neither a flyhalf nor an on field strategist.
In the last few minutes of the game, the Wallabies patiently worked towards the Scottish try line. A mid field general would have stretched the defensive line more to the right so that they would not have to go very wide when they swung back to the left for the try. Because this didn’t happen, Giteau, with his yips, was faced a challenging and very missable conversion to win the game. He duly obliged.
With the calibre of the individual players, and the quantity of possession and field position, he should have been a comfortable Wallaby victory.
Until this is addressed, this Wallabies team will continue to under perform and the viewing public will be subjected to wasteful, frustrating and ineffective kicking and the resultant lack of truly entertaining rugby.
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mcxd said | November 23rd 2009 @ 7:04am | Report comment
Leftie, being at the ground and conveniantly (and rather nightmarishly) Gits attempt at the final conversion was directly in front of me. What was going on inside Gits head made that kick difficult not the position or the wind as that had subsided for a while. For an experienced kicker it was a very very simple attempt.
As a young Scottish boy of around 7 years old sitting behind me said to his father “but Dad i could have got that kick”. The sad thing is he was right. But then again, the real issue is what went on before in the previous 80 mins and not that kick.
stillmissit said | November 23rd 2009 @ 7:18am | Report comment
Lefty – good article we will all write and say we agree but nothing happens and has not happened in the forever time since Giteau became our 5/8. I thought he might grow into it but no – he just aint got the brains to be a general, he is a storm trooper and should remain one. In fact, I think Giteau is the Ricky Ponting of the rugby world thank god they didn’t give him the captaincy.
Nicol'arse said | November 23rd 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Here here LAS. But while Giteau has proven time and time again ALL season that he is not a good fly-half or backline general… Deans continues to persist with him…. WHY?
Personally, I think Deans was forced to nurse Giteau’s ego longer than he would have liked since Giteau believed his average form during the 3N was mostly the result of Burgess’ inadequate passing. Deans finally got his chance to establish Barnes as the No.10 and backline general (hallelujah)… and then Mr Injury Prone blows his ankle at training…. DOH!!!
Despite his great game for Gloucester, I’m not convinced Cooper is the long term solution at 10 either. He’s got a good pass and can run to the line well… but he’s not a strategic thinker… he’s an instinct player. That’s fine if you play out wide like Latham or Campo and can dazzle your opposite number with some fancy footwork. But in the midfield you need a thinker, planner, director.
That’s essentially why Giteau has failed at 10. He’s a broken field runner (like Cooper) not a director.
So without Barnes you can try to put Cooper at 10 and he might have a good game every so often but in the long run, you’ll get more of the same.
In the absence of Barnes, we don’t have anyone else who fits the bill as long term solution at 10. And to be frank, Barnes is yet to prove himself there too… if he can stay on the field long enough to string a few games together.
I also think Deans needs to shoulder some blame here for strategy (or lack thereof). I don’t recall the Crusaders of the Deans era mindlessly kicking possession away so incessantly??
Nearly every time our backs chance their arm and run with the ball, they look infinitely more dangerous. If we can improve our support play and the ball carriers (like AAC) start shifting the ball once they have made a break… then we might start regaining some confidence.
Save for the appropriate No.10, these guys have enough skill… they are just not utilising it. And for that, I essentially blame Deans. He is not playing the best game for the cattle he has got.
BennO said | November 23rd 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
I agree with you completely in your descriptions and analysis of the players.
I don’t think Deans is the problem though. He’s told them from the start to run if possible. Only kick when necessary. Or so I thought. Without Barnes I don’t know what we can do as we have no true strategist and general.
I have been thinking it might be time to get Ben Perkins back as specialist kicking coach, if he’ll come back. Giteau had a great place kicking record when under Perkins. But perhaps shoring up the midfield kicking would help a fair bit.
Diplomatic Immunity said | November 23rd 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Very few of the Aussies players came out of that fiasco with their reputations in tact, Palu, Elsom and AAC. Some of the options chosen were head scratchers to say the least. However in those dying moments when they finally were able to get some phase play going they finally were able to cross the line with the ball pointing downwards instead of upwards. But that pathetic attempt by Giteau pretty much sums up the night. The Fox commentators made an interesting comparison when they recalled other great kicks after the bell to win, Eales, Burke, Mortlock, will Giteau join the ranks they asked……………no. You have got to figure there were at least 8 other blokes in gold scratching their heads and murmuring, we pay this bloke how much??? Giteau has failed to deliver for far too long. The guy obviously has some talent I just cant understand why he chooses not to use it. LAS you are on the money, Gits has may talents, but he definitely is neither a play maker nor strategist that is required in the 10 jersey.
LeftArmSpinner said | November 23rd 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
gentlemen, I can even forgive the missed goals. as a g kciker, you hope firstly that youi dont miss any, then that you dont miss easy ones then that you dont miss several in one game and finally that you dont msis them in a close low scoring game. bingo. Giteau got ‘em all.
But it is about organising the plays, reading the defence. The strategist would have moved the breakdown further to the right and then executed left to cross the line nearer to the posts. you dont start at the posts or even to the left of them and then go left.
SMI and DI, spot on. The fox comparison was a good one and Giteau is clearly not in that class on any front, except remuneration. Cooper (despite his name being like the rubbish beer) is developing and learning to take the line on Benji lijke with footwork. Cooper’s pass was over guilded but he is still a baby. Mitchell was out of position and for a supposedly experienced player on his last chance of many, he should have known better.
But DI, i thought that most of the others did well. The front row did well including the benchies, the back row, particularly Palu was strong, Hynes tackle was a beauty but will see him out of the Wingers club if he continues with such ferocity. The Locks are not are first choice anyway and held their own in the line out and bolstered the scrum but failed to carry the ball well.
AAC was great. give me 22 of his ilk.
Burgess showed that he can bring something to the table late in the when he attacks the line and his pass was okay. (they say, Bob Dywer that is, that the catcher is the cause of most poor passes: NB Cooper to Mitchell and Burgess to Giteau)
formeropenside said | November 23rd 2009 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Nice to see someone else note that Mitchell was standing way too flat – to put the pass in front of the man, Cooper had to throw it forward. A flat pass would have had Mitchell standing still to take it.
Regardless, the pass probably should have gone to Cross.
Justin said | November 23rd 2009 @ 9:45am | Report comment
Genia has no problem finding his targets, Burgess does and shouldn’t have been touring. Valentine is far superior in his core skill…
Spook said | November 23rd 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Burgess was awful when he came on. LAS is talking nonsense.
Whaler said | November 23rd 2009 @ 10:44am | Report comment
To be fair, both halves dropped the ball cold on a couple of occaisions……and both threw a couple of ordinary passes …..
Worlds Biggest said | November 23rd 2009 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Giteau doesn’t have the bottle when it really matters. When was the last time he won the Wallabies a game against quality opposition. He couldn’t even win the game against second tier opposition. He has been MIA all season and his nomination for the IRB player of the year is an embarrasment. Surely the most over rated player in the game.
formeropenside said | November 23rd 2009 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Maybe Giteau should have been made into a halfback back in 2005-2006, and made that his permanent position. With hindsight, that might have been the best outcome all around (save that Genia is really looking the goods at present).
Brett McKay said | November 23rd 2009 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
Great stuff LAS, as per usual. I’m now at the point where I think we might as well try Cooper at 10 against Wales, simply for the fact that doing nothing is probably worse than doing something with risk attached. And playing Cooper would be less risk that say, handing Toomua a debut. And while we’re at it, we might as well see how someone like Dave Dennis goes at Lock, becuase the Horwill-Chisholm combination surely cannot continue.
And then there’s fitness – will Ioane, Palue, Robinson and Genia be fit?
Is the Cardiff game tomorrow night or Wed night? Could we find a smokey in there somewhere??
AngryAnt said | November 23rd 2009 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
Dennis for Chislom. Cooper to 10 and O’Connor to 12. Still gives left right kickers and two play makers. Surely they can’t do any worse. Mitchell has always been the same mixes some good with some terrible. There are better options. Hell play Giteau on the wing if need be.
Worlds Biggest said | November 23rd 2009 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
Leftie will defend Burgess to the hilt which has been well documented on this blog. He made a crucial knock on from our lineout when were behind 3-9 with 5 minutes to go, that was criminal stuff at that stage of the game. I agree with Spook. Deans stuck with Burgess as starter for far too long and it has come back to bite him on the ar$e. I don’t care if Burgo is a hard worker, nice kid etc…etc…
PastHisBest said | November 23rd 2009 @ 3:19pm | Report comment
Agreed WB. LAS are you Burgess senior?
Campbell Watts said | November 23rd 2009 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
I’m with you WB
His passes were not good, his only snipe ended with him knocking on, not much there that justified subbing Genia if you asked me!
Brett McKay said | November 23rd 2009 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
I should have added LAS, have you noticed Giteau has started stabbing at his kicks?? I don’t recall him doing that in London or Dublin, but perhaps he was to some degree. I was never a big goal kicker “back in the day”, but even I knew you had to kick through the ball with forward momentum. Giteau, to me, looks like he’s falling away to the right at contact, and then stabbing with his left. Anyone who plays a bit of golf will know the effect this has, and all the kicks he missed all did the same thing – skewed off left of the posts…
Wasn’t Robbie a goal-kicker too??
LeftArmSpinner said | November 23rd 2009 @ 6:08pm | Report comment
Brett, Giteau has been doing this for a while. its a bit like going lazy on a 7 iron afte impact thinking that it will improve the accuracy. sadly, it doesn’t. I was disappointed with Loges’s vitroil about the game but he got it right in that Giteau was unable to self diagnose and correct and his “Swing”. Geez, my 14 y.o. son knows enough to be able to self correct his bowling action mid over!!! He sliced four kicks in a row by going “soft” post contact!!!. Ever see the golfer they call Tiger, Tiger Woods do that? Nope. He rips every shot, just with a different club!!!
As for Burgess, yes I am unapologetic defender of Burgo. Deans sees what I see or should I say that I see what Deans sees. Probably the latter if I am to be respectful to your national coach.
But, while a few passes were off target, he sparked things around the ruck fringe, just as he did when he arrived to rescue the Tahs season in 2008.
Also, we need to realise that Genia, and yes I am a big fan of Genia’s, threw a few inaccurate passes.
I believe that he is struggling with the rugby equivalent of the yips. He has been through the wringer in the press. I quote Bob Dwyer who says that it is the catcher’s responsibility to be in the right place, not the passer. He is a wonderfully experienced. skillful and capable coach.
Burgess is made of the right stuff and if he can get his confidence back, he will push Genia all the way!!! Thats good enough for me!!!
As regards sticking with Burgess, Genia was not even in the Koalas frame at the start of this season. Burgess was retained despite his lack of confidence to go Genia time to grow into the roll.
Dont forget how Burgess reacted from the bench after AAC scored his great try against the Irish. Burgess was happier than AAC. Thats the right stuff and I suspect that is what Deans sees and likes particualrly whene he has to put up with the self centred hair product boys, Giteau and Mitchell.
Brett McKay said | November 23rd 2009 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
quite true LAS. I see guys at cricket training doing drill after drill to try and correct the slightest little thing, and there’s also always plenty of advice around. That alone is what surprises me about Giteau’s kicking currently. “Swing” is the spot on best way to describe it too, it’s just way off, and if it means we need to bring Butch Harmon in to fix it, then so be it. Maybe we need Matt Burke squating just behind him too??
Genia was injured at the start of the year don’t forget, so there was a reason he wasn’t in the frame. That said, surely it must be worth the punt of using Genia and Cooper together at 9 and 10 and utilise their Qld combo??
btw, I’m with you about Burgess, I think he’s way better than he’s currently showing, and he’s certainly in front of the likes of Sheehan and Josh Holmes (who disappointingly hasn’t come through as expected). Valentine is about as erratic as my 3 Iron, and so I’ll take Burgess above him anyday. If that means it’s you and me against the world, well I’ll bring the good red when we toast his success and re-emergence down the track..
Tragic said | November 23rd 2009 @ 8:00pm | Report comment
This sort of action Brett is attributed to a lack of confidence. As a long time former goal kicker I found that my form slumps were accompanied by an inability or willingness to give the ball the necessary strike. The stabbing action is Giteau trying to guide the ball over the posts rather than going through the rehearsed motions and letting the ball do the rest. Watch carter or Wilkinson’s consistency and fullness of strike and swing – they understand that you can only do as much from the point of contact with the ball, and you can’t be there with it on its journey to the posts.
A lack of gal-kicking options is troubling me. I have never been confident in the action of Giteau, or the purity of his strike. Perhaps he has seen that bloody Qantas commercial one to many times…
robert shepherd said | November 23rd 2009 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
LAS your comments are spot on as usual..
Now for my two cents worth……………………..Old McDonald had a farm E I E I O and……………………..
LeftArmSpinner said | November 23rd 2009 @ 6:17pm | Report comment
Robert, is that really 2 cents worth????
Ben C said | November 24th 2009 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
Inflation is a killer.
Tragic said | November 23rd 2009 @ 8:09pm | Report comment
Great article LAS.
I had been thinking about the great combinations of the past when reading this. Farr-Jones and Lynagh, Gregan and Larkham (in their Halcyon days), marshall and Mehrtens/Carter (and many others that older bloggers might be able to add), and how they are like the torso in linking the leg work of the forwards with the finesse of the hands (or the backline). The Giteau/ Genia partnership is new and frail. Neither are commanding an influence on the game, although Genia looks like he could in the future. Giteau surely needs to be shifted to inside centre, the problem is who will guide from 5/8…
Gary said | November 23rd 2009 @ 8:24pm | Report comment
Great article to which I’ll add my two cents worth:
1. Traditionally there have always been at least two kickers in the side, giving the coach options if one has an off day. Mortlock and Cameron Shepherd have both been out injured but will be fit next season. Camo is training well in pre season with the Force.
2. There are a stack of good players playing Premier Grade in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The selctors should have a good look at them all, especially Lineout Jumpers, Number 10s and Kickers. The last is easy. The high scoring tables from the respective unions will identify the kickers.
3. Gits is not a General, a Leader or God. He is just a very gifted youngster who cannot win a game by himself although at times it appears that he thinks he can. He needs to be brought back to earth. He is not irreplaceable.
Midfielder said | November 23rd 2009 @ 11:35pm | Report comment
Sorry guys need some help.
Played RU many moons ago… watch my son for years play…still play touch … .what is this midfield position or positions you keep talking about….
In Football it is the people that play between the forwards and the backs .. years ago thes players were refered to a center half right half etc… somewhere along the way halves become midfeilders … the halfs were half way between the forwards and backs… so who and how halfs become midfielders I am not sure..
I assume in RU the midfield is in the backs somewhere… all this modern lingo… my understanding… half, 5 / 8, insider centre, outsider centre, wings, fullback…
PastHisBest said | November 24th 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Good point Mid. Centres it should be.
LeftArmSpinner said | November 24th 2009 @ 5:58am | Report comment
midfielder, i was referring specifically to 10 and 12, with advice from 9 and 15 and support from 11, 13 and 15.
10 and sometimes 12 are the quarterbacks of rugby. the half is often too small and close to the ruck to see what the defensive line presents. NFL Qtr backs are are upwards of 6′ 5″ in old money and can see over the line of scrimmage. 10’s need to read the defence too, but much faster and more frequently.
Midfielder said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:11pm | Report comment
I think I understand .. had a look at wikipedia to give me guidence… alas no help .. but I think understand.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union_positions#cite_note-rugbypositions-0