Wallabies ready to run with new rulings
By Daniel Brettig, 3 Mar 2010 Daniel Brettig is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Australian rugby, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, wallabies
Continuity of phases was a cornerstone of the last great era of Australian rugby, and with the help of new rule interpretations at the breakdown it can be again.
That’s the view of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans who, after some initial hesitance, has been won over to the change in emphasis by referees given the much improved spectacle of running rugby seen so far in the Super 14 competition.
The national side’s doldrums of recent years coincided with breakdown rule interpretations which saw more turnovers of possession than when the Wallabies under coach Rod Macqueen dominated the game and won the 1999 World Cup, the masters of continuous phase play.
“There’s no doubt the early rounds in Super rugby have been good to watch, a lot easier to watch and if you look historically at Super rugby the first three rounds are normally a little bit ugly,” Deans said.
“That’s mainly because teams are conservative and if there has been any tampering with the interpretation or rules, it manifests itself in a way that teams are a little bit afraid of the unknown.
“But this year every side has been playing constructively and it’s had a good impact on the game.”
Continuous phase play has occasionally been derided as “rugby league style”, but Deans saw it as an encouragement to teams to keep possession rather than kicking it away as was so often the case in 2009.
“With the (changed) emphasis they’ve created a lot more continuity – the ability to attack has been reinforced – so teams are a lot more encouraged and positive about having a go rather than being afraid of turning over possession and being burned,” Deans said.
“That emphasis has helped the game significantly, and the ability to attack has been improved, teams are taking advantage of that, and we’ll certainly hope to be doing that when we gather together as a group with the Wallabies.”
The early form of the Australian sides in the Super 14 has been mixed with the Brumies in seventh, the only side in the top half of the ladder.
But Deans pointed towards the draw having most sides start away from home as cause for cautious optimism.
“It’s only a start, the Brumbies are well positioned, they’ve won two out of three away from home and they come back to seven out of 10 home fixtures, so they’re well-placed,” Deans said.
“The Waratahs have played some good rugby, didn’t get the results they wanted but they’ve shown that they’ve been more than competitive.
“The Reds belted the Crusaders and the Crusaders will be there at the business end I’m picking, so it shows the Reds are perfectly capable of that as well.
“And the Force are getting their list together so I’m sure we’ll see some outcomes from them shortly too.”
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Sam Taulelei said | March 3rd 2010 @ 6:45am | Report comment
Geez we’re only three weeks into Super 14 and then this piece gets trotted out?
While the last period of Wallaby dominance was marked by the Brumbies style continous phase play, there are four clear differences between now and then.
Back then defending teams didn’t contest the breakdown and there were no counter rucks. Attacking players were also able to seal the ball off from defenders which is a penalty offence now.
Back then the Wallabies also had the world’s best halfback and first five to direct play and control the tempo of the game, the world’s best lock forward to guarantee possession from lineouts and world class finishers in the back three.
Back then the Brumbies were one of the dominant teams in the competition and a surefire top four finisher.
Back then Australian rugby was leading the world and had the edge.
A change in how referees are applying the laws of the game today hasn’t changed Aussie rugby fortunes yet.
Dingobob said | March 3rd 2010 @ 6:49am | Report comment
Exactly Sam, not yet!
Brett McKay said | March 3rd 2010 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
Sam, the irony is that the Brumbies still haven’t yet got back into the repeat phase routine as yet this year…
Hansie said | March 3rd 2010 @ 5:33pm | Report comment
In 1999, Australia’s great strength wasn’t phase play, it was defence. Australia only conceded one try in the 1999 World Cup.
Spiro Zavos said | March 3rd 2010 @ 7:32am | Report comment
I take the Robbie Deans interview as more of a comment about the Super 14 and the performance of the Australian sides than a foreshadowing of better days ahead for the Wallabies. Deans is right to say that the quality and entertainment value of the Super 14 in the first three rounds has been very good. As he points out, the first three rounds generally feature scrappy play. But even the Blues, a team I hate to watch generally because their play is so skatty, have played attractive and effective rugby.
I wouldn’t be quite so bullish, though, about the Reds and the Western Force. The lack of depth in both squads is becoming to be a negative factor in both sides trying to make their way up the ladder.
Sam Taulelei said | March 3rd 2010 @ 11:23am | Report comment
I agree Spiro and while there may be a sense of deja vu for Aussie fans with the current position of their teams on the ladder, it’s too early in the competition to write any team off and none of the top four teams have played each other yet. The Hurricanes have a difficult road trip ahead of them, the Bulls have yet to travel, the Crusaders haven’t hit their straps yet and the Chiefs have made their best start to a season but they still have to meet their strongest rivals and contenders.
The Brumbies and Waratahs playing the two strongest SA sides on the road so early in the competition may be a blessing in disguise if they take advantage of their run of home games.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching Super 14 this year. The overall quality of games in all three countries has been higher than at a similar stage in previous years and will only get better.