Memo to Fiji: God helps fit players
Columnist
By Spiro Zavos, 7 Jun 2010 Spiro Zavos is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Canberra, Fiji, Rugby Union, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, wallabies
Before the Australia – Fiji Test at Canberra, won 49 -3 by the Wallabies, the former super star Rupeni Caucaunibuca claimed that his side’s religious beliefs would help to defeat the Wallabies. ‘The thing we believe in is someone will play with us on Saturday night and that is God,’ he told reporters.
There is a coaches’ saying of the fabled Notre Dame gridiron side: ‘Prayers work best when players are big.’
PC readers should shut their eyes now for the next couple of sentences. The evidence from Canberra is that there is a difference between big and fat. Caucaunibuca was billed at 112 kgs but this must have been with one foot on the scales.
He rumbled into tackles using his head as a sort of slow-motion battering ram. When he did get the ball in his hand he preferred to kick it rather than run with it. He was an over-sized shadow of one of rugby’s greatest ball runners.
Caucaunibuca, in fact, was a metaphor for the disappointing Fijian side.
Although they got only a third of the possession of the Wallabies, the Fijians kicked seventeen times in the first half (the Wallabies, thankfully, only six times). There were only glimpses of the wonderful, spirited running that almost got the side in the semi-finals of the 2007 Rugby World Cup tournament.
During the commentary Greg Clarke, a mine of statistics, noted that Fiji had 68 players in France and 48 in the UK. This may explain the dour northern hemisphere style they adopted.
Fiji were very good at the break-down where they exposed the Wallaby forwards who stood off from the ruck. The scrum, ballasted by a monster pack with the props featuring 24-pack stomachs, was steady.
But the Fijian lineout was abysmal. In fact, the major source of ball for the Wallabies in the first half before they got their fluency working in the second half was ball won from Fijian lineout throws.
On a dewy field and a bitterly cold night, the attritional play of the Fijians, especially in the opening 20 minutes when numb hands made the slippery ball almost impossible to hang on to, exposed the Wallabies when kick and rush tactics were adopted.
In the second half there was more coherency between the Wallaby backs and forwards. The ball came out of the rucks and mauls more quickly. And Quade Cooper and Matt Giteau got their ensemble, quick-passing game in sync. In the end, seven tries by the Wallabies all converted (is this a record?) to a single penalty goal was a fair indication of the difference between the two tries.
Here are some other impressions from the Test.
Nathan Sharpe, a player I have criticised in the past, played an extremely strong game. I feel, too, that Dean Mumm seems to play ‘too small’ to be a dominating second-rower, rather than a flanker or number 8, in Test rugby.
The loss of Ben Alexander, along with Benn Robinson, will expose the Wallaby scrum to a stern test against England next weekend. Alexander, like Robinson, is a strong, skillful ball runner and the Wallaby pack without these two bookends lacks a certain muscularity with its driving play.
Luke Burgess? Suffice to say that Robbie Deans apparently spent time with this player before the Test trying to improve his passing …
Quade Cooper looks up to becoming a forceful, game-changing number 10. The Wallaby tactics of passing in-field, against the flow, worked beautifully mainly because Cooper has such quick, soft hands when making these difficult passes.
Rob Horne is a class centre and every bit a Test match player. It’s a pity about his (smallish) size. But he plays big in comparison to some of the Fijian backs who were big (no names, no pack drill) but actually played so small they disappeared from play.
After a shaky (nervy?) start, Kurtley Beale revelled in the chances coming from running off Cooper. This combination, along with Digby Ioane doing the same thing, is going to cause some havoc against even strong defences this season.
It was impossible, and probably undesirable, for the Wallabies to bring their number one game to Canberra in their first outing of the season. The commentators tended to opine that England would not be worrying with what they saw against Fiji.
But this presumes that the Wallabies won’t improve. I believe they will.
Provided the scrum holds up with the starting props both out, I would expect the Wallabies to be too quick, slick and opportunistic for England at Perth on Saturday night.
Prayers might well work well when players are big. They also work well when players are fast, and this is a quick Wallaby side.
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Mr Saunders said | June 7th 2010 @ 6:52am | Report comment
‘During the commentary Greg Clarke, a mine of statistics, noted that Fiji had 68 players in France and 48 in the UK. This may explain the dour northern hemisphere style they adopted.’
Maybe, Spiro. Did the 2007 Fijian WC side have no European players? Maybe the Fijians had been watching tapes of the Wallabies under Deans and thought that a like-for-like tactical approach was necessary? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe this 3rd string Fijian side simply lacked experience, continuity and understanding? Whatever, it was a dire game. Fingers crossed for something better (from both sides) on the weekend.
pothale said | June 7th 2010 @ 8:38am | Report comment
I didn’t know that the French epitomized a dour northern hemisphere style.
I know the English do – but it must be spreading. Infernal English – they ruin everything.
It’ll be the Irish next, and then Scotland, and before you know it, even Italy will be dour.
scarlet said | June 7th 2010 @ 6:15pm | Report comment
Sometimes England are dour, and dire, but would definitely suggest that you have a look at Wales, Ireland and France play before you continue your senseless and petulant digs at which hemisphere plays the most running rugby. It’s tiresome and it does you a disservice, Spiro, as you should be able to commentate with greater impartiality.
Colin N said | June 8th 2010 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Ireland and France base their games on defence, good set piece and a good kicking game. However, when they get territory, they are clinical. When Ireland tried to open up against Scotland, it didn’t work and played a style alien to them.
Chuck said | June 7th 2010 @ 8:18am | Report comment
Was that almost an acknowledgement of a good game by Burgess???? Your Josh Holmes poster on your lounge room wall won’t be happy
Amateur Hour said | June 7th 2010 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Ahem – autographed Josh Holmes poster!!
Chuck said | June 7th 2010 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Was going to go with Botticelli-style nude ‘Holmes in clam shell’ mural on his lounge room wall but thought better of it.
formeropenside said | June 7th 2010 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Burgess had a poor game. Passing was crap; Cooper made it look acceptable. The Aust scrum was under pressure – from Fiji – but held up, just. The lineout was excellent, I will say that much.
Lack of fitness and freezing conditions hurt the Fijians in the second half, and an inability to obtain any lineout ball cruelled their chances of running with ball in hand.
If Australia had produced that performance against a top tier nation – or even a full strength Fiji – the outcome might have been a little different. Without Cooper at 10, even on the night it would have ended up a lot closer than it did.
johnny-boy said | June 7th 2010 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Unfortunately Burgess was a lot better than he has been and might get another go. He’s got potential, he’s just too lazy (or arrogant) to learn, to fulfil it. The game showed he can distribute quick if he puts his mind to it but Hickey obviously isn’t a smart enough coach to get it out of him. Deans needs to keep working hard on him though to minimise his reverting to bad habits.
If Sharpe could just take one or two or even 3 more steps with leg drive before he goes to the ground he’d be a runaway train and a sensation. Relieved to see Brown not give away penalties. Giteau looks great at 12. Digby Ioane’s change of direction never ceases to amaze and Rocky Elsom gave probably the best after match interview by a captain I have ever seen. Real cool, no worn out cliches, just straight up no bull. Showed great self confidence and calm. Sign of a terrific, Eales like captain in the making.
JK said | June 7th 2010 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Unfortunate for you?…………I don’t get why some fans would prefer Wallaby representatives to have a poor game in order to justify thier personal opinion
warrenexpatinnz said | June 7th 2010 @ 9:09am | Report comment
Very good read JB and I took note of how Elsom spoke to the referee on three occasions to stop the off the ball and dangerous play. He was firm, to the point and you could almost say Martin Johnson like, commanding but not direspectful.
The same can be said of Will Genia, articulate and accurate which in a close game allows for a good communication base with the referee and also the control of their players.
Throw in Horwill, Robinson. Palu and Polata Nou thee first 22 squad is a pretty imposing bunch.
soapit said | June 7th 2010 @ 9:11am | Report comment
burgess was better but not great. passes were to the man at least but still behind. good enough for cooper to work with but if burgess drops anywhere below that level it’ll make it pretty difficult. needs to keep improving.
Grimmace said | June 7th 2010 @ 9:16am | Report comment
I thought Greg Martin baging out Burgess the way he did after the game with Genia there was horrible. But Genia handled it extremely well.
Sharpe was brilllant. One bloke who surprised me was Edmonds. I didn’t think he was up to test standard and played too loose. How wrong I was, his lineout went well and did pleanty of the tight work.
sixo_clock said | June 7th 2010 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Couple of things I saw which were a worry:
The Wallabies did not run on in a state of readiness, no urgency nor adrenaline, so decision making and execution was poor initially, faster sides will exploit this tendency to start sluggishly to build up points.
Burgess proved he can do a good job, but what it was that has held him back in the past only he can rid himself. How can we trust him to bring his ‘A’ game every time from now on or even from the bench?
The ref had a poor game, he seemed wooden and as if checking off a list, some decisions dumbfounded us. He frustrated the visitors and it showed. Did he listen to his Touchies?
Skills, most especially passing ‘in front’ of the target are way below par! If we want to have a Webb Ellis Coming Home Party these basic skills must become second nature, momentum is CRITICAL and to slow down the play is CRIMINAL. (sorry – couldn’t resist). Dingo should be fining these misfires in the team debrief – on a sliding scale.
It is very hard to tell from the box whether Elsom’s captaincy helped. I believe Australian sides need an uncompromising angry bastard to be lead to high success and his ‘emotion’ seems contrived, in check.
The Ch7 commentators need a refresher course in the modern breakdown, they would have us vigorously defending every ruck and the outcome from this is an exhausted pack, not smart when those players are now available for defence.
There is a tendency to tackle like League, ie ball and all, which does not stop progress, the first tackler has to wrap up the legs.
Despite all that a great early season game showcasing our very credible defence and an attack that if we do play against such an immobile defence we can really rack up points.
C J McKay said | June 7th 2010 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Burgess was pesdestrian at best. He takes far to long at the break down and the AB’s will absolutely pounce on him. The Wallabies in the past few years have lost big games b/c of their lack of commitment to the BD and time wasting. A good half knows the next play before he hits the base of the ruck. Burgess walks in and then looks at his options.
Wallabies find have a back row that attacks the BD – the force guys really had the edge on teams in that dept this year.
sixo_clock said | June 8th 2010 @ 11:06am | Report comment
I think I indicated that the game was fair-to-middling starting effort, with the exception of AAC, Diggers, Horne, Sharpe, the loosies and a few others no-one stood out.
I think it is necessary to be able to change our minds occasionally. I was not impressed by Burgess in a ‘Tahs guernsey and said so in my posts, but in this game, in my opinion, he put up a credible effort. Promotion to first of the backups is therefore in order.
C J McKay said | June 8th 2010 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
James Stannard showed more in his few games for the Force and should be given a call up.
johnny-boy said | June 7th 2010 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Perverse I know JK but Burgess has been so bad that one more bad game and we might finally have seen the end of him, for someone else to step up and be given a go as a reasonable backup for Genia. Sticking with duds only hurts the overall team and Burgess should still only be hanging by a thread even after Saturday
Eee ahh up them Bulls said | June 7th 2010 @ 9:36am | Report comment
I thought while watching the game that Luke Burgess has been brushing up on his delivery to his first receiver. Still not perfect but it is progress nonetheless.
Oh and Greg Martin needs to get a life!
Worlds Biggest said | June 7th 2010 @ 10:15am | Report comment
My thoughts,
1 ) Disappointing crowd. Canberra doesn’t get many opportunities to host Tests and this wont help there cause for future,
I expected the Stadium to be packed despite the cold weather
2 ) The new jerseys are terrible, they look like a hybrid ODI – 80′s cricket strip / Socceroos / t-shirt. Get rid of them
3 ) Agree with Spiro about Mumm, he is a lightweight and not a Test player IMO
4 ) Why on earth did Valentine not get a run ??. The game was in the bag so get him on. Burgess back as protected species
5 ) The back three showed what they can do in counter attack / kick returns and hope they maintain this mindset
6 ) Cooper at 10 and Giteau at 12 is the right combo
Brett McKay said | June 7th 2010 @ 10:33am | Report comment
agree Worlds, the crowd was disappointing, and I hope Growden’s sggestion today that Canberra won’t get another Test don’t come through. But there was no real excuse either, Saturday was a nice day in the ACT, and the night, while still brisk, wasn’t bitterly cold like the Italy game last year. But yet, Fiji drew 7000 less…
Chris said | June 7th 2010 @ 11:07am | Report comment
Give us a decent game – we will give you a decent crowd. Watching the Wallabies thrash a second string Fiji side (as all Fiji sides outside WC time inevitably are) didn’t really appeal to me as much as the Raiders/Titans game I attended the next day.
I didn’t go to the Raiders game instead of the Wallabies because I prefer League to Union (I have attended all but three Brumbies games since 1999) but because it was a contest. If the ARU put one of the England games here it would be a capacity crowd twice over. Ditto for Ireland.
Wylie said | June 7th 2010 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
There was essentially zero promotion of the game during the lead up, so the ARU are at least partially to blame. Given the contribution the ACT have made to Australian rugby over the years you’d think we deserve at least one decent test – Wallabies vs Fiji wouldn’t have sold out anywhere,
Apelu Tielu said | June 7th 2010 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
Agree Chris. The crowd will come if the ARU give us a decent Test. They continue to treat us like the backwater of Australian rugby with these meaningless tests when all the rugby brains in Australia reside in the National Capital.
Dan said | June 7th 2010 @ 5:11pm | Report comment
The key problem for Canberra is that a “capacity” crowd down here is only about 20,000 and if you can get 40K in another city… well the decision has already been made.
Rugbywits said | June 7th 2010 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
Worlds biggest – Maybe Valentine didnt get on because Deans knew it was in the bag and wanted to save him so he could play the whole match for the A side against England tomorrow?
I don’t particularly like the new jerseys either. They were pretty yellow for green and gold you’re right.
I was very happy with Gits and Cooper. That is going to be a combination that unlocks all the potential outside it. And I think the backline showed they were very happy to help in the initial breakdown and back up other backline players to give the forwards time to arrive. That is a good sign.