Three fullbacks or two wingers and O’Connor?
Columnist By Brett McKay, 29 Jun 2010 Brett McKay is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- James OConnor, Quade Cooper, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
New Wallabies signings James O'Connor, Quade Cooper, coach Robbie Deans, David Pocock and Sekope Kepu at ARU headquaters, Sydney. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
It’s not been a good week and a bit for Australia’s national teams. While the Wallabies are riding their annual international form roller-coaster, our cricket team is taking it’s time to get into the one-day series against England over in Blighty.
And, as Murphy’s Law dictates, just as I announced my presence on the Socceroos World Cup bandwagon, it was ripped out from underneath me by an inferior goal difference, due mainly to a dud Pim Verbeek plan in the first game.
Therefore, it’s back to rugby this week, as I search for a win somewhere. Anywhere.
Going into the Ireland Test, the Wallabies had to defend some selections, with plenty of pundits suggesting changes in certain positions. Without doubt, squad injuries saved several players from the axe after the loss to England.
The ‘back three’ unit was certainly one area in which change was expected, but save for Adam Ashley-Cooper coming onto the left wing for the injured Digby Ioane, fullback James O’Connor and right winger Drew Mitchell held their spots.
Ashley-Cooper, thought to be entrenched as a fullback at the end of last year, is quickly falling back into that Mr Fix-it role that he used to play regularly, but neither he or Wallaby coach Robbie Deans seemed overly worried in the lead-up.
Deans was non-committal about where Ashley-Cooper now fits, explaining “most of his recent rugby has been on the wing so there’s a fair bit of continuity to that end, but I’m sure it won’t be the last position you will see him in this year.”
Ashley-Cooper trotted out the line that Deans has wanted to instil in the Wallabies back three for some time, “I see it as three fullbacks rather than winger, fullback, winger.”
So knowing this is what Deans wants, and with a key player in this combination seemingly on board, I decided to watch the Test against Ireland with a close eye on this ‘three fullbacks’ arrangement.
As a lead-in, I kept an eye on the New Zealand-Wales Test with this same focus, as the All Blacks back three would probably sit as the benchmark at where Deans wants the Wallabies’ equivalents to operate.
The game didn’t really lead itself to a lot of counter-attacking rugby, but what was obvious is that there was definite ‘unity’ between fullback Mils Muliaina and Cory Jane and young Zac Guildford on the wings, despite not playing together the previous week.
On the kick returns, the three of them were almost always back in position ready early, and the ball was rarely returned without at least two of them playing a part. If the return was via an All Black kick, you could be assured the other two were leading the chase.
I was quite interested to see if the Australian back three had the same sort of harmony.
Sadly, they did not.
It all started so promisingly, too. The first kick return for the Wallabies saw Mitchell claim the catch, who then passed to O’Connor in midfield, who himself had Ashley-Cooper in support. Great stuff, just what I wanted to see.
Not a minute later though, O’Connor was penalised for advancing on Ashley-Cooper’s clearing kick; the first of two of these inexcusable Wallaby infringements for the night.
For the rest of the first half the back three rarely combined, mainly due to Bryce Lawrence’s incessant and infuriatingly pedantic refereeing; they didn’t get much chance to. In reality though, the back three rarely played in their named formation anyway.
O’Connor seemed to be spending most of his time on the left wing, with Ashley-Cooper playing fullback. And O’Connor seemed to prefer linking with good mate Quade Cooper anyway.
The lack of obvious linkage between the back three was already worrying. They weren’t so much playing as ‘three fullbacks’ but as two wingers and James O’Connor.
After the break, and with shuffling of the backline required after outside centre Rob Horne stayed off with a gluteal complaint, the back three combination saw no improvement. Ashley-Cooper was now playing at outside, O’Connor was formally moved to the wing, and Kurtley Beale was at fullback for the second half.
In Beale and O’Connor, we now had a former flyhalf/inside centre only this year converted into a fullback, and a still developing inside centre/fullback playing on the wing.
Not long after half time Beale bombed a near-certain try with a wasted grubber kick to the in-goal that ignored a two-on-one overlap. But the unmarked man was Matt Giteau; where was Mitchell?
Shortly after that, O’Connor was rightly penalised for taking out the legs of Irish winger Andrew Trimble in the air, which begged the question that if O’Connor was there to crudely take Trimble’s legs from under him, why wasn’t he contesting the high ball?
With Mitchell having another off night, the back three was a decent barometer on how disjointed the rest of the Wallaby backline looked. Apart from Luke Burgess servicing Cooper well all night, and Ashley-Cooper running strongly in midfield as he always does, there was little to like.
In Cooper, and especially Giteau, O’Connor and Beale, the Wallabies were way too lateral, and overplayed the one-off runners.
There was little or no backline play from scrum-half all the way out to the wings, and there were no clear signs anyone knew what anyone else was doing. Smarter, fresher, and quicker defensive lines than Ireland will demolish this sort of ‘attack’ with ease and regularity.
Captain Rocky Elsom was spot on in the post-match, saying that the Wallabies had “a lot of work to do” in the three weeks before their first Tri-Nations match against South Africa.
Midfield combinations will rightly be examined and questioned, but I’d be looking at who can properly fill the ‘three fullbacks’ function as a matter of priority.
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Follow Brett McKay on Twitter: @BMcSport
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- James OConnor, Quade Cooper, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
June 29th 2010 @ 2:52pm
Jiggles said | June 29th 2010 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
9 genia 10 cooper 11 AAC 12 Horne 13 Chambers 14 Ioane 15 hynes
1. no need for duel playmakers with cooper running the back line so well. straight runners into his gaps is all we need.
2. neither giteau or barnes are hard runners, to the bench or club land they go!
3. has i have stated above, i think chambers ability to get the offload away will be fantastic at 13. and the boy can hit in the tackle, I think thats his time in league comming through
4. for me Horne is a bit to small for 13, but as a running 12 he would be great. Cooper works well with direct 12s and Horne is interchangable with Faainga.
5. Hynes plays his best rugby at 15, he was the form 15 of the super 14 for australia, he has to start and has to start at 15.
AAC has shown he can work very well off the wings, him and Ioane cutting angles at pace would be mouth watering to watch.
June 29th 2010 @ 4:02pm
Amateur Hour said | June 29th 2010 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
Isn’t Chambers is out for the season? While I agree that he is a fabulous prospect, looking ahead to the first game of the 3Ns, he just isn’t going to be available and neither is Ioane who is targeting the following week against the AB’s in Melbourne as his comeback match.
With that in mind, maybe we should be looking at who they will be lining up against from the Boks. Rusty may be able to confirm this, but barring any further injuries, their backline will probably be composed of :
9. Pienaar/Januarie
10. Steyn
11. Habana
12. J DeVilliers
13. J Fourie
14. J de Jongh
15. Aplon
A well balanced backline. Creative 9s who can snipe around the fringes to keep the defences honest. A Sharp-shooting, distributor at 10. Large, powerful centres and speed to burn out wide. The somewhat unknown X-factor at the back.
How to we a) counter this and then b) try to beat it.
I would suggest that the following backline might do it. My reasoning is included.
9. Genia – Needs to be given an opportunity to return to his “world’s best” form.
10.Cooper – It was his combination with Genia that gave the Reds the impetus to defeat the Bulls and the Stormes this year.
11.Hynes – Deserves a chance and Mitchell needs some time on the bench. Can play fullback as well and also experienced success this year with the Reds against SA teams
12. Barnes – Needed for his defence, given the size and power of the opposing centres. And should also be given the goal kicking duties. He is by far the most composed kicker and steps up for the big occasions. Promising signs against England when he was at 12.
13. AAC – Again needed for his size in defence, but also provides strong direct running like the opposition centres. Before he became Mr Fix It, he always said that 13 was his position.
14.Turner – To mark Habana, you MUST be quick. Turner is the quickest winger we have. He is reliable in defence and kicks well in general play. Like Hynes, he can also play comforably in the fullback role.
15. O’Connor – Provides the spark and creativity that Giteau used to. Keep him out of the front line backs, away from Burger and Spies etc and let him inject himself as needed. If he’s having any difficulties there are three others out there that could take over from him at the back and another on the bench.
20.Burgess – Obvioius back up to Genia. And should be used if Genia, says, breaks his thumb in the first 10 minutes of the game!!
21. Giteau – He needs to be there somewhere. Even if only in the hope that he re-finds his mojo. Is it time, as Spiro suggests, to play him on the wing?
22. Beale – Has been impressive and is a good impact player. Just needs to use his short kicking game more sparingly and judiciously. Probably didn’t help that he scored 2 or 3 tries off chip kicks for NSW in the last round of the Super 14s.
Note: The lack of variety in the backs has been shown up. The above selections are made from the Wallabies squad, which means that I couldn’t pick a Ryan Cross or an A Faingaa to bolster us up in the centres. I’ve also left out Horne because I’m convinced that he’s going to have a long term injury concern, yet again.
Also, re the forwards: Who’s daughter has Leroy Houston knocked-up? As if he’s not the sort of body-type and player that we need to replace Palu. Hoiles, Brown, Hodges even Mowen, who was being considered for the squad, are all the same type of player. Balance is critical to a squad. Bring in the big boy!
June 29th 2010 @ 3:09pm
Go_the_Wannabe's said | June 29th 2010 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
Sounds like everyone is talking about the symptoms but overlooking the disease. At this level, most of the above players should be able to slot in and play well in the 2 or 3 positions they prefer to play. The problem maybe deeper than that.
Since I have no connection with the psyche of the Wannabe team, I am eminently qualified to offer an independent opinion and the following list of “Ism’s” stopping the Wannabe’s from playing consistently well.
1. Tribalism (or in this case, lack of passion). The Wannabe’s don’t have it and don’t seem to care that they don’t. The Saffers and NZers have it in abundance. Why? Rugby is their no. 1 code and almost a religion. We have 4 codes and heaps of other distractions. Can’t see us getting over this one any time soon.
Not a lot of rugby played in state schools either is there? Compared to NRL and AFL? Hard to be tribal and passionate if you didn’t play it at school. The ARU has a lot to answer for at the grassroots level.
2. Professionalism. It’s all about me…..and why not? It’s a very short career span to set yourself up for life. Look after no. 1 on the field and try to pocket as much cash as possible in the process. Bugger you Jack, I’m alright, you score your own tries!
Rugby is still largely a white collar sport played by uni professional types in Oz. True or false? I wonder what the stat’s are?……this could explain a couple of things. Firstly, there is another way outside of rugby to make a buck…..it’s only a game….other careers are beckoning….why knock myself out, it’s only a bit of fun innit?
3. Factionalism. Is there a player quota for the provinces? Can you imagine the Tahs or Brumbies or Reds not having a couple of players in the squad? Does it help to have your Dad work for the ARU? You bet it does…..
I wonder if the players from the same provinces all stick together in the Wannabe environment or do they all mix in seamlessly? Interesting.
Factionalism also ensures they play according to their provincal style, regardless of other coaching. It’s been drummed into them at a subliminal level. Cooper seems to be the irregular verb here.
4. Coachism. Deans had a dream run at the Crusaders…..but my Mum could probably have coached the Crusaders to a title with the cattle they had on board. Not so dreamy now Dingo huh? Time to earn your living. Poor selections, poor bench usage, poor strategies, poor plan B’s……all add up to a 56% winning record in 2.5 years. Welcome to reality.
5. Weightism. As the 4th code in the country, we’ve been puching above our weight since the year dot. Don’t sweat it, just accept the lean years and celebrate the flush years as the oddities they are.
6. Instinctism. From the day they’re born, Saffers and NZers know instinctively what to do in a nano second on the field. They eat, breathe, live their rugby. Not only do they know what to do, but they carry it out. Cos you see, it’s their religion and in their DNA innit?
Bound to be more “Ism’s” but I have a cold and can’t be bothered listing them. (Bs-ism springs to mind and feel free to use it to describe any or all of the above).
The buck stops with JON (not Deans and his coaches). As someone else suggested, appoint N Farr Jones to head up an enquiry to what the hell is wrong with the team and why they can’t gel and play consistently well. Someone needs to get inside their heads (including the coaches) and find out where the bottlenecks and handbrakes are.
If they don’t, we are in for a father of a hiding in the 3N and the RWC. The good news is there’s still time to fix it……if they act quickly.
So JON and the ARU directors……time to act…..while YOU still have a job.
June 29th 2010 @ 6:04pm
Brett McKay said | June 29th 2010 @ 6:04pm | Report comment
good post GtWs, all very valid points. Good insightism
July 1st 2010 @ 11:17am
Go_the_Wannabe's said | July 1st 2010 @ 11:17am | Report comment
Brett, in my cold induced state I forgot one really important “Ism” that is closely tied to “Coachism”.
“Whiteantism” – This is when all or a selection of the players undermine the coach, conciously or subconciously, with the aim of bringing about the downfall of the coach. In business it’s fittingly called “character assasination”.
Now who would have cause to do this at the Wannabe’s? Well, Git’s was overlooked for the C and VC roles last year. I can’t imagine Dingo is on Git’s Xmas card list anymore. Then there’s all the players Dingo has dropped, rotated to the bench or otherwise deleted from the squad. I’d be surprised if there weren’t a few malcontents in there. What about the core of senior players? Are they all hunky dory? Ask Nucifora what power they yield!
To get as far as they have, I imagine there’s quite a few over size ego’s amongst the Wannabe’s that think they know better than the coach (and staff) concerning selections, positions etc.
Add to all this the fact that Dingo is a foreigner. Oh boy, Blind Freddy can see that there wouldn’t have be too much go wrong before Dingo was subjected to a good dose of white ants.
A 56% winning ratio over 2.5 years would be a very good case for an infestation.
One thing is for sure. There is something seriously amiss between the players and coaches to not be able to get this standard of players to gel and play consistently well.
My bold prediction is that if Dingo doesn’t get the team to perform well in the 3N then he is gonsky!!! (or should be). Will JON do it? He picked Dingo as the Messiah, so it wouldn’t look good for him. But he would have to go.
I can’t see why it couldn’t be done? There’s plenty of time before the RWC and why can’t we do a Labour party and hope for a honeymoon bounce before the big election (ie RWC)?
July 1st 2010 @ 3:43pm
Brett McKay said | July 1st 2010 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
GtWs, I wonder if you’ve over-simplified things here though. If you look at teht two England Tests, we had an expansive, dominant attacking display (scrum issues notwithstanding) in the win followed by a pretty insipid, uninspiring loss. What can go so wrong in seven days??
July 2nd 2010 @ 10:14am
Go_the_Wannabe's said | July 2nd 2010 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Just using Occam’s Razor – the simplest solution is usually the best.
All is not well in the Wannabe camp between the coachs/players. If it was, this group of players would be performing consistently well no matter where some of them are played.
June 29th 2010 @ 5:36pm
Dave said | June 29th 2010 @ 5:36pm | Report comment
AAC is great but does not pass. For that reason he is best suited to the wing, or to be used at fullback where he can join the line and finish similar to Burke.
Digby at No.13 is an easy fix. He is a young version of Mortlock. Its not important for him to have a great passing game – its important for him to bend the line, attract defenders and then offload. He is very good at this (see the Cooper try vs England). Mortlock was a freak with his ability to just pop a ball with multiple guys hanging off him.
Chambers can certainly play a role too.
I am comfortable about any number of combinations in the back 3. So long as they are quick and are genuine finishers. Would love to see Davies when he is fit.
June 29th 2010 @ 5:47pm
Who Needs Melon said | June 29th 2010 @ 5:47pm | Report comment
I also agree with Sam but I think an important point of his was missed. I’m reminded of the Monty Python Meaning of Life bit: ‘What that thing about the hats again?’
The bit I agree with Sam about is that it’s “less [about] personnel and more tactics”. We all get excited about deciding who should play where and think that reshuffling the deck chairs might make a difference and sure some players have a natural inclination to run straight but the real question is: Why aren’t the players and/or coaching staff savvy enough to realise the need to straighten the attack and run different lines as the situation demands? Is that not part of ‘playing what’s in front of you’?
Sam mentioned Conrad Smith who I think makes an excellent role model – not a big, line busting player but a very smart player who can read what’s in front of him and knows when to cut back inside, etc.
June 29th 2010 @ 6:12pm
Brett McKay said | June 29th 2010 @ 6:12pm | Report comment
Melon, this is exactly my point in saying I’m not sure there’s currently room for both O’Connor and Beale currently. There’s already way too much lateral play with out these guys trying to chime and with more. In my side, I’d have one of them on the bench for impact, and neither in the XV. But that might just be me, too.
If the back three started playing as a unit with their kick-returns and general counter- and support-play, they’d all naturally bring back that direct, straight running that so many of us can obviously see is required.
We have two very good play-makers already. It’s worked well for all four state sides at different points this year, so it shouldn’t be a foreign concept. Numbers 11 and 13-15 need to trust their main men and run where required, not over there, or suddenly back over here…
June 29th 2010 @ 7:36pm
Justin said | June 29th 2010 @ 7:36pm | Report comment
The best backline in Aus and the S14 was Qld. They had one playmaker. The other Aus teams were pretty ordinary in the whole especially with dual PMs.
June 29th 2010 @ 7:48pm
Peter K said | June 29th 2010 @ 7:48pm | Report comment
I agree.
The BEST Wallaby backlines had 1 playmaker.
Look at 99
Gregan, Larkham, Tune, Horan, Herbert,Roff , Burke
They combined very well.
1 playmaker, a straight big hard runner in Herbert, 2 proper wingers and a correct F/B.
June 29th 2010 @ 8:09pm
Justin said | June 29th 2010 @ 8:09pm | Report comment
Unfortunately Aussie Bob wants 2 playmakers PK and we sure as hell won’t win back Bill under this policy. At Test level you need more power and size. Coops has the finesse now we need the power to strike.
June 29th 2010 @ 8:43pm
Brett McKay said | June 29th 2010 @ 8:43pm | Report comment
Justin, that’s quite true, but Anthony Faingaa has played a little bit of 10 in time, so you can’t completely overlook this part his game. Granted though, Cooper pretty much ran things for Qld this season..
June 30th 2010 @ 8:07am
Ben C said | June 30th 2010 @ 8:07am | Report comment
I would say that you really can only have one of Giteau, Beale and O’Connor in the backline.
June 29th 2010 @ 7:19pm
mudskipper said | June 29th 2010 @ 7:19pm | Report comment
Honestly the James O’Connor experiment is over. He is a bench player… Adam Ashley Cooper needs to be in the action either play him at full back as he is outstanding in this role or put him at 13 and give him a chance to make a position his own. James O’Connor has years before he researches AAC standards. Currently AAC is doing the high ball jobs for JOC and covering his own position, really thats just rubbish…
June 29th 2010 @ 7:21pm
Brett McKay said | June 29th 2010 @ 7:21pm | Report comment
must agree Muddie, think you’re on the money there..
June 30th 2010 @ 8:09am
Ben C said | June 30th 2010 @ 8:09am | Report comment
Mudskipper, I will agree PROVIDED the coaching staff pick AAC at 13 or 15 and just leave him there. Constantly swapping him around in the utility role doesn’t do him, or the backline, any good. And (if he plays at 13) he learns to pass just occasionally. He should be somewhere in the backline though.
June 29th 2010 @ 7:36pm
Peter K said | June 29th 2010 @ 7:36pm | Report comment
First of all we need experienced FAST wingers not converted 1’0′s or 12′s.
That means we must NOT play Beale, JoC or Giteau on the wing. ALL too small, all lack finishing speed which wingers need.
I want to say the BEST backlines the Wallabies have had a runner like Horan at 12. The only time we had 2 play makers was with Larkham and Giteau combo which wasnt THAT successful. Cooper and Giteau are terrible together, Cooper easily is the only playmaker we need.
Horne is very similar in style and size to Horan. It is obvious to put him at 12.
Also it is obvious we need straight hard runners to bend set defences. We really miss Palu and I believe Higginbotham will be available for the TN’s this means Higginbotham at 8 replacing Brown.
As noted we miss Mortlock / Tuqiri in the backs.
Also as noted the only power runners we have are Chambers, AAC and Ioane. I placed them in order of descending size. Chambers is bigger than Mortlock the others smaller.
Against the top teams we must have a F/B who fields mid field bombs well, tackles well and runs well, and kicks wells.
Only AAC comes close to all this. It is obvious he should be back at 15.
So with everyone fit my backline would be
09 Genia 10 Cooper 11 Ioane 12 Horne 13 Chambers 14 Davies (genuine pace) 15 AAC
bench
20 Burgess 21 Giteau 22 Hynes
or Giteau could cover 9 as well and we might need 5 forwards
With the injuries for the TN’s with Chambers and Davies out until the Northern tour
09 Genia 10 Cooper 11 Turner 12 Horne 13 Ioane 14 Hynes 15 AAC
Mitchell dropped to bench, performed too poorly
Bench
20 Burgess 21 Giteau 22 Mitchell
IF WE HAVE TO HAVE 2 PLAYMAKERS
09 Genia 10 Cooper 11 Ioane 12 JoC 13 Chambers 14 Davies 15 AAC
Giteau just doesnt work as second playmaker to Cooper. Barnes provides no attack and his kicking is ordinary.
JoC tackles better than Beale and has less brain explosions.
June 29th 2010 @ 8:04pm
Justin said | June 29th 2010 @ 8:04pm | Report comment
Chambers isn’t bigger than Mirtlock. He is much shorter and also lighter. Mortlock also “plays big” as does AF.
Check their profiles at their clubs.
Of the 3 you mention Digby “plays biggest”, AAC has the fend and power while WC has the most natural gifts with power though not excessive like Mortlock.
June 29th 2010 @ 8:45pm
Peter K said | June 29th 2010 @ 8:45pm | Report comment
I meant to say Chambers was closest to Mortlock
Mortlock 191 cm, 105 kg
Chambers 188 cm, 100kg SO not MUCH shorter
AAC 182 cm, 98 kg
Ioane 179 cm, 93 kg
I stick by my order of choices.
AF had his chance in 2 Aust B games and failed to do anything against lesser lights
June 29th 2010 @ 9:25pm
Justin said | June 29th 2010 @ 9:25pm | Report comment
I pity anyone who plays outside Barnes!!!
June 29th 2010 @ 10:57pm
Peter K said | June 29th 2010 @ 10:57pm | Report comment
I agree Justin. Hence my choice of Horne as 12.
If you have to have 2 playmakers I then picked JoC as 12.
June 30th 2010 @ 6:26am
MW said | June 30th 2010 @ 6:26am | Report comment
Mortlock and Tuquri haven’t done anything for years worthwhile
June 29th 2010 @ 8:23pm
ohtani's jacket said | June 29th 2010 @ 8:23pm | Report comment
Deans has struggled with the Wallaby backline since day one so there’s not much new here… He’s rarely stuck with the same backline for more than a few Tests at a time and you have to wonder how much all this chopping and changing has benefited the players. It seems like a modern coaching disease to me.
The best thing that could’ve happened to Australian rugby would’ve been Giteau being snared by Toulon or some other club. That guy is reaching Gregan levels of infestation.
June 29th 2010 @ 11:54pm
ThelmaWrites said | June 29th 2010 @ 11:54pm | Report comment
“levels of infestation”? Wow, nice turn of phrase! Conjures images of pests eating through a structure. Well done, OJ!
June 29th 2010 @ 10:13pm
Komodo said | June 29th 2010 @ 10:13pm | Report comment
I would play ioane at outside centre and aac at full back or wing. You really need aac in the back 3 as he is the best we got under the high ball.
June 30th 2010 @ 6:57am
Who Needs Melon said | June 30th 2010 @ 6:57am | Report comment
I guess I’m saying that rather than chopping and changing the backline every test or so until we find one that works, we should have these guys doing copious amounts of video analysis over the next month, freeze-framing and certain points and saying THERE is when you should have straightened. And watch footage of Conrad Smith as an example of the right thing to do in situations where perhaps your instinct says to continue to run away from the defence. And then practicing this sort of thing at training.
So whether your preference is for JOC, Ioane, AAC, Horne, Chambers or Faingaa, ALL of these players CAN run straight and hard – it’s just a matter of knowing when to.
June 30th 2010 @ 7:04am
kingplaymaker said | June 30th 2010 @ 7:04am | Report comment
All this discussion about Horne and Chambers in the centres is quite academic as they are both out for a good while.