Wallabies add spice, but still lack flavour
Roar Pro By Paddy Kilmurray, 7 Aug 2010 Paddy Kilmurray is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Anthony Faingaa, Berrick Barnes, Bledisloe Cup, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Richard Brown, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Saia Faingaa, Scott Higginbotham, wallabies
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The Wallabies are heading in the right direction with the introduction of two more Reds players. However, they need more. The headlines during the week regarding the Wallaby boys being outplayed by the All Black men are true.
It was a terrific performance from an experienced and highly skilled All Black outfit.
This week Anthony Faingaa will join the run on side, a great inclusion in my view. The Wallabies have lacked a strong running, hard-nosed defensive centre since the likes of Rod Kafer and Nathan Grey retired.
What Faingaa will provide is a platform for his team to work from. His defensive prowess should see him handle the power of Ma’a Nonu – which Barnes struggled with – whilst also trucking the ball up in traffic, something that Barnes has rarely done.
The Wallabies won’t lose a great deal having Giteau at 10.
The criticism of him has been somewhat unwarranted, in my view. People seem to forget he was the only Wallaby to be named in the team of the decade. He’ll do a fine job provided he packs his kicking boots.
Having Barnes at inside provoked a running game that our forwards weren’t capable of matching. Sending the ball wide is all well and good when you have the cattle capable of getting to the breakdown to secure possession.
Faingaa will settle the ball in midfield whilst providing his forwards with the much needed time to arrive and recycle possession.
This will then provide Giteau with the opportunity to spread the ball wide on phase play, whilst taking advantage of the lack of speed shown by All Blacks outside centre, Conrad Smith.
Personally, I am a Conrad Smith fan. He’s become Mr Perpetual Motion in the All Blacks backline. However, he lacks the genuine pace needed to defend in that position.
Because of the strength of the All Blacks side, he has rarely been troubled. Smith’s tackling technique can often represent that of Richard Brown’s shirt grabbing display last week.
A speedy back with a good fend could easily exploit this on phase play when the defensive line is lacking structure, particularly with great broken field runners like Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor.
The introduction of Faingaa not only brings solidity to the Wallaby midfield; it also brings that infectious enthusiasm which the Reds showed throughout the Super Rugby season.
The Reds were enthusiastic in both attack and defence, and whilst the Wallaby side has a good sprinkling of other franchises’ players. I believe that the inclusion of more Reds players will only be beneficial.
Saia Faingaa is another great selection; his fearless attitude will be extremely effective in the hustle and bustle of the breakdown, particularly when Jonathon Kaplan is refereeing.
His “free for all until I say so” approach will obviously work in the favour of Faingaa and Pocock. However, I’m certain Richie McCaw is also licking his lips at thought of being given an extended piece of rope at the breakdown. It will be interesting to see if any players take too much rope, and hangs themselves.
For me, the continual exclusion of Scott Higginbotham is perplexing. Deans loves to blood firebrand youngsters, however, has decided to remain with the shirt grabbing Richard Brown.
During the week people were calling for the head of Drew Mitchell, however, Brown’s pathetic attempted tackle last week was enough to warrant a return lower grade club rugby.
It showed a clear lack of enthusiasm and commitment that a Wallaby should provide. I think someone like Higginbotham could provide this rabid attitude the Wallabies need.
This is obviously a colossal task for the Wallabies. They are facing an All Blacks side which is continually turning the screws on their opposition.
This is undoubtedly the squad they wish to take to the World Cup next year. Might I add again like I did last week, that the All Blacks form is mighty fine.
In fact, I would say that it’s beginning to simmer.
The World Cup is still a year off. Can they hold off the boil before then?
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August 7th 2010 @ 1:31am
Ben S said | August 7th 2010 @ 1:31am | Report comment
I thought the point of Barnes playing at 12 was that it wasn’t intended to/didn’t bring a ‘running game’?
Also not sure your criticism of Smith’s defence is warranted.
A. Faingaa’s introduction suggests that Deans is seeking simplicity, especially when combined with AAC. The pair may well be bulkier than Barnes-Horne, and AAC is indeed an excellent carrier, but I can’t see the pair improving the cohesiveness of the Australian attack, or facilitating the link play that NZ do so well. Also, a total contrast with the back three. Odd signals being sent out there…
S. Faingaa’s introduction suggests that Deans has fallen out of bed onto his noggin. I had to laugh when reading Spiro’s ‘article’ commenting on the English darts players when this tubby sack of baked beans is plodding about. I’m gna miss the game on Saturday, which is infuriating not least because I’d love to see his match-up with Mealamu. People talk of Faingaa having dog. Perhaps he does have a few strays stuffed up his jumper, but Mealamu is hardened. The wet of Christchurch may well prove to be yet another front row education for the dreadlocked ‘firebrand’.
August 7th 2010 @ 7:15am
mampara said | August 7th 2010 @ 7:15am | Report comment
Once again an article which sets the Wallabies up for great expectation…oh dear.
Make no mistake, the ABs will hammer this lot, your criticism of Conrad Smith is laughable, your build up of the Faingaa twins not laughable but one has never played a test before (there is a significant difference between super 14 and a test in CHCH) and the other, well, I don’t rate him as a test quality hooker, I have nothing against the guy, but K. Mealamu, are you serious, boy vs man. The only one I can agree with you on is Brown, how he is keeping Higginbotham out of the team is far more than “perplexing”.
ABs by a lot.
August 7th 2010 @ 7:29am
Daz said | August 7th 2010 @ 7:29am | Report comment
A new centre pairing…..I think the wallabies are going to be cut in two. I like a A-Cooper as a player anywhere in the back line, but with his in-experienced centre partner, it doesn’t look good.
Totally agree with the mystery non selection of Higginbotham.
August 7th 2010 @ 8:54am
dunc said | August 7th 2010 @ 8:54am | Report comment
Conrad Smith is the best defensive centre in world rugby.
August 7th 2010 @ 9:39am
ben said | August 7th 2010 @ 9:39am | Report comment
HUH….he is a reasonable defensive center…..the best!! thats a big call…better than Mortlock….or flourie…i dont think so
August 7th 2010 @ 12:41pm
dunc said | August 7th 2010 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
ben
the posters below have come to my defence on Conrad Smith being a sound tackler. I do agree with you about Mortlock – as I have said before, he has enormous respect in the All Black camp and I can think of at least two wins over the All Blacks where he led the way.
August 7th 2010 @ 9:51am
Sparky said | August 7th 2010 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Completely agree Dunc, and i am a Wallabies supporter. This guy has been the unsung hero (or so it seems from an aussie point of view) of the New Zealand backline for as long as i can remember seeing him in the jersey.
August 7th 2010 @ 9:18am
Justin said | August 7th 2010 @ 9:18am | Report comment
AF has more to his game than just crash balls and big hits. He is ore than capable of taking the ball to the line and putting men through holes. Its a shame he doesnt have Diggers or Davies who know how to sniff out an opportunity when he has the pill.
August 7th 2010 @ 9:18am
Hoy said | August 7th 2010 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Do you know what I don’t understand? People who put so much bloody importance on players who haven’t played a single test (“big step up from super 14″ etc). If we seriously took that view, how does anyone debut?
If a player is good enough, he is good enough. Horan debuted when he was what? 19? Jeez, imagine if we had shallow, tunnel vision on that one? “ooh, too young, big step up from club” etc. And remember, back then, it really was a step up from club to Australia.
What we need to do is pick a player who is good enough, not who shows potential. Potential doesn’t always come to fruition, particularly with what we are seeing in players being shuffled endlessly in different positions. It stunts their development in my opinion.
August 7th 2010 @ 9:26am
Justin said | August 7th 2010 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Hoy I agree (I think). How many Aussie backs are playing in their standard position today? Genia, AF, Mitchell (who shouldnt be there). Beale and JOC both lack experience in their positions and have been jacked around for too long at Super level.
August 7th 2010 @ 11:31am
mampara said | August 7th 2010 @ 11:31am | Report comment
Justin…as a South African I sincerely hope that Deans agrees with you and drops Mitchell…he is one of them who should deffinately be there…JOC on the other hand…but ultimately you will not lose this test (yes I think you will lose) because of your wingers…beaten upfront, 4 and 5 etc. and ofcourse J. Kaplan, every ozzys favorite ref. Can’t wait for the after game comments surrounding the ref already…Spiro you w@nker, your gona hate us even more after this one.
August 7th 2010 @ 10:35am
Jimbob said | August 7th 2010 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Guys, Robbie has said this week this Wallaby team is being prepared to peak in 14 months ie World Cup. We’ll be standing still until the return of Palu, hopefully Vickerman and a physically imposing centre who can actually crash the ball up in mid-field and belt guys in rerturn. Until then, we’ll have to be content with some home test wins and hopefully pinching one in South Africa. This forced love affair with a four year cycle from the ARU will keep us all ‘perplexed’ until the actual RWC!
August 7th 2010 @ 11:53am
mampara said | August 7th 2010 @ 11:53am | Report comment
Jimbob…Robbie is full of rubbish…do you seriously buy this line…”building for the world cup”…Oz will be genuine contenders, but losing every game between now and then to NZ is hardly good prep…you blokes are looking like you have a mental problem with this team and Deans knows it.
August 7th 2010 @ 1:32pm
Jimbob said | August 7th 2010 @ 1:32pm | Report comment
Believe his line? Although its the first time Deans has conceded that its (RWC 2011) really the gauge of his time with the Wallabies, personally I think he’s covering his arse a bit after another ordinary showing against the ABs.
However, it is further proof that the ARU’s – or more to the point, John O’Neiil’s love affair with the World Cup and how it continues to the detriment of another Bledisloe. I know we’ll be competitive come the world cup but I’m sick of constantly ‘building towards’ one in the years in between.
August 7th 2010 @ 11:04am
Moaman said | August 7th 2010 @ 11:04am | Report comment
Agree totally with Mampara regarding Conrad Smith;one thing he excels at is tackling! Also disagree strongly with the author’s assertion that this is “undoubtably the squad” that NZ will take to the World Cup.It has been said before-ad nauseum-there are SEVERAL injured players who will figure strongly in the selectors’ minds come time to pick that squad.Sivivatu,Kahui,Toeava,Ali Williams,Hore at least..possibly Boric,Ross,Tialata,Guildford,Messam,Thompson,Gear,,,,,,,,,,,,,and so on.
August 7th 2010 @ 11:17am
jiggles said | August 7th 2010 @ 11:17am | Report comment
If Quade was at 5-8 it would be great with AF in the centres. the reason being that quade has the short and long game to put a player through any hole he wants. thats why AF did so well at the reds this year, QC was putting him in wholes that were so miniscule.
Giteau does not have this at 5-8. he is simply cannot put people into holes like QC can, he doesn’t have the short and long passing game like QC. and he certainty cannot mix it up and adjust to what the defence is doing. once he has his mind set about a play, he goes through no matter what is happening in front of him. example A being charge down berrick barnes kick last weekend.
its for these reasons that i am worried about AF this evening, it will be a long day in the office.
August 7th 2010 @ 11:44am
Even looser said | August 7th 2010 @ 11:44am | Report comment
Huh?
Wouldn’t ‘example A’ indicate that Berrick is the one who “goes through no matter what is happening in front of him”?
August 7th 2010 @ 11:57am
jiggles said | August 7th 2010 @ 11:57am | Report comment
The defence (carter and nonu) was rushing up around the outside of barnes, essentially cutting off barnes from the outside backs. when Giteau gets the ball he saw this but passed anyway, when he should of been the one to hoof it.
However you correct in saying Barnes shouldn’t of kicked it, but if he didn’t they would of turned him over anyway as he had no support, and couldnt get the pass away. it was a loose loose situation and all round dumb play by the wallabies which, IMHO (and i don’t mind if you disagree) started with Gits
August 7th 2010 @ 2:46pm
Even looser said | August 7th 2010 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
So take the tackle and have confidence in your guys to support. Dangerous I know but seriously, that kick was never an option from someone playing at his level.
And IF he insists on kicking (no matter what) then get a move on mate. Far too slow from him. And easy meat for the men in black. That’s the sort of thing that can really rock the team confidence.
Don’t disgree at all about Gits. Far from it. What is they say ‘never pass the ball to a player in a worst position than you’? That seemed to sum it up. Hang on there I go arguing against myself again.
August 7th 2010 @ 3:46pm
Jerry said | August 7th 2010 @ 3:46pm | Report comment
Under the new law interpretations, he would have been able to take the tackle and recycle easily.
August 7th 2010 @ 11:45am
Glenn Condell said | August 7th 2010 @ 11:45am | Report comment
‘The criticism of him (Giteau) has been somewhat unwarranted, in my view. People seem to forget he was the only Wallaby to be named in the team of the decade. He’ll do a fine job provided he packs his kicking boots.’
What rot. One of the key issues for the Wallabies is the inability to get over the advantage line from phase ball (or even perfectly good set piece ball) and while you can lay some of the blame for this on the relatively mongrel-free pack we have, it’s clear that even when a decent platform is provided, we cannot get past a good defence with Giteau at 10. Why? Because whatever decision he makes whether to pass or run or kick, he makes it far too early, far too deep, for anything to come of it, and normally does it while crabbing across rather than darting up the field. This is either incompetence or an entirely understandable fear of being smashed by backrowers for the 10,000th time.
Either way, it is a nail in the coffin of any chance we have to win against the Blacks, whose defence must be cracked by people prepared to take them on in attack by running flatter lines at pace, with support doing the same. Cooper does this as a matter of course, Giteau does not and never has at no 10 when playing the best sides. This is even truer than usual right now when we are outweighed by some margin by Black and Bok backlines. Smaller men only get past bigger blokes if they give them less room and time to organise their hit; if they receive the pill way back they are sitting ducks, they get hammered, they lose confidence, they drop ball, etc etc.
If this flatter backline approach is combined with John Eales’ call for the pack to pick and drive more, we are a show. The team would look a bit more the 99 vintage, which had its fair share of no names in the pack, but they played to a pick and drive plan with Larkham getting quick ball and running at back-pedalling defences and making precise last minute decisions with the ball that created space that wouldn’t have been there had he received it 10 meters further back.
To take the Blacks out of their comfort zone, we have to get out of ours and take real risks (ie, in their face flat backline attacks). Giteau simply has not shown a capacity or even a willingness to do this often enough to be effective in the 10 role.
Also, there are so many rumours about team disharmony that you feel there must be fire behind so much smoke and Giteau appears the be the Little Lucifer at the centre of them (see last week Rugby Club for some clues on this). Coupled with his poor form, you would think someone as forceful as JON would by this stage have had Giteau on notice. If he plays a big role in a famous win today, I retire with my tail pointing south, but if he fails again, he should be dropped. I know that Cooper is returning and Gits could go back to 12, but has he been good enough there to hold out Faingaa if he has a half-decent game today?
It’s high noon for a player who I think has always promised more than he has ultimately delivered – if it isn’t, it should be.
August 7th 2010 @ 11:59am
mampara said | August 7th 2010 @ 11:59am | Report comment
@ Glenn…pretty accurate and an interesting analysis…I’ll say this for Giteau, the little bugger tried hard last week.
August 7th 2010 @ 4:13pm
IronAwe said | August 7th 2010 @ 4:13pm | Report comment
What happened in last weeks rugby club? Is there a youtube link?