Observations from the Wallabies’ loss
Roar Guru By Bones506, 19 Jul 2011 Bones506 is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- 2011 Rugby World Cup, Matt Giteau, Quade Cooper, robbie deans, rugby, Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup, Samoa, Samoa rugby, wallabies, Will Genia
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Full credit must be given to Samoa. They turned up with a game plan and executed it to near perfection.
Their set piece was robust, they attacked the collision with consistent aggression, applied constant pressure in defense for the full 80 minutes, and when opportunities arose, they got it to their danger men.
Regarding Australia, is this the loss they needed to have? The Australian rugby public certainly hopes so. It clearly highlighted that the mental preparation needs to be much better. Simply turning up and expecting to win because you are ranked No.2 is not good enough. This has happened a few times – one only need look at our loss to Scotland a few years back.
My observations of Australia from the game are as follows:
1. Our front row offered up almost nothing throughout the game at the breakdown. This work was left almost entirely to the backrow, and three against five-plus Samoan’s attacking with vigour was always going to come unstuck. The Wallabies always start the season a bit slow and their timing at the breakdown was off.
2. Second row. I thought Timani had an okay game in his first run-on appearance. Yes he dropped a few balls, but he imposed himself well in defense and I think he has a lot to offer the Wallaby squad (I have him a long way ahead of Mumm and just pipping Simmons for the fourth locking position for the World Cup squad).
It is evident that the second row needs to be properly balanced – you either have a wide runner (Sharpe/Timani) paired with a tight worker (Vickerman/Horwill) or you play two workers.
On what will be a wet pitch in New Zealand this year, I think teams like England/SA/NZ will play a very narrow direct game based on forward dominance. The Wallabies have a lethal back line but will need an A and B game if they are to compete against the above noted teams.
3. Leadership. I have no issue wth Elsom as captain. He leads by example and considering Deans and co have already made it completely clear he will lead the Wallabies at the World Cup, it makes this a moot point. What Elsom needs is leader’s around him who communicate.
What was evident was Genia’s leadership and direction when he came on. Rugby, especially at Test level, requires a lot of communication and Genia and Cooper are talkers. Expect a dramatic improvement this weekend with both players on the field. I also expect Faingaa to start at 12 as he offers a lot of communication.
3. Tactics/ specific players:
A. Giteau. For all the hype around him (much of it seems to be self believed) he has never delivered. Clear he cannot control a game and he is one dimensional in his running and ball play which made the Wallabies easy to pick off with heavy defense.
B. Davies. Speed is a great asset but you need more than that at Test level. Like Mitchell a few years ago, Davies lacks the strength to carry the ball into heavy contact and his defense was not great. O’Connor would have covered his man much better.
Expect a much improved performance this weekend as the Wallabies will simply focus on training, rather than all of the additional requirements that go with starting a Test season. Usually the Wallabies get two weeks before their first Test and there is a reason for that and it was evident on Sunday.
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July 19th 2011 @ 9:30am
Ralph said | July 19th 2011 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Aside from playing poorly a couple of comments.
Nobody builds winning momentum through losses, so I’m always reasonably skeptical with the idea of The loss we needed to have. As best a loss can knock out complacency, but that usually sets in after a long string of wins. That’s not where the Wallabies are right now so it seems to me all this loss will do is put the cat amongst the pigeons and mount the pressure.
The fast paced, running game is always a high risk one. All it takes is a ref who is lenient at the breakdown to create real problems. The ball is slow, there are players at the side standing almost in your defensive line and bodies where they shouldn’t be. What was shown up in this loss were the Wallaby forwards. So I’m not sure the hope of a better back line is the solution.
I agree with you about leadership. Every team needs it, especially when it’s all going to custard and nothing is working. All it takes is one or two in that second string to stand up and make some forward foot ball a few times and key moments and Elsom will look better.
What did you think of the Wallaby scrum?
July 19th 2011 @ 10:03am
chris said | July 19th 2011 @ 10:03am | Report comment
The forwards will have to muscle up ths weekend. The Scrum needs work – always expected it would. My preference is to play Vickerman and Horwill as they are tight workhorses in the scrum and at the BD. Sharpe provides a lot of mid field punch but Elsom and McCalman/Higginbotham give that.
Deans comments around timing etc are all very accurate. One only need Watch the first Tahs v Reds game this year to see how critical this is. The Red’s timing was slightly off at the BD and they got shown up badly. Look at where they went from there.
Elsom just needs some game time in the legs – he will be much better for the 80 this week.