- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Who is your Wallaby number 10 – Kurtley Beale? Bernard Foley? Both? Sick of this debate yet? You shouldn’t be. It’s just getting started.
For a country that places such a strong emphasis on the running game, we have largely ignored the most important position on the field.
Historically, Australia has tried filling the fly-half void by simply shuffling a ball runner in one spot (think Tim Horan, Rod Kafer).
While placing James O’Connor in the number 10 jersey was a Robbie Deans disaster, this call was only out by one position – O’Connor actually makes a great second five. But it’s hell of a position to be out by.
Rod Macqueen secured himself a few trophies when he transformed Stephen Larkham from a ghostly fullback into a quality fly-half, who ended up displaying excellent distribution, pinpoint field kicking and an overall ability to straighten the attack.
‘Bernie’ didn’t just run his fullback game from fly-half, he adapted to what was required. The fact the Wallabies flourished in unison with Larkham’s rise in the number 10 jersey wasn’t correlation – it was causation.
Look at successful national squads of the past. Dan Carter in New Zealand, Morne Steyne in South Africa and Jonny Wilkinson for England – each country has fired when these players were at the height of their game wearing the all-important 10 jersey.
Scroll through the list of Super Rugby champions and you will find a similar story. Then look at the winning Super Rugby province and the corresponding national Tri-nations side and you will see the same number 10.
The same fly-half who guides their team to Super Rugby success is the one who directs the national team. Foley has a right to be burning; this is the first year in over a decade this has not happened.
Sure, rugby is evolving. Front rowers run around on the wings, outside backs hit rucks with menace, and quality back rowers now display a quality set of hands (at least they do in New Zealand).
So does the number mean didley squat? Ewen McKenzie thought this way at the Waratahs, where he tried to get players’ initials on jerseys (L.T.s sold out, but you couldn’t give a T.C. away for free).
The mindset was a great one, but it’s been somewhat reversed by nominating only two players in the squad for the role of the 10. One can’t help but feel like this is an ex-forward’s call.
This is where the role of the ten, not the number, becomes crucial. If the piggies provide the platform, the ten provides the trophies. Their job is not influential at certain moments – they direct the entire team, constantly. Distribute, and do it quickly. Kick wisely and accurately. Run with intent and surprise. These are the traits of the general, the organiser, the first five.
Gone are the traditional 10 and 12 stereotypes – modern teams now require a general and a second-five. One steers the team, dictates the tempo and does the majority of decision-making. The other does this too, but with a little more freedom to pop up sporadically in attack.
Both do a lot of the same thing, but one is your go-to guy, your clutch player – the one who makes the decisions. Your general.
Which brings us to the Wallabies. They appear to be going with two playmakers, but who is the general?
Beale deserves his spot, but he is not the general. He doesn’t steer teams quite like he opens up gaps. His best games are when he roams and surprises the defence, often on second and third phase.
Look up the Tahs’ Round 19 win over the Reds. Beale stood at first receiver and created an outstanding try for Jono Lance from absolutely nothing. Beale makes the national team, no questions asked. Only, after you chose your general.
This role belongs to either Matt Toomua or Foley. But not both. You don’t need them on together, especially in the dying stages of a deadlock.
Both Beale and Toomua are playing out of their Super Rugby positions, which is ok because they are both world-class backline players. This is not the issue. Toss in Foley and all three candidates are high-quality, proven clutch players.
But in previous teams, it has been clear to both themselves and their teammates who the go-to guy is.
When the clock winds down and it’s crunch time, who will call the shots? It’s not so much who takes the drop goal, or dummies and has a crack – but who decides it.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.