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McKenzie must reinvent the Wallaby game plan

Dan Hay new author
Roar Rookie
16th September, 2014
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Ewen McKenzie made his name at the Reds but he needs to ditch the Queensland game plan. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Dan Hay new author
Roar Rookie
16th September, 2014
89
2703 Reads

Australia’s performance against Argentina confirms Ewen McKenzie’s Queensland Reds 2011 game plan is fast becoming redundant.

Historically, Wallaby success has hinged on recognisable game plans.

There was the flat attacking style of Bob Dwyer, and the innovation of Rod Macqueen. Eddie Jones kept Macqueen’s cornerstones in place, forging a high-tempo game that injected forward ball runners into the action, bending the line to give the backs opportunities.

Even the New Zealand game plan of Robbie Deans gave the Wallabies enough confidence in themselves to gap oppositions when their set piece worked.

Australia no doubt has the talent, but not the game plan to bring this talent to the fore. Additionally the balance of the side seems out of kilter.

Matt Toomua is a class player, but have him as a five-eighth or bench him. When McKenzie picked Toomua and Tevita Kuridrani against the French they went sideways on the back of solid forward momentum. Again there was this sideways tendency against South Africa and Argentina.

But Toomua’s provincial form is excellent. He was one for reasons for ACT’s success. McKenzie must work out a way to honour this but create a damaging backline.

Kurtley Beale’s ball play and finesse will create more one-on-one opportunities for Kuridrani. Beale is the most penetrating ball runner in the competition, and isn’t getting enough game time.

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Sam Carter is a handy ball runner, but we still can’t see the value of him over James Horwill. Horwill is a better srummager and a more dynamic ball runner. Australia are sadly still counting the cost of Sitaleki Timani going overseas.

If Australia are to have success over the All Blacks they need the most dynamic back row. Scott Fardy is wholehearted but only seems to excel against the weaker nations, when pick and drive becomes an easier way to make ground. Scott Higginbotham could be selected as an blindside breakaway. The All Blacks genuinely fear Higginbotham’s impact and speed around the ruck.

Juxtapose McKenzie’s efforts so far with the genius of Steve Hansen and his assistants.

At Eden Park, the All Blacks launched their attaching style off lineouts. They moved the ball quickly to the outside channels and exploited the fact that opposition wingers stood deep and thus allowed the new Zealand outside backs to breach the advantage line. Then New Zealand’s back row and second rowers were unleashed as damaging off-loaders, as a result of the depth and compression.

Hansen’s game plan is similar to Michael Cheika’s, but it is more spontaneous. My bet is Cheika has borrowed more from Hansen than vice versa. In the Eden Park match the New Zealand players executed Hansen’s simple game plan, allowing them to play to their potential for crucial periods. Combine this with their excellent ethos with turnover ball and you had a flogging.

McKenzie must produce an undefeated period into next year’s World Cup for Australia, while innovating and reengineering his game plan. My bet is that he is not sure how to achieve that.

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