- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
This weekend the Wallabies travelled to Argentina after a horror few weeks, and promptly lost a very winnable game.
First and foremost I should give Argentina credit. They played with more intensity and deserved to win. Their victory is a win for rugby as a whole and I’m happy for them.
Part of me would like to implicate some refereeing decisions but I feel that would detract from how good Argentina were and would take focus away from the blame that should be laid with the Wallabies, and in particular, head coach Ewen McKenzie.
You would have to say pressure is mounting both on and off the field.
With a World Cup around the corner, our scrum is extremely fragile and we should be very worried about that. Our pool contains strong scrummaging nations, England and Wales. We should expect an early exit for the Wallabies if they get pushed about in the manner they did in Argentina.
What is most concerning is that our head coach is an experienced and successful front rower. This should be an area we are making significant improvements, yet we looked like a schoolboy pack against men in Argentina.
I don’t buy the injury argument. Injuries happen in professional sport, that is life. Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau are valuable players but Saia Fainga’a is experienced as well. Our problems in the number two position can’t be the issue here. Some of the Wallabies tactics are lacking in logic as well.
The management of Israel Folau is the biggest blight in my opinion. In the Argentinean match, there were some improvements, but I’ll explain. Let’s keep in mind Folau’s second try in the Lions Test. Very few people in the world could have scored that try. In a beaten team, on debut, against George North, he was man of the match. This man is special, and probably not hanging around forever, so let’s get the best out of him.
Previously, in attack, Folau had been lurking in the traditional fullback channel, one in from the wingers. I like the decision to get him slightly closer to the action, sharing the next position in with Tevita Kuridrani. This meant Folau was getting the ball earlier, more often and with more ball in hand options. You all saw the result in how much more dangerous he was. People say he has been out of form, I say he has been starved of ball.
Secondly, from kick returns, Folau ran it back a few times, which has been a rarity lately. With a player of Folau’s attacking mindset and prowess, and his distinct lack of any kicking finesse (despite being ex-AFL), why would he be kicking back? In my mind you should ask Ewen McKenzie.
I just don’t get why you would have a general policy of running the ball from your 22, yet when your best attacking weapon has the ball, in broken play, you direct him to kick, which he does surprisingly aimlessly and poorly. In Argentina, however, he ran it back and punched a few holes. Asking Folau to kick is like buying a Ferrari and using it to pick up the dry cleaning. Get it out on the track where it belongs.
I’ll also call into question the general policies around kicking. Far too many chips and grubbers. These are low percentage plays that should be used sparingly to get a fast defensive line in two minds. Anyone that grubbers near the 22 should have their cabcharge dockets torn up.
Next, the chasing from our kicks is woeful. Ask the forwards how valuable 10 metres is. It can sometimes take seven or eight phases to make that distance. Yet it is the difference between a decent kick chase and a lazy one.
Selections have not been good under McKenzie either. Kurtley Beale at 10 was a major blunder. Michael Hooper as captain is another. Don’t get me wrong, Hooper is a freak of nature and is one of a handful of automatic selections. He’s just not a captain, yet. James Slipper or Will Genia are better options.
I’m also very disappointed that Beale wasn’t sent home. If McKenzie was being consistent, he would send Kurtley home in a flash, possibly in economy class. Yet he allowed player power to keep Kurtley on tour. It pains me as a Waratah supporter, and Joeys old boy, but the ARU needs to let Kurtley go. Too many chances, and we don’t need him. Ewen McKenzie talks about culture, but with Kurtley, what is that saying about leopards and their spots? He’s probably going anyway.
My solution for the backline will provoke people, but hear me out. In attack, Kuridrani at 12, Folau at 13. These guys need to be in the collision zone. Adam Ashley Cooper comes in at fullback, Henry Speight and Rob Horne on the wings. In defence, Kuridrani and Horne in the centres. Folau drops back to fullback as his counter attack and safety under the high ball are invaluable. Adam Ashley-Cooper to the wing.
For the record, I’ve never been a huge fan of Horne but his attack has been better this year, and his defence is abrasive and unquestionably international-standard.
There should always be exit plans. Ewen McKenzie won’t be our coach forever. Wins over a poor French side, and weaker Northern Hemisphere teams have papered over some cracks, and we’ve been exposed badly in the Rugby Championship. But now is not the time to change our coach, though anything less than winner or runner up at the Rugby World Cup should trigger a change in my opinion.
The ARU need to have a quiet word to our next best option, Michael Cheika, as there were reports this week he is linked with European rugby again. We must not lose that man from our national setup. Cue the criticism from across state borders but he took over the rabble at the Waratahs and look what happened in two years.
Now that is off my chest, honourable mentions to the questionable refereeing decisions, like the TMO decision not to give benefit of the doubt in Kuridrani’s disallowed try (was it me or did Nigel Owens look disappointed by the TMO’s ruling?). Nick Phipps and Hooper’s yellow cards, the decision to reverse Folau’s yellow card but not the penalty and the decision not to at least check the forward pass on Argentina’s try. And can someone sort out the bloody lasers?
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.