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Five lessons for Australia from the Super Rugby semi-finals

Roar Guru
28th June, 2015
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Is Michael Cheika on his last legs as Wallabies coach? (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Roar Guru
28th June, 2015
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1673 Reads

The NSW Waratahs and Brumbies were outclassed in their respective Super Rugby matches against the Highlanders and Hurricanes respectively. Here are five lessons the Wallabies can learn from the defeats.

1. The Wallabies need greater tactical awareness and to be better at adjusting to what the opponents are doing
Watching NSW unable to respond to Otago’s tactics of pinning them in their left corner was revealing. In part it was because of the lack of capacity (a left-footed kicker or a right-footed one with a big boot).

But the inability to counter this and other aspects of Otago’s play suggested either a lack of awareness on the field, or a lack of communication from the coaches, or not having prepared ways to respond when Plan A didn’t work. It reminded me of watching the Robbie Deans-coached Wallabies who always seemed bereft when the All Blacks did something different.

2. Australia cannot afford to play Will Skelton and Wycliff Palu at the same time
Both are good players, even if injuries have made Palu much less consistent than in the past and Skelton still has a bit to learn.

But having only one and a half jumpers in a lineout – a half because Jacques Potgeiter was used much less frequently in the semi-final (as was the case for most of this year) – made it easy for an average lineout like Otago’s to steal NSW’s ball and put lots of pressure on the ball they did win.

I think Skelton will be (and, on form, should be) one of the second-rowers. That suggests to me that Scott Higginbotham and Scott Fardy should be the starting numbers eight and six for Australia as both are good lineout options, as well as doing the other aspects of their roles well.

3. Drew Mitchell’s chances of a recall to the Australian team continue to increase
His form in France suggests he still has the skills and most of the speed needed. Importantly, he is competent under the high ball and can kick well, with his left foot.

Joe Tomane has improved considerably this year. He is now safe under the high ball. But his unwillingness to kick for touch when it was needed to relieve pressure in the ACT’s match against Wellington will be a black mark against him.

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It’s not necessary for wingers to be able to kick well, or even at all, although the All Blacks have worked hard to give Julian Savea the option to kick for distance that he previously lacked.

But Australia can’t afford to play a fullback who is unwilling to kick under pressure and two wingers who are similarly lacking in either skill or confidence.

4. Australia needs a second playmaker
The ACT survived Matt Toomua’s absence by using Robbie Coleman and Jesse Mogg to complement Christian Lealiifano. But their attack improved when Toomua returned.

Similarly, NSW sorely missed a second playmaker when Kurtley Beale was injured because none of the replacements could distribute well, and Israel Folau still lacks the skills and judgement required. Twice against Otago he passed to players who were under much greater pressure than he was; it looked like he was distributing the ball for the sake of doing so, not because it was advantageous.

That doesn’t mean that Australia needs to play a second five-eighth. If we had a fullback, or even a winger with a licence to roam, who had those skills then it would be possible to play two big centres, say Tevita Kuridrani and Folau.

But we don’t. Folau is not yet, and likely never will be, a good distributor. If James O’Connor was not injured and in form then he would be a good choice on the right wing. (Note he can also catch reasonably and has a decent boot on him, two other assets highlighted above.)

5. Pressure at the breakdown is critical, both to slow the opponent’s ball and to ensure quick ball of one’s own.
NSW were unable to generate much pressure, partly because their best pilferer is Adam Ashley-Cooper, and partly because of inaccuracy.

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That suggests to me that David Pocock should play number seven. He continues to win a mountain of turnovers and penalties, along with Fardy. But even their combined prowess was insufficient against Wellington, so this will need to be a focus of Australia’s training. NSW’s problems suggest to me that Michael Cheika needs some specialist assistance here.

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