- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
After a year to forget for the Wallabies. Played 15, won six and lost nine including four straight loses to England – it would be easy to kick a team while they’re down.
So rather than putting the boot in, let’s change the game plan and put more boot to ball.
I am not talking about a step back to the days of 10-man rugby, this is about bringing more variation and balance to our play.
It’s magical watching us play from deep, build the phases and score at the other end. We have done it with great success too – Sekope Kepu’s try against England started from well inside our own half.
The problems come when we overplay our hand, as we did when David Pocock threw an intercept pass for Jonathon Joseph to cross for the match winner.
You could argue we were chasing the game at that stage but it was the same story in Dublin.
After finally getting our noses in front against Ireland, we move the ball 60m forward from a kick off, win a penalty and go three points further ahead. From the ensuing kickoff, we try the exact same play, get caught and Ireland score the match-winning try minutes later.
The net scoreboard result of these two examples is Australia 8-opposition 14, which is pretty close to our win percentage this year.
What should we be doing?
Firstly, I would love to see more use of the box kick.
Michael Cheika seems to loath them but look how successfully England employed that tactic to work their way out of their 22m.
England halfback, Ben Youngs made far more errors than his opposite, Nick Phipps, on Saturday – just none as costly as Phipps’ misguided pass which led to Joseph’s first try. But on the strength of his box kicking and a cheeky second-half try, Youngs was named man of the match.
The Wallabies possess two of the best exponents under the highball. So why are we only relying on Israel Folau and Dane Haylett-Petty in defensive situations or kick offs?
Give them a one-on-one 50m up field and the chance to give us some front foot ball. Then throw it wide!
Then there is the chip/grubber.
Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England all scored tries against us from kicks on this tour. We scored none!
It shows our defensive systems are working but also highlights a predictability our opponents have wised up to.
How many times on tour have we made breaks only to force a pass as defenders close the space. Why not put the ball on the toe and see what happens?
It’s a lottery and I wouldn’t suggest using it all the time but give yourself a chance. Look at the problems it caused Owen Farrell and Mike Brown on Saturday.
Even ‘the bus’ Julian Savea uses it to great effect.
And lastly, how the Wallabies could do with a reliable goal kicker. But that’s a whole new conversation.
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.