Former Wallaby, Australian coach and ARU president Bill McLaughlin once ran a critical team meeting in Potchefstroom before the second Test of the 1963 tour of South Africa.
The Wallabies had kicked away possession over the previous Test and been soundly beaten, and McLaughlin knew that the Australians only hope was to take on the Springboks in the true spirit of Australian rugby – running the ball.
“I’m sick of this ball straight to the 5/8 and kicking for touch” said McLaughlin. “Australian teams have always been known for running the ball, and that’s what we’ll do from now on”.
History shows that the underrated Wallabies, went on to become the first team to win consecutive Tests against the Springboks in South Africa since 1896 – a feat that the All Blacks didn’t manage until Sean Fitzpatrick’s 1996 tourists.
McLaughlin’s plea to his ’63 side could equally apply to the current Wallabies as they head into the World Cup in 2007, particularly in the 6, 7 and 8 conundrum.
The 1963 Wallabies eventually found a large piece of their winning puzzle in their backrow, which had morphed from a big heavy trio in 1962 (featuring Peter Crittle and Rob Heming, both eventually outstanding second rowers for Australia) to a light, fast and athletic model in 1963, featuring the mercurial Greg Davis, the aggressive and physical Jules Guerassimoff and an athletic runner with great ball skills at 8, in Dr John O’Gorman.
The balance of the backrow was important. Greg Davis was a flanker in the Smith/Waugh mould – an inexhaustible chaser and fetcher who was always there and who made life miserable for opposing backs. His crony Jules Guerassimoff was the firebrand. “Big Julie” was a crash tackler and clean out merchant extrordinaire, who often hammered opposing backs out of the game.
Had selectors continued to use Heming at no. 8 as they had done the previous year though, the backrow would have taken on a heavier, tighter appearance, and although more dominant in the lineout, would have lacked the ability to link effectively with Catchpole and Hawthorne in the backs.
The same is true of the Wallabies in 2007. Smith/Waugh and Elsom are ideally balanced as the fetcher and intimidator pairing, and so the no. 8 becomes the crucial piece of the puzzle. This is where Wycliffe Palu becomes a liability. Heavy though he may be, the Palu athleticism is not in the same class as Stephen Hoiles, and his workrate is less. The other alternative, David Lyons, has been true servant of the Wallabies, but his play is predictable and his offload is non-existent.
Hoiles and O’Gorman have much in common. Light and fast, with excellent hands, they both have the athleticism of backs, indeed O’Gorman played in the backs until his final year at St Josephs where he immediately played GPS firsts when switched to no. 8.
Both have the ability to create a viable extra man in the backline, with the necessary skills to continue a movement, and also the necessary speed to make the most of a break when it appears.
It could have been argued that against the massive Springbok pack in 1963, that the Wallabies needed as much muscle as they could muster. In fact the opposite was true – they needed as much speedy support for their brilliant backs as they could find.
Against dominant forward packs in 2007, the Wallabies may also learn the same lesson, that in the case of a balanced backrow in front of a brilliant backline – less is more.
Andrew Logan
Guest
Sheek, Great work on recalling some of the great names lost to Australian rugby. Lenehan was indeed unlucky but his replacement Casey was in brilliant form - kicking goals and setting up tries which contributed to a great result in the series. I'm sure Peter Crittle would be shattered to be relegated to your 2nd's, especially since he cleaned up the lineout ball and started the move that led to Australia's only try in the Third Test, and which won them the game! Phelps, Connor and Cleary were major losses. There is a great pic of former top sprinter Cleary in Peter Jenkins' book Wallaby Gold, and he looks as fast and muscular as any of todays wingers, without the benefits of supplements, weights and a professional regime. It is a depressing exercise recalling players lost to league - especially when you include the likes of Ray Price, Wally Lewis and Ricky Stuart. Cheers...
sheek
Guest
Ahhh Geee, Allow me to continue the historical bent of that 1963 team. The stars were mightily aligned for Australian rugby in 1963. How much stronger might that team have been? Well, first choice fullback jim Lenehan was injured in the final training run before leaving Perth. Rugged prop Tony Miller was unavailable to tour, which prompted John Thornett's permanent move to the front-row. Goalkicking backrower & later horse trainer Geoff Chapman was also unavailable. Outstanding utility back Rod Phelps had retired the previous year, although still under 30 years of age (in 1963). Brilliant scrumhalf, ex-Wallaby & future Wallaby coach Des Connor was the all Blacks #9 in 1963, would you believe! Last but not least, the 1963 record breaking Kangaroos to Great Britain & France, contained 5 ex-Wallabies, & one ex-state (NSW) player. The team was captained by former Wallaby flyhalf Arthur Summons, who was accompanied by flying winger Mike Cleary, clever centre Jimmy Lisle, powerhouse lock Dick Thornett, & tough as teak prop Kevin Ryan, who had been a Wallaby backrower. Completing the Kangaroos touring team was fullback Ken Thornett, who had played for NSW before defecting to league. John, Ken & Dick Thornett were brothers. Finally, but not least, what if Stu Boyce had also joined his twin brother Jim on tour. Both were wingers. With everyone available, the first XV might have looked like this (starting at fullback): Jim Lenehan, Mike Cleary, Dick Marks, Beres Ellwood, Jim Boyce, Phil Hawthorne, Ken Catchpole(vc), John O'Gorman, Greg Davis, Jules Guerassimoff, Rob Heming, Dick Thornett, Jon White, Peter Johnson, John Thornett(c). The 2nd XV might have looked like this (starting at fullback): Ken Thornett, Stu Boyce, Rod Phelps, Jim Lisle, John Douglas, Arthur Summons, Des Connor, Dave Shepherd, Ted Heinrich, Geoff Chapman, Kevin Ryan, Peter Crittle, Tony Miller, Mike Jenkinson, John Freedman. Interesting to speculate that the teenager hawthorne would have displaced Summons, who might have toured as vice-captain. The tour selectors would have gone crazy trying to select their top team, especially in the backs. The purpose of the exercise, is to demonstrate how much stronger Australian rugby might have been historically, had we been able to retain our leading players to the same extent as in New Zealand & South Africa, instead of being required to refresh our team every few years with novice players. Losing so many good players so consistently early in their careers, continually hampered the development of Australian rugby in the pre-professional era. Almost enough to make you cry!
Dexter William
Guest
Totally agree with the other posts that the team would be better without Huxley and Lyons. Would really like to see Staniford coming into the game earlier. He runs straight and is hard to defend against in general play. The slowness in our attack recently allows defences to be set. And once the AB defence line is set, they have the hard men required to keep the attacks in check. That is why Gregan is ineffective, as he almost always move sideways in setting up attacking moves. It is very hard to get good line breaks when the defence is set. Really looking forward to the game. I sense that the ABs are nervous and as good as they are. we might have a chance to bring back the silverware. Cheers
jools-usa
Guest
Andrew has described the ABs to a "T". Wallabies must emulate & not be sucked into the SA/Pom mode of smash up front after mindless kicking................"for position"? Jools-USA
Bob Thomas
Guest
Interesting about Palu I have always seen him as a huge talent with an inferiority complex, particularly against the AB's. A lot of these Island boys grow up worshipping the AB's and then to play against them is like trying to play gods not players. If Palu wakes up to his ability and what he can do he will be one of the top 2 No 8's in the world. He needs to have a chat to Willie O.
ulysses
Guest
Well you have got your wish with Lyons out - Hoiles to start. And if Palu doesn't recover for WC, he may be there for France as well. But what about reversing it - Hoiles for #12 next year.....?!
kenikenipat
Guest
Suprisingly, I agree with most of you're opinion Andrew. Regarding Palu, I think someone just needs to pull him aside and say 'Mate you are huge, you can break tackles and offload, you belong here', and then he might perform to his ability. It's his 6(maybe 12, as it's a fair melon) inches between the ears that are letting him down. Hughie seems a good replacement for Rocky after he's all tuckered out from intimidating. Hopefully he can find the balance between aggresion and his bodies limitations. Chisolm needs to take his opportunity this weekend. If he comes on in the row, stands at inside cent all day ,shovelling the ball on and not playing tight, he will not be going to France. So, if the balance in the loosies is right in the last ten to twenty minutes as well... we'll smash the kiwi's at the back end...again. Fingers crossed
jameswm
Guest
Ironic that Lyons getting injured has arguably made us a stronger team. Ditto Huxley - don't forget AAC played most of the season at fullback for the Brumbies, so he knows what he's doing. I wish they would have given Turner a go on one of the wings, but anyway... I disagree a little on one point though - I think Palu is ideally suited to starting the match. Our forwards tend to improve in matches as the game wears on, and having Palu there early steadies the ship and lets us retain possession more easily when getting outmuscled. We have tried running the ball from the first whistle and it doesn't work - you have to earn the right to throw it wide and I say bring Hoiles on for thelast 30 or 50 - so about 10 miniutes either side of half time. Playing the ABs, they have power as well as athleticism and skill and this is what makes them a formidable opponent. But once we reach near-parity, we have been able to out-think them for a lot of the last 10 years, winning games we have had no right to. Our kicking game must be good on Sat, and for that we will rely a lot on Giteau and Gerrard. If we are within a score at half time, it could be very interesting. I really think the ABs need to blow us away in the 1st half, or it could get touch and go.