Memo to the Wallabies after their gut-wrenching defeat at Hong Kong against the All Blacks 19 – 14: remember that rugby is an 80 minute game. As Sean Fitzpatrick might have said, the historic Hong Kong Bledisloe Cup Test was a game of two halves, with the Wallabies on top and in front in the first half, and the All Blacks on top and in front at full-time, 19 -14.
After being so dominant in the first half, when they should have scored more points than they did, the Wallabies virtually collapsed as soon as they ran on to the slippery field in the second half and were outscored 10 – 0, with the All Blacks bombing several other scoring chances.
At the end of the Test, which was an enthralling encounter, with the ball like a slippery piece of soap and a greasy field making purposeful running difficult, I wrote in my notebook that three factors had undone the Wallabies.
1. A falling of the fitness levels, both physical and mental, the longer the Test went on.
Matt Giteau should never have missed that penalty about 35m out and almost in line with less than 20 minutes to go to bring the score line back to 19 – 17. At the end of the Test, too, the Wallabies were inside the All Blacks 22 several times, and stupid decisions were made, passes were fumbled, and so on.
2. Gamesmanship with the scrums and rucks and mauls was continued for too long.
It was clear from the beginning of the Test that referee Alan Lewis didn’t want much of a contest at the rucks. He penalised Richie McCaw at the first breakdown. From then on, he penalised the Wallabies, and rightly so. They continued to dive in, even when Lewis made it clear that he wasn’t going to allow this. The three penalties Dan Carter kicked for the All Blacks in the first half kept them in a game they were being shut out of.
The same comment applies to the scrums.
It was clear that the Wallabies were touching when asked to ‘touch’, but were engaging before the call. Then Luke Burgess was feeding quickly before the referee had worked out the con. When the referee did work it out, the Wallabies continued to offend, and were penalised. And when the scrums were set properly, the All Blacks, on the Wallaby feed, were able to monster the Wallaby pack. Were the second-rowers pushing properly? Have Al Baxter and Matt Dunning finally reached their used-by date?
As an aside, except in the scrums and rucks, the Wallabies showed a lot of enterprise on attack and defence. Although, as Rod Kafer pointed out, they should have run back more kicks and spread the ball more from turnovers. But they are going to struggle even against teams like Italy if they get bogged down in a forward-attrition match. If they can clear the ball, there is an enterprise and skill level, as they showed with their two tries in the first half, that any team in the world, and particularly Northern Hemisphere teams, are going to find difficult to contain.
One further aside.
I watched the Foxtel commentary. Channel 7 has been a poor sponsor of rugby and I’m not going to support them in any way. This means, however, that I have to listen to the rantings of Greg Martin and Phil Kearns, both Wallabies, with Kearns being one of the all-time greats.
But not all-time greats, or remotely near it, as analysts. Time and time again, they would berate the referee for a poor decision and when the replay showed that he was right (and I am no fan of Alan Lewis, either), there was silence on their part.
I’ve had this out with Martin, an amiable fellow.
He says that everyone knows he’s biased towards Queensland and the Wallabies. But my response is that he (and Kearns) let their bias get in the way of a proper reading of what is happening in the match. Wallaby supporters listening to the Martin-Kearns show find it difficult to work out how the Wallabies lose any Tests.
And a final aside, Robbie Deans made the valid point that the plethora of scrum penalties, particularly, were a good advertisement for the full ELVs in that the referee should not be deciding the outcome of Tests.
3. Graham Henry used his bench well by bringing on Piri Weepu, who had played a lot of rugby in the last couple of months, to replace Jimmy Cowan, who was match-rusty very early in the second half.
Ma Nonu, also a player who has played some rugby recently, was brought on at the same time. These two players, Nonu particularly, provided a lot of energy to the All Blacks, which lifted the play of the rest of the side.
The team also benefited from Carter running things at first five-eighths.
Can anyone explain why Henry seems to be determined never to play his best starting 15?
The statistics of the Test told the tale: possession New Zealand 55 – Australia 45. Time in opposition 22 New Zealand 5.46 minutes – Australia 3.26. Missed tackles New Zealand 12 – Australia 26.
Good points for the Wallabies were the first 40 minutes, when they looked like a champion side, a side capable of defeating any side in the world; the energy Luke Burgess brought to the halfback position; the attacking defence, especially in the first half; the outstanding ensemble play that led to the first try; a couple of strong scrums; some good lineout work; and the sharp play of Matt Giteau.
What supporters want now is for all this good work to be played out for the entire game.
Rugby, after all, is an 80 minute game, and being ahead at half-time as the Wallabies have been in the last two Tests against the All Blacks, does not secure a victory.
So now on to Europe.
True Tah
Guest
Very moving OME, the ball that a winger gets to hold in his hand, he needs to remember who fought for it, who gave their shoulders, neck and back for it.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
still miss it / OME, We were blessed in 91 and 99 with great props but unfortunately after 99 there was no contingency or forward planning in regards to the next generation coming through. One of the problems stems from Schoolboy Rugby where there is no pushing in scrums, this is a serious handicap for prospects taking the step up to Grade, Provincial & Test level. Once the talented schoolboy props leave school they should be going straight to an acedemy headed up by Topo and Blades. They should be in the weight room and eating all day everyday until they build up the core strength and technique required so they are ready. I don't for a second believe the refs are conned. I respect your opinions but just can't agree with you on this one lads. I am sure Jim Williams is doing a great job and will be a real asset for the Forwards but do you really think that Jim ( ex backrower ) is going to be the difference in fixing the scrum. Michael Foley couldn't do it. I think ( hoping ) Robinson can step up but if your satisfied with Baxter and Dunning then your are settling for real mediocracy at best.
stuff happens
Guest
I admire your passion OME and we'll be able to see the Wallaby scrum in action a lot over the next few weeks when Australia plays Italy, England, France, Wales & the Barbarians in successive weeks I think. Yikes. They're not alone of course; both England & Wales play the 'Boks, All Blacks & Wallabies over three or four weeks. Not for the faint hearted as they say.
stillmissit
Guest
+2 from us.
Nick (KIA)
Guest
OME, +1 nomination for post of the year. Great stuff! JN couldn't have said it better... Cheers!
OldManEmu
Guest
Worlds Biggest Son, we live in a world that has scrums and those scrums need to be guarded by men with guts. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Spiro? Props and second rowers have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Topo and curse Al Baxter; you have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Dunning's near death on a wet afternoon at Twickenham, while tragic, probably saved lives and that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at Bungalow 8 sipping vodka and limes you want props in that scrum, you need second rowers in that scrum. We use words like honor, code, loyalty, steaks and chase the hit. We use them as the backbone of a life trying to defend miserable little backs (who in fact look props). You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom props and second rowers provide and then questions the manner in which they provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you pick up an olympic bar, stack some weight on it and start squatting. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think about the scrum. Take our word for it Worlds Biggest, the scrum has improved, and the refs are being conned. What Spiro says about Baxter going to ground is rubbish. I'll explain this all to you next time we jaw.
stillmissit
Guest
Worlds Biggest - We didnt have an academy in 91 or 99 but what we did have was plenty of players who were keen to play front row. We now have a situation where players are pushed into the front row as a last resort. Whilst we have become more and more focused on real, but mostly potential, injuries. Until the Rugby community world wide realise that they cant make rugby safe they cant expect to get players to play there. By this I mean that reality must be embraced not wallpapered over. Make a push for props on the grounds that it is a tough, intelligent and hard position where only the best survive. There is a small chance of injury but that goes with the territory. This might bring better results than 'We are striving to remove all potential injuries out of rugby'. A stupid waste was not to use Topo's knowledge and experience in the scrum over the last 7 years. Rugby in Australia is more like an Italian mafia with an inner sanctum and the rest are outside and the enemy including O'Neil. Maybe you cant see the difference that Jim Williams is bringing to the Wallaby forwards in the scrum and tight but a few of us, mostly ex forwards, can and we greatly appreciate the improvements.
stillmissit
Guest
Westy - I wonder what the leaguies in Australia would make of a club competition where one of them has amazing advantages and the rest struggle to put teams on the paddocks. See the facilities that Uni has here - http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/11/02/1225560646893.html This is hardly a level playing field and makes me wonder why we dont abandon the clubs and all become outposts of universities and become totally American. You can see it cant you? McQuarie Uni v Woolongong and Sydney Uni v Latrobe. UWS v ANU. There are 39 uni's in Australia it could easily become the 3rd tier handing out degrees to players instead of money. All the clubs would disappear. This is a pretty sad state if you ask me but not beyond imagination.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Westy, I can't agree with you about the scrum. We have been hearing " much improved " for 18 months now by the likes of Knuckles Connolly and Michael Foley. They had to say that to cover there arses but you can't fool us. The scrum got belted in the World Cup Quarter Final which lead to our undoing and there has been minimal if any improvement since. I agree with Spiro on this matter. Where have we improved in the scrum ??. There have been occasions against the All Blacks where we have either just held our own ( i.e get the ball out while it is back pedalling ) or both scrums go down and we get a favourable penalty. If we as a rugby followers settle for a scrum which either collapses or goes backwards then how our we going to win another World Cup ??. The 91 and 99 winning teams had great front rows. Until a scrum school or tight 5 academy is set up we wont win another World Cup.
oikee
Guest
Westy and TT, at least you 2 guys understand that Union in oz is not going anywhere fast at the moment. LIke i said i would love to see League and Union get along better and merge players to make them better. Anyhow like you have said, league wont die off and yes the fairy god mother is not going to sprinkle the magic dust to get rid of it either. Would have happened 100 years ago if it ever was going to happen. International league would be great without the Kangaroos in the frame. What you see is a team built by having the best domestic comp we have ever seen, so no its not going away, and all your magic sticks and fairy wands wont get rid of it. :)
Rowdy
Guest
Top article, Spiro, and it's good to see a journalist (NH or SH) actually being honest and not letting loyalties and prejudices get in the way. Maybe a lesson for some AB supporters in not blaming the ref ? Aus are always going to have a good set of backs, given the AFL influence, but the ages of Smith and Waugh have to be a concern; is Elsom part of the answer ? And their front row still looks underpowered, which is odd, as I don't recall, for instance, the 1991 team lacking in the front 5. Interesting times, making the AIs even more exciting to look forward to.
Tony Watts
Guest
Spiro, Here is a piece I had to put to the ARU website last night, I tought I'd share it with you: Once again we were out smarted by an inferior team and some second rate reffing. The difference between the two teams was the captains. Am I the only person who can see it. Mortlock is thinking slowly on his feet. He thinks it was ill discipline that cost him the game. Wrong Stirring you failed to take possession and with it control and in doing so kicked the game back to the ABs. Whoever is making the on field decisions and we must assume the Captain takes some role, is cocking up. McCaw again showed us how to play the ref, play to the conditions and to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses. Ball in hand we looked dangerous. Kicking we looked like school boys. If Robbie Deans is happy with the on field decision making I’ll be damned. WE have talent to burn all across the park, except in the tactics to counter the other side’s weaknesses. Time for a skipper who can think on his feet and can change the plan midstream as the All Blacks do. All of our players are as good as anyone man for man. It is their leadership that has let us down again and again. Just look at the replays of the players faces when the clever plan comes unstuck. What is Mortlock doing? Just watch the replays and you’ll see his total inadequacy for the game. Get a captain with brains and a touch of the mongrel. A real sneaky bastard who doesn’t let a few dodgy decisions and some setbacks stymie him. Don’t just pick them because they can string together some tired platitudes into a microphone. They can be monosyllabic for all we care as long as they bloody win games Who is the heir apparent. You know who.(this assumes that the ARU have someone capable of making this call) You have no doubt done some testing to see who can think on their feet when they are totally stuffed and come up with a winning change of strategy. Yes and someone a little closer to the engine room might be useful. Unless there is a change at the top we are going to see more close losses from games we should win. Nothing beats winning especially against those cousins across the ditch. We won’t do it with Mortlock as captain. I assume some remedial training is forthcoming for the referees who appear unfamiliar with some of the code’s most fundamental rules. Thanks for the opportunity to have a few words and good luck trying to meet our expectations. Cheers I would now add the clear message that if Mortlock was actually saying that the team were not playing to his plan then we need a captain who can LEAD not direct or motivate or inspire with a few heroic self sacrifices. A bloke who is smart, cunning and unable to let his own team or the opostion get in the way of victory. We have a golden opportunity with new blood everywhere on the park and in the coaching team with a mandate for change, yet what haven't we changed? You guessed it the on-field commander. The leader to show and drive his men to win. Clone McCaw. We have one probably in the team. You guys in the media stop pussy footing around with small technical and never ending player performance commentary. This is a team game and the team can only function when it gets the right commands. Just watch the aimlessness that creeps in when the transition from set style to fluid play happens. Who is supposed to spot the gap, pick the weakness and exploit it...yep the leader, the captain. Robbie Deans had one at the Crusaders, hmm who was that? The best coach and players in the world will be beaten by a well led outfit and the Wallabies aren't there yet. Sometimes it only takes one small tweak and the whole machine just purrs. If I may plagiarise an old commentary: 15 men well led will beat a hundred without a head. GO Wallabies
Westy
Guest
True Tah......the ARU has made the decision for a 15th team based in Japan. Sadly they will use the money not for development in australia but simply to retain elite players. Even if league gets into serious trouble rugby basically has nothing to offer them at the domestic level.It is not hopeless but Australian rugby suffers from one defect its supporters live very close together. Always able to win a few safe seats but never a majority. Sooner or later you have to take a risk............................A national U/20's touring indigenous side..................how galling that Prarievale High out at Bossley Park/Bonnyrigg may not be able to represent Australia as our selected winning school side overseas...short $70000...could the ARU help? To develop you need to invest. We have not been good at it.
True Tah
Guest
Westy, I think a good comparison is to be had with Argentina - like Australia, rugby is nowhere near the national sport. There are now (according to the IRB) more rugby players in Argentina than Australia. The Buenos Aires club final drew almost 15k to its final, which is more than double what our Sydney club rugby final got, and I would not be surprised to see that the standard over there would be higher than here as well. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the Sydney final drew less than the Russian club final, Italian club final, Malagasy club final. I posted on another thread that ultimately the Super 14 would need to be replaced by a combination of a strong domestic competition and a comp similar to the ACL, involving the stronger sides from SA, NZ, Australia and maybe Japan,Argentina and the Islands. South Africa drew 54K to the Currie Cup Final 2 weeks ago and NZ drew 22.5K (still a poor crowd IMO). In 2007 the Japanese Top League final still drew over 23K for a dying sport in a country that has no love for the game. The weak link here is Australia and our inability for a domestic comp, this is where I covet the NRL and its juniors. Maybe we need to look at joining forces with NZ - after all, Australia and NZ have a combined population of 25 million, and trans-tasman comps seems to work in NRL and HAL. Depends on what the Kiwis want, they could tell us to get f***ed, and keep their ANZ Cup and in all likelihood they should have done so about 10 years ago, we would need to look at the alternative - our own comp - Tahs, Western Sydney, Reds, Brumbies, Force, Melbourne, NSW Country? and Adelaide/Qld Country? Deep down, the Sydney clubs need to made aware of where they fit into the scheme of things, and it is not in a national competition, several of the Sydney clubs were always opposed to the ARC, maybe because it was not them, plus they received a fair wack of cash for their troubles of not having access to the players. These clubs belong in the Premier Division of Subbies. Waiting for NRL is like waiting at the bar for Jimmy Hoffa to play a game of pool with you - it aint going to happen...the real danger is that ultimately the Wallabies will become a weaker and weaker rugby nation.
Westy
Guest
I have now watched a replay twice. Some of the penalties were cruel. Under super 14 ELV's they would have been short arm. I have this horrible feeling that one way of getting rid of the ELV,s especially the short arm penalties is to continue to run three versions of the rules and make a dogs breakfast of the whole thing. I think the Wallabies were more than competitive . the scrummaging is much improved although as Wayne Smith reported maybe the referee reads to many papers. On a more reflective note . We got 38000 in Hong Kong. This is great . But we played there for the money not international development.. Again I will ask that the ARU to earmark these funds for junior development in Australia. The rugby league got 34200 in Sydney/36200 in Melbourne and will get their 50000 in Brisbane for the final. It is time to be brutal.The sport I love runs a joke of a club competition in both Sydney and its even worse in Brisbane. We got 5000 to the Sydney grand final. The good players never play.Even though Melbourne was in the Grand Final the leaguies still got over 80000 to their grand final. We counter with our Super 14 competition.This is correct but it relies overwhelmingly on A successful Waratahs as a cornerstone of ratings and crowd success in Australia. No show no go.including television ratings. I smile when I read wellmeaning rugby supporters who write down what they wish for and then imagine it will happen. A fairy godmother will wave her wand and all will be realised. Australian rugby finds it very easy to attack insular league. Everyone here must realise our inept establishment and administration of the ARC basically made us a laughing stock . The other codes were I think kind in not posting articles. Rugby cannot ever expect the leaguies to convert across without investment in a professional club infrastructure looking after junior development. Australian rugby has always punched above its weight . What league juniors offer is a depth of talent across positions that Australian rugby unlike New Zealand rugby has only dreamed about. the sad reality is Australian rugby has no experience running a proper club competition and developing district based juniors. The ARU knows our best product is the Wallabies. Its international focus will always protect rugby in Australia. The question is whether we want to be a boutique game for the few or an international game for the many. my warning would be do not wait to long as the Socceroos are making inroads as the national team of choice and those damned leaguies just do not understand they are dying. The old dog seems to have some resilence. One other warning the English rugby Union is making direct overtures to more and more working class lads. Australia was never that bad but we just simply have never really tried to broaden the game. Playing to many games in hong Kong /Moscow/Denver mat be good for the international game but it could also turn the Wallabies into the Harlem Globetrotters. Always willing to play for a buck.
Matt
Guest
Yes Oikee, or like Englands RFU, who have 1million people playing the game of Union in their country but still need to pick guys like Henry Paul, Vainakolo, Riki Flutey, Van Ginsbergen and Dylan Hartley (all from NZ rugby). Or how Sivivatu and Taumoepeau have also played for the AB's. Isn't it a shame when the Worlds best teams stockpile talent and prevent it playing for the weaker smaller nations? Sorry, did someone mention the Kangaroos somewhere... The fact that Brad Thorn has made the mark he has in both League and Union at the top level is credit to Thorn's and his abilities. Guys like Brad Thorn certainly don't grow on trees and he would walk in any Rugby Union team as a lock forward, even if he is getting on a bit now. Of course he might struggle to still make the top grade at League, but I wonder how many League teams would turn him away? Australian maybe, but who else? What does that say about the talent in league around the world other that the point some have tried to make; the Kangaroos have far more talent to choose from than all the other nations combined. If a player isn't good enough to play for his nation at Rugby League (if that nation is Australia) then he'll just turn out for another nation, where he'll straight away be the star player, until Australia wants him again. And yet the Kangaroos the team everyone wants to be? And I was making the same point about the league vs union numbers in NZ Oikee. It was to show just how boring it must be for the Kangaroos when the second best nation in the game draws players from a tiny second rate talent pool. I'd imagine that the Kiwis would be a great team if league were the dominant code, hence why I suggested that the Kangaroos would dream of the challange of having someone like the AB's to face of against (or did I somehow word that wrong the first time?). As for Gasnier effort thus far in Union, I've managed to catch 3 Stade Francais games so far this season (thanks to the Rugby Channel in NZ) and he has looked a little out of place thus far. On the handful of occasions that he has touched the ball (because has hasn't yet come of his wing to look for work, understandably) he looks to be paranoid about the idea of not being gifted possesion after each tackle. Instead he 'freaks out' and throws a speculative pass to nobody, or to a person in a far worse position, or tries to step 6 guys and gets tackled out by the first. It is as if he sees every tackle like the 6th tackle in Rugby League. But he's a big and physically talented athlete and will be given enough time to learn a bit about the trade from Ewen McKenzie. So far I don't know if he'll make the Wallabies by WC2011 (afterall that's only 2.5years away now). And even if he does I don't think he'll ever reach 85% of the potential he would have if he'd played Union from childhood. There is just so much to learn, even as an amazingly talented professional from a similar sport. The best hope is that McKenzie takes time out to give him some 1 on 1 coaching, or else he takes a pay cut and returns to Australia to join the Super14. Coz whatever they say about the quality of NH rugby, the Top14 is not the place to learn how to play at Centre like a Centre should. Gasnier looks like a man out of place and it's no secret that he's got a lot to learn in a short time if he wants to realise his dream of reaching the pinnacle of his chosen sport. Or maybe he's just decided that Rugby Union is his chosen sport because he can make more money, who knows...
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Brad Thorn gets picked because he's a damn good player. He won't be remembered as one of the great New Zealand locks, but he's distinguished himself at All Black level. He's arguably the best player to ever switch codes. The fact that Brad Thorn would be the best ever to switch codes and not some back shows how difficult it is to truly excel at each code. It has nothing to do with one being easier than the other. Strictly a testament to Thorn.
Justin
Guest
Oikee always provides the :^0
oikee
Guest
I am not sure TT about gasnier, i just know hes a good player who would be good for the wallabies, time will tell, i see they are going to rush him into the squad for the next world cup. Just one more thing to you matt, 140 thousand and they still pick brad thorn. ? T here depth of talent must be light on.
oikee
Guest
I dont want to get into a league union scabble, but you have proved a point there yourself Matt, union has 140 thousand compared to league 15 thousand, imagine how good the kiwi team would be if they had 140, so lets not get into a comparision. Just about that game, maybe 13 players a side, and just drop 2 players but keep union rules, see how that would be like. Dont want to argue about unions size, i know its huge over seas.