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New Wallabies signings James O'Connor, Quade Cooper, coach Robbie Deans, David Pocock and Sekope Kepu at ARU headquaters, Sydney. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
The reality is that both the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cups are gone for another year. The Springboks have been dominant in the Super 14 and the international season.
This is unlikely to change without some clever tactical and selection rethinks.
These re-thinks will also re-energise the players to believe that they have other options with which to crack the Springboks game plan and dominance.
The possession of the ball needs to become the first priority. Consider it as “Mother.” (With thanks to coach Mal Fraser of Hunters Hill for this tag!)
The playing tactics need to change subtlely.
1. Attack the breakdown with newfound ferocity all game. Bully the bully boys. They need some of their own medicine.
2. Keep the penalties to a minimum, and allow the Boks to have the slower ball from phase play. They will kick to the Wallabies anyway.
3. Reduce the amount of kicking. It has not worked and we are not good enough often enough. Also, our best out-of-hand kicker, Barnes, is out injured. Kick when in in your own 22.
4. Prepare to counter-attack from the Boks kicks. This requires more back row and back three support for the catcher.
5. Run the ball more and move it wide with plenty of dummy runners and support play. By moving the point of attack, the bigger Boks forwards will eventually tire, physically and mentally. Keep it in hand and move it progressively wider as you advance down the field.
6. There needs to be changes to the current 22. Some, such as Baxter and Sharpe, have already had their last chance and not taken it. Others need the chance to prove whether they can play at this level. My assumptions on availabilty are: O’Connor, Sharpe, Elsom and Barnes not available.
So 12 of the 22 are first choice, five are development selections.
My team:
1. Robinson (1st Choice)
2. Moore (1st Choice)
3. Alexander (1st Choice)
4. Horwill (1st Choice, when in form but not yet)
5. Mumm (Time to stand up)
6. Pocock (A chance to prove himself)
7. Smith (1st Choice)
8. Brown (no silly mistakes)
9. Burgess (1st Choice, but must keep improving)
10. Cooper (Development time, Giteau experiment has not worked, must find other solutions if and when Barnes is not around in the future)
11. Turner (1st Choice, but needs to get more involved)
12. Giteau (1st Choice, reflects the decision that he is not a 10)
13. AAC (1st Choice)
14. Hynes (1st Choice, in form and showing other wingers up)
15. Mitchell (Time to make 15 his own, if he can)
16. Fitzpatrick (development selection, but can throw straight)
17. Kepu (development, playing the house down at Randwick)
18. Chisholm (his experience gets him another chance, would have preferred Kimlin or Caldwell or Hockings)
19. Waugh (1st Choice) (or Hodgson: much of a muchness)
20. Genia (1st Choice) (Development more game time than last week’s 5 minutes)
21. Cross (safe utility for 11, 12, 13 14)
22. Beale (development and time to taste the big time, could do something special)
The bench also needs to stand up.
All players need to be ready to contribute positively to the Wallabies performance, rather than make up the numbers. At the same time, Fitzpatrick, Kepu, Genia and Beale need at least 20 minutes on the field, no matter the situation in the game, to give them a chance to show what they have at this level.
I don’t expect that Deans will make these decisions, but he should for both the immediate and longer term future.
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.