Saturday night’s loss by the Wallabies, kids, was the reason we do all the boring and tedious drills at training each week. The simple fact of the matter is that if you can’t do the little things well, the “one-percenters” as we call them, champion teams will towel you up.
Saturday night is why we work on our tackling techniques, why we perfect our re-starts, why we do passing drills longer than we probably need to, and why we practice our work at the breakdown. The whole point of these drills is that with repetition, these skills – these little things – become second nature; they become instinctive. When you don’t have to think about the little things, you can play on instinct, and when you play on instinct, that’s what wins you big matches.
The Wallabies, kids, copped a lesson in why the little things are so important in rugby.
Just consider these sample tid-bits from Saturday night, just a quick flick through where the Wallabies let themselves and their coaches down by failing in the one percenters:
• After seeing Dan Carter have a clearing kick charged down for the first try of the match, Matt Giteau on-passed to Berrick Barnes, who then had to kick under pressure into three defenders, and Carter himself was able to snare a charge-down try. Giteau was already inside his own 22, and had more time and space than did Barnes. Why wouldn’t he just kick himself?
• After Owen Franks was penalised and yellow-carded for a massive shoulder-first tackle on Richard Brown, the Wallabies inexcusably failed to find touch with their kick.
• The Wallabies shortly afterwards then gave up their numbers advantage when Drew Mitchell was penalised and yellow-carded for the same offence.
• Will Genia at one point gave away a short-arm penalty from the scrum for failing to feed the ball when directed.
• Mitchell knocked the ball out of Conrad Smith’s hands as he was shaping for the quick lineout throw, and in full view of referee Craig Joubert. Joubert had warned both captains before half time that he would have no hesitation in issuing cards for players who deliberately knocked the ball away in quick tap situations. Joubert proved he wasn’t bluffing, and confirmed Mitchell’s stupidity, by issuing the yellow as warned. Except, Drew, you already copped a yellow card in the first half, and so the promised yellow in this situation became a red card for you, didn’t it, and the Wallabies would play the last 36 minutes of the game with 14 men. And you can probably thank your lucky stars the judiciary left it at that.
• Mils Muliaina crosses out wide for his second try, but unforgivably, was allowed to run around closer to the posts before grounding the ball.
• From All Black re-starts, the Wallabies regularly failed to contest the ball, and Kieran Read was able to run through and win the ball for fun. At which point would you expect that situation might be rectified: the first, fourth, or tenth time?
• Barnes kicked ahead in one attacking phase, but without telling replacement winger Kurtley Beale. The ball may as well have been just given to the All Blacks, for all the kick and no-chase achieved.
• Richard Brown, after an Australian scrum win, went without the ball and the All Blacks’ loose forwards were left to pick up the ball with ‘I can’t believe he just did that’ looks on their faces.
And they were just the things that came to me as I started typing. I’m sure there were plenty of other ‘little things’ that I’ve left out.
No team, at any level of competition, can make silly little mistakes like these ones and expect to be competitive in a match. When that match doubles as the first Bledisloe Cup clash of the season, it was only through the good grace of a few wayward Carter shots at goal that didn’t have the Wallabies staring down the barrel of a record loss.
What’s worse is that the Wallabies barely resembled the side that so clinically put South Africa away the week before in Brisbane. They were wearing the same colours, and David Pocock will most deservedly get the player’s player votes again – and by some margin, I’d suggest – but they didn’t look like the Wallabies we’d just fallen back in love with.
Only late last week on The Roar, I made a comment on the real challenge facing the Wallabies going into this match, saying, “that’s the thing about consistency, you’ve got to do it all the time.”
All of a sudden, it’s like 2009 and it’s déjà vu all over again. Melbourne is the new Wellington.
So exactly how do the Wallabies turn this display around in time for the return clash in Christchurch this week?
Well, I expect they’ll be being ‘strongly encouraged’ (because I suppose beatings aren’t cool any more) that they have to offer more than just on-off runners in attack, and likewise, they’ll be ‘having their memories jogged’ of the importance of effective tackling.
They’ll be made to sit through endless replays of both rucks that David Pocock didn’t contest, and then they’ll be ‘subtly reminded’ that as good as this guy is already, he can’t do everything on his own at the breakdown (although he did go a long way to proving that perhaps he can).
The Wallabies proved in Brisbane that doing the little things well allows them to play the way they want to (and the way we want to see). They proved that when on song, they’re as good a team as you could hope for.
After Melbourne, and after a good old-fashioned training track flogging, let’s just hope they’ve now heeded the lesson of the little things.
Winston
Guest
Plus you have Smithy and Steve Hansen. Here's a pretty awesome interview with Smithy. He's very switched on and mentions how the ABs have "bought in" to the current style of play. http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/abs-selectors-keen-seeing-sonny-bill-3684721 I have very little doubt that ABs couching team is far better than Ausie's. This is probably one of the main reasons GH was kept on. it was 1 man vs 3
John
Guest
Interesting that touch judge Cobus Wessels has been dumped by the IRB following his poor judgment leading to Drew Mitchell's sin binning which later led to his being sent off. Was this incompetent Afrikaaner one ot the little things you were talking about?
Ben S
Roar Guru
You tell me what Jim Williams does, Brett. He might be coaching the Australian forwards, but then again he might not... which would explain quite a few things... Anyhow, I get your point, but Sean Fitzpatrick mentored Ross Ford of Scotland for a period. Andy Robinson positively encouraged it, so I think it is workable. Were I a Wallaby fan I'd live to see Eales and Lynagh involved in a mentoring role. Frankly, quite a few of the Wallabies don't strike me as the sharpest tools in the box as well as being slightly arrogant, whereas the aforementioned two are calm, intelligent and also very decent human beings. They had belief in themselves (as was clearly illustrated v Ireland in 1991), but they also personified the more dignified and personable aspects of rugby. All this talk of Deans creating a 'culture' seems bull honky to me, or at least I certainly don't get that impression from the body language of certain players.
Derm
Roar Guru
In the light of Paddy O'Brien's admissions today about the failings of touchline ref Wessel,we now find: Mitchell shouldn't have been carded for his first offence - because there was no offence. Corey Flynn did not throw crooked for which he was penalised. Wonder if Henry will still say that he thought Joubert & Co were excellent? Wonder if SARU will now go into meltdown when they see SA refs copping flak but Irish/NH refs getting away scot free?
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Shades of Miss O'Donnell!!! :-)
ThelmaWrites
Guest
I've just read your posts in "It's all about a World Cup". All the class I've always associated with you. And please don't do it for me, although your good intent is much appreciated. The Roar would be poorer without your commentary Hey, I'm getting a bit carried here! Doctor thinks I'm very sick but nothing like rugby to cheer the spirits!!!
ohtani's jacket
Guest
All right, Thelma. I'll tone it down for you.
Jeremy
Guest
Hi Ben, great comments. Ironically I think the man that might be able to rip shreds off've some of the Wallabies players is currently wearing a black tie with a silver fern on it...Graham Henry. He's an ex-teacher of Auckland Grammar, one of NZ's prime rugby schools (Doug Howlett, Grant Fox, Matthew Ellis all old boys) and Kelston Grammar, and he coached the First XV at both of these. He also studied under the legendary John Graham who's probably the embodiment of a grammar school principal. I think this lends him the ability to influence and to an extent, manipulate young sportsmen. He does so with a variety of approaches, the supportive older stalwart imparting precious knowledge, and the grumpy old teacher threatening a bit of capital punishment. 'Uncle Ted', as he's known, commands a lot of respect amongst the rugby community. I'd love to see what Deans could do with the All Blacks, and what Henry could do with the Wallabies!
Even looser
Guest
Obviously soccer (football) have no problem with a head coach coaching against his country of birth. What makes Rugby so special?
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Dear OJ, Please don't take offense. You know very well that I appreciate your views and the mordant humor in which you often render them. However, of late even I get a slow burn when I read your posts, and I'm no longer convinced that the "I have to be cruel in order to be kind" pose is that - a pose. Please don't loose your cool.
johnny-boy
Guest
Consider this. We currently have the enemy, trying to coach us how to beat the enemy. If thats sounds a ridiculous and absurd strategy to you, guess what, it's our reality. How stupid are we ? The sychophantic infatuation some Australians have with all things Black is blinding them to the fact we are being screwed over, including John O'Neill. McKenzie would have an immediate positive impact as at least the players would know he genuinely wants the Wallabies to beat the All Blacks. Deans doesnt and never will and if you think he does you just dont understand the depth of the darkness. If anybody thinks NZ rugby officials arent that underhand, it was reported not so long ago that recent former NZRFU chairman Jock Hobbs conned thousands of elderly, rugby loving NZ invesotrs in to putting their life savings in to his Strategic Captial company, which has now gone belly up owing $300 million odd apparently. Bankrupting no doubt many of those poor pensioners. You think he would'nt try to screw over John O'Neill and Australian rugby ?. Disturbing report re training in SMH this morning.
NickF
Guest
I understand what you are saying Jerry, but my point is that we will never beat the All Blacks while we consider them "unbeatable".
yeh right
Guest
Brett, I think you are right but Barnes should have realised he was being rushed and not kicked. If you watch Carter and Co they rushed to his right to charge the kick down and were not in a good position to effect any sort of real tackle at all. Had Barnes faked the kick, stepped left slightly and ran there was a huge gap in behind Carter. Barnes would have been in the clear for 10-20 meters and could have off loaded to flying Horne and Oconnor. The other point I would like to make is that Richard Brown needs to go. He got pushed away by a back a handbag carrying winger. Who is no Lomu by any stretch. Brown doesn't penetrate when he takes it up either. In fact if you watch the replay he almost always get pushed backwards even at pace. Rocky needs to go to no. 8 and we put another flyer on the blindside Scott Higginbotham or maybe Waugh (not sure but who else?)? Although I like the idea that somebody had of putting Scott Higginbotham at 12 for penetration (you have to admit his QLD Reds photo has the hairstyle and Mow of a back). Gits isn't doing anything special at either 10 or 12 so I would drop him if only to get him hungry for sucess. The points about Left/ Right foot kickers requires backs to think too much about where they are and what they need to do and who is going to do it. The spring Boks don't do it Styne kicks both sides of the field, The AB's don't do it Carter is their man, England Don't do it so why do we? Either you can kick or you can't if you can't kick to both sides you shouldn't really be at first reciever inside the 22 and shouldn't really be at 10 at all. As for the little things I reckon that the Wallabies think that doing the simple drills at training is beneath them and so don't do it
johnny-boy
Guest
Both
katzilla
Roar Guru
Do you mean he couldn't leave it worse then now or worse then when he got it? The record since he took over doesn't indicate improvement, so it's currently in a worse state then when he got it. Can it get worse? Too right it can. He could leave the Wallabies in no mans land with no chance of improvement in time for the world cup.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Thelma, it's an opinion website. If people don't like my opinions or disagree with them, that's fine. Most people feel the urge to post because they disagree with what's been said. But I'm as tired of this Spencer guy as he is of me apparently.
johnny-boy
Guest
Er Katzilla - I dont think he could leave it in a worse position ....
katzilla
Roar Guru
Spencer, OJ brings balance to a debate that would otherwise be a big Deans love in. I don't know when you guys are going to figure it out that he doesn't fit in here. What's going to be really bad, and this I going to really hurt trans-Tasman relations is that he's going to figure it out, lose his nut and bunk it back to the Goat island. Leaving the Wallabies in an even worse position for some new guy like McKenzie to try and quick fix.
Richierich
Guest
Why do you keep going on about injuries all these blokes were there last year and they still lost 4 on the trot to the ABs and two to the South Africans. I know you have to grab at something but these guys were beaten last year what makes you think they will not be beaten this year if they were there? Honestly do some simple research before making comments about players out with injury.
Richierich
Guest
Didn't make much difference last year or the years preceding that so why does it matter now? Also note the All Blacks have some key personnel out.