Wallabies legend Mark Loane says Australia may be coming good at the right time and has urged them to load up on their lineout at the World Cup.
The world No.2 ranked Wallabies leave for New Zealand on Tuesday and play their first pool game against Italy five days later.
Australia will head across the Tasman in upbeat mood after recording wins over South Africa and New Zealand in their last two games and winning their first Tri-Nations title in 10 years.
Former captain and No.8 Loane, who played 28 Tests between 1973 and 1982, knows all about drought-breaking efforts.
He led Australia to their first Bledisloe Cup win in 30 years back in 1979 and was optimistic about the prospects of the 2011 squad.
“I think they may well be coming good at the correct time and I think we’ve got a pretty good draw,” Loane told AAP, after he received the Joe French award for significant contribution and service to Australian rugby.
He targeted the lineout ahead of the scrum and breakdown as the key battleground for possession.
“I think it revolves around the lineout because it’s very, very difficult at the breakdown to get it back, the scrum feed goes with your feed, kick offs go with the kickoffs, where are you going to get the ball back?,” Loane said.
“You can only really get it back from the lineout. It’s fraught with difficulties at the breakdown, and you can get penalties or not, it’s a raffle.
“I would like to load up the lineout, I think we’re capable of doing that.We need to take three or four jumpers intro a final.”
Loane believes Australia has sufficient tall timber to pursue that policy, especially with the international re-emergence of 197cm tall No.8 Radike Samo.
He feels the much scrutinised Wallabies scrum will hold its own and that the backs contain the linebreaking talent to uphold Australia’s reputation in that area.
“I think we have those backs, Australian backs are always the most creative backs in the world, they do love running rugby ,” Loane said.
“It appears to me that the way defensive patterns are now, that they are very very solid.
“But they are straight line defence like rugby league and if you actually break through like Will Genia did to set up that last try of ours (in last weeks Test against New Zealand), there’s a lot of space there.”
Loane is no fan of the modern-day law that allows up to seven replacements in a game.
“The fact that you have 22 players rather than 15. I would really like to see it, (and I know I am) a voice in the wilderness, revert to a 15-a-side game where you actually fatigue people,.” Loane said.
nige imrie
Guest
I disagree with Doctor Mark Loane on the 15 man game, it's great we have the 7 reserves, if I had my way we should be able to have specialist scrummaging players come on to scrum at vital points of the game,for example, the 5 metre scrum or vital scrums where we can set up an attack. Time should stay off when a scrum is set and only come back on when the ball is won and away from the scrum base. Everytime there is a breakdown the ref should stop the clock until the ball is actually in play, that way we get our full 80 minutes of rugby. The game may last longer with the stoppages but we actually get 80 minutes of actual play time, there is too much wasted time in rugby with stoppages.
Mike
Guest
I agree John B. Its very encouraging to see Wallabies finally getting competitive in counter-rucking, and the scrummaging is much better than it used to be. I dare to suggest that counter-rucking is most important of all in the modern era - that is where you really take it back to the other team and unsettle them.
Johnno
Guest
What about Micheal Lynagh, you have put Frank King Wally the emporer of Lang Park, and QLD ahead of Lynagh, isn't that a hard call on Lynagh.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
I know I sound like a broken record talking about this, but as good as that Grand Slam side was, look at this backline... 9. Farr Jones 10. Mark Ella 11. Brendan Moon 12. Wally Lewis 13. Michael O'Connor 14. David Campese 15. Roger Gould Watching Michael O'Connor, it's a shame he never played much at 12. It was his favourite position. It seemed perfectly suited to him.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Loane says: '“I think we have those backs, Australian backs are always the most creative backs in the world, they do love running rugby ,” Loane said.' There was once a time in history where that was mostly true. Certainly in the 60s it sounds as if Australia had the best backs in the world with Cathpole, Hawthorn, Elwood (or Brass), Lenehan (sp?), Boyce etc. And certainly in the late 20s and 30s with the famous Waratah's and their backline. In the 80s when Mark Ella played you could hardly imagine a better backline than Farr-Jones, Ella, Lynagh, Slack, Campese, Moon and Gould. That back three is as good as anything Australia could ever put together. Moon and Campese and instant picks in my Wallaby all-time XV. Gould would be close. And in the early 90s Australia had it with Farr-Jones, Lynagh, Horan, Little, and Campese... But it's only been until the trip to South Africa last year where I felt Australia had, once more, a very good backline. Ironically it seems like the All Blacks have been the best for outstanding backs in the last 10 years. Guys like Carter, Umaga, Muliana, Rokocoko, Howlett, Mauger etc are all outstanding players.
jeznez
Guest
Spot on JohnB - given the starting four of Horwill, Vickerman, Elsom and Samo the lineout is in an excellent position. The mistimed throws, jumps and lifts should be ironed out by the Italy game and the Wallabies can progress in this area.
JohnB
Guest
There'll be 3 or 4 in the side anyway won't there? Two second rowers plus generally 2 of Samo, Palu, Elsom and Higginbotham. Personally, I think it would be an error to put all your eggs in the lineout basket and to de-emphasise trying to counterruck, get the odd turnover and compete at kick-offs. And equally an error, for Australia, to not concentrate on the scrum.
JohnB
Guest
DS, fine, but by agreeing emphatically in relation to Brian Lochore you agree with the principle - someone of his (Loane's) standing is entitled to comment, particularly when it appears he was asked the question after receiving an award (he hasn't just come out and issued a press release). The audience can choose how much weight to give to his view (whether to treat him as Lochore, Meads or Brooke) and whether or not to agree with the particular opinions expressed.
Rugby90
Guest
The WB's can hold there own in a Lineout, it's the least of our worries. We're consistent with our own throw-ins and that's what matters. We've shown we can win by grinding it out and run away with the ball and keep going until the end. We've got a strong fast team and will give the AB's a mighty run for their money -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
AJ
Guest
If anyone disagrees,Mark Loane and Tony Shaw will come around and demonstrate some 1970s rucking techniques on you,and probably some other methods of "winning a turnover" as it's now called.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
A serious question gents - If the Wallabies did adopt ML's suggestion and put more tall timber in for the lineouts, would it make us weaker, more vunerable or perhaps less effective elsewhere? for example the scrum or turn over ball where lower centre of gravity is an asset. As a lounge lizard I'm sometimes frustrated when we fail to even contest on the oppostion throw and I would like our lineouts to become so dominant that oppostion teams avoid them like the plague.
Darwin Stubby
Guest
Lahore - most definitely Meads - perhaps Brooke - no way
warrenexpatinnz
Roar Guru
Spot on guys, Kuruki this site will have a lot more positive focus coming through with quotes from more well respected ex Wallabies and sport loving identities, its called getting in behind your team, in this case "One Team". The comments from Mark on the Lineout is spot on and I am sure Deans is of that opinion as well, with the lineout giving the backs great room for set plays. "Are we there yet!"
mikeylives
Guest
I agree with the 15 player thing and fatigue opening up games. However things like fake injuries/bloodbins etc would become a nasty part of the game in the professional era, so subs are a necessity unfortunately.
Uncle Argyle
Guest
Mate he is Mark Loane when he speaks on rugby we should all listen as he has been there and done that. If the same words came out of Zinzan Brooke, Colin Meads or Brian Lachore's mouth it would probably be etched in stone as indisputable fact by now. Give the guy the respect he has earnt.
Ash
Guest
Word. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Sage
Guest
A famous ex Australian Rugby Captain making a comment 6 days from a rugby world cup on an Australian rugby site. How unusual and sudden. It really does appear that many AB supporters just can't stomach anything that paints the WB's in a positive WC light.
niwdEyaJ
Guest
what's your point Kuruki? do you have an issue with an Australian supporting his team, encouraging them and believing they can do well??
Kuruki
Guest
Everyone is suddenly coming out of the woodwork. Dont fill your holes in yet lad's you may need to retreat back inside very soon.