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Just as Robbie Deans wields the axe at the selection table based on the player’s last performance and training intensity, so I will review the critical position of the halfbacks – both 9 and 21.
The ensuing debate can then decide whether Emperor Genia has no clothes!
Will Genia and Luke Burgess provide the Wallabies with the ideal mix at 9. Both are international standard half backs, both very competitive and yet of differing styles, strengths and weaknesses.
Deans is utilising both effectively, with Genia starting and Burgess off the bench, particularly as Genia and Cooper have an extensive playing record together. This may change if injuries result in Barnes being selected at 10. Genia and Burgess are the best combination of halves playing for any rugby nation at present, All Blacks included.
There is little actual difference between them, but they do have different but complementary strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly, they are both weak in a critical area that this 2011 Wallabies squad desperately needs, the top two inches.
The perceived gap has moved around over time and is currently small but decisive, due to Genia’s success in Super Rugby with the Reds and him being the incumbent. Burgess has been out of the limelight with his injury during the Super finals.
Deans has always recognised Burgess’ contribution on the field, the training paddock and to the team dynamic. You only have to remember back to Burgess jumping up and down while on the Wallabies bench when they scored.
Genia’s long pass is superior to Burgess’. This is very useful and important when the tactics are to go wide, particularly with Cooper also throwing very long passes.
Although Burgess’ long passing has been poor at different times in his career, he has largely corrected this and he has been much better in 2011.
This quick movement of the ball away from contact to close supports is the game that the Waratahs like to play compared to the Reds, who predominantly like to play deep and wide to Cooper and others to isolate opposition defenders, particularly forwards for one-on ones. Genia’s better long pass suits this type of game better.
If Barnes goes to 12, Cooper and Barnes long passes can cover the width of the field themselves but the faster rather than longer service is critical to avoiding the intercept. This favours Burgess.
Burgess clears the ball better than Genia and quicker to close in supports. Additionally, he has a good sympathetic pass to supports while Genia tends to bang the ball out to supports and expects them to deal with it. Sometimes Burgess’ sympathetic pass is wrongly interpreted as a weak or poor pass. If the intended receiver is to be at full pace, a sympathetic pass is much more effective.
This quick clearance will be even more important as the better teams target this area as the best way to nullify the brilliant Wallabies backline.
Burgess, as a bigger man, and more physical, is better at foraging for ball in a messy ruck situation than Genia. When Genia has had problems and was criticised for taking “the Gregan two step”, his forwards were giving him messy ball. Burgess deals with this poor ball better, if only because he has had more experience at it.
Both halves are very good at determining when ball is likely to be lost and joining the contact to protect the ball.
Genia’s kicking game is definitely superior to Burgess’, who has kicked too much and too poorly in the past.
However, he kicked much less this season.
In relation to defence, Burgess is definitely the better hitter in defence. Genia does a lot of good work in cover defence but as a smaller man is not as effective in deep defence on one’s try-line. This is a higher order skill that is very necessary at Test level and an addition to the modern game.
The other high order skill required at Test level, in particular, and in which Genia has an advantage over Burgess, is in assessment of the changes in momentum in a game.
Both players are very good team members and will accept the decision of Robbie Deans as to how they are to be utilised. They both support the new halves coming through and have great respect for one another. This respect has led to a significant improvement in the rugby played by both. This respect for one another while maintaining high competition for places has a positive ripple effect in the squad.
Emperor Genia is fully dressed but Prince Burgess is also fully attired should there be a wardrobe malfunction or the need for a replacement. Both need to read the game and respond much better than they currently do.
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.