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Four Nations 2011 Preview: Australia

Roar Guru
28th October, 2011
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The number one ranked team in the world enters the tournament with less positional issues than the other teams in the tournament, but are one more loss away from a “choking” tag that will probably stick.

Two finals in the last three years have been lost by the Australians to the Kiwis. And the only thing keeping them in the number one spot is their ability to perform in one off test matches, and early in tournaments.

While the team looked terrific in the one off Test against New Zealand in Newcastle, they generally do, and will be judged by their performance in the Four Nations, even if they had won by 100 points.

Positionally, Australia has a slight concern in their choice of centres, and wingers, for the upcoming matches.

While Australia were rampant down their right hand side, especially early on, the addition of Steve Matai will mean a much stiffer opponent to get on the outside of. Not many players would relish the task of going through him either.

Australia’s lack of front row depth has been exposed, with Matt Scott and Dave Shillington the only props with previous experience in the team. The latter has had a season riddled with injuries.

Tony Williams, while a talented player, is still pretty raw.

If the clock were wound back a few years, he would not be knocking Steve Price or Petero Civenoceva out of the 8 and 10 jerseys. Has the ability, but it is a big step up.

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The method which Tim Sheens might be applying is the same one which Ricky Stuart used to great effect in Origin II: the use of more mobile backrowers to try and speed up the play the ball, and get a roll on down the field while the big men try to keep up.

There are several reasons to believe that this strategy is a good one.

In any game where an English referee is used, you can expect the slow the ball to be as fast as possible, wrestling kept to a minimum, and the onus on making sure the game is played at breakneck speed.

While a lot of English big men are more than prepared for this task, the Australian forwards are used to a more grinding, slow play.

The play the balls in particular will be not necessarily performed to the letter of the law, the emphasis on getting the ball into the next play the main concern.

The conditions will also allow for a frantic pace, referees aside, and while the English have assured the players that the conditions are better than could be expected, night games in the north of England will most likely not tire players out due to the heat.

Dangerman
The last reason is my dangerman Cameron Smith. Melbourne were forced to operate this year with a reduced squad, forced upon them by salary cap restrictions.

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A large bulk of these reductions came in the forwards, and yet they carried on making good metres, and wrapped up the minor premiership largely off the back of Smith’s work out of dummy half, notably getting his forwards over the advantage line at speed at nearly every play the ball.

Chances
Really should be winning this one, but really should have won the last one as well.

The odds are stcked in their favour, but need to keep alert because this team has shown they can be ambushed by a New Zealand side full of quality.

Squad
Darren Lockyer (Brisbane)
Corey Parker (Brisbane)
Sam Thaiday (Brisbane)
Jharal Yow Yeh (Brisbane)
David Shillington (Canberra)
Paul Gallen (Cronulla)
Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly)
Beau Scott (St George-Illawarra)
Willie Tonga (North Queensland)
Anthony Watmough (Manly)
Tony Williams (Manly)
Cooper Cronk (Melbourne)
Billy Slater (Melbourne)
Cameron Smith (Melbourne)
Akuila Uate (Newcastle)
Matt Scott (North Queensland)
Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland)
Luke Lewis (Penrith)
Darius Boyd (St George Illawarra)
Greg Inglis (South Sydney)
Josh Morris (Canterbury-Bankstown)
Keith Galloway (Wests Tigers)
Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers)

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