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It was another horrendous weekend for Australian rugby, with only the spirited last-minute effort of the Brumbies to cheer. It was just too painful to watch good and talented athletes fail to stick to the essentials that win rugby contests.
Here are some key points that need attention.
1) The niggle. Our major opponents love early game argy-bargy, a bit of aggression which can upset weaker, younger minds. The lesson? Expect it, respond coldly. Initiate it against their confidence players. Get them to either over-react or waste their time plotting revenge.
2) Possession is a weapon. It is less tiring to attack than to defend. Use the opponent’s energy early and often, it will pay you back at the end of the game. Field position should not be the seductive mantra it once was, as both Jesse Mogg and Aaron Cruden can attest.
Use the ruck to suck in defenders, repeat with pick and drives until half of their forwards are struggling, and then let the halves get a sniff (maybe).
Getting defenders to make plenty of decisions also opens the door to them making mistakes. Attempting to overtly fool them with hand signals is pretty amateur.
3) Get the tackle count in your favour, this is a must. It requires smart running, smart reactions to being tackled, and quick support. This is a technical part of the game and needs to be dealt with as an opportunity, not literally as the term ‘breakdown’ suggests.
4) Smart running. The only time you can legally shoulder charge in the game is when about to be tackled, so use that to get the opponent away from your legs. If he goes high then duck, dive but get past him somehow so that chasers can use him to clutter up their side of the ruck.
Do not leave your support behind. Crab, fend, wrestle to give them a chance to catch up. The ruck must be formed as soon as is possible after the tackle to reduce the opponent’s legal options.
5) Composure. Also sangfroid, ruthlessness, self-control, ice water in the veins. One of the gifts of rugby is to teach players to reserve a part of their psyche to analyse the structure of intense situations without resorting to panic or flights of fancy.
I don’t get the validity or role of passion on a rugby pitch. There is a hard, physical, tough job to be done by both sides. The one that out-thinks the other should emerge with the points.
6) Pressure. This is rugby gold. If your side can put the other under the pump you are once again using up their energy but more efficiently. At this point pile it on, enjoy their discomfort.
7) We have learned from the 2010 Reds and from the injury totals of both 2011 and this year that vigorous forward play has short-term rewards and long-term disadvantages. The difference is just how smart the players are about technique. Speed, timing, body position, ball retention in the pocket, etcetera.
8) One huge positive has been the number of rolling mauls so far this year, more than in the last decade perhaps? Wonder of wonders, they work. They suck in forwards and sometimes backs, gain yards and draw penalties. Solid rugby.
9) A recent impression is that all our forward packs are starting to impose themselves and take their role seriously. This is as it should be, and it bodes well for the 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.