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Rob Horne’s beautiful try against the Bulls last on Friday evening proved that traditional backplay, the likes of which is now rarely seen, still works.
Here is how it unfolded. In the 16th minute, the Waratahs had a lineout throw 38 metres from the try line.
Barnes took it to the line, with Ashley Cooper in the 12 channel but compressed towards Barnes, Kingston looming just behind and inside Adam Ashley-Cooper and Horne in the 13 channel, similarly compressed.
Halangahu timed his run into the line very well, was coming into the line from deep and 8 metres wide of Horne and Pakalani was a further 10 metres wider and outside his opposition, effectively stretching the field of vision of the defence and introducing other attacking options.
All Waratahs players were running parallel to the side line. All the Waratahs backs were on the move at the same time, presenting a range of attacking options to Barnes and a range of problems for the defenders.
At this point, the move was looking, for all the world, like a backline move from the Ella era.
The Bulls defensive line had Steyn, the two centres, Venter and Sadie and fullback Kirchner, moving up quickly in a straight line and 4 metres apart and closely compressed. The left winger, Basson, was 12 metres wider than Kirchner, and between Halangahu and Pakalani.
Ndungane was on the right wing 15 metres behind the scrum and covering for the fullback.
The presence of Kingston threatening to join the line and the absence of Ndungane in the line created a classic five on four mid field over lap.
Kirchner faltered for a split second, Horne skipped to the outside, Barnes got the ball to Horne with a well timed and accurate pass and he was away.
The longer the pass, the less likely it is to be well timed and accurate. The alignment of the backline, and in particular, Horne by comparison to Barnes, was crucial.
Horne was just 4-5 metres away from Barnes. Horne was also 4 metres behind Barnes and accelerated onto the pass. Barnes threw the pass in front of Horne where we would be rather than where he was.
Horne scored adjacent to the posts untouched. Seven points and an excited crowd! Ka-ching! Not only did it look like a move out of the Ella era, it produced the same result.
If it walks and quacks like a duck, it is probably a duck. Welcome back to exhilarating backline play, my long lost friend, welcome back.
I am sure that the Waratahs coaches would have been ecstatic with the precision as much as the outcome.
Even with the lineout protruding 15 metres into the field of play, the play and Horne’s break was still within the left hand half of the field or approximately in a channel of 10 metres.
Simple, effective, world class rugby that crowds love and will pay to see.
In the 64 minutes that followed, including approximately 10 scrum wins and 8 lineout wins, the Waratahs did not attempt this or any vague variation of this move again.
In the next 64 minutes, the Waratahs did not attempt another backline move at all.
Not only does such a play build the confidence of the attackers, the clinical effectiveness and massive error erodes the confidence of the defenders.
It is a natural instinct to exploit a weakness remorselessly once discovered. Against the All Blacks, when a fullback drops a high ball, it doesn’t end there. He or she can expect plenty more to come.
Two weekends ago, Freuan exploited the Tahs defensive weakness, marching through the Tahs inside backs time after time.
This is a natural instinct, and yet the Waratahs failed to exploit this clear weakness.
Instead, and with complete dominance of the statistics, including possession 50:50, rucks 106: 52, Offloads 7:0, scrums 10:6, lineouts 9:10, runs 119:57, run metres 484: 214, kicks 18:20, kick metres 654:710, tackles made 52: 109 and turnovers 16:14, the Waratahs didn’t exploit the obvious defensive weakness in the Bulls backline.
Not only does this sort of clever backline play work, it is breathtaking to watch and the supporters and crowds love it.
I conclude, admittedly from outside the organisation, that the fault lies with the players’ lack of tactical selection in preference for one out, mentally lazy and uninspired rugby during the game.
Remember, this was supposedly a season defining game. (The reality is that the season defining game, if there was such a thing, was last week.)
The Bulls game proved that the New South Wales Waratahs can play rugby!!! It is a brand of rugby that can win the Super rugby competition.
They have a dominant scrum, until this year an excellent defence (8th best defence this year), and the ability to shred defensive lines with breathtaking, try scoring and match winning rugby.
The 2013 season commences as they board the plane to South Africa. I would love to hear the organisation chant and then act upon, “I am as mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!”
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.