During a phase of play last week, the Wallabies were again pressuring towards the Welsh line. As the momentum ceased, Barnes took charge, pivoted to the right and slotted a drop goal to keep the score ticking over.
Barnes has many flaws but one of his strengths is his reliability in slotting drop goals. In fact, he is now approaching a Wallaby record.
With seven of them from 39 tests (28 starts), Barnes is now three in front of his closest rival Matt Giteau, who disappointingly only kicked four drop goals in 92 tests (79 starts). He is tantalisingly close to the all time wallaby record of nine drop goals set by both Phil Hawthorne (21 tests) and equalled by Michael Lynagh (71 tests).
Barnes is also one behind the attacking genius that was Mark Ella who slotted eight drop goals from his 25 tests.
What surprises me by all this is just how few drop goals our no 10’s have kicked since Phil Hawthorne and Mark Ella so openly advocated the drop goal as a means to success. I suppose Lynagh and Giteau could argue that they played a lot of rugby at 12 but then again so did Jonny Wilkinson.
Interestingly, Wilkinson has the almost unattainable, ‘Bradman-esque’ record of 36 drop goals from his 91 tests (70 starts), which is a fair reflection of a player that reportedly practises his kicking even on Christmas Day.
Nevertheless, I’d like to see Barnes keep dropping goals this series and break the Wallaby record.
The benefit for the rest of us would be that this would help win the next two Test matches as it did the last one. Drop goals are worth three points, which last time I checked is almost as much as a try, so, as long as you have put the hours of practice in, I say go for it. If you can do it consistently well, it is like fishing with dynamite.
In terms of the benefit for Barnes, who knows, one day at the selection table Deans may tip the decision into Barnes’ favour as a result.
I sincerely doubt that so Barnes really has to get his skates on if indeed he is to take advantage of being on the cusp of Wallaby greatness. The best way to do this? By kicking drop goals.
tubby
Guest
i don't think barnes was planning for that drop goal. he was headed left, got a bad pass that went behind him. when he had to prop to take the pass he had no support, was on his right foot and the drop was the best option. It'd be silly to dismiss it altogether, he got 3 points when the alternative was likley a turnover. and if the defense is not agressive enough in chasing the fly half or stopping the forwards getting the necessary field position , why not punish them with 3 points until they learn
Cheers for your comment. Never mind that she kisses Barnes your wife sounds like she knows the game more than most of us. You're a lucky man. Mine will only ever watch the beginning of a Wales or Ireland match because she likes their 'songs' and then she leaves the room.
wallaby fan
Guest
It was definitely 5.
wallaby fan
Guest
check out this one from a year or so ago 57-58m and the ball sailed into the crowd. AMAZING! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DkPOO2tF0o
marky mark
Guest
Does anyone recall a young Francois Steyn kicking two drops in the last 5 minutes of a test, one of them being arguably the best ever in tests, a thunderbolt from 40m out but from the sideline. He took them from 3 points behind to a 3 point win just through sheer talent.
lol i think De beer hit 5 but it's funny those two events are intertwined somewhat and in many ways they were career defining moments despite that particularly Larkham had a distinguished career. I know Larkham had only started practising after De Beer's record (from memory i think he said all of a sudden all the wallabies were practising that week). Larkham only ever kicked 1 more. I'm not sure when and where.
Cheers Mr F.O. I don't think there'd be a former openside in the world that wouldn't appreciate the glory boys actually converting all their hard work into points. Many thanks for your comment.
I remember that too and there have been so many instances like this over the years. I too was frustrated by a lot of Giteau's game management when he was at the helm. He needed to be much braver and give the call to build for the drop a lot more, but he was not alone. It is also up to the coach/captain to create a positive culture at knowing how and when to go for them. It'd be great if the majority of fans started letting the guys know that we appreciate that aspect of play as well so long as it is positive. Who knows, if we had a bit more of a drop goal propensity, we might have been able to boss a few more matches these past 10 years.
Hear Hear JOR.
Dasher
Roar Guru
I distinctly remember a Bledisloe game in 2009 (scoreline 19-18 to NZ), where the Wallabies spent the last five or so minutes in the All Blacks' 22, bashing themselves against a black wall to no avail. We were all screaming at the telly for Giteau to kick a drop goal but he didn't even look like contemplating it.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Thanks be to all the God's for Berrick's drop goal last Saturday, it has temporarily stopped my partner from screaming at the TV: "Go for the drop! why don't they go for the drop? They have tried everything else and failed, I don't understand how they can be so stupid". Berrick's picture is now beside the bed and she kisses it every night before going to sleep. Never does that for me! If anyone mentions her living with a drop kick, it will result in a severe warning from the powers of The Roar.
JottingsOnRugby.com
Roar Pro
I would hate to see the drop goal become a lost & forgotten part of the game. Many talk of what is the true element of the rugby game - some will point to the scrum, others running & passing the ball. But the drop goal is just as much an honoured part of rugby & of why many preferred it to other codes - the goal only counted as it was a valued challenge not easily achieved. No rugby forward of the late 19th century would be rated at all if he didn't possess good drop kicking skills. A drop goal & its 3 points is as much a reward, recognition and outcome from hard won field position as the 3 points from a penalty goal are - and kicking the penalty goal is a damn side easier with a tee, a hushed crowd and no one running at you. Since the game's beginnings a goal has not counted if it was simply punted, and I'm convinced it is partly why the crossbar exists at all, and why rugby doesn't have a round predictable bounce ball - it is the challenge of it all in combination. To drop an ovoid-shaped ball to the ground on its pointed end & kick it on the rise through posts and over a crossbar is not easy for many of us in a quite moment in the local park. Try it in a rugby international against a rabid opposition forward pack. Why try to rob the game of its unique varieties? I will always stand & support the drop goal. It reminds us that rugby is a game of many different traits, and not easily defeated team and personal challenges.
Justin2
Guest
Ha, what a game, what a kick!
Jutsie
Guest
A week later Bernie kicked the only drop goal of his career and his was worth more than any of the 9 jannie kicked.
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
Against England - and all the commentators said - "We need to be doing that!" ...a and along came JW... Good game also.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Jannie De Beer beat our 5/8s in the one game in '99World Cup didn't he? He slotted 9 in one game if I remember correctly.
Cheers for your well thought out comment RK. If Barnes had missed, which he rarely does, we'd have got the ball back as you said and at that particular time there was nothing on, their defense had had a chance to reset because we'd allowed the ball to spill out and had lost the go forward. What impressed me was the quick decision of Genia and Barnes to realise this and to execute first the pass and then the actual drop goal accurately. Great skill under pressure.
Many thanks for your comment Sixo Clock
Cheers for your comments M.O.C. Clearly you do feel passionately against the drop goal and I know many do. I'm not one of them because I enjoy that aspect of the game as much as any other so long as it is indeed proportional, purposeful and accurate. That's the key to keeping the fans happy both from an entertainment and a pragmatic point of view.
formeropenside
Guest
I like winning. I'll take winning ugly with pleasure. I used to love watching Qld in the 90's win with forward power and then unleash the backline. Drop goals can be vital, but its part of doing the small things well across the board, not just to get three points.