There’s been a lot of chat about how badly the Wallaby scrum was for game three of the Lions series. But it was the fact that the Lions were so good that won it – not the Wallabies who were so bad.
Here’s how I think Australia are set up.
Back row
Australia have and will continue to have World Class back-rowers. Loads of them.
Pocock is outstanding among an outstanding bunch. The fact he was missing really didn’t help. When he comes back, Australia will be a cut above where they are now.
The difficult bit for the Lions was “getting the blend” of the back-row. When ace-pilferer Pocock comes back, Australia don’t have that issue.
They just ask “who fits in with Pocock?”
Second row
Whatever else happens, James Horwill will be guaranteed to be giving it his all. He not only led the Wallabies, he called the calls, talked gently to the refs and led from the front throughout. He had to put up with the IRB Judicial/Citing pressure.
And there he was, on stage at the end congratulating his opponents and showing the world Australia’s grace and dignity.
What a guy. Most of the other guys in the second-row were good, too. But now the dust’s settled, I suspect that Horwill was the difference between 1-2 and 0-3. Might even have won it.
It’s hard to tell from my TV what their shove in the scrum is like, but Australia’s 4/5 look fine in the line-out and around the park.
Three inches taller and these blokes would be world class. Work well with Morrison’s line-out service.
Simmons and Douglas look fine, not outstanding but they get the tackles in and work the near-ruck runs. I can’t see anyone else coming through that looks like they’re banging on the door.
Front row
Because the Aussie front-five got battered in game three, these guys got a lot of stick.
I think that’s a bit unfair.
The Australian and front-row (and scrum, for that matter) did really well to stand up to the pressure of the Lions’ power for two Tests. Adam Jones is the world’s best tight-head.
Corbisiero is England’s first pick. Grant, who shone for Scotland against Australia last year, couldn’t get in the team. Ewan Murray who shone for Scotland against Australia last year, couldn’t get in the squad.
Hibbard sees himself as “the hardest man in rugby” and he is pretty tough. He’s a lot fitter than he used to be, too. The Lions were enormous in this area.
Australia did well to bend-rules, cheat, out-scrum out-think, hook, wheel and out-nous the Lions to their advantage for two Tests.
This almost lasted the whole series. I reckon the Australian world class back-row scared the Lions coaches – psyched them out. Mobility became the watch word for picking all the forwards.
Vunipola, picked for mobility, was embarrassed in the scrum in the first half of Test 2. But finally, Gatland stopped messing around and put out a power scrum.
It’s no biggie to lose to these guys.
The Bens, Robinson and Alexander, are pretty good. They looked alright, really, and will be better for being put through the wringer.
Morrison looks World Class. The other lads – Kepu, Jimmy Slipper et al – all look like the experience will stand them in good stead, too. They’ve survived a heck of an ordeal.
I dare say these chaps need a bit of technical help to tweak them here and there, but they seemed to be mostly OK.
I don’t know if there is someone doing the Graham Rowntree job for the Wallabies – advice at half-time, encouragement etc – but I don’t think so.
Overall
Yes, the wheels came off against the Lions in Test three. But these blokes were pretty awesome.
Yes, the Boks, Argies and Kiwis will be licking their lips in anticipation. But falsely so, I fancy.
I don’t think it’d be in McKenzie’s game-plan to out-shove any opposition.
I also think Australia showed in Tests one and two that they have a very clever scrum, especially the front row.
They look like they adapt to the refs well and adjust tactics on the fly. In Test two, for example, they pushed early on about half the scrums because Joubert let them and they capitalised.
The Lions looked puzzled and struggled to cope.
They’re not huge but they’re OK and the best available.
The coaches
Well, Deans has gone now, so no point in trying to defend him … but I’ll have a go.
I can’t think of much he could have done in picking a pack to play better than this lot did. And I think it’s a mistake to get rid of him, so close to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The talent just isn’t there. I can see McKenzie losing almost continuously, being heavily criticised and legging it in 2015, disenchanted.
I hope he’s got himself an angle as “director of coaching” rather than “head coach”. Hopefully, too, he’s got a budget for kicking coach, scrum coach, backs coach and talent scouts as well as his salary.
The ARU
These blokes look far too chuffed with themselves. Most of the guys in blazers I saw after Saturday’s spanking were smiling away after counting the money. “Record crowd – yummy. Lost the series – not so bad, if we’d been 2-0 down, no-one would have shown up in Sydney.”
I suspect Deans got the bullet as the ARU felt that if they didn’t shoot him, someone would shoot them.
The issues look structural feeding into the international setup. There are not enough coaches at the elite level, neither helping the national team nor linking them to SRXV.
There’s not enough specialised ARU rugby coaches helping the Wallabies e.g. Scrum, Kicking. Why is there no talent coming through? Who’s looking at what?
No talent coming through the Super Rugby franchises? Rebels going under? What are the ARU doIng about it? Having lunch?
Follow that up with Lions complaints about the quality of their SR opposition, selecting “development official” Steve Walsh for a game and don’t forget the arguments over cash.
And what have they done to annoy the IRB enough to evoke their “Escalation Process” for James Horwill?
Is there anyone they haven’t provoked?
Seems to me like complacency lies therein.
Australian sport
Someplace, Australian sport has taken a bad turn. New Zealand hold both Rugby World Cups, no one competing in tennis, lost the Lions Test Series, just the seven Olympic Golds, swimmers struggling.
Best not mention the cricket. What’s amiss? Who knows, but no one seems bothered.
s.t.rine
Guest
Love Horwill for his intensity, but getting tearful & congratulating Lions does not offset TERRIBLE decision not to kick when in front of Lion's post. Maybe another player as Captain would be better, but H is vital as player. S T
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Douglas was bullied by the Lions. He's a gentle giant, so I don't see the point of him being there. TPN is a myth, and what would Pocock have done with the tight five being chucked around? Wild optimism on your part IMO.
Gavin Melville
Roar Pro
Ben Mowen Date of birth - 1 December 1984 (age 28) Height - 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Weight - 110 kg (17 st 5 lb) Mowen was one of the standouts from the series for me. Along with Moore & Horwill, I thought he gave it his all and on occasion, his efforts had obvious rewards. (as against the hard work forwards often put in and no one notices, cos they did score a try) I think anyone else will be hard pushed to get that shirt off him. Scott Fardy Date of birth 5 July 1984 (age 29) Height - 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Weight - 113 kg (17 st 11 lb) I like Fardy. As is said above he's clever and keen. I reckon that's the sort of bloke that's needed. And I thought he was smaller than the 6'6" Wiki-p has him down for. I also thought he was younger, but at 29 I fear he has missed the boat. Scott Higginbotham Date of birth - 5 September 1986 (age 26) Height - 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Weight - 110 kg (17 st 5 lb) I like him too, but I reckon he'w behind Mowen now. Still he's got a few years in the hole, so I can't see him not making a squad, where he can show his mettle. Front Row - I think they're alright, the Bens. I think, also, that they're smart cookies, experienced and clever enough, mostly, to know when to push, wheel, swing, go down/up etc. I don't think they'd be winning a straight scrum contest. Moore throws the ball into the LO straight & accurately - if you think that's easy, have a look at some of the Lions games. Poor Rory Best. He gets about the park a bit, too. I have no idea what his shove is like at the scrum, or how his technique rates. But I reckon that he & the Bens must blend well. The Corbisiero/Hibbard/Jones front row would scare all countries, regardless of any tosh talked hereabouts. But, as the Lions showed, you need a second front row on the bench and a third front row in the shed, just in case. There's plenty blokes out there, wanting a game. But lets say McKenzie only has a pool of the First XV Front Rows from each of the 5 Super Rugby clubs. I'm sure he knows them all. Get them on the power-shakes and steak sandwiches, have a few Scrum Camps across the holidays and get them all up to speed. Measure them at Scrum Camp 1 and then at Scrum Camp 2, measure them again. Or get the club doctors to do it. See who's serious about it. Faster, Higher, Stronger. The Lions Hibbard was young, carefree & overweight until Scott Johnson had a pop at him at his club. He woke up, knuckled down and there he is - hard as nails and on the world stage. Still with a bad hairdresser habit, though.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Rebels have finally looked at their most glaring weakness. Their props have been utter rubbish for the most part. They also have the former shot putter on the books, who might make an impact a few years down the track. Hopefully they've got a good scrum coach.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Rebels have finally looked at their most glaring weakness. Their props have been utter rubbish for the most part. They also have the former shot putter on the books, who might make an impact a few years down the track. Hopefully they've got a good scrum coach.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Fardy has many solid qualities. Hard working, smart, etc. His problem is that he isn't big enough to be a great lock. He's been played at 6 a fair bit, and really only moved into lock due to injury. Because he's a 6 primarily, he's competing with Mowen and Higginbotham, both of whom outclass him. He'd do well in a bench role I suspect.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Mowen and Higginbotham almost are interchangeable in the roles that they would be given, I suspect. On recent form I'd have Higginbotham, Gill, Palu starting and Mowen to cover 6/8 and even 7 in a pinch and Hooper if we get the luxury of a 7 cover. Both Mowen and Hooper on the bench would allow us to change the speed of the backrow significantly later in the game. If the tight 5 are doing well, then you could have Gill, Hooper and Mowen wreak havoc at the breakdown. I think if Palmer had been fit, he'd have played. At the very least he would have been in front of Kepu. He had a foot injury most of the season I believe, and it went bad just before the squad was chosen. Kane Douglas is solid defensively, and makes more impact at scrum and breakdown time than Simmons, but he was behind Timani for his role. Sita is less of a workhorse, but apparently a bigger push in the scrum. Another impact that hasn't been mentioned much is the loss of TPN to the front row. He's not as consistent around the park, but he's a better scrummager than Moore, and that might have mitigated the pressure on Alexander. Even if he only did 30-40 minutes each match, that might have made a difference. Damn, now I wish that those 3 had been available, along with Pocock. Would have made for a different series, and maybe (probably?) a series that we'd have won.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Kane Douglas really doesn't seem up to it at this stage in his career, so perhaps McKenzie will look to Simmons to fulfill the loose locking role, or maybe he will continue with Douglas to add size and bulk, hope he improves, and retains Mowen at 6 for the aerial battles. Higginbotham clearly needs to be included, and Pocock is a walk in, but the 3 jersey needs to be addressed rapidly. Robinson didn't tear up any trees in the Lions series, but the Wallabies certainly have more viable options at 1 than they do 3, so that isn't a huge concern. Alexander just needs to go - he doesn't have that relentless physicality to him the way other players do, nor does he have the technical skills. It tickles me a bit that people refer to Palmer being the answer but bringing up his lack of mobility and all-round game involvement when the same argument was coming up re: David Fitter 7-10 years ago. What has changed in that period? It also tickles me that Connolly got so much stick when he made efforts to try various players in the 3 jersey. It's been an issue for so long now. That aside, the Wallaby pack shouldn't have been getting pushed about in that 1st Test by a Lions pack including 2 loosehead locks, and Tom Youngs and Tom Croft. However, any pack with Moore, Horwill, Mowen, Higginbotham and Pocock has a good base.
Gavin Melville
Roar Pro
I agree about the First Test bludgeoning and that ref Pollock was a farce. Someone mentioned the SH tendency of refs giving penalties alternatively to each team, rather than trying to figure out what was wrong. I think he apologised to BOD, too, after the game for giving dodgy pens against him at the breakdown, ironically here for "not supporting his own weight" Ref's have to learn too, I suppose.
atlas
Guest
adding to the front-row options: the two props signed for the Rebels next year, both Wallaby-eligible, 3yr not required. Unsure if Smith is playing this ITM season for Waikato; Lahiff is playing for Hawke's Bay. Toby Smith, 24, NZ U-20, 4 seasons Waikato ITM, 4 seasons Chiefs Max Lahiff - 23, ex-London-Irish Chiefs prop Toby Smith will pursue a Wallabies jersey after signing a three-season Super Rugby contract with the Melbourne Rebels. "I am also looking forward to pressing my claims toward playing Test rugby in the future, and taking advantage of my Australian eligibility" http://www.skynews.com.au/sport/article.aspx?id=875338
bluerose (Rotuma Island).
Guest
a hard working Lock that rarely gets a mention is Scott Fardy.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I caught the first Test again today, and the Wallaby pack was bludgeoned in that for large parts of the game too. This wasn't an especially large pack selected by the Lions either, and considering that the Wallabies selected two tighthead locks they really didn't hold up. I don't think Pocock is the answer either, because 9 times out of 10 he relies on the tight five, and England have managed to contain him well in the past without themselves playing an over the ball 7. One thing I did notice from the 1st Test was how a number of Wallaby forwards were trying to slow the ball down when not supporting their own body weight. Pollock was a farce.
Gavin Melville
Roar Pro
Thanks Dean. "Pocock Out" was one of the personnel headlines that cranked up the BIL confidence a notch or two. While not a headline, the underlying "Cooper Dropped" was a filip for the BIL. Seeing the result of Genia's quick tap in Test 1 and how Cooper used the fast take to move the Reds around versus the Lions - well, what a prospect that would have been for the Lions defence to figure out. And when the Wallaby scrum was in its darkest hour, where do you go to for front-foot ball? Quick Quade and the Unpredctables. Might have got beat 0-3, like, but it would have scared the Lions. For the Wallbies, "Horwill a Saint", "Smith is Back" and "O'Driscoll Dropped" must have been the biggest help. But "Pocock Returns" will put 10,000 on the gate and 10 points on the board when it happens.
Gavin Melville
Roar Pro
Nice one. What the front row needs is 218kg of hooker-prop. Yeah yeah - I know & you know for "Morrison" I meant "Moore"
carnivean
Roar Rookie
I think he's 2/3 of the front row Moore-binson. 218kgs of hooker-prop.
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
The Wallaby eight - these guys have a lot in common with their rowing counterparts - eight big guys bossed around by a little guy who doesn't do any of the "hard" work, who are trying to win by going backwards..... :)
Sofathefelloffthesofa
Guest
Just glad to make an impact any way I can.
Dean Vincent
Guest
Very well written article Gavin. Personally, I thought as soon as Pocock was out injured the Lions had a great chance of winning the series. A massive loss. The other 7s are good but nowhere as good as they were made out to be pre-series.
Jerry
Guest
Yes. Change your sheets.
Jeff
Guest
I'm an Australian but keep on with your conspiracy theories.And if nothing else will do blame the ref.And yeah I can feel the ripple of fear through the ABs ranks from here.Ha ha. And unfortunately its bloody difficult to win games out wide if you are being beaten up front. Let's hope Link is the most creative coach ever.