The Brumbies spirited yet ultimately unsuccessful Super Rugby final on the weekend showed why all teams need to have a contingency plan.
Unfortunately for the Brumbies they didn’t have a contingency plan that could be executed with any real effect.
For the second week in a row the Brumbies found themselves needing a try to stay alive at the end of the game but against the Chiefs, unlike the week before against the Bulls, they never looked like getting it.
The longer the Brumbies held onto the ball the more they lacked direction, and it seemed that if the Chiefs didn’t infringe then the Brumbies didn’t really know what else to do.
Too many times the Brumbies went blind before realising that they had no support and were forced to turn back to the open.
There were too many long passes from forwards at the base of the ruck to other flat-footed forwards that were easily picked off behind the advantage line by the Chiefs. Unlike last week the New Zealanders didn’t commit many forwards to the breakdown, instead preferring to concentrate on maintaining their defensive line.
Out wide the Brumbies didn’t ask anywhere near enough of the Chiefs’ defence.
The Brumbies backs were guilty of passing too early and thereby not drawing any defenders, running across-field, cramping their teammates and taking the wrong options.
On 10 occasions the Brumbies held possession for seven or more phases, however the majority of these were ended by indecision or taking the wrong option which inevitably caused a halt in momentum and eventually a turnover.
The Brumbies forwards were incredible, as they have been all year, but the Brumbies’ one-dimensional philosophy meant that as soon as the Chiefs led by more than three points the game was effectively over.
This Brumbies team has many similarities to the Stormers in 2011. They have an amazing forward pack that can retain possession and provide quality front-foot ball, a brilliant kicking game and game management, and gifted outside backs who unfortunately don’t see anywhere near enough quality ball.
And just like the Brumbies this year, when the Stormers came up against a Crusaders side in the semis that matched them up front, they had no alternative plan.
Now Brumbies fans are going to say that they scored the third most tries during the Super rugby season and they would be correct, however very few of those tries came in important games and there is a huge difference between scoring a try and constructing a try.
It’s one thing to have your forward pack smash their way up-field and fling it wide once the defensive line is in disarray and backpedalling, but it’s another thing altogether to construct a try when the defence is organised and not providing any holes, like the Chiefs were in the second half of the final.
While the Chiefs looked comfortable mixing it up between close-in and wider, the Brumbies never looked comfortable once the ball went wide, with the Chiefs’ defence simply drifting and allowing the Brumbies backs to cramp their runners.
Having the ability to go wide is one thing, but having the confidence to go wide when the chips are down in a big game is something that takes a lot of development and the Brumbies combinations weren’t good enough in the final.
The Brumbies played to their strengths but the Chiefs knew exactly what those strengths were. They were able to effectively manage them over the duration of the 80 minutes.
After half-time the Chiefs were very good at limiting the number of kickable penalties knowing that it was the Brumbies’ biggest scoreboard threat.
The problem with predictability is that inevitably you will come up against a team that can manage your strengths. If you can’t vary your game plan then you’re in trouble.
In this case it could be said that the inability of the Brumbies to devote enough time during the season to a contingency plan meant that when the time came to implement it, the players weren’t comfortable in its execution.
Now obviously there is an experience factor at play here, with key Brumbies backs not having played much if any Test rugby, but some of the blame must lie with the coach’s philosophy.
As good a coach as Jake White is, his refusal to play anything but his system shows that Ewen Mckenzie was the right fit for the Wallabies.
Mckenzie’s variation and unpredictability are his greatest strengths, which have allowed him to pull the opposition’s pants down on more than a few occasions during his time as a coach.
Variation and unpredictability is a must for the Wallabies, as more than one style of rugby will need to be played.
Out wide is where we need to be firing as it’s our greatest strength.
Joab
Guest
Jereme, I must have watched a different game from you, leading for 75% of the game until the Brumbies very tired players hit a wall and a couple of inexperienced players made some crucial mistakes. As simple as that! If you want to compare the coaches to actually provide some rebuttal and debate, that is very difficult to do without first hand knowledge but consider this; 1]The game has developed over the past three or four years to the extent that it is mostly won or lost at the point of contact. Those teams whose primary ball carrier or tackler has one or two players in support at the instant of contact usually win. The Brumbies were one of the best at this and since their title win the Reds have been nowhere near the mark in this area. That is a worrying indication when considering the coach. 2]Australian players are seriously deficient when it come to having a complete set of skills although they are very gifted those natural skills have not been developed as well as our major opponents. This has been a developing problem for some years and is an indication in my opinion that the elite development programs and the high performance units have been abject failures! 3]It is a little harsh to blame the coaches when too many of our talented players really do not have the complete set of skills to compete against the best in the World. A Super Rugby or International coach simply does not have the time to teach basics such as field kicking to land rather than to hand, setting up a playing in a better position rather than dying with the ball etc etc. Cheers.
Rhys Maiden
Roar Pro
You can't back up your argument with "expert advice" and I use that term very lightly from the Rugby HQ team.
Nicko
Guest
Reading the comments on Roar makes it very clear to me that Aussie fans expect 100% perfection in every respect - the players, the coach, the game plan, winning every game they ever play. For goodness' sake, a dose of reality wouldn't hurt. Get outside, mow the lawn and calm down. EM and JW are both good coaches, with a different style. Who cares who is better? No coach or team is perfect, there a millions of variables affecting a team's performance on a given day - as long as they have a red hot go, then that's fine.
Mark
Guest
What about Jake's unique variation on the outside defence that the chiefs had to adjust in the second half? Or the way they attacked the scrum thru the middle as opposed to using a shoulder? the way they ran the traffic at channel 10 12 to soak up the defenders, that created the intercept (and some absolute Lealiifano brilliance). There exitstratedgy was brilliant. Yeah your right though apart from those small details nothing! Do you guys even watch the games? I'd love to see J.White coaching the Crusaders!
Jereme Lane
Roar Guru
Ha! Now my argument is blown because I missed a game! This gets better and better. The reds aren't my team I'm a tahs fan so if it was the tahs playing I would have watched the replay but considering the reds aren't my team I didn't bother. You ve still missed the point but I've given up on that. If you don't believe me watch rugby HQ where they discussed it for a few minutes. I will choose to listen to Ben mowen and the rugby HQ team rather than you!
Rassie
Roar Rookie
Yes they won thanks to the Saders traveling from SA to Australasia within a week. Just like the Brumbies did
Rassie
Roar Rookie
If Plan B was not getting fatigued then I agree with you. They needed a try like the week before cause their defense and tackling were not as good. Clearly fatigue. 26 Miss tackles. Not good enough Are you suggesting cause he is a Saffer he obviously do not look to score tries? I suggest you look up how Jake White go about. Refer to you SA 2004 Tri nations. Blistering counters from all over the park. Reds had a plan A to Z problem is that they did not had a answer to the Saders plan A and B.
dahl
Guest
http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/08/08/michael-hooper-israel-folau-jake-white-win-2013-super-rugby-player-rookie-and-coach-of-year-awards/ Interestingly, an objective assessment of performance on the same site found that he's the super rugby coach of the year. From the article: "White is a worthy coach of the year after transforming the Brumbies from competition also-rans to title contenders in the space of two seasons."
Jeff
Guest
Totally agree It is one-eyed.. Also mystified why someone who "watched probably 90% of both ewen Mckenzie and jake white’s games as coaches ' didn't bother to watch even a recording of the Reds biggest game this year.The playoff against the Crusaders. Perhaps he says he didn't watch it because it blows his argument apart.
Jereme Lane
Roar Guru
Of course it's my own view, it's an opinion piece!! You don't get what I'm on about mate and I'm not about to start explaining myself again.
dahl
Guest
Reads to me like someone confirming their own view (without having thought about it) without any due regard or recognition for the job that White and the Brumbies players have done to transform the place in only two seasons. This bit sums up your perspctive very well. You say: "Now obviously there is an experience factor at play here, with key Brumbies backs not having played much if any Test rugby, but some of the blame must lie with the coach’s philosophy." Why would anyone be apportioning blame for the last two seasons, and making (and almost winning) the grand final? Going from the bottom 2-3 teams, to the top 2-3 teams in a couple of seasons after rebuilding a team from next to nothing is the context for this. That's why it's one-eyed.
Jereme Lane
Roar Guru
Mate I've watched probably 90% of both ewen Mckenzie and jake white's games as coaches and for the last time this isn't about 1 game from either coach. You need to start understanding that. You should try watching rugby HQ from last night and maybe you'll see that I'm not alone in my argument
Jeff
Guest
How neutral. It appears that you only watched the Reds when they won as for example against the Chiefs.But did not watch them in the playoffs against the Crusaders when they were thrashed.
Jereme Lane
Roar Guru
How is that one-eyed? I'm a neutral
dahl
Guest
Worst one eyed article on the roar I've read this year.
Jereme Lane
Roar Guru
Bokaussie, it's been all praise, that's why I wrote the article! Watched the game for the 3rd time today and I haven't changed my mind on anything. Anyone see rugby HQ tonight? Mowen, sharpie and unfortunately marto said a lot of things that back up my argument.
Jacko
Guest
No they would still have finished third unless they scored 4 tries and got the bonus point
Jacko
Guest
Jeremy your argument loses its direction because you have forgotten to mention that up to the 68 minute the Brumbies had been leading!!! The brumbies were just beaten by a more experienced less travelled team and also an extremely strong team that led the competition and put away the crusaders at their best coming into final time.
Bokaussie
Guest
Yaba yaba yaba - what an insult to brumbies and jack white ! One should be proud that they got as far as they did and even managed to cause doubt in the minds of the kiwis ! Too much critism - not enough praise !
Kebab
Guest
Link was a great prop and looks fairly fit. Make him a player coach.