Who is your Wallaby number 10 – Kurtley Beale? Bernard Foley? Both? Sick of this debate yet? You shouldn’t be. It’s just getting started.
For a country that places such a strong emphasis on the running game, we have largely ignored the most important position on the field.
Historically, Australia has tried filling the fly-half void by simply shuffling a ball runner in one spot (think Tim Horan, Rod Kafer).
While placing James O’Connor in the number 10 jersey was a Robbie Deans disaster, this call was only out by one position – O’Connor actually makes a great second five. But it’s hell of a position to be out by.
Rod Macqueen secured himself a few trophies when he transformed Stephen Larkham from a ghostly fullback into a quality fly-half, who ended up displaying excellent distribution, pinpoint field kicking and an overall ability to straighten the attack.
‘Bernie’ didn’t just run his fullback game from fly-half, he adapted to what was required. The fact the Wallabies flourished in unison with Larkham’s rise in the number 10 jersey wasn’t correlation – it was causation.
Look at successful national squads of the past. Dan Carter in New Zealand, Morne Steyne in South Africa and Jonny Wilkinson for England – each country has fired when these players were at the height of their game wearing the all-important 10 jersey.
Scroll through the list of Super Rugby champions and you will find a similar story. Then look at the winning Super Rugby province and the corresponding national Tri-nations side and you will see the same number 10.
The same fly-half who guides their team to Super Rugby success is the one who directs the national team. Foley has a right to be burning; this is the first year in over a decade this has not happened.
Sure, rugby is evolving. Front rowers run around on the wings, outside backs hit rucks with menace, and quality back rowers now display a quality set of hands (at least they do in New Zealand).
So does the number mean didley squat? Ewen McKenzie thought this way at the Waratahs, where he tried to get players’ initials on jerseys (L.T.s sold out, but you couldn’t give a T.C. away for free).
The mindset was a great one, but it’s been somewhat reversed by nominating only two players in the squad for the role of the 10. One can’t help but feel like this is an ex-forward’s call.
This is where the role of the ten, not the number, becomes crucial. If the piggies provide the platform, the ten provides the trophies. Their job is not influential at certain moments – they direct the entire team, constantly. Distribute, and do it quickly. Kick wisely and accurately. Run with intent and surprise. These are the traits of the general, the organiser, the first five.
Gone are the traditional 10 and 12 stereotypes – modern teams now require a general and a second-five. One steers the team, dictates the tempo and does the majority of decision-making. The other does this too, but with a little more freedom to pop up sporadically in attack.
Both do a lot of the same thing, but one is your go-to guy, your clutch player – the one who makes the decisions. Your general.
Which brings us to the Wallabies. They appear to be going with two playmakers, but who is the general?
Beale deserves his spot, but he is not the general. He doesn’t steer teams quite like he opens up gaps. His best games are when he roams and surprises the defence, often on second and third phase.
Look up the Tahs’ Round 19 win over the Reds. Beale stood at first receiver and created an outstanding try for Jono Lance from absolutely nothing. Beale makes the national team, no questions asked. Only, after you chose your general.
This role belongs to either Matt Toomua or Foley. But not both. You don’t need them on together, especially in the dying stages of a deadlock.
Both Beale and Toomua are playing out of their Super Rugby positions, which is ok because they are both world-class backline players. This is not the issue. Toss in Foley and all three candidates are high-quality, proven clutch players.
But in previous teams, it has been clear to both themselves and their teammates who the go-to guy is.
When the clock winds down and it’s crunch time, who will call the shots? It’s not so much who takes the drop goal, or dummies and has a crack – but who decides it.
Jules
Guest
Love it stu. Spot on.
Luke Worthington
Roar Rookie
It's easily Foley. Better kicker and a field general. Doesn't scramble and runs straight.
Harry Jones
Expert
If I were Link, I'd find a place for Beale in most games, but honestly, I don't see him as a decision making leader at 10, and he's sort of flaky. Drops the ball too much. I like him as a full out attack back who plays with hair on fire. Maybe 12 or 15 when OZ needs ignition; useful as a backup goal kicker. At 10, I think you need calm.
Louie
Guest
Say what...you are on the wrong blog the NRL page is 2 tabs to the right. Not sure who the best league 5/8 is. Palu is a world call 8 in rugby though.
hoqni
Guest
And how is that so? Cruden was a quiet Colonel too. Carter is a 4 star General. Quade is a 2 star. But Carter may not be around to rally the troops come England
Cooper
Guest
I agree Stu B that Beale deserves his place - it doesnt have to be 10, possibly 12 or wing. But not having in the team at all improves dramatically the chances of the AB's to retaining the cup. I'm actually an AB supporter, but would still like the Wallabies to front up with a competitive team. The AB's winning comfortably does wear off after a while (I'll probably be dis-owned by my fellow AB supporters).
George of Perth
Guest
I am with you on this Tevita. Foley runs a flat line back line, never too deep, that challenges the gain line with an in your face style of rugby whereas Beale stands far too deep making it difficult for his outside backs to get over the gain line. Foley has pace, has a good pass plus he kicks sensibly with excellent goal kicking skills but the big thing is he does not crack under pressure & can defend. You do not need to hide him when defending. Cheika recognised the difference between Foley & Beale and what positions to play them that best suited the team. Still prefer Toomua over Beale at inside centre (12) though. Foley should be 10. I still want the Wallabies to win but I would feel far more confident with Foley as our starting fly half (10). That last test was there for the taking but we lost it by bad starting team selections & late use of the bench. Coaching errors/tactics lost us that test.
Bunyip
Guest
Tev, you,re mad. He,s barely become a decent player in the last few months.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen NSW
Guest
Well put AB. ;)
krasnoff of noosa
Guest
And all this comes back to the vexed issue: DOES BEALE HAVE THE LEADERSHIP TO RUN THE BACKS. Answer—NO! So McKenzie is going in with a fly-half who will probably defer to Toomua (but who’s in charge?) For Christ’s sake put Foley in at fly-half and stop this bullshit!
Hoy
Roar Guru
I have never been happier than after that game against England... No wait... maybe after the 5-0 ashes series last year... But it is always good to smash the Poms. Incidentally, I think that was J Wilkinsons debut in white as well wasn't it? The year before he was out touring with England School Boys. But that win was pretty impressive. That was when we could play a beautiful game of possession and skill. I look back at highlights of that time and across all teams, that truly was a golden period of rugby I think. An abundance of good players in many different international teams.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Yeah, I know he went from fullback to 10, but I thought he went from squad halfback at the brumbies to fullback... I might be wrong...
Nicely written StuB.
sheek
Roar Guru
Bigbaz, It's hard to argue with that. Sergeants are the M-A-N. Or is that M-E-N!
CB
Guest
Brigadier General was scrapped in the Aust Army after WW1. It is now just Brigadier.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
You missed the point entirely. A colonel is as good as we get. We don't have any higher ranks from which to choose. Whereas the ABs have three test pivots (assuming Carter has 2 legs)
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
And that's only because Quade is injured. "Their job is not influential at certain moments – they direct the entire team, constantly. Distribute, and do it quickly. Kick wisely and accurately. Run with intent and surprise. These are the traits of the general, the organiser, the first five." These are the traits of Quade.
AlsBoyce
Roar Guru
Is Beale a "manufactured" 10, and Foley experienced over an extended period in the position? Beale has played 10 at schoolboy, Waratah (Super Final v Crusaders 2008) and Wallaby level (10 tests), so he's not a newby. The real issue is whether his style of play suits 10, or not. He stands deeper than Foley, which makes it harder to get over the gainline. He doesn't really commit the defence and check the slide. That means that to make an impact he has to do something fantastic on every play, which is pretty hard work. McKenzie is the coach. McQueen was the coach who made Larkham a great 10 against the odds. So, there is still a chance for the McKenzie masterstroke to come off, but the odds are against it succeeding.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Hi Sheek, Apologies on my behalf, I see what your original comment was aiming at. All to true
dr katz
Guest
I agree. I spend most of last game screaming at the tv for somebody in the WB's to get the show organised. ie. a general! At times it was a bit of a rabble IMHO. Clearly Beale is good at sparking the attacking but isn't capable of orchestrating a long term raid on a try line. I still think Foley or Tommua should be 10 as test play needs more structure and the ability to think 5 phases ahead than S15.