Ewen McKenzie is convinced that among his current Wallabies squad there is a terrific side that is capable of winning the Bledisloe Cup, the Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup next year.
This thinking is akin to Michelangelo’s genius at looking at a block of marble and seeing a statue of David inside it.
For Michelangelo with his David and McKenzie with his Wallabies, after the visualisation, it is merely a matter of chipping away until the finished work is revealed.
I have a problem with McKenzie’s thinking about all of this. The squad does not include Benn Robinson, arguably the best scrumming prop in Australian rugby. The scrum was weak against the All Blacks in the second Bledisloe Cup Test after being helped considerably by Jaco Peyper in the first Test at Sydney.
This scrum weakness was one of the many lessons that McKenzie should have learnt from the Sydney Test, but failed to do so.
The two props from Sydney and Auckland, Sekope Kepu and James Slipper, are retained for the Test against the Springboks at Perth. As it happens, the Springboks scrum was monstered twice by the Pumas in their two Tests in TRC in South Africa and again in Argentina.
The probability is, therefore, that Kepu and Slipper will hold up at Perth. But when they come up against the Pumas they will probably be exposed in the way Bill Young and Al Baxter continually were during their careers as Wallaby props.
Slipper is good around the field, very good in fact. Apparently he played as a fly half as a youngster and he retains the skills learnt in this position. He is improving in the scrum. But this is the weakest part of his game.
Kepu is one of those players who looks to be, or should be, better than he really is. He can run the ball up strongly enough to be confused with Wycliff Palu at times. Like Palu, too, he doesn’t seem to have huge reserves of aerobic fitness. At Eden Park he was burnt by Aaron Cruden out wide from a turnover. He looked like an oil rig trying to keep up with a motor boat as Cruden easily slipped past him to set up a crucial try.
The Wallabies scrum has been a work in progress since the days of Bill Young and Al Baxter. Just when everyone thinks that the problem has been solved, the Wallabies pack is demolished and the rebuilding work has to start once more.
The answer is to find the best scrumming props and then back them up with second-rowers who can push, and flankers who stay on the scrum until the shoving is over.
In my mind, the front five that the Wallabies will present at Perth does not play to these requirements.
All the arguments in favour of Rob Simmons tend to revolve around his expertise in calling the lineouts. This is a useful skill but I would think that a more important set of skills for a second rower is the sort of play that the All Blacks second-rowers displayed in the lineouts, scrums and around the field at Eden Park. Impact at the collisions, in other words.
Then there are questions about the play of Wycliff Palu. He starts off strongly enough. But he is never available when breaks are made. And he is invisible when the opposition make a break-out. There is too much of the David Lyons about his play. Compare his one-up bash game, with few off-loads, with the sophisticated and powerful play in every facet of the game of Keiran Read.
When we get to the backs, we see that Ewen McKenzie has acknowledged that the experiment of Kurtley Beale as a number 10 is now over. Good. He is not a Test number 10. He is a Test player and a good one at fullback, probably at inside centre as well, and according to Bob Dwyer as a winger, too.
There have been suggestions that Beale should be played at fullback in the ideal Wallaby XV and Israel Folau played on the wing. There is some sense in this, I reckon. As a winger Folau can play all over the field, more so than he can at fullback.
A New Zealand rugby writer, for instance, has pointed out that when he played as a winger last year, Ben Smith scored a try each Test. But in the Tests this year at fullback, he has scored a just one.
Matt Toomua has been retained at inside centre for the Perth Test. Is he on a last chance? Or is he considered to be a long-term incumbent?
In this context, it was interesting that Kyle Godwin, the Western Force centre who would have played for the Wallabies some time ago if injuries hadn’t kept him off the field, was nominated by McKenzie as an potential outside centre. He has played a lot, and impressively as well, at inside centre.
Is he the answer to the puzzle about getting more attacking flair from the Wallaby backline? Or do the Wallabies need the Waratahs fabulous four of Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper? With Tevita Kurdrani and Henry Speight on the wings?
There is a lot of talent within the Australian rugby community. The NRC is revealing this. And the play of the Waratahs in winning the Super Rugby title revealed this even more. But most of the talent is among the players rather than the coaches – the exception being Michael Cheika.
The truest sign of good coaching is sound selecting and an improvement in the play of the favoured players. Despite the run of seven consecutive victories, the jury is out right now about whether Ewen McKenzie is passing these Tests right now for the Wallabies.
If this latest Wallaby XV and reserves – notice that Will Skelton has been dropped – don’t defeat the Springboks, more chipping away at the modelling by Ewen McKenzie will be required.
Who?
Guest
My mail (sourced from a recent Wallaby prop) also says that Simmons is the most effective of the Aussie locks in the scrum... It's worth acknowledging that in the loss at Eden Park, where we actually won the scrum penalty count (one conceded, two won), we had Fardy and Carter at lock, Hooper and Palu at flank, and no one at 8. Your 8 doesn't always make much of an impact - they're among the first to meerkat, and if there's any misalignment in the front row, they've often not got anything to push against. That was shown by Palu's bind in that scrum - he was bound to his lock, but wasn't touching - let alone driving on - Slipper, who was folded up and in. This is backed up by Simmons - the lighter lock - being the one who packed at TH Lock last year when partnered by Kane Douglas. So to say Simmons is only there for his lineout is inaccurate. He's there for his lineout, his scrummaging, then his workrate. He's not there for his brain snaps, they're just a bonus. :-P
Mike
Guest
No, they aren't. They have both had some good games against second and third tier test sides, and some very average games against the top teams.
Mike
Guest
Combesy it is precisely because I have watched Robinson in NRC matches that I make the comments that I do. Comments like "does nothing in the game" and "gets zero ascendancy at scrum times" simply put your ignorance on display. "... put down the blue jersey" And yet another ignorant comment. You know perfectly well that I don't favour Tahs players because they are Tahs - grow up.
Ra
Guest
Brian Lahore was like God to me growing up. He like your Hooper was given the reins of what was the best All Blacks team ever in the mid 1960s under coach Fred 'the needle' Allen. I guess anyone could play well on the back of a scrum that included the great Meads brother Colin and Stan in the second row Kel Tremain and Waka Nathan on the sides and the powerful Ken Gray at tight block up front. But Lahore himself was a powerful broken play runner with amazing pace for a big man. Alan McNaughton and Grizz Wylie were world class in the early 1970s for the All Blacks. And the guy I recall from the latter part of that time who I believe Higgenbothom could model his game on is Wellington's Mexted. Mexted took athleticism to another level. Higgy has that same tall slim wiry frame with the ball skills to match.they are both freaks of nature. A guy I loved watching who was struck down by a kidney complaint after making the All Blacks 1972-1973 tour of Great Britain but was the best No8 In domestic rugby in 1976 but never made either of the All Blacks tour squad to South Africa or Argentina that year was wing turned loose forward Allistair Scown. When I see Zin Zan and Buck Shelford I see the modeling of Scown in their play.
RobC
Roar Guru
Holmes now doing an able job on the right side If I recall properly his first stint as #3 was against Crockett. And did the job! Having said that, the Reds scrum wasnt what it is today.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for the article. Firstly I'd to be reluctant to think there will be a final 15. Perhaps a core 8? Its interesting Ben R is getting called back for a position already well covered one of the 2 best LHP in the Sth Hemisphere. Both in scrum and in loose. I fail to understand the concern. Is it because BR can scrum and ruck better than Slipper? Im not convinced. Re WBs scrum vs NZ: - In B1 and B2. Slipper and the pod behind him regularly owned the AB THP. Kepu & Co held their own. - In B1, the WBs marched back the AB scrum a couple times. Unfortunately the backs called the pill out, and wasted it. Also wasted to send a clear message about their scrum. I dont recall seeing this before, including when BR is in. The problem with B2 seven man scrum - without going into technique, is the missing experience hooker - ie Moore. Im sure (hope) Charles learnt from that. Not enough urgency in protecting the first one on their feed. And lack of speed, composure on the 2nd
Ra
Guest
Didn't The Force with it's motley mob of unsung tough as guts mongels kick the Waratahs, the Chiefs, the Crusaders, the Reds, the Brumbies, oh I think the odd SA team over the last two seasons - Foley must be the man - no brainer !
Conzaroo
Guest
Spiro I think this is the first time I can recall disagreeing with one of your articles. The scrum wasn't that bad against the ABs, I don't think you can say a scrum sucks when there's only 7 men in it, that's like saying our defense was stretched too much when we had a yellow card. Also, the reds scrum was good this year: - third best scrum in the comp with 88% success rate - best of Australian and NZ teams - AND they got a pushover try against the Highlanders And yet you blame the scrum on Slipper and Simmons? I agree with your argument that we need our #5 to be a scrummaging second rower but if we're being honest that means we should drop carter, Simmons has better maul defence, scrummaging, and yeah you know calls the lineouts. I also think it's a bit funny that you say we need combinations in the squad, then argue that we need to drop a 54 test prop and a 42 test second rower
Knuckle
Guest
Comments like this are annoying. AAC does not run around habana. This does not happen in first class rugby. AAC runs into spaces where the defence is lost. He can do that on any position. Can we please give these people some credit? By the way I full expect the wallabies forwards to outplay the boks. Not like France. But similar. And for similar reasons. Game on.
Chivas
Guest
I think if he made the same impact as a Matfiekd, Whitelock, Eales or most any other tall tower people would be happy. The same as if the other lock was able to play like Etzbeth, Retallick and others. But right now. .I can't think of anyone you could reasonably swap Simmonds out for. I think people just begrudge the fact that the tight five can't take it to teams and get over them physically. Simmonds is only one of the players that cops it if you were to be honest. He is not the only forward that is not a world beater currently. Not are Carter or Fardy. I think sometimes this is frustrating because at one time locks were actually a strength of Australia. Even Justin Harrison seems a lifetime ago.
Chivas
Guest
Really. Legacies are a fallacy because you say that is the case and it suits your argument to hold onto your belief that Ewen is a super coach. Legacies do exist and are created regardless of whether or not you deny it. The players left behind, leadership structures, the culture. These things have a very big impact going forwards. Teams don't instantly lose their mojo with a change of coach. Clearly you don't believe Crusaders have built a legacy or dynasty based on these foundations, but they have. The same as businesses don't collapse the moment they have a change of CEO. For the record as much as I think Hodgo has been an absolute godsend for the Force, I don't think he is much more than a journeyman against international competition, compared to Hooper who offers a genuine point of difference.
Knuckle
Guest
Spiro: I have to say that this analysis is ridiculous. There is absolutely no point in playing games with individuals. Overall the obvious difference in NZ is the singular sport focus. In australia it's the scale. Players like Toomua or kepu will look fabulous when the whole 15 is in motion. You'd us what cheika has demonstrated and what link did in queensland. IMO the cattle are fine. Getting them to play together is no small ask. Especially when the boks and AB have been at it for a while. It is essential and obvious that we need to let the team build. And personally I am grateful that link has gone back to the best options.
Harry Jones
Expert
I hate red cards and yellow cards They're over-used
waikato07
Guest
"If this latest Wallaby XV and reserves – notice that Will Skelton has been dropped – don’t defeat the Springboks, more chipping away at the modelling by Ewen McKenzie will be required." I remember trying to carve pumas once, chipping away, chipping away, eventually i chipped away for so long there was nothing left.
waikato07
Guest
"Or do the Wallabies need the Waratahs fabulous four of Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper? With Tevita Kurdrani and Henry Speight on the wings?" YES!!!
Starchild
Guest
Now now johnno over the years the roar has been very kind with getting your grammar up to scratch. Then you engage into a sentence with as much sense and stability as the Australian scrum down to 7 men under their own sticks facing the mighty blacks.
Chivas
Guest
Jerry, I feel often they do because it can really change momentum and alters the competition. And then there was the red which meant he was off the field for a lot longer than otherwise. So in turn it was a bit longer than really was deserved. But for the record I do think yellow cards are a bit of a blight and have said so before. I like rugby for the competition and prefer a level playing field. It is not level when momentum is arbitrarily changed especially where there are absolutely no grounds for it.... not 50:50 but zero. It also makes winning feel better for me. It is not the same as a bad call resulting in a penalty and while you can say only 7 points were scored in that period, I felt more importantly it shifted momentum.maybe it is all in my mind, but momentum shifts are exactly that psychological. When Bismark is on fire he is crucial to the team and I really enjoy watching players who are red hot.
Jerry
Guest
No, but Bismarck knew he was on a yellow and should have reigned it in a bit. Like everyone else who's ever been yellow carded, deserved or not.
ozinsa
Guest
I noted the lack of impact Robinson brought to the NRC match recently so would find it hard to make a case for him based solely on that but his previous month in a Tahs jumper were very good so I'd be happy for him to move to the bench in place of Cowan who has seemed to struggle in his short stints at the end of games.
soapit
Guest
you think he would have got a straight red for the second one without the first?