The Rugby Championship might be taking a week off, as the Wallabies and All Blacks ready themselves to travel to the opposite ends of the earth, but not Biltong, Digger, and I.
“No bloody way,” the evil editors said. “That forum’s waaaay too popular on a Friday for you blokes to be getting a week off.” So here we are. On the bye week.
Think of our sacrifice – forced into continuing a popular international rugby forum on a bye week – while you go through some doozy questions and responses. And please, feel free to post your own thoughts, or indeed, lodge your own big question. The guys and I will tackle them during the day as we get a chance.
Brett McKay asks: With New Zealand essentially one win away from sewing up the Rugby Championship for a third straight year, will or should the last round mark the commencement of Rugby World Cup experimentation one year out?
Obviously, it all hinges on New Zealand winning their game in La Plata, but after that it wouldn’t at all surprise me if a few combinations were tweaked.
It doesn’t have to be wholesale change, or the selection of so-called ‘B teams’, but I think the last round – plus the end of year tours – would represent a good chance to tinker ahead of a reduced number of internationals next year.
For New Zealand, it might mean giving Beauden Barrett more time at 10, or even Sam Cane more time at 7. South Africa might want to look at their lock stocks, and prepare for life without Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha. Until the next comeback, of course.
For Australia, it’s probably a little harder to pinpoint some areas of possible experimentation, though backrow would certainly be one. It might also be the time to try Kurtley Beale at fullback, and see if Israel Folau is any less effective on the wing.
Argentina probably can’t though, if I’m honest. If they lose to the All Blacks next weekend, they’ll be putting out their best team possible the following week in Mendoza to try and knock the Wallabies off and record their first ever TRC win.
Biltong: My first response to this question is no. It is too late for experimentation. Besides that, both Australia and South Africa need a win over the All Blacks, and they will find more benefit in beating the All Blacks before the Rugby World Cup than exposing an experimental player.
But on the other side of the coin, are there any players who deserve the chance to prove their worth?
In South Africa’s case, I would love to see Nizaam Carr getting an opportunity, and the same goes for Cobus Reinach.
The problem with this interesting conundrum is that continuity of selection is now becoming an issue. There aren’t many games left, and coaches should pretty much know by now who their best 23 players are.
If they still don’t know I fear they are running out of time.
Digger: Possibly, but I am unsure whether any of the coaches have been happy with the overall performances to date in terms of their expectations from the structures and game plans put in place and how they have been executed.
I would be surprised to see any major deviation from the status quo from any of the teams regardless of the standings come the final round.
I also feel the best time will be on the EOYT where a better idea of conditions and processes can be played around with along with introducing some fresh faces.
Biltongbek asks: It took 46 minutes before Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper and Ben McCalman hit a ruck together against the Pumas on the weekend. In the few minutes Matt Hodgson was on, he hit more rucks than Hooper and Fardy. Even though Hodgson gives away 7kg to Fardy, should he replace him in the upcoming Tests?
I understand that some may have a concern that other set pieces may be impacted on selecting Hodgson. However, McCalman did take a few lineouts on the weekend, which would suggest you are not limiting the line out options that badly, you still have Simmons, Carter, and McCalman as options.
If the Australian scrum managed to handle the ‘bajada’ with Fardy, how much does a few kilos make? Hodgson is more physical in my opinion anyway, hence until the return of David Pocock it is an absolute necessity that Ewen McKenzie improve the groundwork of the Wallabies at the breakdown.
Besides that, if Pocock were available, then Australia would still have only three options at the line out.
Digger: Yes, I do think it is worth a shot. With both remaining games away, the Wallabies will need to address their breakdown presence and Hodgson can certainly offer that.
I would be concerned that his inclusion may weaken other areas of the game, particularly set piece, but in fairness, I’m not sure Fardy has been offering a whole lot more.
I think it is time to let Hodgson have a run and see what he can offer but if the Wallabies allow themselves to get dominated as a pack like in their last away match then it’s not going to matter who the blindside is.
Brett: This would certainly fall into the type of experiment that I could see happening, and in this specific case, I would certainly like to see Hodgson tried. It would probably be less risky to run him out alongside Hooper and McCalman, but I’d also at some point like to see the Hodgson-Hooper-Higginbotham backrow tried.
Hodgson is a proper lineout option, too. The Western Force throw to him regularly, even though he is seven centimetres shorter than McCalman. He certainly possesses the ability to ‘play bigger’, so it’s arguable as to just how much would actually be given up.
Regardless, the point is that Fardy isn’t at his 2013 level unfortunately, and while it would be rough to put all of the Wallabies’ forwards issues on one player, there are certainly a lot of similarities in what the Wallabies’ pack is missing this year, and what Fardy himself seems to be falling short of.
Hodgson is in the form of his life. It would be a shame to see that form wasted without at least giving it a run at international level.
Diggercane asks: Each Rugby Championship team has one more crack at the All Blacks at home this season. If you were coach, what area of each teams play would you focus on to try and secure an elusive win?
Australia needs to up its physicality at the breakdown and demand more from numbers 4-8 in clearing the rucks and slowing down the All Blacks ball would be my major focus in training.
I feel South Africa need to play more with ball in hand but it’s not as simple as that. My focus would be encouraging the players to identify opportunities and back themselves, placing a good deal of emphasis on support play to ensure the ball runners always have support in the tackle and options for the pass.
Argentina have the pack to draw the All Black numbers in and upset their defensive patterns so whether from set piece or general play I would look to maul as often as possible, draw in the numbers and set up more runners to play off Nicolas Sanchez and Joaquín Tucalet to vary the point of attack and create options.
Brett: I think all three teams need to be more effective at the breakdown, at the very least, in slowing down the All Blacks’ ball. The All Blacks themselves have made an art of this, and there’s no reason why they themselves wouldn’t be similarly afflicted by slow ball.
So in this regard, of the current squads, Argentina seems most capable of doing that. One of the most improved areas of their game this season has been their attack on the ball on the ground, and their ruck defence and general presence has always been better than perhaps they get credit for.
For South Africa, the loss of Francois Louw is huge, because while there are numerous capable replacements available, none of them will really replace what Louw does. And it will be interesting to see which way Heyneke Meyer goes here too.
Does Warren Whiteley come in and play something close to the traditional South African no.6 game, or does he just let Schalk Burger loose to do what only Schalk Burger can?
For the Wallabies, I just go back to my points made immediately above. If they truly want to slow the All Blacks’ ball down, the best and only player for the job is Matt Hodgson. But he isn’t enough on his own; it would also require significant lift from his other seven pigs.
Biltong: For South Africa it is simple, move away from the kick first mentality, allow players to read the situation and exploit opportunities, let them express themselves more freely.
For Australia, I would suggest the two biggest priorities are the breakdowns, and embracing the kicking game more. Their obsession with keeping ball in hand and negating the basics of territory and forward physicality doesn’t allow them to play a complete game.
For Argentina, I think for them it is mostly about eliminating silly errors and moments of loss of concentration. The past weekend their biggest downfall was the lapse in concentration that caused them to concede soft tries. They tend to drift in and out of games.
DC-NZ
Guest
My view is that the Wallabies cannot beat the All Blacks with Hooper in the squad at seven. He is good for a few glory runs but he is simply not dominant in the loose. But Link made him captain and he won't change for the RWC The All Blacks have struggled against big back rows (Dusatoir/Picamoles) (Vermulen/Alberts), (Launchbury/Lawes) at times. Hooper/Fardy/Palu doesnt cut it.
Daryl
Guest
Hi Rugby Tragic, a few blushes here, Cardy was the ninth millionaire, memory is slipping but the first pacer nonetheless. Cheers.
wannabprop
Guest
Love this idea. Genius!
The Twins
Roar Rookie
Hi FirstXV - I am not so sure Henry's opining is or has any validity. The AB's will continue to strive to win - WINNING is their MOTTO...it doesnt matter what happened previously, YES any team can learn from their past, but the AB's look at the future by understanding their past...AB's dont need revenge...but by crikey the Boks and Poms certainly do and that is their undoing....they focus too much on wanting to beat the AB's particularly the BOKS....they have said it every year since 2010....and look where it has got them...
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Daryl, in terms of prize money, thanks for the correction re Cardie. Yep bred by the Todds at Mataura. As for him being the 'yardstick' for pacers, of that I have little dioubt. I will never forget Peter Wolfebden stating, 'he is the only horse I have ever driven who can sprint 3 times in a race' ... Remarkable.
Firstxv
Guest
Exactly, they are that proficient in winning that they can almost be selective in 'choosing' the losses that will refuel the motivation tank. Look at Hong Kong, England, the draw versus Oz. 3 matches which effectively caused little damage. Hong Kong the trophies were away. England was out usual 10 year single loss to them, the last of a long year, and the draw was away, in the wet, in the first match of the RC. Since then theyve retaken the lead, and look at the Eden park regalvanisation. Oz were saying they were up for that match. Can't say the draw didnt hurt, and didnt promote the effectiveness of that win.
Firstxv
Guest
1. Does a token oss against say SA at Ellis Park this year really change anything the ABs will do or have any tangible effect on games being played in a year’s time? No. Says who? You. What evidence do you have of that? Look at Englands last win over the AB's. How long did the not wanting to lose feeling last after that? Well, we've still yet to find out havnt we? 2. Any so-called “bounce back” lasts one or two games max. How many tests between now and the RWC knockout games? How about 21 matches...and counting. If you're going to make a statement...support it please. I'm saying with a refocus on next years World cup the ABs need a new focus. I've been through all these streaks of the AB's and after a while you got the sense that a draw or loss was inevitable simply because it is so much more difficult to motivate a team that has forgotten how to lose. Then one day, they do. Hansen has come out saying he wants to change that philosophy- maintain winning 'without winning'. Well if the remain unbeaten up to the world cup semi or final and lose then this will be a major factor. They'll have gone into the tournament with no memory of what the pain is like to lose. I believe that is dangerous. Because everyone else will have it. I'm not advocating the side deliberately lose to obtain that scenario because that would defeat its purpose, the loss has to cut. And Ellis, and Twickenham are the most likely matches to do that. Any RC losses next year won't have the same impact with one eye on the cup though losing two in 2011 so close to the tournament must have helped.
Daryl
Guest
I agree that rucking should be reintroduced rather than this pathetic spectacle of one or two players committing to the breakdown and the remainder spreading in a shallow defensive line. In the not so good, good old days the forwards all arrived at once to contest the ball, leaving room for backs to compete against backs. Our beloved game is unfortunately looking like a poor game of league. As regards Cardigan Bay, I believe he was the eighth millionaire, seven gallopers in front of him but he was the first for a standardbred. He came from Mataura in Southland and is still the yardstick for measuring pacers in New Zealand against.
Gavin Fernie
Guest
Well said Biltongbek. It is very doubtful that Meyer will broaden his tactics at the end of the year to find the best available combinations for the 2015 RWC. Right now, he needs to stick with the combinations he had at his disposal in Wellington, minus Jannie and Hougaard the other impedimenta, (Pienaar is injured) The pressure tactics the Springbok pack employed in Wellington rattled the All Blacks, as the Irish and English packs have done in recent games. Despite their superb backline, the All Blacks are vulnerable up front, and do not like playing on the highveld at the end of the Rugby Championship; or do they? They certainly found their mojo last year. Nizaam Carr and Warren Whiteley are the type of brainy 'rugby players......not bashers', we need to develop for the immediate future, and surely Reinach can do better than Hougaard?
richard
Guest
Maybe luck wasn't the right word.Let's just say they have won a number of games they could quite easily have lost.And it is to their credit they have had the skill and mental fortitude to still come out on top. Even so,I stand by my contention that this team can't go on winning forever.Regardless of how good this team is (and I believe it is a great side).
Carlos The Argie in the USA
Guest
Nobrain, really? It was a tough call.
Carlos The Argie in the USA
Guest
It was a it of a challenge to you all. Thanks for the sensitivity and understanding. I do spend much more time watching kiwi, SA and AUS rugby than Argentine, as this is what I get on the TV here in the USA. I am also a referee in Southern California, so I am sensitive to refereeing issues. By the way, I stand by my prior comments that the calls agains the Pumas have been a bit too much. Though Cubelli must have thrown the ball before Jackson's instruction (showing lack of patience and maturity), I do feel it is a pedantic way to end a match. The same can be said of all the scrums in the first half where the AUS TH immediately went backwards and the former fly half blowing the whistle didn't figure that out. What I find appalling is that the Pumas can select a captain who doesn't speak English. This is a huge advantage to the competition. In the game in Salta, Walsh kept telling the Boks scrum to be patient but Creevy never asked Walsh what he was referring to...
SOS
Guest
Right on Rouaan! Reckon there is a real issue here with player management. Cash grabs by the financially strapped ARU?
Justin3
Guest
They came 13th and deserved nothing more or less. Talk about selective vision, fooook me amazing comments.
fredstone
Guest
No chance you'll see this lot in the team in the next 2 years, Thomas was getting shoved around by a Cheetahs third team front row, and Thomas had Matt Stevens and Lourens Adriaanse at TH, so the problem was Thomas. PSDT is about as unbreakable as Goosen. He's seen less gametime than Goosen has in one season in two seasons. Reinach is way to erratic, he needs to settle down or we need to find something else super quick. Paul is a wing, he played wing for Grey and the Cheetahs and the Baby Boks because there were guys that were light years better, and still are, at centre. Unfortunately he, PSDT, William Small Smith and Goosen seem to be made of the same brittle stuff. Senatla isn't nearly as good as Hendricks at finishing and Mvovo well, who would you drop for Mvovo, Pietersen or Habana?
IvanN
Guest
No, im a province boykie.... but thats the best players im thinking of... give this team 2 years of regular selections and we could build nicely
fredstone
Guest
Harry, neither can I re: Arno. He's probably a better 8 than 7 and he's probably going to be amongst the best 8's we'll ever get to see if he lives up to his potential. So what to do with Duane I hear you ask well he's actually a 7 and I think he played there a bit when he just started at WP and he only started playing 8 at the Cheetahs because Juan was at 7 and Henro Scholts (btw if you guys think Duane is strong I saw Henro run over Butch James and AJ Venter at the same time at the Shark tank a couple of seasons ago on a no surprise front up crashball) at 6 and Brussouw was just starting.
Sylvester
Guest
Put me in the camp of "ABs need a loss" being rubbish. 1. Does a token oss against say SA at Ellis Park this year really change anything the ABs will do or have any tangible effect on games being played in a year's time? No. 2. Any so-called "bounce back" lasts one or two games max. How many tests between now and the RWC knockout games? 3. The ABs have had a number of poor performances, close games, get out of jail moments to realise they can't rest on their laurels. Those games are akin to losses in Hansen's mind in terms on the need to tweak and improve the game plan.
Agree Diehard, he does lack a bit of maturity, but that will only come with exposure and continuity of selection. I honestly hope Meyr is now done with Morne Steyn and sticks to Pollard.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
And Pollard has the vision and the weapons for that to happen more often BB. He can work in traffic like Cruden but has the balance of Carter. Good length on the kick, nice drop goal and good hands. Whats not to like. Will be very interesting to watch at the end of year to see what develops.