With a tumultuous couple of weeks behind us, I wanted to try and discuss the future of Australian rugby.
While history will say the Mckenzie era a failure on stats alone, he has promoted some wonderful talent. With consistency these guys can be developed into a winning side.
McKenzie was unlucky with injuries to key personnel, which no-doubt worked to destabilise the team.
I think its no co-incidence that this period of internal upheaval coincided with the injuries to David Pocock (a natural leader well respected by the team), Stephen Moore, Will Genia and the loss of form and confidence of James Horwill.
These guys are the natural leaders in Australian rugby, and anyone who has coached team sport knows these leaders are vital to team stability. Michael Hooper is a great talent, but in my eyes doesn’t have the maturity to lead the Wallabies yet.
I’d like to look beyond this end of season tour, in the hope that everyone will be back on deck come the World Cup, and pick what I consider our best.
Lets start with the fat blokes. The complaint of every Wallaby supporter for the past 15 years has been our inability to compete internationally come scrum time.
I fail to see how our Super Rugby teams seemingly have no problem, only to see us get dished up consistently in the yellow jersey.
The Wallabies have a proud history, and many great players have pulled on the jersey, however the fact that Ben Alexander and Al Baxter are our most capped tight heads ever says something about our problems in the past 10 years.
Having said all that, James Slipper and Sekope Kepu seem to be developing into a formidable combination, and with Moore’s arms around them I think we have a competitive front row.
Instructions must be scrummage first, the rest is a bonus. Who replaces them is our biggest problem, with little time to be resolved. Saia Fainga’a has really stepped up in the past few weeks, playing with controlled aggression and doing the basics right (lineouts, scrums). He gets the nod ahead of Tatafu Polota-Nau. Sio looks to be a developing talent at loose head, but I am stumped at backup tighthead.
It’s the Wallabies biggest concern. Maybe Tetera Faulkner could be that man.
The second row is a real problem and the point of difference between us and other international sides.
These guys must offer more than just lineout ability, especially if we want our front concentrating on set piece. These guys have to take up the slack. A good pack is always the sum of all its parts, and this is why the All Blacks dominate.
Their ability to create players that can master all facets of the game is the key. Rob Simmons, while clearly a great lineout technician, lacks any presence in ball carrying or cleanout. Sam Carter, while young and with potential, is solely there for his work rate to make up for Simmons lack thereof.
The key is getting Horwill back to the level he was pre his knee injury, when he was considered a world class lock, playing with aggression and hitting the gain line consistently.
I would like to see Luke Jones partnering him, who I think has the ability to become something special. He is aggressive, runs hard and is a good lineout jumper. My bench lock would be Will Skelton against bigger less mobile packs and Carter against the All Blacks etc.
The balance of the backrow is vital, and something McKenzie was unable to achieve. Pocock coming back is the key here. He plays hard over the ball, and leads from the front.
Again while Hooper is an amazing talent, in my opinion he unbalances the backrow. I think they have been forced to pick Scott Fardy at six because Hooper’s style is not to play on the ball. Fardy somewhat makes up for this.
The problem is we are left with our best gain line forward at seven playing wide of the ruck, and our best on-baller at six. While Fardy is a good footballer, he rarely carries with any authority. My backrow would be Pocock at seven and captain, Higginbottom at six, with the freedom to play a little wider aka Kieran Read, and Ben McCalman at 8.
I know there’s a large crew that don’t rate McCalman at international level, however I think he’s a workhorse in defence, and runs hard and often with the ball.
He plays close to the ruck and would compliment Higgers and Pockock well. My bench would see Hooper come on for Higgers if things were tight, or McCalman if we were looking to loosen things up a bit.
So that’s the boring bit out of the way, let’s talk about the rugby players.
I like the way Phipps is developing his game, and until Genia gets back to his best, he gets the start. While Phipps pass needs attention, his speed to the breakdown is key, and he looks to clear from the ruck immediately.
Genia’s game suffered when Deans decided to try and focus play off him. The pressure on him to produce something became too much. One of the key’s to the All Blacks play at the moment is the speed of Aron Smith and his ability to clear the ball away from congestion quickly, giving his backs time and space to conjure something up.
If Genia can get back to this style, then he get’s the start, however until then, I see Phipps as our best option.
Flyhalf has been a problem for Australia, with an obsession to try and fit some kind of magician into the play making role. While Cooper, O’Connor and Beale’s skill sets are impressive (in attack), I just don’t see it as needed by the current Wallabies.
We have some fantastic attacking weapons out wide, and should concentrate on getting them as much ball as possible. Foley has done an admirable job at 10, but like those I mentioned above (with exception of O’Connor maybe), he cannot tackle, and this is a major problem.
Matt Toomua would be my 10. He’s cool under pressure, has a good tactical kicking game, tackles well and has good vision. All the attributes you need. Michael Lynagh, Steve Larkham, Tim Horan, Dan Carter are all brilliant players, but none would be considered ‘mecurial’. It’s just not needed at 10 or 12, leave that for the glory boys wider out.
The centres I’d like to see? Kyle Godwin partner Tevita Kirandrani. They are both big men, with the ability to dominate the gain line.
Godwin also has a history of playing 10, and will add the ball playing ability at 12, that has set Wallaby backline play apart from the All Blacks and Boks over time.
Finally the back three – this is where we want the ball with space and time given the talent available.
Israel Folau obviously at fullback, with Henry Speight on one wing and James O’Connor on the other.
That represents a balance of power and skill, with James O’Connor having the ability to ghost into the play making role as needed. The bench for the backline sees Genia, Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper having an ability to cover all positions and add spark when introduced.
So baring injuries, that’s my 23 for next year’s World Cup final when we role England in the final. Are they good enough to claim the Webb Ellis?
RaymondReddington
Roar Rookie
The exercise seems pointless at this time .....Post the EOYT should be the starting point , at that juncture we will have a better idea who has stood up , what combinations appear to work and how those coming back from injury are coping their training regimes . To place the injured on a proposed roster appears fanciful at best . The trick now is to see who comes out of the tour with reputations in tact and those who are on the fringe within the squad stake their claim , as for the injury list I think Cheika will only pick them based on their current form (during the Super 15 season) ie. Pocock , TPN , Palu , Moore etc . As for Karmichael Hunt time will tell , if he came directly from League as SBW has I'd say yes consider him ... but lets see how he settles in at the Reds , as for O'Connor (who has been in sparkling form for Toulon) if he performs for the Reds on and off the field redemption is at hand , and if you think he lacks commitment think again ...when playing for the Rebels there were negative comments on his defence when Rene Ranger steamrollered over him , what was not mentioned was the fact that 5 minutes earlier he cracked his sternum , but still fronted up to take him on regardless . In reality we will put out the best available at the time of the RWC ... just let Cheika get some continuity over the coming weeks ....then select like crazy for the RWC 2015 squad ... Hey Roar editors, how about a competition for say closest to the squad with a cut off say 1 month before selections announced ?
Mike
Guest
I fear we aren't going to see him back, Chaz. Its just gone on so long. I don't believe he himself will do it unless he is sure he can play at a high standard . My heart wants him there but my head says its looking pretty unlikely.
Mike
Guest
"I’m hoping for patience and creativity, and BELIEF." Spot on.
Mike
Guest
Alexander and Baxter got so many caps because many other players were said to be better, but really weren't much different. Reality has a way of cutting all Australian tight-heads down to size . I hope that is changing, I really do. But I have hoped it many times before.
Mike
Guest
True.
Yellow
Guest
Switch Hooper and Pocock around. The only reason Pocock should not start is if he has not regained form after injury. And if this is the case he should not be in the 23 at all. Which makes room for Hodgson. McMahon is also an interesting selection. But unless Palu is injured, and this is a huge probability, I can't see Cheika leaving him out. Leaving Foley out all together is pretty tough on the guy, but I would have to agree. I loved him for the Waratahs this year, but I'm not sure he has the same effect at test level. Maybe he just needs more time. I love how you have Hunt covering all positions! He really could play anywhere from 11-15. I really hope the Reds play him at 12 this year but I doubt this will happen. He would be a cross between SBW and Toomua. I'm not going to be that guy who states the obvious and says "we have to see how he plays in Super Rugby first', he is too much of an athlete not to make the transition successfully. He will be in the squad. Also I love your optimism about Kerevi. Unless the ARU changes something and allows Cheika to pick overseas based players the rest of your team is spot on.
SandBox
Roar Guru
Kamoshika is running a Roar Superbru tipping comp Superbru Roarballers NovInt14
Alex
Guest
I would rather someone like Chris Latham or Joe Roff at 15 as opposed to Folau. Personally i think 15 is actually a much more important tactical position both in attack and defence than people think. While there is no doubt Folau is an incredible footballer he has a clear lack of tactical understanding compared with the aforementioned. He needs to be in the 11, 13 or 14. He played as a centre or winger in League, generally positions that either require a tackle, run or pass. I don't think it is possible to entrust the 15 with someone who has displayed such a lack of the tactical requirements of the position, I can not count the amount of times i have heard a commentator claim no fullback at home when the opposition put in a kick. There are certain positions in Union that are more suited to players who have played union their whole careers rather than league converts. e.g. the tight 5,7, 9,10,15. Obviously there would be exceptions, people such as Thurston, Johns could have walked into the 10 imo. My back line for the RWC 9. Genia / Phipps 10. Cooper / Foley 12. Leliafano / Hunt 13. Kuridrani / AAC / Folau 11. Speight / AAC / Hunt 14. Folau / AAC / Hunt 15. O'Conner / Hunt Hunt being an exception to the rule, kind of like Matt Rogers * Players named first would most likely be first choice.
Alex
Guest
or if he had have played in the NRC rather than a round the world jaunt.
Alex
Guest
really i thought the team was definitely lacking in Jarryd Hayne, or the artist formerly known as the Hayne Train/Plane (Playne)
PJP
Roar Rookie
yep fair enuff, I'll defer to to his clubs opinion.......oh and spelling always my problem
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Hi Peter, Actually when I look up mecurial it tells me to try looking up mercurial instead ;) And the dictionary tells me the word also means, animated, lively, quick witted. Yep Horan and Larkham had the ability to do the basics, consistently and effectively at the highest level. But they also had the ability to do more than that. If you think that the success of Horan and Larkham was solely down to their ability to cover the basics well I'd have to respectfully disagree. Both players had the ability to do the extraordinary. To change the nature of the game in an instant. It doesn't take much of a look at the highlight reel for either of them to realise this They were both "x-factor"players. I might leave my final word to a group that should know Larkham pretty well - at the brumbies.com.au they describe him as "Larkham, a mercurial playmaker who was renowned as the premier flyhalf in world rugby during his career"
PJP
Roar Rookie
Chaz, I was only kidding on us beating England in the final.......I fully expect it to be the AB's we beat!!!
PJP
Roar Rookie
Ash, you may be right, I live in hope though with Pockock, I just think he gives a better balance as I explained. Obviously failing his return hooper is the man, and they have to work with him, or around him to find the correct balance.
PJP
Roar Rookie
Ruckin, not sure you got where I was coming from. If you look up mecurial it means "volatile, fickle, flighty, eratic"......and in the context I was using it in, I was describing the 10's we seem to have gone for over the past couple of seasons. Horan, Carter and Larkham are up there with the best I have seen in their positions (Horan certainly), but they are there because their ability to do the basics were better than anyone else, not because they can throw a behind the back flick pass 30 metres.
Herbert Badgery
Guest
A good article, Peter. Thanks. I like the defense of McCalman. While he's no superstar, he's really improved this season. Not sure whether it has been Foley getting his body position lower or what, but he's probably the best in the land at the moment. Toomua at 10 is a very sensible call. A bit like a big, hard tackling, hot-girlfriended, Michael Lynagh. (I'll ignore your comment about Larkham not being mercurial...) I think Godwin has a great future, but his playmaking abilities will always be limited by his boot. It is very unconvincing. His defense and straight running from 12 has been beautiful to watch. And as much as I love Genia, one must admit that Phipps is developing into a very good 9. His decision making will improve with experience, and his passing isn't perfect (neither was NF-J's) but his speed to the breakdown has made a read difference lately. Genia is going to really impress to get that jersey back.
Ash
Guest
you lost me when you bypassed Hooper. The bloke is by far and away the best player Australia has. Pocock will NEVER return to the player he was. I'll walk to Bourke naked if Pocock even makes it to the world cup.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
I'm sorry but I still can't get my head around "Steve Larkham, Tim Horan .....brilliant players, but none would be considered ‘mercurial’." Horan and Larkham You have to be kidding.
Graeme
Guest
I'd be quite happy to see either a fully fit Genia starting with Phipps coming on with 20 to go, or vice versa. He wouldn't have been match fit for the 3rd Bled, but if he had been on the bench things might have finished quite differently in the last 20.
Graeme
Guest
Another issue that people are ignoring is we are likely to be playing at least a few games in English bog conditions. Whether we like it or not we will need a good strategic kicker like Quade to get us out of our half. Trying to run it out from the 22 might have worked on dry Sydney pitches, but would be suicidal when playing in the mud.