French-style defence and Kurtley Beale needed to reignite Wallabies

This week, the Wallabies return to the UK after a defensive lesson from the French. Prodigal son Kurtley Beale could be preparing for a return to the Test team as soon as this weekend, when the Wallabies take on a revitalised Ireland.

Hot off the plane, Beale seems set for a role with the Wallabies, although Michael Cheika has hinted that if he was to return this weekend he would be doing it via the bench.

In a victory borne on a huge defensive effort, French coach Philippe Saint-Andre appeared to have borrowed heavily from ‘Gatland ball’ in a Wallaby defeat that was reminiscent of the British Lions decider in 2012.

A relentless display from the men in blue rushed the Australian attack all night, as they still appear to be finding their feet under their new coach.

They had their opportunities and they never stopped trying. Despite a flood of unforced errors, they continued to try a wider running game and looked most dangerous in the final minutes.

Although it may be argued that the unforced errors on the Wallabies behalf were simply the reward for the sustained pressure that the French applied to their opponents, either way it certainly cost the men in gold several points.

There were no signs of the ‘fickle’ French, with an enormous effort from their forwards for 75 minutes, only showing any defensive lapses late in the game with a man in the bin during the last ten minutes of the game.

They eagerly scrummaged to gain the upper hand on several occasions, as has come to be expected of Northern Hemisphere sides when they play Australia. But they also dominated contact at every opportunity and reloaded their defensive line with a hunger and intensity unseen by any opponent the Wallabies have faced this year.

In terms of defensive structure, which is so often mentioned by many coaches, Les Blues operated a fast and hard line of bodies who rarely missed a tackle or left a gap and appeared to get at least two forwards into nearly every tackle.

They were hungry and smart. They also displayed the attribute Robbie Deans so desperately sought – they were accurate.

The French did their best to spoil while never over committing numbers with Irish referee Nigel Owens allowing a little more leeway than some of his Southern Hemisphere counterparts might have.

I’m no expert but it seems to me that the key to any defensive structure is very simple… all fifteen players have to want to make tackles.

They must hurry back to their feet so quickly after the last tackle, keen to make the next, lining up for the work and urging each other on to dominate the tackle zone and add their shoulder to the cause.

As the French showed, you don’t need big numbers or blatant Richie McCaw style pestering to dominate the breakdown when you clearly dominate the contact. The awkward position on the wrong side of the ruck or ‘loitering with intent’ as the French were doing, is a little more excusable when you have just caught the ball carrier and driven him backwards or blown over their limp support.

There were some positives and something that has become a trademark of Michael Cheika coached teams, was the patience and ability to dominate the last fifteen minutes of the game.

But of greatest concern was the lack of spark, or x-factor as so many like to call it, when the Wallabies were able to mount pressure and consistent phases but clearly lacked the penetration required to break the Blue wall.

Phipps provided a crisp service and fast ball for some consistent periods and overall I think Foley has the merit to be the incumbent ‘first five’ with some very impressive displays of late and again one of the Wallabies best against the French.

Dangerous runners like Israel Folau and Tevita Kurindrani received extra attention no matter where they joined the line, in a scenario set to become very familiar to them as their reputations grow.

While five-eighth Bernard Foley made the only clean line break of the night and again found himself lacking options.

But with the exception of Kurindrani and a more often than not, wide running Ben McCalman, the consistent rushing defence often found Christian Laliifano and others presenting Foley with too few options.

Lealiifano was often caught short or shifting laterally. His attempts to rotate with Foley at first receiver felt forced and clumsy as the Wallabies often conceded ground during periods of attack.

The ball often found runners flat footed or not expecting it which left them looking bereft of any ideas.

While often not a problem at provincial level where combinations are more familiar and a more fluid attacking brand of rugby is employed, the New Zealand style ‘second five’ has been harder to replicate in the Test Arena. There, our successes could be counted on one hand, and our tendency has been back towards a ball carrying 12.

Traditionally the important backline combinations are considered to be 9-10 and then 12-13 – which is part of the problem.

Too often Australia has struggled with an unfamiliar 10-12 pairing failing to gel or in the worst case, two 10s trying to share the first receiver role with neither filling the 12 role satisfactorily.

In my opinion a sound 10-12 is perhaps a more important, certainly in attack. Probably the best example in recent history would have been the Brumbies generation of George Gregan, Steve Larkham and Rod Kafer.

With Kafer’s success built around a traditional Australian style bash and barge inside centre, but whose familiarity with the other two at Super Rugby level enabled him to learn and interchange with Larkham and become a second playmaker. This worked in both the Brumbies style and structure and at the Wallabies.

Although I have often been a critic of Beale – and at times remain thoroughly confused as to how he still has a contract – he appears the obvious solution in the midfield. He has so often provided the solution for the Waratahs this year in exactly this same situation.

So many times against the French, as is so often the case when Beale isn’t on the field, Folau appeared to be receiving the ball one pass too early, or looking for opportunities too close.

I have no doubt Folau would prefer Beale in the starting side after a lacklustre performance on the weekend. No one who has seen it can possibly deny the on-field chemistry he shares with Beale, and how much glory has been created following the commentators words “Beale to Folau now”.

Beale in the midfield provides that other important backline combination – a playmaker and fullback. This provides someone in the traffic zone who understands how to bring his fullback to the fore, and allows Folau to do what he does best.

While I can already hear the interstate moaning about Waratah prejudice, returning Beale to the number 12 jersey would appear to be the most obvious move, and the only candidate who fulfils all roles required of the position.

Quade Cooper was a welcome sight late in the French game as he injected some spark and picked a few gaps in the tiring defence, but his own defence makes him an unlikely starting 12.

While I have always predicted big things for Lealiifano and Matt Toomua, neither has been able to convince me of their Wallaby credentials in the much sought after second playmaker role that the Wallabies covet so dearly.

Tevita Kurindrani’s now trademark yardage and somewhat predictable aversion to passing, provided some yards over the advantage line, but was smothered again to contain his offloading which hasn’t been sighted yet on tour.

Adam Ashley-Cooper had a patchy performance, but he also did a lot right as usual. He was particularly effective creating down his right wing while opposite Teddy Thomas was receiving treatment.

I’m starting to wonder if there aren’t any better wingers than Joe Tomane available?

The forwards I feel requires a whole separate analysis with a lot more head scratching and moaning – and a thorough blasting of James Horwill and Handsome Rob – which I might provide later if anyone is interested!