Australian rugby fans seeking a scapegoat for the Brumbies and Waratahs’ semi-final losses will have done well to make good use of the time since Saturday to reflect on the real reasons why their seasons have ended a week earlier than hoped.
For a start, while Glenn Jackson and Craig Joubert have both enjoyed better days with the whistle, they simply don’t rank in the first dozen reasons for the respective losses.
Contemporary professional rugby is a mass of buzz words like ‘structures’, ‘systems’, ‘KPIs’, ‘skill sets’ and ‘playing what’s in front of you’.
Which is all fine and dandy, except there is another set of old-fashioned words which still merit attention for any teams aspiring to win a rugby match.
Pass, catch, kick, tackle, run and back-up are perhaps the core component skills of rugby. Do these things well, better than your opponent, and at pace, and you will invariably win many more games than you lose.
Which is exactly what the Hurricanes and Highlanders did on Saturday night.
Both teams were far from perfect – in finals football there is too much at stake and too much quality in the opposition to have everything go your own way. But both New Zealand sides showed superior respect and regard for the basics of the game, in both their preparation, tactics and execution, which left the Australian sides exposed and vulnerable.
In Wellington the Hurricanes, looking fresh from their week off, repeatedly probed for holes in the Brumbies’ defence, so much so that it was a small miracle that by half-time only two tries had resulted. Both were trademark efforts, working the ball into space for firstly the big bus Julian Savea to steamroll Nic White on his way in, and the second a trademark TJ Perenara score from backing up an outside break.
There’s your comparison between the two sides right there. Eleven tries this season for Perenara, many of them similar support-play efforts, compared to his counterpart White who – and I don’t have stats to prove it but I’d put my house on it – would be well ahead of Perenara on balls tidied up around his defensive 22 and goal-line.
In terms of individual players, hooker Dane Coles had by far his best game of the season, James Broadhurst and Victor Vito were up to their very high 2015 standards and Ardie Savea may just have had Steve Hansen squirming in his seat a little with his compelling, assertive performance in attack and defence.
On the other hand, Beauden Barrett looked out of sorts for most of the match. Hurricanes supporters will be hoping that it is nothing more than rustiness off a long injury break.
As for the Brumbies, it’s not as if they played poorly, indeed prop Scott Sio and skipper Stephen Moore were among the game’s best players, and one second half breakdown steal by David Pocock was an audacious magician’s act of sheer beauty.
But with an eye to the list of basics above, the Brumbies failed to match the Hurricanes in the attacking elements, and were markedly inferior in tackling. In the end, by finishing third or fourth as losing a semi-finalist, they copped their right whack.
Much of the pre-game talk in Sydney predicted the Highlanders’ demise due to their rapid-fire game being unsuitable for the heavier, damp conditions away from their Dunedin billiard table. There was also widespread agreement that the Waratahs would dominate them in the physical exchanges.
That neither of these things happened was a tactical triumph for coach Jamie Joseph, who devised a game plan which effectively locked their running game away in the garage for a week, eliminating the chances of his side getting knocked over in midfield, behind the advantage line.
Instead there was a lot of kicking, much of it shallow or to the sidelines, the type of play that on another day would have been considered wasteful, but against a stuttering Waratahs side was perfect.
While Israel Folau confidently dealt with the high ball, the lack of a quality kicking option in the Waratahs’ back three, the lack of space due to a tenacious Highlander’s defence, and five lineouts lost off the feed, served to choke the Waratahs down to the point where the territory was ridiculously skewed in the Highlander’s favour.
The inside back pairing of Lima Sopoaga and Aaron Smith followed the game plan to such an extent it actually impacted on their own individual performances, Smith making a season’s worth of mistakes via taking on far too much play himself.
But it mattered not a jot, indeed the ultimate irony came when a loose Smith pass was eventually collected by Richard Buckman, an expert at making something out of nothing, who duly slithered under some midfield tacklers and then ran away for a try.
Another loose pass of note was the first of the match, off the left hand of Waratahs halfback Nick Phipps who, it must be said, endured another less than satisfactory night. In retrospect, this set the tone for the Waratah’s performance, failing most notably in the basics of pass, catch and kick.
Joubert copped plenty from a vocal crowd, in particular for his penalty try and yellow card decision against Waratahs flanker Jacques Potgeiter. I could happily have lived with a ‘non-decision’, there was no intent on Potgeiter’s part and it was Patrick Osborne himself who seemed to prevent himself from grounding the ball, regardless of the hit.
But despite not knowing that a falling Osborne would have his head exactly where his arm would be, Potgeiter can’t really feel hard done by – any player who throws a loose arm into any tackle like he did rolls the dice and lives with the consequences.
If there was a valid complaint about Joubert, it was that he missed several forward passes, mostly off inside balls (from both sides), and didn’t impose a firm offside line at the breakdown (again for both sides). This remains a frustrating problem for all rugby, and it seems incomprehensible that at this level a referee and two assistants can’t work together to keep two sides properly apart.
Many comments during and after the game referred to the Waratahs lacking a ‘Plan B’, however it wasn’t obvious to me what ‘Plan A’ actually was. Certainly coach Michael Cheika will know in his heart that despite his side’s reputation for physicality, they were met head on and beaten in the forwards this season by the Force, Stormers and now, Highlanders.
One reason for this is that the Waratahs were trying to impose themselves through bullocking runs or hits in defence as individuals, rather than working together as a cohesive pack of forwards. Once again a basic element of the game, one where this ‘no-name’ Highlanders pack showed their opponent the value of teamwork.
So, just as for the Brumbies, third or fourth as losing semi-finalist, seems like the Waratahs’ right whack.
Another basic is the expectation home viewers of professional sport have that they enjoy live commentary which is informed, impartial and professional. This seems to be achieved easily enough by pretty much all other notable sports, however rugby viewers in Australia continue to be poorly served.
When Beauden Barrett missed an early penalty in Wellington, Fox Sports comments man Greg Martin gleefully exclaimed that it was a really good sign for us. While Martin can often be fulsome in his praise for silky skilled New Zealand play, this was base level cheerleading of the very worst kind.
Meanwhile, expectations are never high where Phil Kearns is involved, and he was predictably true to type, zeroing in on Craig Joubert as the root cause of the Waratahs’ troubles. Miserable, sniveling, biased nonsense.
It makes no sense at all for Fox Sports to employ an expert panel including the likes of John Eales and Tim Horan, when their coverage is compromised by Kearns.
Bumping both of these clowns off match day and into a panel show, where they belong, would be a good start to fixing things.
DCNZ
Guest
Awesome article Allanthus, great posts, and ThugbyFan, love your sideline report. thanks all Nervous Canes Fan, in Sydney (We have waited 20 years for this!)
Digby
Roar Guru
Hehe, very good ;) Great wrap again mate, thanks
Wal
Roar Guru
Mexted's ability for a clanger are incomparable -"I can tell you it's a magnificent sensation when the gap opens up like that and you just burst right through." -"Darryl Gibson has been quite magnificent coming inside Andrew Mehrtens, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the same today." -"There's nothing that a tight forward likes more than a loosie right up his backside" - describing attempts to dry a pitch as a big blow job -"Well, either side could win it, or it could be a draw." - "You don't like to see hookers going down on players like that." - "I haven't had a knee operation on any other part of my body." - "Its all tied up at 14-13" - "Andy Ellis - the 21 year old, who turned 22 a few weeks ago"
Wal
Roar Guru
Hey Machooka, I fully get why people see Kearns as comic relief, but it is an acquired taste. From a personal perspective I am a casual league viewer, admittedly it is on free to air, so much easier to take or leave. But I regularly turn off when Ray Warren and Phil Gould start on their idiotic tirades.
Harry Jones
Expert
Chivas, I thought AB maul defense in 2013 was superb. In 2014, it still good (not as innovative as Ireland's). There were a few set plays by the Boks from feints at a maul in 2013; haven't seen them since... Basically, throw to the back, act for all the world like a maul is being set, then run a heavy strike runner like Thor through the 9/10 channel just when the opposition pack is binding
Chivas
Guest
As much as I hate seeing the Bok win, I am really interested to see if aha dee and seven come of age in this upcoming tournament. I remember Handre blowing everyone away at U20's and he is going from strength to strength. If they can get it together the Bok will be formidable. I would love nothing better than to be feeling confident about the AB's taking out this tournament, but unless they can sort out their scrums and come up with an effective defence against the maul, they will struggle in my view.
Machooka
Roar Guru
@ Allanthus He definitely 'cut through' the other night... no doubt about that ! As to the Mrs... well at least we have that in common... and I wouldn't have it any other way :) And... I do get it about Kearns... but I don't know what to do about it... or ??
Taylorman
Guest
Yes the basics are so key but not just in terms of the individual skills, also because of the players roles. . some of the likely players are 'gimmicky' in terms of how they play their role. Skelton for example, a lock. Not there for his lineout work or Necessarily his scrum work, but for his bullocking runs and maul presence. Hooper, not there for his traditional 7 skills, value at the breakdown, but there more as a marauder, a ball handler and hassler on defence. The role of 12 as a playmaker that oz, and usually only oz, seem to insist on, perhaps because they think they need two for some reason, or, in Foleys case need another one. But all this gimmicky role play leaves them short because of the core roles not being addressed. The presence of Hooper and Skelton means others have to cover for the lineout, scrum and breakdown, the basics. The playmaker presence means less focus on midfield defence, or straightening the attack. When you pick a lock, make sure he is a lock. When you pick a 7, make sure he's effective at the breakdown.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Murrey Mexted (sic) is a bit like Leila in Futurama, but he does offer good analysis also, whereas Phil Kearns may have taken a couple too many in the scrums. If I am going to watch on TV, its listen to the ABC and watch the tv. Its the same with RL.
Jerry
Guest
Sometimes he said "Ovaaaaahhhh". That is, if someone else hadn't already said it.
wardad
Guest
Which Tahs Highlanders game ? Are you just trying to confuse me cos it may be working. Crazy folks do that to me .
ThugbyFan
Guest
Redsfan, maybe that was why the Tahs lost. Poor M.Cheika went down at half time (15-14 if I remember) to chat with Jaco and got lost in the bowels of the Sydney Sports stadium looking for Mr Peyper. Michael did say later he waved to C.Joubert while he combed the joint looking for Peco. In the meantime the Tahs had no rev-up speech from the coach so their brains went asleep. Damn, thats the best excuse I have ever dredged up for that loss. Anyone top that? :)
ThugbyFan
Guest
Congratulations Allanthus, the best comment yet on why the Tahs lost; "Pass, catch, kick, tackle, run and back-up are perhaps the core component skills of rugby. Do these things well, better than your opponent, and at pace, and you will invariably win many more games than you lose". And of course, the team sticks to a well thought out plan. What wasn't appreciated by most scribes (and Tahs fans) was this pack of unsung smallish Highlanders forwards attack and defend like mongrel dogs (no disrespect meant, they were great) and they did it at speed and as a team. I was close to the fence at the game and after 15 minutes, the Tahs forwards were huffing and puffing. It struck me then that perhaps they had overtrained a little too close to the match. Whatever the cause you hit the nail on the head, the team that had the best rugby skills easily won the match. As for the penalty try, lets take it out of the game and so the Highlanders won 28-17. I'm sure they would cry in their beers on that one.
Allanthus
Guest
I guess I meant that I "usually" don't notice him Machooka, in the sense that I don't usually hear the Mrs when she nags me to pick up my clothes. But he seemed to cut through on Sat night. I note that he's responded today to NZ criticism of his commentary, essentially non-plussed at what the fuss is all about. I don't care or expect that he doesn't get it, but I do care that senior people at Fox and the ARU understand that is important to represent and promote the sport in a professional manner.
Tahs Fan
Guest
Buckmans elbow hit the ground. While Kepu is holding his leg. Kepu releases the leg and then Buckman gets up and runs for the try. Double movement gents. Naholo open palms Horne blatantly and dangerously, penalty try and 10mins in the bin. Both the Tahs and Joubert had shockers lucky the landers made it an entertaining night ! Joubert was the Tahs 16th man with that performace
Harry Jones
Expert
I think we'll be a tough side to knock out; and the stage is set for some old veterans and young lads to make their mark.
Chivas
Guest
Not really. I think it will be s war of attrition in the front row and right now it is the AB's archilles heel. In addition the NZ sides are struggling to hold their ow in scrims and have no response for mauls... which I think will play a huge part in this upcoming tournament. Handre Pollard right now is primed to become the best first five in the world. Add in Etzbeth, Du Plessis, Burger, Vermeilen, a couple of massive and mobile props. They have the power and size to make it a long hard day at the office. The poms will put up similar in front of massive home crowds. But if you are so enamoured with them and the pres that you think so. Well that is surely your purgative. Having followed the AB's and Waikato for 50 odd years I am all too aware that the game is played on the field not on the pages of some website by over zealous fans.
Machooka
Roar Guru
@ Allanthus Ha... 'mature' I very much doubt it but thanks anyway. I'm way too old to be mature. Infact... damned if I'll be so. Frankly I was livid... and that's not some fancy left-wing light show that comes on once a year in old Sydney Town. Actually I'm an old colleague of Iggy Trappaga so that's a little unfair to him as he does a good job... but I was still LIVID ! Hey, I dropped a line to @ Wal... and thus look forward to his possible reply. And I do note your 'oblivious to his comments' comment regards my comments on Kearns, and thus I wonder why you put such adjectival disdain on his commentary in your article ? "Miserable, sniveling, bias nonsense." Fantastic writing... I aspire to that level of description. Wonderful stuff :)
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Just because incidents are similar does not mean they are the same. I will not comment on the Phipps penalty for not releasing in the tackle because I have not seen a replay however I will comment on Buckman. I have looked at the Buckman incident many times and I can't be sure that he was ever held in a tackle. The referee however seemed to be very clear in real time that he was not.
woodart
Guest
if his heart is on his sleeve, where is his head(somewhere dark maybe??)