It is truly an amazing time to be a Wallaby fan. Not because we’re a world powerhouse, or close to stealing a Bledisloe Cup series, or even playing well; rather it is the first time I can recall when the safest part of the Wallabies’ game is the scrum.
Just stop and let that sink in. The Wallaby scrum is the easy part of the game at the moment.
With Nick Stiles (the man behind the Reds rock-solid set piece this year) running the early Wallaby camps and Mario Ledesma (the Argentine master of the dark arts) involved as a consultant, the Wallaby scrum is going to take some beating this year; something that will make a nice change from the years when all the stars had to align just to keep the front row from eating grass.
Elsewhere though, things aren’t so rosy. The Brumbies and Waratahs’ Super Rugby semi-final losses, and the poor form of the other Australian teams raise some serious questions for Michael Cheika to ponder before the Wallabies’ international season opener against the Springboks on July 18.
The lineout
The Waratahs were picked apart in this facet of the game, however the Brumbies and the Reds were exceptional in this area. It follows that the Wallabies will look to build on this success.
If, as is widely expected, Will Skelton takes a starting spot in the second row, the Wallaby lineout will need to be very well drilled and accurate. That almost certainly means a demotion for Tatafu Polota-Nau to third-string hooker behind Stephen Moore and James Hanson. It may also save James Horwill’s international career (although on balance his set piece work is offset by his poor work around the field).
There are also implications for the loose forwards as both Scott Higginbotham and Scott Fardy are genuine jumpers, whereas Wycliff Palu is not. This will be tough one for Cheika to strike the right balance with.
The halves
More than one commenter, including Bob Dwyer, has stated that Nick Phipps and Nic White essentially played Will Genia into the no.9 jersey for the Wallabies during the semi-finals. That has to be a concern, because Genia has not been in good form, showing only fleeting glimpses of his quality during the season.
At flyhalf, the Brumbies’ attack has been lacking invention and direction all season, while the Reds and the Force don’t even rate a mention for their ‘attack’. The Rebels halves didn’t even make Wallaby training squad, and the Waratahs’ semi-final showed that Bernard Foley is limited in his ability to direct a game without a secondary playmaker.
Given Quade Cooper is injured yet again, it may be that the new overseas eligibility rule will be put to good effect during the Rugby Championship and World Cup, with Matt Giteau taking the reins of the Wallaby backline.
This is one selection problem Cheika will lose sleep over, because if he gets the halves combination wrong, the Wallabies could be facing a lot of Test losses.
Kicking
Another problem the Wallabies face is kicking, both out of hand and off the tee. On pure Super Rugby form the Wallabies back three would be Israel Folau, Rob Horne and Joe Tomane, however none of those players possess very good kicking games.
Folau can kick, but his skills don’t extend to running midfield bombs, cross-field rakes for territory, or speedy clearances under pressure. The Wallabies need a second genuine kicking option behind whoever plays in the no.10 jersey.
James O’Connor on one wing would solve the problem, as well as providing a secondary playmaker, however his selection has to be viewed as a big risk given his form since returning to Australia.
The kicking out of hand game is probably why Karmichael Hunt is getting a look in as a fullback in the Wallaby squad; it may also be the reason that Drew Mitchell joins Giteau in the Wallabies this year.
Moreover, as has been expounded upon by many here on The Roar (most notably Brett McKay), the place-kicking percentage of the Australian players in Super Rugby hovers around 70 per cent, which is far from ideal in Test match situations. Penalty kicks are going to be very important at the Rugby World Cup, they always are, and that issue will probably be giving Cheika nightmares.
All in all, there are some tough decisions for Michael Cheika to make regarding the Wallabies and very few Test matches in which to bed down any new combinations or tactics (two matches before the back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Tests, and then three before the all-important Rugby World Cup pool matches against England and Wales).
All Wallaby fans can do is wish him luck in sorting it out.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Obviously haven't watched the Reds play this year mate. Simmons and Genia have been fine. Genia struggles behind a beaten pack (Funny how much Phipps sucked on the Weekend when the Tahs forwards weren't dominating...) We drop Simmons we may as well send a 3rd XV to England as there's no way we'll even beat Fiji without a lineout. Which he runs. PERFECTLY. Australia have a 90% winning record on their own lineout when Simmons is caller. It has become a strength since his debut! But nah, lets pidgeon-hole a player who has fixed his brain-explosion penalties as the player he was 3 years ago. Scrubturkey
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Nah, he like (what seems like a significant portion of roarers) only judge players on their teams table position.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
+1 QLD would curbstomp
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
I agree with this team, except Horwill out, Simmons to lock & Fardy to 6. You don't lose anything but 10 kilo's of powderpuff Horwill but you gain Scott Fardy's hard breakdown work.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Genia's a sook that blames everyone but himself. It shows on the field and it would show off the field when criticism, constructive at that is ignored.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Sorry TWAS, but Phipps' passing has gone backwards this year. His passing replicates that famous bridge he spends so much time around.
Gunslinger
Guest
Who's gonna do your tackling?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good article Red Kev, not sure the scrum is going to any different this year to the previous 12. Let's hope so or it will be an early exit from the World Cup. Cheik has a huge challenge in front of him and not much time to get it right. If Skelton is picked then by default you have to pick Hiigers at 8 as a 3rd line out jumper. Who will be the other second rower ? There are a plethora of cart horse options but any thoroughbreds out there, Coleman or Arnold maybe ? Outside of the scrum the halves is the biggest issue to contend with. The incumbents are not going to get it done in the crunch games. They are solid but nothing more at the next level. Foleys kicking game or lack of is the biggest concern. Genia has to start and I'd have Cooper if fit. Heck I'd be tempted to see how Gits goes at 10. Just so many question marks this year in so many positions.
Carel Lubbe
Roar Rookie
Mate don't forget about the flankers. We have 3 open side flankers in good form, Pocock, Hopper and Gill. Then the blind-side Higgonbottom and several others are in form too.
Gumboot
Roar Rookie
Don't forget that the Wallabies are placed in the "pool of death" with England and Wales so there-for Cheika has to pick a team that plays different styles regarding defensive and relatively open style just to make it through the pool stages. What I'd be more concerned with if I was a Wallaby fan would be if England are the 2015 RWC hosts (not UK) compared with "UK's" previous winning bid..............Why are Wales playing OZ in Wales with a home advantage for Wales? I'm not saying it's a conspiracy because afterall I'm a Kiwi and we don't believe in them :) DA DA DAAA
Birdy
Guest
Yeah; it always seemed to me, Bakkies, that they've got the cattle. If so, you need to look elsewhere to explain the recent record.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Completely agree HiKa, but again, that is an issue for Aus rugby to temper... See in League what Manly did with JWH when they signed him from the Tah's squad? Kept him in lower grades for 12 months, even though he was clearly very good. I believe in his first year, he won the best players award in NSW grade? Contrast that with Rugby, shoving un-prepared players into the front line straight away, and they are exposed time and time again... Tempering expectations... I must say I was pleasently surprised with Graham (only time EVER) for not playing Tongan Thor this year. It would have been tempting to get a bit of a media/player/fan boost by bringing him in, but the year in grade footy will hold him in good stead. Luckily the NZ Product has been very happy to learn, rather than make waves.
Funk
Guest
I understand what you are saying, but like in my question to Big Steve below: at Hooker who has done enough to make Moore sit on the bench? at loosehead who has done enough to push Slipper from his spot? at OC who's really pushing TK? and Pocock, I guess is my opinion, but we all know what he can do (and his form this year has been as good as his form prior to his injuries)
Buk
Guest
Sheek - not sure I totally agree with you there about the lack of innovation. Yes, I believe the Brumbies perfected the multi-phase quick-recycle game plan as a way to negate the superior forward power of other teams, which aligns with your theory. But it was so successful that other teams were forced to copy it; so at least chalk that up as a very successful innovation out of Australian rugby.
RobC
Roar Guru
ah yes, that too :) Apple or cheesecake?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What I read and hear may be wrong, but it sounds like Genia listened to too much of that trumpeting. I have read Dwyer saying he has been told that Genia is hard to coach as he does not take criticism on board. Hard to improve if you don't listen to your shortcomings.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yes but Phipps puts the ball in front of the man consistently. It's not 9/10 that are bad anyway. But most importantly he has minimized his erratic passing by passing in front. That way as long as the ball is in a 1 square meter range the runner can run onto it and easily adjust to take it. Where it falls down is when the ball security is slow and the attack is no longer on the front foot.
Zero Gain
Guest
Yeah, fair enough, so let's wait until his career is over. We don't know what he may do in this years WC yet, do we.
Bakkies
Guest
Birdy I was ripped in to by a couple of pillars on this site who place their own opinions far above anyone else's for saying that Wales problems are predominantly mental and tactical against Aus and SA in particular. Even Scotland have scalped those sides more often in the pro era than Wales have done.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Haha!.. Good luck Saturday Canetragic!