The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

The Wallabies have the answer (but what is the question?)

Roar Guru
29th July, 2015
Advertisement
That's it Cheik, teach 'em how to kick. (Image: Tim Anger)
Roar Guru
29th July, 2015
114
3283 Reads

Hoy wrote an excellent article yesterday in which no less than seven Wallabies combinations were discussed.

All had positives and negatives and when you throw a bolter or two into the mix (such as Jack Debreczeni, Sammy Kerevi, Mitch Inman or even Kyle Godwin) the potential combinations and permutations increase exponentially.

This really highlighted what seems to be a very new problem for the Wallabies, what to do with a little bit of depth.

All of the players mentioned by Hoy have the potential to be great players. A few have had patches of brilliance throughout their careers at provincial and international level. Add a measure called potential into the mix and many of those combinations could, with time to develop cohesion, end up going down in history as among the game’s greatests.

The issue then is Michael Cheika’s. With a year or two to prod, trial and build familiarity, selections should begin to emerge. Unfortunately Cheika does not have the luxury of time. Unfortunately, also, is this isn’t the only combination in need of consideration and still unknown just over a week before a back-to-back Bledisloe Test.

Upon reading this article it recalled a conversation with a close mate about potential selections for the upcoming Bledisloe based upon what we’d seen so far.

The end point was that at present the Wallabies can put out at least two really good rugby sides. The detail will come into the way individual players work in their micro combinations and more broadly the team structure and strategy the coach puts out.

Add in that the strategy needs to tie in to complement these combinations to allow execution, and it is clear that Cheika has a lot of variables to consider.

Advertisement

This means I am glad it is not my job.

Let’s look at a few more beyond Hoy’s combinations.

The front row
Over the last two games we have seen Greg Holmes, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau run out in various combinations.

It seemed quite simple from the first Test as the reserves came on and held up the scrum but then a week later the same occurred with different combinations.

Therefore are we looking for scrum strength? Are we looking for mobility around the park? Are we looking for work in the tight? The questions go on. I think between those six we have the answer, but what is the question?

The second row
Similarly, Cheika has run out Will Skelton, Rob Simmons, James Horwill with Dean Mumm and Scott Fardy potentials (and Kane Douglass and Sam Carter, among others, hovering). The lineout, also a factor for selection of the hooker, now becomes an issue.

While the scrums have been up and down, the lineout has largely been excellent. Can we get the best of both worlds here? We still need to get the dominance in the tight with the right combination. Again the answer is there somewhere.

Advertisement

The back row
Losing track, but Michael Hooper, David Pocock, Scott Fardy, Scott Higginbotham, Ben McCalman and Dean Mumm all have many positive attributes. The combinations here depend upon the second row somewhat in terms of providing lineout option.

Also for consideration is the tight work over the ball that Pocock brings, the speed Hooper adds out wide, the Higginbotham ranging game, McCalman bravely playing the tight game, Fardy a mix of both or Mumm swatting Argentinians left right and centre.

Here balance is crucial and again the answer is around somewhere. Consider McMahon and Liam Gill (and some would suggest the ever-young George Smith) and the grey becomes even greyer.

The backs
I don’t need to spend any time on the 10/12 combination except to explore how the individuals and combinations work with and around them.

The forwards will obviously deliver the platform however the halfback will dictate speed of delivery and whether the posts are held up with the threat of the run from the base.

Will Genia, Nic White or Nick Phipps are all good but different options. All have combinations with the 10s mentioned by Hoy, some will need more time to develop combinations with others.

12-13 is a crucial combination and Ma’a Nonu and Ben Smith are a great example of how the sum is greater the sum of the parts. Tevita Kuridrani and Adam Ashley-Cooper are probably the two that stand out and, with Israel Folau at 15, Kuridrani is probably one of two that gets picked to work back from.

Advertisement

The wings, however, continue the story of combinations. Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Drew Mitchell, Joe Tomane, Henry Speight, Nick Cummins (and Cooper or Beale depending other selections) along with James O’Connor and a few others have between them a bucket load of talent and options to work in with the rest of the team.

Again, the answer exists but now the question is dependent upon the answers to other unknown questions.

All in all it is really positive that these decisions are there to be made. It would be really nice to have some stability across a few years and this is where Australian needs to get to and will take some time.

Faith will be required by the often fickle Australian rugby community (including media). Ultimately there is only guy that can provide the answers and, right now, I would not swap with Michael Cheika.

close