There would be slim few who would deny the huge influence Australia’s tight five had on the result at Twickenham.
The pressure was on and boy did they deliver, with no less than six scrum penalties and very tidy work at the lineout and around the field.
This praise goes for both the boys that ran out and the finishers that took their place.
But rather than dwell on their return to the realms of internationally respected forwards, their impact on this weekend’s crucial game against Wales will be even more influential than knocking England out early.
I say this because against the ‘Old Foe’ their role was to set the platform for our other threats to shine. The strong forward performance allowed our wide-wide attack to threaten full width, opening holes on the outside (which we failed to take early) and then the inside. It kept us in field positions where Michael Hooper and David Pocock could wreak havoc at the breakdown, free from fear of costly shots at goal.
However, against Wales our tight five have the opportunity to be more than just the foundation, they will be the threat, the sword to slay the Dragon.
Furthermore, their performance this weekend will decide our path through the finals and whether we meet the All Black’s in or prior to the final.
I say this for a few reasons. Wales’s strengths are as follows:
– Wide-wide attack, changed up with a fantastic ability to bring their big wingers in to attack oppositions forwards around the ruck.
– The breakdown, Sam Warburton especially.
– Defensive integrity and each player holding their line.
Sound familiar? They mirror many of Australia’s strengths, and to cut and paste the gameplan from England to Wales would invite a very close battle similar to running against your ‘B’ team at training.
Their weaknesses:
– Scrum. Fiji took two tightheads and five penalties from them.
– Lineout maul. They are loose on their own ball and similar on defence.
– Ruck defence. Apart from the man contesting possession, they fan out, leaving space through and around the ruck.
The Welsh defence is very good, sharing the honours with Australia and Ireland to have less than three tries against them during this World Cup, and they defend as desperately for the man inside and out as any team. They also have a back three who are good in the air and dangerous on counter attack, so contestable kicking has its risks – particularly if Israel Folau doesn’t play.
So you have to break them open and disorganise their line to create opportunities. There are two chances to do this.
1. After a line break.
2. On counter attack.
While I am not suggesting our tight five start taking kicks and countering with cut passes and chip kicks (much to their disappointment), I do think they can bend and break the Welsh line around the ruck and through the ruck.
If our forwards can take metres around the ruck, and Will Genia can put some through holes, the Welsh defence will have to pull in creating space out wide or holes in the middle. The flip side of this is that our own men will have to be on song here to stop the Welsh advance and the embarrassment of being beaten around the fringes by wingers.
Along with this, off the back of recent scrum and maul performances, our pack should be full to the brim with confidence to proactively target and destroy the Welsh pack. Our scrum should be used to exit out of our own half by holding it in and playing for penalties, as well as building a lead through points.
Our lineout maul should drive to score.
Both tactics have tangible and intangible rewards. Firstly, done right we will have penalties and tries we can touch and build pressure with. Secondly and less obviously, they mentally and physically tire the Welsh for the coup de grâce.
With Warburton leading as the head of the Dragon, Pocock and I assume Sean McMahon will have a battle here. Their tail, strong with George North and Alex Cuthbert, will have to be managed.
But in my opinion, it will be the battle of the belly, where the tight-five long have dwelled. Up the guts, that will decide how much flame the Welsh can muster.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Agreed JM. 10 games ago it didn't matter. And it won't matter this weekend either. Recent history is irrelevant. History doesn't make tackles or score tries or give away stupid penalties. Get your big game heads on boys! Great article Greg.
Yeah sorry, I don't get how you can make that statement, it seems you have decided they are doing their bit to stop Ozzie scrum crabbing, personally I think that is a long undubstantiated stretch.
PeterK
Roar Guru
BB - No Mitchell and Randall are assuming an Aust NZ final and hence their bit for the cause. IMO Boks are a great chance of beating NZ.
You are assuming a local television program in South Africa carries weight in the UK and secondly you are assuming (with some merit) Australia will be facing the AB's ;)
PeterK
Roar Guru
just saying it so the AB LHP gets away with angling in, better still the wallabies get penalised instead of their prop.
Yes, exactly why it concerns me.
Yeah, chicken or egg, I suppose it depends on the referee of the day as much as anything else.
Dave_S
Guest
The physics of it is interesting, I was watching those scrums and noticing we were sliding pretty much laterally across and they were wheeling, but it was chicken and egg as to which caused which. Intuitively it seems to be easier to wheel and the slide across is the reaction to that, and it still looked like we were pushing thru straight, but I don't have the scrum nous to know that for sure. But the loose bind of the Pom 7 seemed to be the clue that they were wheeling.
Interesting comments by John Mitchell and Taine Randall last night on Boots and All. Well Mitchell said the Aussie crabbing was a trick that worked well against England, however it could just as well have been penalised, so Australian scrum was fortunate to get away with it. The next referee could easily pick up on that, and then he believes the Assie scrum can be in trouble against Wales. Both Taine Randall and Mitchell feel the Oz tight five is wanting, their playing two lightweight backrowers it can cost them. They also feel that the bigger Welsh backs can also cause problems.
Greg Mumm
Expert
I think he's alright at that when he gets the chance, but don't want to give him a big head. His is now 3 tries out of his 7 tests which wouldn't hurt at the selection table.
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
It's been thrown around a lot that the Wallabies have beat Wales 10 games in a row. But I've never felt comfortable watching those 10 games. I cant put my finger on it. Wales always push us to the brink
Frontrow
Guest
Yes I agree Anscombe has serious gas and you are right he is an excellent footballer and will cause problems for the Wallaby defense - lookout is he gets an overlap - Wallabies have no one with his gas out wide
Frontrow
Guest
Worse still you obviously aren't aware that Gatland has put George North at outside centre - clever fellow
PeterK
Roar Guru
He has played there before due to injury like now. Wales have their 3 13's out injured. As soon as one was fit last time North was moved back. His defence at 13 is supect. His attack since he has less room is not as good as on the wing.
bazza
Guest
Forecast is fine for London saturday night ....COME ON !!!!.. Let`s score some tries BOYZ!!!!!!!
Larry_Parallelogram
Guest
With Australia's scrum and lineout functioning well I would like to see a strong tactical kicking game from Foley as well as the back three on kick receipts. If you are performing well at set piece time and have a player like Pocock who can turn ball over you want to be doing that in the opposition's half (especially since he does give and receive the odd penalty). Apply the pressure when Wales are in their half and the rest will take care of itself. Try to play too much rugby in our own half and Wales have the players to turn ball over (especially with their two open sides) and of course they also have a very good goal kicker. All of Wales new selections are astute and have strengthened their starting 15. The changes to Australia's starting 15 (injury or citing enforced) are either neutral or arguably weeker when compared to the team that played England. This will be a real battle....can't wait!
Worlds Biggest
Guest
He has played a bit at outside Centre for Wales and done well. Anscombe is the wildcard selection. He was good for the Chiefs and can play.
Minz
Guest
Samson... is an amazing Prop name
bennalong
Guest
What about Deans better ability to attack spaces around the breakdown? If he breaks through he has the legs!
jutsie
Guest
he has definitley played 13 before but cant recall how he went there.