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David Lord’s recent article on The Roar – “All Blacks relentless in winning the World Cup” – prompted thoughts that Australia must be relentless in their whole approach to Test rugby, not just on the field. Australia have to regain the Bledisloe Cup.
Australia must also retain the Rugby Championship.
Presently, New Zealand are deservedly number one in the world, but there is nothing that says they should remain so. When Australia regain the Bledisloe trophy and retain the Rugby Championship, in a clean sweep in 2016, they will deservedly be number one.
I have no connections within the ARU or Super 16 franchises, and know nothing of contractual obligations, timings, finances or details, but this is my outline plan for the relentless acquisition of number one status for Australia.
This year’s Rugby World Cup team
The current Wallabies are a very good side, very well coached and very well performed. The World Cup squad was stable, shared a common objective and kept to a goal of ‘improvement’.
Barring injury, retirement, contract breaches, deliberate selection changes or other unforeseen circumstances the coaching squad and 31-player group should remain in constant contact with coach Michael Cheika.
The group performed wonderfully well and is best maintained. Contact should be by any means but it is important that Cheika is in communication no less than fortnightly, preferably face to face.
The team must maintain the goal of improvement from the present until its next match. Contact with each other and the coach is crucial to this. This is not to say that an underperforming player is retained, though emerging talent must be brought through.
Routine team training sessions
To maintain constant improvement routine team training sessions need too be factored in and around the players’ other obligations, not necessarily extra though. Sessions must work principally on additional strength and fitness and drills determined by the coaching staff on team expectations and tactics. I assume that this will depend on the arrangements that can be made between the ARU and Super franchises, but should not occur less than every month, year round.
Super Rugby support and liaison
Given that effective cooperation can be achieved with Super Rugby coaches, individual player training and game expectations should be the same in the Super Rugby side as they are expected to be in the Australia team.
For example, if a hard running, no kicking five-eighth is required for Australia, then he is not expected to be a silky hands, golden boot for his Super team. The idea seeks to have players playing well with particular skill sets, rather than the Australian coach having to pick the best available and then moulding a team from contrasting styles a few weeks out from a match.
Training matches
Cheika very cleverly had two sides available in his 31-man squad, and they played against each other in training. How do Roarers sit with the notion that before Test matches the Wallabies squad plays training matches against, say, NRC teams, each of whom play the game differently? This would give the Wallabies experience at absorbing different pressure and making decisions how to play dissimilar opposition.
Yes, there is potential for injury. On the up side there is the chance for an NRC player to attract Cheika’s notice. Nick Farr-Jones was selected from Sydney second grade after all. These games could present another revenue raising stream for the marketers. I’m not sure how all that could work, but I imagine that fans would turn out to see Wallabies versus Brisbane City at Ballymore.
Study the All Blacks
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, though we shouldn’t be aiming to flatter but to defeat. What do the All Blacks do that we don’t but should? I defer to the experts here but the All Blacks’ have an ability to play any sort of game. They can play a tight ball-in-hand match, develop play out wide and use kicking strategies to play for field position, for example.
They are tactically astute. I agree with Spiro Zavos’s Weight of Winning hypothesis. That needs to be broken and Australia must to develop its own.
Recent articles have cited the importance of Wayne Smith to Steve Hansen, while team psychologist Gilbert Enoka is frequently mentioned. What else have the All Blacks got?
Do we need this sort of input to the Wallabies? Yes, and we should have more.
Hopefully this article provokes discussion and some of it gets through to people who can make it count. It is terrific to have featured in the Rugby World Cup final, in a great match.
We should not be content with second place into the future, however. A relentless approach to becoming number one starts here!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.