The qualities that make a great Australian Super Rugby team

Personality.

The best Australian rugby teams throughout history have had a personality.

The Brumbies of yesteryear, the Reds of 2011 and the Waratahs of 2014.

The “Jake-ball” Brumbies had personality, but just not one I care for. But for whatever reason, in the inter-state derbies of the last few years, much of this personality has been forgotten with a bland arm wrestle left in its place.

Flare.

Australians love watching rugby with flare. It is at the heart of all that the game is in this country. Clearly you need a decent set piece, but the key word is decent. Toughness up front and at the breakdown does not have to mean you don’t play with flare – in fact I would say that the modern “total rugby” we see from New Zealand (and arguably the 2014 Waratahs) is all about the combination of flare and toughness from 1-15. Australian derbies often leave the flare part of the game behind.

I think coaching has a lot to do with this. Defences have improved in lock step with the physicality brought by the professional era. Aussie teams seem to be able to get this right. But a key to breaking down this defence is the skill set of your forward pack. In New Zealand, you will virtually no longer be picked in a top level rugby team if you don’t have the skills, even if you’re in the tight five. And of course they demand toughness too. In New Zealand, a Scott Higganbotham is sent packing and told to lift his intensity. His intense but less skilful counterpart is told to go away and lift his skills. Perhaps we need more of this.

Trying not to lose, scared of failure.

This is potentially where coaching and administration comes into it most. I don’t think we produce forwards with the skill sets of New Zealand players, but we’re not as far behind as an Aussie derby would make you think. There seems to be a siege mentality in these matches, which very much relates to our regional parochialism. It is very important to not lose to the Reds or Brumbies, or whoever your rival is. To lose to your mates is unforgivable, and perhaps this fear happens at the expense of playing great rugby.

This could be an Australian personality trait or it could not, but I won’t open that can of worms. What I will say is that we need leadership from the top, be it at the ARU level or within the clubs, that says our priorities are as follows:

1. Play entertaining rugby.
2. Play entertaining rugby.
3. Do what’s best for Australian rugby
4. Win for your Super Rugby club.
5. Play entertaining rugby

In the modern professional physical era, only ‘total rugby’ with 15 skilful and tough players will get 1-3 done. But without the intent to do this, which means being willing to lose in their service, it won’t happen either. Get numbers 1-3 right and number 4 will follow.

And one more thing.

To get the set pieces up to ‘decent’ perhaps we need an Australian Set Piece Academy that all players from all Super Rugby franchisees, including the development squads must attend and graduate. We’ll pay top dollar for the best scrum and line-out operators in the world to coach a six-week course in the off-season. The Super Rugby franchises will just have to do without those players on a rolling basis, year on year.