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Amid the fallout of another poor showing by the Wallabies on Saturday night, a significant amount of commentary has focused on the lateral, stagnant back-line.
While I do agree with this, it has overlooked that the Wallabies’ forwards have been smashed in both games.
Clinically, and for two different reasons. The first Test at the breakdown. The second by playing ‘dumb’ football.
This critique of the pack focuses on their failure to adapt to the defensive structure employed by England in the second Test with ball in hand.
England forwards refused to over-commit at the ruck and held their Hadrian’s Wall, and the Wallabies’ forwards were sucked into aimless one-out running at a well-prepared defence.
As a general skill-set three key fundamentals were missing: capability to offload; ability to pick and go; and provide a supporting runner/options for the ball-carrier.
Some of these skills are paramount to succeeding at Test level, and again highlight the Wallabies’ struggle to find a No.8 who can carry and offload, a la Toutai Kefu and Viliami Ofahengaue.
Secondly, Michael Cheika would have wished he could have turned back the clock and recalled ‘Mr Pick and Go’ himself, Jim Williams, a master exponent of a dying art in Australian forward play.
Irrespective of whether the team have capability to perform the two tasks above, it does not excuse the lack of support play – runners don’t have to receive the ball, but can distract the defenders just enough to ensure an advance over the gain line.
Last week, I cheekily suggested George Smith should be recalled, but also had Leroy Houston in as a genuine No.8 alternative.
I would have him in the team this week – we simply do not have any other No.8s and again, Wycliff Palu is not the option to take the team forward.
I would be interested to see how this changes the dynamic of the pack. Dean Mumm would also come in for Rory Arnold.
1. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Sam Carter
5. Dean Mumm
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. Leroy Houston
In closing on the pack, getting over the advantage line (and not crashing into it) provides front-foot ball, and give backs some space to take a key first step forward and not sideways.
Speaking of lateral movement, Roarers have given significant feedback into the structure of the current Wallabies’ back-line.
A Test standard full-back should have the ability and judiciousness to either counter-attack with ball in hand or play the territory card with the kick.
With Israel Folau at the back, defenders can fairly easily line up a one-dimensional approach to his game. I don’t want to knock Australia’s only world-class player (sans David Pocock with injury), but Folau freakish talents are best employed at No.13, and his lack of kicking game is an absolute killer against well-structured sides.
I appreciate it is a difficult trade-off, as under the high-ball there is no one better, but Australia would have more diverse running patterns with him at outside-centre.
I would also move Kerevi to the wing. I really like his game and he could be anything working in broken play in a bit more space. Managing Folau and Kerevi on one side would be a defender’s nightmare.
Dane Haylett-Petty should be given the chance to have a crack at his preferred position and bring a more traditional No.15 role to the team.
I would also have Christian Lealiifano as the second playmaking option. He hasn’t (a huge hole in Cheika’s gameplan) been given time to form a combination with Bernard Foley. We need a dual playmaker set-up.
Tevita Kuridrani has been a big disappointment this year (including for the Brumbies) and is omitted.
With that in mind, I would have the backs running out like this.
9. Nick Phipps (noting a very poor passing game)
10. Bernard Foley
11. Rob Horne
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Israel Folau
14. Samu Kerevi
15. Dane Haylett-Perry
As a final comment, Michael Hooper (as acting captain) made a very poor decision to not take a guaranteed three points when scores were 13-7 at the 63rd minute.
The Wallabies needed some reward for territorial dominance and in a game with the slippery ball you need to take the bankable on offer.
Simple, smart wet weather football. I admire Hooper as a combative player but his leadership and decision-making can sometimes be rash.
While Cheika deserves the heat for a collective poor playing and coaching performance – he still has my vote as the man to turn things around.
Again, it just shows that our talent is spread too thinly across the playing group at the moment. You can only work with the cattle you have, and when a few guys from last year’s Rugby World Cup are not there (Pocock, Kurtley Beale, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell), we are scraping the bottom of the Meadow-Lea container.
In a striking parallel of timing to the prime minsiter Malcolm Turnbull, the honeymoon is most certainly over for Mr Cheika.
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.