A neutral's opinion on the Wallabies

First off, this is my first ever article on this site, and I just want to start with a kudos to The Roar for letting a Pom like me talk rugby with you guys.

I’ve been a massive fan of this site for years, and can’t even begin to tell you how much more insightful and knowledgeable the average Roarers are than the so called experts that decorate our newspapers of dross.

I start my fledgling and potentially hugely short lived journalistic career with a neutral’s opinion, on the Wallabies. Things that have been stirring around my mind since June.

Like all of my countrymen watching the series in the clubhouse, we were jubilant at the Test series and how it was played. England finally getting a result that made the world pay attention, moving up to second in the World, two class teams going right at it, three tight games going to the wire – more so than the second game’s scoreline suggested.

Proper, fast and competitive Test rugby. Everything we would want from a Test series.

Some of my brethren however, were a little more cautious in our victory, highlighting the huge experience that had been left in France, and how much of an impact they would have come RC time. This split quite a large opinion over here, with many of us remembering the final last year, and how lethal the Wallabies can be with good, fast, effective, front foot ball.

So Rugby Championship time came along, and the Bledisloe Tests happened. The result was not what I personally expected.

Now no-one can say what would’ve happened had that game gone by injury free. Yet, the miserable luck of both Matt Giteau and Matt Toomua going off and before you know it, the Wallabies twin-playmaker strategy is no more.

Now when Cheika decided to play Quade Cooper and Bernie Foley at 10 and 12 respectively, the result was very much as I thought it would be. Both of them (mainly Foley) fighting over the position for first receiver, with QC not really getting much of a chance to showcase his spark and make his mark on the game.

Most of the plays in the Wellington Test came from Foley at first. The tactical kicking (more on this later) was very poor. And this goes against the plan that Cheika had of letting Cooper showcase his flair and what he can bring to the game.

Right now, my theory is that the Wallabies are in a process of rebuilding. There are players who are being brought through whom are the future of the team, yet, they were left out in favour of the old stalwarts of Australian rugby.

Adam Ashley-Cooper, Giteau, and even Stephen Moore etc. So rather than play players out of position to suit a hastily put together game plan that to me, doesn’t showcase the players he has in their correct positions, Cheika should experiment with some of the new blood he has coming through, to suit the game plan that the Wallabies have chosen.

In a brilliant article that I believe Nic Bishop highlighted earlier in the year, it was illustrated that the Wallabies attack structure closely mirrors that of the Brumbies, with a pod of forwards running first receiver off the ruck closest to the Blindside, with another pod further out, followed by the backline.

A winger standing just behind the first pod allows the option of a back pass being played. The winger can then pass to the second pod of forwards, who then, depending on the space available are able to truck the ball up the centre, or can draw and pass to the backs who are waiting on the openside.

Overall, it is a very effective pattern, especially given that it can provide Australia’s backs, who can be lethal with ball in hand, space to work.

Over on our side, this structure is not too dissimilar in structure to the Diamond attacking shape used by Bath in the 2014/2015 season.

Bath’s structure would have a runner standing deep, usually a lock running straight of the 9. The 9 would pass behind to a prop forward who would stand very flat behind the first decoy runner.

The prop who would then have the other hard running lock coming off his shoulder. He would pass behind to Ford, who would then straighten up, take the ball to the line and distribute judging on how much space had been created.

This system, taking into effect the skills of Ford, could suck in approximately six defenders, using three decoy runners.

Bath played some magnificent rugby. The diamond allowed Bath’s backs, of whom include George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson, space to open up and dazzle with their outside breaks and scintillating runs. Unfortunately for this Bath supporter, it all fell apart in the final against Saracens.

Sarries are known for the pressure defence, and use it to pressure opposition teams into errors, such is the physicality of their pack. That day, Sarries were so quick off the line that they were on the Diamond and disrupting it, before the ball could even be passed to the second receiver, who would act as the link man for the backs behind the second forward runner.

This, in conjunction with the nine being tackled rapidly off the fringe at every opportunity and an abundance of slowball killed Bath. They could not get their attack going, they were pressured into mistakes, and whenever the ball actually got to their backs, they were so deep, Sarries simply drifted onto them, using the touchline as a defender.

The same Paul Gustard defence has since been employed by England, and in the series it proved very effective against a not too dissimilar attacking structure to Bath’s. That of the Wallabies, and the Brumbies.

England were up quickly, using their physicality to bruise the Wallaby forwards, catching them behind the gainline, and forcing them back further and further. Simultaneously, through a combination of a lack of distribution skills from the second pod, and the pressure of the defensive line already being on them, the second pod of forwards had to stand very deep to even have a chance of passing the ball out to the backline waiting on the openside.

This, allowed England to push and drift very cleverly, and when the ball was passed to the backs, the England line moved across, shepherding the Wallabies backs closer to the line. The Wallabies had actually lost ground even when the ball had been passed out to the openside Winger.

Doubtless, this is where Cheika hoped his twin playmaker option would prosper. Much like George Ford and Owen Farrell, selecting two 10s would allow for a far smarter kicking strategy. With the forwards being pushed back, Foley had no real option but to kick.

Choosing Cooper or Toomua would take the pressure of him. And using a back three whom I would say are lethal in space to chase, the Wallabies could get behind the All Blacks line, play some offloads, and launch real go forward platforms to score points against an All Blacks defence in disarray.

This didn’t happen, due to the injuries at 12. Secondly, the All Blacks were so ruthless and physical in defence, much like against England, the Wallabies backs never got moving.

The Brumbies’ attack pattern can be made to work with the players Cheika has at its disposal. Now, this is where I potentially make many enemies within the Roar community, and should I offend, I heartily apologise.

In my view, you need three broad paint strokes to get it working to its best ability. You need:

1. A ten who plays flat
The Wallabies in Bledisloe I/II were so deep I was in complete shock. Even the forwards, who were so much deeper than normal the backs had to go off them.

You need ten who can play flat to the second pod of forwards and is comfortable doing so. You only had to look at what George Ford brings to the England set up to see this, and how much faster and lethal the England backs are with him at the helm.

For this, I would pick Reece Hodge. Not only is he a flat playing ten with great distribution, but he has one hell of a boot on him, which keeps the opposition line speed a little more restrained out of fear of being penalised for being caught offside.

This works for the Wallabies forwards in multiple ways, allowing them to stand a little flatter, and not being caught so far behind the gainline.

He is also a very capable 15. A ten who can counter like a 15 when the ball is hoofed to him? Best of both worlds.

2. Greater physicality in the back row
The forwards pods, who create the space out wide for the backs, are not powerful enough.

They do not break the gainline enough, thereby keeping a line speed in check, or even acting as decoy runners, tie in as many defenders as they need too to allow a flat backline the space to work.

The selection of Lopeti Timani as an eight is a huge step forward. That guy running hard at opposition defences, will keep the opposition pinned and committed. That, along with a better hooker, Dave Pocock being made captain and seven for his gentlemanly relationship with referees, could help.

Add in better options at the locks for lineout work and boom. You have a better physical go forward back row, more balance with them, and greater lineout options, which teams have learnt to target the Wallabies for.

Lastly, and this is comprised a little backline reshuffle. But here goes.

3. 9. Genia, 10. Hodge, 12. Kerevi, 13. Folau, 11. Mitchell, 15. DHP, 14. Speight
I’d also say there was a place for Rob Horne, and there will always be a place in my heart for the Honey Badger. The main reasoning behind this reshuffle is for the centre pairing. Sam Kerevi and Israel Folau.

Hodge likes to play flat, and thereby commits defenders, if you have created space with the forward pods, you’re playing flat off them and therefore greater space to work. The dynamics of this backline for me just click.

Kerevi is a huge 12, gives you great go forward, and a massive gainline break ability, but as a decoy runner, he will commit defenders. Folau at 13, is truly, one of the best broken field runners in the world, and should see as much as the ball as possible.

Give him space from a Kerevi hard line. He has an amazing outside step, and can get around the defence, which should already be stretched (by the forwards/Kerevi/Hodge playing to the line).

Add in your world class back three playing in their right positions. I see metres gained – massive metres gained.

These are my remarks on the Wallabies and where they could go. Because, I sincerely believe they are a class team with world class talent, and with the proper application, can really do something with it.

I don’t understand why they are picking players that are counter-productive and don’t bring out the best in their attacking structure, which they are keen to stick with.

With the right application, the Brumbies pattern can be very effective.

I will be supporting the Wallabies for the rest of this Championship, as I believe the world needs a strong Australia.

Harken back to the days of John Eales, the Ella’s, George Gregan and Steve Larkham. There is too much history to see the brand descend into nothingness.

With a little rebuilding and a little injection of the new blood. I feel the Wallabies will get their groove back on. I do believe it’s coming, and I do look forward to it.