Michael Cheika was sure they didn’t when he was interviewed early in the second half of the recent Test in Canberra against Argentina.
When Greg Clark put forward some ideas on what it looked like the Wallabies needed to work on after a pretty poor first half of the match, Cheika was quick to say “No mate, it’s all about urgency. There wasn’t enough urgency – I’m not sure if we realize we’re playing in a Test match.”
Was that a bit harsh, said in the heat of the moment? No, Cheika was spot on!
Now, I must admit I didn’t watch this match live. I was too busy enjoying watching the Cowboys play Parramatta in that other code. Originally I’d planned to watch the start of that match and then switch over once the Wallabies started, but the NRL game was so entertaining that I stuck with it until the halftime break before switching over to catch the last ten minutes of the first half in Canberra.
I went from watching a fast, tough and skilful footy match to one where I was underwhelmed. To make it worse, the Wallabies were trailing 13-10 and were lucky not to go further behind in the last few minutes before the halftime break.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
When play stopped, I switched channels and once again felt entertained. I didn’t come back to the Wallabies match until after fulltime in the NRL match.
As I went to switch channels late in the second half, I was dreading what the score might be. I almost expected it to be in Argentina’s advantage. So, it was a pleasant surprise when I saw the Wallabies had got a roll on in the second half.
I obviously went back and watched the match and heard Cheika’s comment before I sat down to write this article. By the time he made that comment, my notebook had copped a pounding as I jotted down point after point about where the Wallabies needed to improve.
In that first half, there were very few positive notes I made. Things improved in the second half and it was obvious Cheika’s halftime message about urgency had got through because the speed the Wallabies were doing things had improved noticeably.
Many of the notes I made watching that first half also revolved around the lack of urgency but there were also far too many times I wrote ‘Poor Skills’.
I know the Wallabies coaching staff continually work on skills, I’ve seen the programs Mick Byrne is running with them but there is still so much room for improvement!
Let me give you a few examples of things that happened in that first half involving the lack of urgency Cheika was talking about.
The first is from the 7th minute of play. Argentina put a little grubber kick through. Look at these Wallaby defenders on the far side of the ruck.
Now, look how quickly those same players have re-aligned to be ready to counter-attack. That’s really good urgency.
As the ball is moved wide, Michael Hooper takes a good option to accelerate through the line. You can see Israel Folau and Tevita Kuridrani outside him as support options.
Hooper makes a half break and sets up a really good opportunity. Folau has moved urgently into a supporting position and takes the pass from Hooper, but where’s Kuridrani?
Folau’s ready to pass at this point but Kuridrani didn’t show the urgency required. Reece Hodge is aligned correctly but Kuridrani needs to be 2-3 metres further forward here but was obviously on his heels when Hooper darted forward. As a result, Folau has to try and delay his pass and wait for Kuridrani to arrive.
There’s only so long Folau can wait and Kuridrani doesn’t get there in time. As a result, the pass goes across his body and he throws a hand at the ball which leads to a knock on.
It was a really good opportunity wasted because of a lack of urgency.
The second example is in the ninth minute at a defensive lineout.
Sekope Kepu is at the back of the lineout and without him, Adam Coleman is no chance of competing as he won’t have a rear lifter.
Kepu’s meant to be watching his opposite number at the back of the lineout and you can see he is. If Kepu sees him move forward, it should be obvious that he’s going forward to act as a lifter. When he sees that happen (as it already has here) Kepu needs to urgently move forward to lift Coleman.
Instead, he just watches it all happen without showing any urgency and even though Coleman gets off the ground to compete, he can’t do that without a rear lifter and it’s an uncontested win for Argentina.
Kepu clearly didn’t do his job here.
The third example comes in the 22nd minute when Argentina are on attack.
The Wallabies have their numbers right in defence here with players either side of the ruck but they also have to keep their eyes up to see what Nicolas Sanchez is doing sitting back behind the play.
Sanchez makes a decision to take the ball to the short side and moves to that side of the ruck. Look how far he’s moved from the previous image. Yet not a single Wallaby on the far side of the ruck has started moving to the near side of the ruck.
At this point, the ball has been passed by the halfback. Kuridrani needs to get moving and slide out to take Sanchez so that Hodge and Henry Speight can also slide out. If all three do that, it’s man-on-man defence and there should be no issue here. Take note of Ned Hanigan’s position in behind the ruck.
At this point, Sanchez has taken the ball to the line, Hodge and Speight have stayed on the line and don’t fill you with confidence that they’ve got this under control. Kuridrani hasn’t moved urgently enough so he’s left Hodge to deal with two attackers. By now, Hanigan needs to have started an urgent run to the area I’ve highlighted in case there’s a break made.
But with none of the Wallabies showing the urgency required, Sanchez is left to run and then with Speight stuck in no-man’s land, Sanchez beats him with a good pass to the outside. How’s the urgency from Hanigan to chase back here?
Here’s one final image before the footage cuts to a tight shot and there’s still no urgency from Hanigan. The lack of urgency from any of the defenders here made it far too easy for Argentina.
It must be very frustrating as a coach to have professional players who are playing for their country and still have to show them this sort of review of basic, basic errors and lack of urgency.
No wonder I preferred watching the Cowboys. Although then I watched a replay of the All Blacks’ performance against the Springboks and I fell back in love with rugby – what a great performance that was!
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
Scott Allen is back! How did I miss his return a couple of weeks ago?! Welcome back, top notch analysis as always. It's astonishing just how much improvement the Wallabies need to make, and likewise how poor Argentina are that they just could not take advantage of the chances they had.
adastra32
Guest
Line speed. In attack and defence. Consistently. For 80 minutes. Don't see it at the moment for the WBs.
Dsat24
Guest
Scott spot on, the Wallabies or any players at this level should seeing these attacking and defensive parts of the game instinctively! If they have to be told they shouldn't be there but then again if there aren't the cattle who read the game then it is well worth spending time on these plays.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Fionn I suggest you watch more NRL. The average league player would offload two to three times more than their Australian rugby union counterparts and make three to four times the tackles per game. No doubt there are some poor defenders in league but I'd wager there is a higher percentage of NRL players willing to put their bodies on the line in defence (NZ Super rugby and NPC the exception). The main reason for this is the total number of tackles and opportunities to offload per game. The more you do it the better you get!
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I agree that they go to wrap the ball up intentionally, but even if it is intentional too often they are just bounced off. I've played both sports and agree it is harder to tackle someone 1 on 1 in League because the runner is normally at full speed when they hit you, but at the same time, I don't think the tackling technique is taught as well.
soapit
Guest
fionn they offload much less because the defence is better. they lock the ball up as a priority first and foremost. plus the carrier has 10m to wind up each time which makes it a little harder. rugby people often have no idea what the elements of good tackle is. how many time do you hear a pretty stock standard tackle being described as a 'massive hit' by the commentators. i dont know how many times ive had that youtube video of hoopers "big hits" offered as evidence that he pulls off dominant tackles.
Taylorman
Guest
Come on Connor of it took seven years to make an impact on the mo. 1 side how is it that the Wallabies will take less. Their skill levels in the last two are in the basement compared to any AB side in the last ten years. Byrnes impact is being overated as a standalone resource. Byrne didnt 'make the ABs better'. He was one cog of many that contributed to that. Infrasrtructure, Coaching, selection, player depth, all things Oz rugby 'currently' struggles with in terms of high quality represnted factors. But Byrne is going to do it quicker, the signs are there now? Please join the dots Connor. Explain how Byrne will do what he apparently did with the ABs in a shorter timeframe?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
'Leagies are also much better tacklers.' Not from what I've seen. League tackle technique seems far inferior, they're constantly bounced off on one on one tackles. League teams also seem to offload far less frequently than the Kiwi rugby sides and aside from a select few like Thurston and Lockyer they really seem to be able to pass long. The halfbacks and the five-eighths in League are extremely skilful, but the average across the rest of the team seems to be far inferior to rugby. The League players are much stronger ball runners through contact, but they pass less and kick less (aside from a few key positions). League players have a lot more mongrel and power in general though, I would say. As well as often having more athleticism.
Jake
Guest
Yep. The league players are more skilled and have greater natural talent than most rugby players. Off loads, cross field kicks were seen in league games years before the rugby crowd started doing it. Cooper (on a good day), Smith, McKenzie, Barrett and Beale are the only rugby players that could match Thurston, Cronk etc. Leagies are also much better tacklers.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Scott. H1 imo was partially urgency. Mainly poor kicks/restarts and weak BD performance: - Every restart was short and lost, which gifted territory - They changed it in H2 and starting scoring points One example that lead to the Ned / lazy cover: - Short restart lost. Ball kicked to WBs who was forced to kick back - KB kicked a shocker. Won by the biters - Sanchez kicked into WB in goal. WBs in a few minutes are in their own 22 - WBs had a short exit for a biter LO. Kick to Izzy who dropped it. WBs back deep defending in their own half: - Post scrum, a string of inside passes from the biters and offloads to commit the WB defends in - This is why Ned stayed inside instead of rolling out. - Lazado got his break. Creevy shepherd in the ruck for a 5 point dive Its similar for every other restart in H1. H2, 1st deep kick by KB in 43' (a kick return). Not long after, try Kepu The killer blow. Try by Sanchez after a series of was from kicks that pinned the biters in their 5m. imo It was poor restart / territory / kicks. And Ned, which is well documented
RobC
Roar Guru
Gday Catchpole's Leg. Good one! I prefer to call it a whiplash. They are always lined up, and they crack like a whip at a moments notice. You dont need Mick Byrnes for that. But with a coach like Check, maybe you do. In any case, this year the WBs have improvement has been great. Thanks to Check and Mick and other peep
soapit
Guest
you dont think the rugby dying in oz or poaching nz youngsters is a threat to rugby?
soapit
Guest
yep league won the code battle (for the foreseeable future - yes just in oz, calm down) and now they hardly bother wasting concern about rugby. the angst goes far more the other way as evidenced by the comments decrying compliments toward it (despite the fact any rugby coach worth his salt should be at least keeping an occasional eye on the nrl . heard a story of when cheika came up to the far north coast for a visit someone saw a kid with a football and asked if he was excited about cheikas visit. the kids didnt know who he or the wallabies were and mum said "he wont know, he follows league" this is in a country region with two current/recent wallabies. tv being killed by the internet doesnt help as you only see targetted ads there and you dont get views into areas far beyond your base interests
soapit
Guest
tend to agree. i worry whenever i hear talk about how much players are enjoying the culture and what they produce on the field is ordinary it really makes me wonder about how much genuine discipline and accountability is a part of that culture
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Great article Scott, and one that exposes some raw truth. I see ‘urgency’or lack of it, as a key criteria in the state of Australian rugby. Have seen this for some time. Before I explain I need to make clear that I do not travel far and wide. Here’s a narrow picture: I used to coach my boys junior side in the Sydney comp. I have a boy who still plays junior rugby. I watch Super Rugby (Oz teams mainly) A bit of Shute Shield. 2 games a week of NRC. (Don’t yet stream) Every Wallaby game. Most ABs games, especially Lions series. So my exposure is narrow, not wide. But I have seen for at least 4 yers now a need for a special thing. This thing is more prevalent in teams that win, That is, the team that has it the most usually wins. The ABs have it in spades! This thing has numerous descriptors. It is urgency, alertness, immediate accurate action, accuracy at speed, accuracy at speed in numbers. The ABs have a sling shot set up.it is set up before the game. It is invisible. It sits just over the onside line (just). It is stretched and ready to fire at all times, especially in defence. Even when defence is under pressure it is there. ESPECIALLY when defence is under pressure it is there. A mistake is made. An AB now has the ball. Fire! The slingshot is flicked and multiple players are in ideal position to accelerate through gaps and turn the opportunity into Points. When I played junior rugby I was an outside back. I learnt early to chase every kick. As a young adult I chased every kick. I also learnt that if your opposite has a half second advantage in pace, a full second of superior alertness in response and positioning time will see the ‘slower guy’ win. I don’t see kids chase and position themselves urgently these days. I don’t know why. I have been designing a drill around thie idea of alertness’ for four years now. It needs to be developed. I would like it to be used across my sons’ junior club. (a large club in numbers). My most common call from the sideline - ‘Wake Up!!!!!’ This drill was conceived in part to stop myself from yelling. If adopted, I humbly expect that my drill will save OZ rugby?.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
So, if we have a coach who does not do ‘technical’, would he be ‘Director Non Technico’?
Harry Jones
Expert
Thanks. Good examples of "lacksadaisicalism."
ethan
Guest
The key is to get it implemented at junior level, so the guys coming into SR require less coaching at that level. It has been stated though that Byrne is working with all the SR franchises, so yes, they are all getting the coaching to some extent. Also, many talented players debut in their early twenties. You would hope most of them are still there in their late twenties. The players then who it will be of less value to then are those already in the back end of their careers - Stephen Moore being the prime candidate.
ethan
Guest
Spot on Peter K. In the heat of the battle there is only so much conscious decision making possible. A lot of what happens is instinctive, habit and muscle memory - and that stuff takes a long time to be engrained. That's why its so important for skills programs to start with juniors and teens at a young age - so by the time they are adults a lot of that stuff is muscle memory. I'd take a fair guess, given how skillful a lot of the NZ SR debutants are, that NZ began implementing a comprehensive skills system at junior level some time ago.
ethan
Guest
It means watch out for Hanigan 2024!