Surely the biggest lesson learnt by the Wallabies from the debacle of Bledisloe 1 this year was that simplicity is supreme.
The All Blacks tore Australia to shreds, piling on eight tries in about 50 minutes as they bolted to a 54-6 lead in Sydney.
A large part of the defensive embarrassment was due to the constant changes in the defensive line at set pieces, with the Wallabies backs lining up in different positions depending on-field position.
It was ludicrous. And it was ruthlessly exposed.
The term “defensive strategies” – commonly used by defence coaches these days – is ridiculous. Of course, there are nuances at the elite level. But the terminology sounds as if it’s been devised with the help of army generals and NASA scientists.
Even for professional athletes, when under fatigue and under pressure, it’s best to not get funky. Keep it simple sweetheart.
Which brings me to the Wallabies’ five-eighth selection for this Saturday’s Test against Japan in Yokohama.
In such a key position, it’s madness that Reece Hodge got the nod at No.10.
With both Bernard Foley (virus) and Karmichael Hunt (neck) unavailable, coach Michael Cheika had some tricky calls to make.
But Hodge, a winger most recently at Test level who has played in the centres for the Wallabies, is a sizeable risk as a playmaker.
With Israel Folau missing the tour, surely Hunt – who would’ve started at fullback against Japan – should’ve had another back-up at No.15.
The balance of the squad is a bit messy. Brumbies fullback Tom Banks, also a winger, would’ve been an excellent utility addition. Izaia Perese is on tour, but it’s too big a gamble to throw a 20-year-old fullback into the Test arena.
After Quade Cooper wasn’t part of the Rugby Championship squad, Cheika told Hodge in August that he should prepare as a back-up five-eighth to Foley and Kurtley Beale.
Three months ago.
So wasn’t the best chance to prepare Hodge for that role last weekend when the Wallabies played the Barbarians?
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Hodge played five-eighth in his junior days. He’s started a few games at No.10 for the Melbourne Rebels. And Cheika said he’s trained in the position against the match-day team in opposed Wallabies sessions.
Surely the chance to test Hodge was against the BaaBaas. Instead, Duncan Paia’aua – usually a centre – got the playmaking duties at fly-half.
And we’ve been told the Wallabies aren’t taking Japan lightly.
Beale, who has been shifted to fullback, would be best at five-eighth.
He’s the more experienced and proven playmaker. By a long way.
Beale is lethal running the ball from the backfield, but he’s also got the full bag of tricks a top-notch frontline playmaker needs. He kicks and passes with class but short and long. He can accelerate into gaps. He knows how to break down a defensive line. And he’s classy at feeling the rhythm of a Test match – when to take the heat out of the contest and when to step it up.
Beale could run the show from No.10 and he would link well with centres Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani.
(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Hodge doesn’t seem to possess the subtlety needed at five-eighth.
He would be best suited at fullback for this Test in a straight swap with Beale.
Admittedly fullback is a crucial position too, a ‘spine’ position if you want to borrow some rugby league terminology.
But Hodge has a massive boot – one department in which he would trump Folau.
Having played a fair bit on the wing for the Wallabies, he’s had to defuse some high balls.
Defensively, it’s a bit risky, but again with experience as a winger he’s accustomed to sweeping and tracking from depth.
Of course, Japan aren’t going to throw as much at the Wallabies as the All Blacks – or South Africa and Argentina. But they’re a dangerous and passionate side. The Springboks found that out. They’ve pushed Scotland, Wales and Ireland over the past 18 months.
Perhaps Cheika will have them interchanging between five-eighth and fullback despite the numbers on their back. Oh no – remember simple is sweet. Remember Sydney.
advrider-oz
Guest
and now.... armchair critic with zip insight.
Clifto
Guest
Is toomua coming back?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Karl that looks so simple doesn't it? But that is not how camp WB rolls atm
CJ
Guest
Kind of agree. He was a gun player at school but what worked then so well (his looping around the inside centre) now is a bit of a crabbing motion that doesn't work as well at the top level. He should have been developed in that position from after school and I wonder if its a bit late in the day for him now to pick up that skill set again. Had he properly developed he would have really been something out of the box at 5/8.
PiratesRugby
Guest
All of the qualities you've highlighted in Beale's game also prove that Foley is a poor choice at 10. If you value passing, kicking and playmaking then you can't pick Foley. If you're nostalgic about Campese's turnstile defence then Foley is your man.
Dave
Guest
Nailed it jimbo. Hodge is in there precisely because he is not a threat to Foley. If he has a blinder; 'great experience, building depth, see, we don't need quade etc'. Oh but look Foley is the incumbent, so he of course will start next week. If he has a shocker: 'good opportunity to give him some experience, we are looking to build depth in that position, not to worry we have Foley who fills that for us anyway'. Cheika's logic is to build a facade of depth at 10, whereby all rivals will clearly be inferior to his pet, while the guy who should he playing 10 can be written out of the discussion with nonsense throwaway lines like 'we have Hodge, hunt, Beale, DP, Godwin who can all play that role'. No need for quade. Actually, maybe if Cheika needs a scapegoat at Eden Park, at which point he will say 'yeah look he has been smiling a lot and really enjoying his footy so I figured why not throw him into Eden Park with no prep'?
Karl Knuth
Guest
A better backline for this weekend would have been imo 9. Tuttle 10. Cooper 11. Hodge 12. Beale 13. Kurindrani 14. Korobitee 15. Banks Minimal changes, and gives a couple of young guys a go in what should be a sure win for the wallabies.
Stuart Bywater
Guest
Perhaps M Cheika regards Quade Cooper as the Matt Le Tissier of Aus rugby.
Simoc
Guest
Seems a good move. Hodge needs to have the pressure of being the run on No 10 in a real test match and this is the perfect opportunity. We saw a pretty abysmal performance from the new NZ No 10 last up and these are the games where you give these guys a go and get the experience into them.
Illya Kuryakin
Guest
GC, to be fair on QC and KB their win ratios would be higher but they've both played in numerous games with Foley.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Deans actually took too many 6/8's at the expense of a back up 7. Think he had three halfbacks in the squad which is the correct number. 2 for the 23 and on in reserve. He had Higginbotham, Elsom, McCalman, Samo and Palu in the squad. That gave him five 6/8's when the 23 only needed 3 plus one outside of the match day squad. Palu got injured and they brought Hodgson in but that was too little too late.
Cole
Guest
The EOYT is supposed to be an opportunity for youth to show their wares and push incumbents for bench or first fifteen spots. Is Hodge the apprentice to Foley? If so, then Beale should stay where he is at fb. But, I get the feeling this is more or a stuff up of selections and Hodge is not being looked at as the alternative to Foley long term as there is no back up, I hope I'm wrong though.
jeznez
Roar Guru
He did take the Tahs to a Super Rugby final playing flyhalf in 2008. A match the Tahs lead against the Crusaders 12-3 at one stage. Beale went off injured and I'm not sure the Tahs scored another point. He can play 10.
John R
Roar Guru
2 x 2 Dads are heading to Melbourne, being the Haylett-Petty boys: http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/11/03/rebels-dane-ross-haylett-petty-signings
GC Red
Guest
Just for a Hoot, I checked the win / loss ratio for Foley and Cooper and Beale. ESPN stats say: When QC plays the Wallabies win 67.1% of the time When KB Plays the wallabies win 64.1% of the time When Foley Plays the wallabies win 54.8% of the time But why let factual evidence stand in our way...
zenn
Guest
Proud day for Fiji with Wallabies11 to 14 all Fijian born.
Jules
Guest
They did just beat the All blacks..
Jimbo81
Guest
I'm relieved that Hodge is playing 10 - something has to be tried as we cannot continue to polish the Foley turd at 10 - he is simply not capable of beating England, Ireland or NZ on a regular basis. His kicking is suspect as is his defence and he fails to unlock defences as playmaker. Good on Cheika for selecting someone else (finally) even though this was forced by illness. The BIG selection bombshell for me is Nick Phipps at 9. Yes Genia is injured but the next best option is Powell, then Gordon, then Tuttle, then (maybe) Phipps. Phipps didn't even start at 9 for the Tahs this season - not that super form is any indication as Rob Simmons was dropped from the Reds only to be starting on Saturday for the Wallabies. That Powell / Gordon / Tuttle are not being blooded this weekend ahead of 2019 speaks volumes to Cheika's lack of tactical nous. If in doubt - insert a favorite player from the 2014 Tahs. Phipps' wildly inaccurate over the head and behind the man passing has not improved since 2011, where Robbie Deans only took him to the RWC as he was dating his daughter and he wanted to keep an eye on him. The selection was at the expense of a backup 7 and once Pocock was injured - there went the world cup campaign. Hodge could be brilliant, he could be a future backup and this will be valuable test experience - but more than likely he is simply minding a position that Foley will have until 2020 when the new national coach selects a new 5/8. The nagging feeling is that even if Hodge plays better than Lynagh and Larkham's finest ever tests, we all know if will be Foley next week against Wales and Foley in 2019 - and that is why Cheika will never win a world cup.
Dave
Guest
Excellent summary Peter K. No Cooper or Banks has aleady been exposed before the first game has even started. Would have been a perfect environment for both of them to display their skills and put on a show for the Japanese crowd too.
Bfc
Guest
That's perhaps the saddest thing...Cheika came out and spewed some drivel about QC needing to regain his "love of the game" (QC pointedly said he always loves playing any game of rugby...) etc etc when he left him out of the RC squad. It seems Cheika had already made his mind up that QC would never supplant Foley at flyhalf, no matter how well he went. And the point made about Hodge getting an earlier run is valid...if Cheika had planned on using him at flyhalf then the BaaBaas game was the perfect opportunity to 'debut'...