We’ve all seen it before. We’ve all seen it before so often that we shouldn’t fall into the trap any more. Maybe we’re so used to seeing it that we trip over in the race to dive into the trap voluntarily.
The Wallabies play really well, and we react accordingly. Then they play less than ideally, and we react accordingly. By claiming ‘we wuz robbed’. We fall into the trap every time.
But after two solid days of argument, counterargument, second, third, and fourth-guessing the actual, proper, serious intent of the way any one law was written at the time – and every subsequent interpretation thereof – along with magnified, still-shot analysis of slow-motion footage, it might be getting close to the time to start looking into the way the Wallabies cost themselves in the loss to England.
And refereeing isn’t part of it.
Yes, there were contentious decisions, but there are in every game. The contentious decision didn’t cost Australia the game, but the way they reacted to them – or didn’t, as it turned out – did.
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Depending on where you look for your stats, the Aussies had anywhere between 44 per cent and 54 per cent of territory (which is further evidence of different people seeing different things from the same events in a game). The various sources all seem to agree the Wallabies had a small advantage in terms of possession.
Opta Sports suggest it was 54 per cent of territory and 56 per cent of possession. And within their numbers, the picture of the Wallabies’ go forward is pretty damning.
Only Sekope Kepu and Marika Koroibete were shown to be proper metre-hounds, averaging 11 and 11.7 metres per carry respectively.
Five of the starting forwards carried for single-figure meterage; Scott Sio with an extraordinary ten carries for just three metres, Rob Simmons with six carries for two metres, and none of Tatafu Polota-Nau, Blake Enever, and Ned Hanigan registering even one metre from multiple carries.
From the bench, it’s arguably worse, with Ben McCalman only just north of one metre per carry, and both Stephen Moore and Matt Philip less than that.
Tom Robertson, Allan Alaalatoa and Lopeti Timani didn’t carry the ball even once each. The Australian forwards made minimal inroads, and their replacements offered no call-carrying impact at all when it was most needed.
In the back, it’s not much better. From fullback, where cheap, stats-enhancing metres are plentiful via kick returns, Kurtley Beale made 40 metres from 14 carries.
This lack of go-forward was further compounded by yet another disappointing Bernard Foley kicking display from hand. Time and time again, when struggling to get out of their 22, a Foley kick would come down in the Australian half, doing half of England’s job for them.
It continues to astound that a known longer boot in Reece Hodge isn’t used more for clearing kicks. Equally, it’s apparent that even with a former Australian rules player among the coaching staff, none of the Wallabies’ kickers have managed to add any great length to their kicks.
Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images
That’s not to say that Mick Byrne should have had Foley punting 50 and 60 metres every time by now, but Foley isn’t kicking any further now than he was for the Waratahs five years ago. The same goes for Beale.
On a wet London afternoon, on a wet Twickenham turf, the last thing the Wallabies needed when they weren’t making any considerable ground was a kicking game of no great assistance.
Discipline
After conceding a 15-3 penalty count against Wales in Cardiff the week before, I was curious to watch what lessons might have been learnt on the discipline front.
Even more so, once it became obvious that the weather was going to force a more combative contest.
Sadly, it was more of the same, though at least the penalty count was even. Small mercies, I suppose.
After making headlines last weekend for equalling the record of most international yellow cards, Michael Hooper was always going to be playing with fire. But instead of not giving referee Ben O’Keeffe the opportunity to give him the unwanted record, Hooper was the most penalised player on the field. And worse, his ‘record breaking’ yellow came after he was told there would be a card if the Wallabies continued to infringe.
Not only did the Wallabies continue to infringe, Hooper led from the front.
Discipline also comes into the equation when it comes to positioning on the field, and particularly for a couple of the more contentious moments. Hooper knew he was in front of Tevita Kuridrani’s kick, and it’s not like he doesn’t know the offside law. Koroibete, by the same token, should have just dived on the ball and let momentum and moisture do the rest.
Moore was never in position to take a pass from Koroibete in his run to the line for what was the second disallowed try, and it’s debateable if he was really in position for Will Genia to find him, too.
Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Urgency
This was best exemplified by Beale’s lacklustre chase for what became Elliot Daly’s try.
Whether the ball went out or stays in is immaterial; Beale should have got there comfortably to ensure one way or the other that Daly didn’t have the opportunity to get a toe on it.
Again, on a damp playing surface, the Wallabies have all played enough rugby to know that kick chase, and reaction to opposition kicks and kick chase was going to be all important. But way too often were white jerseys running past gold ones in the race for the ball.
The great shame in all of this is that the Wallabies, on multiple occasions, showed some really nice touches in attack. They used Koroibete well in midfield, and Samu Kerevi was prominent, too. They made more clean breaks and beat more English defenders than the home side managed in return.
But England played the smart game; the patient game. They knew that the chances mightn’t come until late and they settled in to ensure they were ready to take them if and when they arose.
After Scotland’s impressive showing against New Zealand, the Wallabies’ big test now is to learn these lessons in a hurry as they prepare for return clash at Murrayfield.
And for those of us at home on the couch, the test is to not fall into the lazy trap of playing the man with the whistle.
Garry
Guest
Similar stats to last season when the Poms beat us with less than 30% possession. Did we learn anything since then? What did Cheika learn from last Saturday?
Cuw
Guest
that is the problem with those pre-planned moves. they tend to be silly at times. i remember something simillar happened to England under Lancaster and they lost - cant remember the opponent or the year tho, at that point it was Kerevi who was having a good time and "in the game". if they wanted a change shud have taken Kuridrani out , coz he was not really in the game. i mean Kepu was having a great time in the 2nd half , but he was nowhere in the first half. but then these pre-planned things happen with most teams and in most matches. many a time i have seen Creevy coming off and looking like he wants to go the full 80.
mark conley
Guest
"Moore was never in position to take a pass from Koroibete in his run to the line for what was the second disallowed try, and it’s debateable if he was really in position for Will Genia to find him, too." Come again? Methinks Moore was looking for the pill first-out himself and was in a good position to receive. How Moore didn't see (or want to see) Korobeite I'm perplexed.
Highlander
Guest
: )
soapit
Guest
reckon it was a preconcieved plan but also kinda makes sense to try and get an extra ball player on when ur chasing the game. mainly tho i reckon it was 50/50 who they went with hunt or samu and so they planned to have each with a fair bit of game time.
KeeWeeUK
Guest
Yes I do Taylorman, yes I do.
KeeWeeUK
Guest
Yes I do remember Connor. A Wallabies at full strength is the only team I truly fear against my ABs. Your depth issues have always been the main problem. Good luck on the rest of your EOYT games.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Hooper's was not a try, he was offside end of story! E.Daly got lucky with bounce and scored a good "chasers" try, give him a cigar (or meat pie) and K.Beale a kick up the backside. Beale fully deserved his yellow, it was a "boom or bust" chance and he went bust. I can see the argument that S.Moore partly obstructed C.Robshaw from making a full front-on tackle but the WB got the rough end of a pineapple on a very literal interpretation of the Laws, which TMOs don't seem to apply as stringently when it's an English player doing the obstruction. So strictly speaking the TMO was correct in ruling a no-try, once he deemed that Robshaw had returned enough into the play to be onside (another very subjective interpretation). What amused me on this one is listen to the English tv Commentators who all gave it as a try, even while we watched 75 replays. It was only after about the 73rd replay, when it was obvious the TMO had a problem that one started clucking "obstruction and no try", while the 2nd commentator remarked he was amazed at the ruling then stayed quiet. If biased English commentators say it's a try, who am I to argue? LoL But like Brett, I refuse to blame the referee and both sides were missing starting players through injuries. For me the WB lost because the coach selected the wrong players (6 soft forwards), the game plan sucked for wet weather footy and too many players lost their nerve and put in a shocker with multiple forward or "hail mary" passes and dropped ball. Oh and one other thing, this England side is a bona-fide well-drilled team of professional rugby players who are very hard to beat. You are never going to beat them playing dumb footy.
Connor33
Guest
Yes, agree. The temporal perspective is a real one. But I think the Abs and even the great Macqueen would have been jumping up and down after see the flaws on the weekend.
Fox
Roar Guru
I think it was Cheika for getting in the refs ear at half time when he was coaching NSW
Connor33
Guest
Granted re 1. But re 2. Koro runs into Moore's line because he is trying to evade Farrell who was offside. And re re. 3, look at the head in shot at 55.01. The ball was out. Why would Beale need to pick up a ball that was out.
Connor33
Guest
No, I meant Barnes. He's the best referee going around and I reckon would have been professional enough not to get intimidated by Farrell and the English crowd compared to a NZ rookie, who made some right big calls. But failed in others.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Dead right Pirate, and you know what really bemuses me? In both this and last years' EOYTs, B.Foley has kicked really well against Wales. I don't mean goals nor line kicks but kicks from the hand while running in attack. Am not sure of 2016, but this year the great Gareth Evens (BBC feed I think) gave Foley man of the match for his control of the attack with fine passing and his judicious field kicks of grubbers and up-n-unders, which had the Welsh defence nervous for most of the match and led to two WB tries. The 2016 match had Foley at 5/8 and R.Hodge at IC and those two carved Wales up with kicks behind the line and great passing to the outer backs running decoys and various lines to confuse the Welsh. So its not a case of he can't do it or he needs to stand in the next suburb to give himself time, he has done it and done it well. Now in both years, we come against England and that whole plan goes out the window. Foley et al are playing to coach's orders, which is no kicks, just feed the Big Boppers. Yes the England defence pattern is a far different proposition to the Wales rush defence, but all that great play we saw against Wales has gone, NOT once did Foley try it. The plan was now either bash through or throw wide and try to stretch the England defence. The only grubber kick I can remember was T.Kuridrani kicking for M.Hooper's no-try. And amazingly those grubber kicks are packed away on a rainy windy field. Isn't that almost Rule #1 in the book, "Rugger in the Wet!" Shoot me now!
Wallsy
Roar Rookie
Thoughtful article Brett. For me as a neutral observer the biggest issue is with the victim mentality within this team. The attitude of Hooper as a captain isn't great and the behaviour of Beale and Hooper as they were yellow carded was never going to help improve the referee's opinion. I think it's very unlikely that they were going to sway Ben O'Keeffe (unlike TJ Perenara's effort with Angus Gardner earlier this year, the exception that proves the rule). It does all seem to start with Cheika and I think the last ten minutes may have been partly due to a feeling that since everything was going against them there was just no point in trying. Perhaps Australia need to jump on board the sports psychologist trend as Eddie Jones has done with England (see https://www.theguardian.com/sport/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy/2016/jul/01/sports-psychologist-jeremy-snape-rugby-cricket-football) and change the attitude of the players and the coaches.
adastra32
Guest
If "rusty and ineffective" results in a 30-6 win - I'll take it every time!
Country Boy
Guest
Great analysis Brett, certainly puts things into perspective.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
You are spot on. I thought the ref was spot on too for the whole match if not just a bit unnecessarily pedantic against both sides in the scrums. His major mistake.... robshaw was clearly offside in tackling Koroibete. That was a bad miss. But generally the wallabies were their own worst enemies in a game we should have won given how rusty and ineffective England generally was. As for Cheika , he is a disgrace and he gives his team the opportunity to not own up to their shortcomings and just blame the ref.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Cliff you are right in relation to game management / lack of a plan B under Cheika, it is frustrating. That’s where Larkham needs to step up and take more of the reigns. I think Foley cops a lot of heat on here and at times I think it’s not warranted. He is rocks n diamonds but so is Cooper, Foley is the best we have and on his good days he is an 8/10 player. It’s interesting that he is highly rated in the North yet so maligned down here. For Foley to play his best Footy he needs Beale next to him, they compliment each other well. Now I wouldn’t have him doing the goal Kicking or exit kicking, that’s Hodge job now. Hooper still has a bit to learn as skipper. Always take the points when on offer particulay in the wet.
waxhead
Guest
Yes good article from Brett this time - I agree with all :)
mzilikazi
Guest
"Connor, I’ll be equally unabashed when I say I see not point reading past your first par". Brett, I don't think you should have written the above. It is a well argued and researched case, and rugby has a big problem with poor refereeing. Way beyond what happened in the game on Sat. Please remember the referee is now a professional as well....not a volunteer who gives up his time to give the guys a game. He is therefore fully accountable for his actions, and a sub standard performance must be dealt with. O'Keefe had a poor game the previous week in Dublin. There is no way he should have been given this game the following week.