If there is a signature characteristic of the Wallabies that has developed since the 2015 World Cup, it is the variety of attacking moves off the lineout that we see them converting into tries.
I take that to be Stephen Larkham’s influence as attack coach, as that was what the Brumbies started doing after Jake White left that club, though in 2017 we didn’t see it so much. I put this down to the Brumbies best playmakers, Matt Toomua and Christian Leiliifano, having left and their replacements not being quite up to it.
Some of the Australian commentators of Larkham’s era have also spoken about how the team in the 1990s and 2000s had dozens of attacking moves off the lineout, which suggests to me that it might be Larkham’s influence. One comment, I think by Greg Martin, stood out for me. After a particularly spectacular try off the lineout, the commentator enthused that “in training you spend hours and hours on these moves”.
Reflecting on the inconsistent and disappointing year for the Wallabies, I wonder if too much time is being invested in practising these moves at the expense of things like honing defence, breakdown and set piece skills, kicking, handling, restarts and exits.
The midyear Scotland test in particular demonstrated how a well-drilled team of players who would generally be considered less talented in the attacking sense can embarrass the Wallabies by just making fewer mistakes and having individuals good enough to capitalise on Wallabies errors. The theme was repeated on a number of occasions throughout the season, with the Wallabies showing plenty of talent in attack but letting themselves down with errors and ill-discipline.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
There are a couple of points to consider here. Firstly, adding set piece running attacks from the set piece to the Brumbies repertoire worked reasonably well for Larkham at the Brumbies, and I happen to think that during 2016 he was very unlucky with injuries to key players and should have done better in the competition.
However, it has to be remembered that the Brumbies had the unfairly maligned ‘Jakeball’ drilled into their DNA by that stage, so their defence, kicking and forward work was already rock solid. Larkham could most likely afford to spend more time on lineout moves because the platform was there, while this is not the case with the Wallabies.
Secondly, I understand that Michael Cheika was hamstrung by receiving a team of players out of underperforming Super Rugby franchises last year, hence skills that he might expect to be up to scratch by the time June came around weren’t there.
However, that probably gives even more reason to focus on the basics instead of lineout moves. He certainly emphasised improving the Wallabies’ fitness prior to June, and I suspect that had he insisted the team spend as much time developing bulletproof basics, the Wallabies would have had a much better season.
Thirdly, I know that the Wallabies have been under pressure from the Rugby Australia suits to play an ‘entertaining Australian brand’ of running rugby, but I would suggest that Australians find nothing less entertaining than losing.
(Jason O’Brien/Getty Images)
Moreover, Australian rugby players already have the skills to instinctively play entertaining rugby, probably due to the emphasis on running football in rugby union as well as in rugby league and touch football, with all of our players playing one or more of these games from a young age.
Spending less time on set-piece attack isn’t going to stop Will Genia running 40 metres off the base of the scrum to set up a try or Reece Hodge or Israel Folau scoring off an intercept or Kurtley Beale finding space where there is none to put one of his teammates away. The list of entertaining but instinctive Wallabies attacking plays goes on. I don’t think that stepping back on the set-piece plays would undermine the entertainment value of the game whatsoever.
Finally, the benchmark for entertaining running rugby, the All Blacks, don’t seem to emphasise lineout attacks at all, with their attack seeming entirely instinctive and based on micro skills.
I remember another comment in a slightly derisive tone by a Kiwi commentator about the Brumbies along the lines of, “Here is another one of their big flash lineout moves”, which is perhaps an indication the value given to these sorts of tactics across the ditch. It seems to me that the time the Kiwis spend practising stealing lineouts to ensure that the Australian lineout move never happens is better spent than what the Wallabies are doing with their lineout attacks.
I hope that Michael Cheika inherits better prepared players come June this year than last, but I also hope he emphasises basics over complex attacking moves from the start.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Thanks KK.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
I wasn't talking about the lineouts and scrums themselves, they need practice. I was talking about the flash running moves that the Wallabies specialising in running off them.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Think about it and you will understand that I was talking about two distinct sets of skills.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
"firstly" ADVERB Used to introduce a first point or reason. ‘firstly it is wrong and secondly it is extremely difficult to implement’ https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/firstly
Campbell Watts
Guest
To be honest mate I don't think the Wallabies could go 44 phases without stuffing it up in unopposed drills!
Bad Doctor
Guest
OK. There is no such word as 'firstly', and it therefore necessarily follows that there is no such word as 'secondly', or 'thirdly', 'fourthly' etc... Just saying, that's all.......
Wobblies
Guest
Leinster don't play the All Blacks
Wobblies
Guest
Secondly, I understand that Michael Cheika was hamstrung by receiving a team of players out of underperforming Super Rugby franchises last year, hence skills that he might expect to be up to scratch by the time June came around weren’t there. Moreover, Australian rugby players already have the skills to instinctively play entertaining rugby, probably due to the emphasis on running football in rugby union as well as in rugby league and touch football, with all of our players playing one or more of these games from a young age. Spot the dog with one eye closed and half an ear
bluffboy
Guest
Thanks Rhys First thoughts were I agree mostly with what you are saying. On reflection, the honing of the skills you are suggesting????Really how much time should be spent teaching, fixing, honing at this level and if there is considerable time required, why have they been selected? You are right with the attaching ability of some players (finding gaps where there are none - intercepts) but realistically how often do these opportunities occur at the international level. IMO even if we were covered with proficient kickers it still should be used sparingly in attack, which is what we are talking about. So it really comes back to having a platform for mounting attack consistently. This comes back to 2 Lineout or Scrum. Unfortunately we are inconsistent in both facets, hence why there probably needs to more, not less, time that is currently allowed for.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
True Gepetto, though Foley's hard gap running does create space for Beale and pays off in it's own right in many instances. Foley is also an impeccable support runner. Between those two and Genia I am not that worried about the ability of the inside backs being able to instinctively create opportunities in lieu of structured attacking moves. That is why I would like to see a bit less time spent on structured attack and more on other basics.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Good question, Rhys. The ABs used to favour attacking from line outs but last year there was a definite move to the scrum as an attacking platform. And with both first-choice props. Like your article, it begs the question how much time was devoted to that area and was it pre-empted based on an appreciation of not only the team’s strengths but also the opposition’s weaknesses?
Declan
Guest
I realise top teams must go over all routines until they are second nature. What a joy therefore to watch the Leinster vs Exeter game in the Euro Championship last week when Leinster scored a try after 44 phases - 44 phases with no mistakes. I long for the day the Aussies can do that
Gepetto
Guest
Bernard is not an instinctive player. He needs a great halfback and structure in attack. Bernard's first instinct is to run hard at unlikely gaps in the defence and his second is to kick the ball as hard as he can. Being forced to play 80+ minutes every game must wear him down.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Only the up and under kicking games were used at strange times in games, and overused then... I can't remember which Northern Tour game it was now, but they were in control of the game, then Foley switched to the up and unders, from his 22 no less, and the momentum shifted pretty quickly to the opposition. He didn't let up though, he kept plugging away with the up and unders...
Fionn
Guest
I don't know if it's overemphasised, as it is one of our main attacking platforms, and the wallabies' attack throughout 2017 (aside from the last two matches...) was fantastic. We might be shooting our selves in the foot if we take away one of our only points of difference from other teams. What they need to do now that they have the line out moves down is instead focus more on developing a kicking game. The lack of a kicking game is the single biggest weaknesses. Too often Foley's up and unders were none conteatabke and handed the ball straight back to the opposition around halfway. He needs to practice his raking kick more. That was extremely effective when he pulled it off, like against Wales. On a side note, there has been a decent amount of criticism by the Kiwis of the All Blacks' attack last year, and especially in the defence coach (is it Ian Foster?) for there being no discernible plan and being overly-reliant on individual brilliance rather than tactics.
Fineus Fin
Guest
I take it that the Elephant in the Room is banned from discussion? The Wallabies will never develop under the current coach.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Lol, you are a brave man.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Thanks Stu. Yes, the current trend of 20 phase rugby league in Australian rugby is a bit of a bugbear for me too. I reckon once a team gets past about 10 phases, the chances of a mistake or a turnover increase exponentially, and that they really need to start thinking about kicking.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Thanks Akari.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Thanks Chook.