There’s not much grey area in allowing 12 tries in two Bledisloe games.
It’s plain and simple: the Wallabies’ defence isn’t up to scratch.
Of course, the All Blacks are in imperious form, comfortably the best side in the world. Beauden Barrett and his rampant team would’ve battered many international sides given their momentum and mood at Eden Park last Saturday night.
Speed. Skill. Intensity. There’s no team that lays it on as thick as New Zealand when they’re in a groove.
But Wallabies fans are rightly questioning how and why Australia have capitulated so rapidly over the past two weekends. Like a neck roll on David Pocock, it’s been painful to watch the second-half slumps.
The scorelines are stark: a 38-13 loss in Sydney followed by a 40-12 hammering in Auckland. A bulky 78 points conceded. It’s not rocket surgery – as The Badgelor would say – to note that Tests will scarcely be won when you’re leaking like that.
Michael Cheika’s job as Wallabies coach has been called into question following the two stinging defeats. But maybe it’s worth peeling back a coaching layer to help pinpoint one of the Wallabies’ problems.
Nathan Grey is in his fourth season as Wallabies defence coach. This season is his first full-time, having previously been part-time with the national side when he was contracted with the Waratahs – which included being defence coach for the Tahs in their 2014 Super Rugby title-winning season.
However, he entered this season on the back of his stint at the Waratahs in which NSW – in 2017 – recorded their worst-ever defensive record.
The Tahs let in 40 points or more seven times in 15 games in a woeful campaign, and they conceded, on average, close to 35 points. They leaked 40-plus points on 12 occasions over the previous 281 games since 1996, and even went seven years – between 2003-2010 – without doing it once.
Last season, the Wallabies were dismal defensively in Sydney when carved up 54-34 by the Kiwis, the contest all but over after 30 minutes. Scotland piled on the points in November as the Wallabies went down 53-24 at Murrayfield. The previous week England cruised to a 30-6 victory at Twickenham.
Michael Hooper of the Australian Wallabies leads the team out (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Any swagger the Wallabies had after making the 2015 World Cup final was lost when they were wiped by England the following year in a three-Test series: 39-28, 23-7, 44-40. The All Blacks belted the Wallabies 42-8 a fortnight later in Sydney.
The Wallabies’ deficiencies in attack have been significant over the past two-and-a-bit years, and their inconsistency in the lineout and scrum have been at times infuriating.
But their defence has been well below expectations over the same period, although they’ve kept a lid on South Africa, Argentina and Ireland, and last year’s rare triumph over the All Blacks showed grit despite the clash being a Bledisloe Cup dead rubber.
Cheika’s exasperation has been distinct over the past two heavy defeats, particularly with his team’s inability to contain the quick-to-counterattack All Blacks.
Should Grey take the heat for this?
A defensive coach would spend most of his time on structure at set pieces in different parts of the field, as well as tackling technique and line speed. Maybe drilling into his players the need to react quickly when they lose possession is more about attitude. Nonetheless, Grey should have to take responsibility for that too, along with Cheika.
Cheika’s Wallabies record is now poor: a 50 per cent winning strikerate — 50 Tests, 25 wins, 23 losses, two draws.
As a coach, wins are your currency and imploring that you’re executing a strategy with the World Cup in mind shouldn’t ensure immunity from getting the axe.
The Wallabies have lost six of their last seven Tests. Grey’s recent record isn’t flattering, and being full-time for the first time with the Wallabies leaves few excuses. We were told the Wallabies were fitter than ever.
The squad had an extra week off than a big chunk of the All Blacks. The high-intensity internal match at Leichhardt Oval – a first for the Wallabies leading into the Bledisloe – was perfect preparation, we were told. They spent a week at an island resort near Auckland last week in a bid to break their Eden park hoodoo.
But the carve-up continued.
As a player, I loved watching Grey. Tough and gritty. All energy. It would seem that his enthusiasm and rugged edge would translate nicely to coaching. But for whatever reason, despite hard-earned wins against the Springboks and Los Pumas, defensively Australia have opened up too easily too often.
“Defence is a reflection of the strength of your culture and your ability to dig in for each other,” Dean Mumm said last year after the Waratahs’ 2017 season flop.
“We can say all we want on that front but perception is reality when you look at the numbers.
“There comes a time when you can no longer rest on what has been.
“So the establishment of a new culture becomes really important. And culture matters… You earn respect from the way you play, not what you have done previously.”
I understand that the buck should stop with Cheika, but for Grey – given his poor exit from the Tahs and his below-par record with the Wallabies – time is running out to prove he’s best suited as defence coach.
For Grey it’s black and white: the Wallabies need to be frugal against South Africa and Argentina – both home and away – and pin their pride on their tryline.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
As a Tahs supporter I was pleased to see him go. Pity that it was to the Wallabies.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Genia is doing the cover defence that Folau is always out of position for and Simmons is one of the few Wallabies tacking around the legs - which gives our two 7's their best chance to pilfer.
concerned supporter
Guest
PaulD. I thought it was me, but navigating the Roar????
FunBus
Roar Rookie
It was against England, unless he’s done it twice.
Anzeboy2460
Roar Rookie
Totally agree with you Fionn. Now 1st let’s look at Koroibete. This man missed more tackles than he made in the 2nd test in Auckland. 2nd Folau has no positional sense at all at fullback. He lets in so many try’s it ain’t funny. 3rd Beale has to be the weakest number 12 in world rugby on defence. 4th Foley he’ll I don’t even know what the hell he does. Oh that’s right kick goals. 5th DHP did he even play in the 2nd test? Because I didn’t see him all night.
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
Agreed, I like Beale and Foley and I'm a Waratahs fan, but lets face it, the're turnstiles. And the defence of Koroibete the other night wasn't good to watch either. There are two meanings for ensemble, one is about all parts working together harmoniously and the the other is a bunch of actors up on stage pretending to be something their not. At times we have the second and not the first. We can only afford one of Beale and Foley, one goes to the bench and slot in Toomua. If Quade (who can pass and kick) was picked then both Beale and Foley would have to go. Folau as a wing receiving high balls from Quade on the opposition tryline would be good to see. And Banks (who can pass) bringing the ball back is a better option than Folau imo
Pablo
Roar Rookie
Castle needs to remove Cheika from team selections firstly. i.e. 3 man panel picking the best performed players for the position. Cheika, then needs to make a plan that suits the team he is given. Cheika then needs to tell his assistants his game plan A and plan B. His assistants then come back to him with there game day attack/defence structure/style. Cheika then put into practice. That's what the All Blacks do isn't it, and it seems to work, so why invent the wheel again? Then identify the coaching weak link or links and "on your bike". This crap of who we do we replace them with etc is crap! It is common knowledge that the paying public are voting with there feet, and change has got to happen and happen now. Another 12 months of this and there will be no paying public left! or viewers left. If Castle needs help, I am sure there is enough Gurus on this site who would sit in a planning meeting for free to help her!
Jigbon
Guest
Yep I find drew Mitchell annoying on kick and chase and he never offers anything of value except getting petulant. I’ll be glad when he goes. I wish they would bring back the journos session on k and c. Plus new site is ....well ...different. Not sure why it had to change it weren’t broke ...apart from the plethora of adds and jumping around the screen. Grey has failed as defence coach let’s face it. And as nick pointed out lack if speed in all facets doesn’t help.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
DHP is someone I really rated a few years ago, but I just feel like he's lost too much pace. I don't know, perhaps I'm being unfair. Good comment regarding wings and fullbacks. Most of the great wingers could and did also play fullback. I really feel like Beale, Folau and Banks could be our best outside backs in a lot of ways. I am sad Perese is going as I thought he looked special also. I wonder if Petaia will play on the wing or in the centres next year? He's a unit too.
moaman
Roar Guru
Pinetree/soapit I have no idea what the dynamics are between the various skills coaches under Cheika and their respective relationships with the head honcho, so it is mere speculation on my part. But it doesn't seem obvious to me that a thoughtful and coordinated approach is being utilised or that the necessary and urgent changes are being implemented. I rely on tech experts like NB to fill in all the gaps for me. Better performances against the upcoming opposition in TRC may point towards improvement or it may paper over the cracks.Time will tell. It can't be all explained away by praising the ABs and throwing up your hands and saying "what can we do?"
soapit
Roar Guru
koro has been a decent defender in the past and that one of the reason he's in the team, him making big shots is part of their strategy. he's defender very poorly the last two games at least tho and i'd switch him out.
soapit
Roar Guru
yep suspect its at least the grumpy old man in me not liking change but reckon its definitely harder to follow a line of replies. no edit will take some getting used to also but i suppose its to help the new way messages appear which i like. be good to find a way to get it back. facebook can do it somehow.
soapit
Roar Guru
wasnt there only one or two tries that were scored off turnovers though? asking because that seems to be the accepted issue but surely a couple of phases is enough to get your system going.
soapit
Roar Guru
...the coaching staff surely know they need to work together as a team? shocking incompetence if theyre just blinkered to their own area
soapit
Roar Guru
but grey as the defensive coach should be identifying that other areas are making things impossible for his systems and get it sorted out (not that i think the systems are good). its still his failings the coaching staff
Rugby wizard
Guest
I have too give it too the bok coach,brilliant bringing Kolbee into the setup from Europe,nobody saw his selection coming, Erasmus is not afraid too take chances,Kolbee will tear apart the wallabies back line if given chance in Brisbane.What card can cheika show none,for example aJames O conor would have immediately caused a rethink in bok setup,advantage already too boks.
Lara
Guest
Defence n attack can not be isolated, it is like a couple dancing, they work together. The ability to change from one to another is more paramount in today's game , hence when the Wallabies lose the pill they are exposed . Defending for long periods is an art, formations , the right players in the right positions , just doing their job over n over again, trusting your fellow players to do theirs. Great defence frustrates the opponent n creates mistakes n bad options. The Wallabies have soft defenders n the trust is not there as a result n that is the players fault n Cheika's fault for picking them. The problem is deep within the Wallabies , but Cheika must learn to select the right players for the right position before anything else.
Divided Loyalties
Roar Rookie
No that wouldn't be reasonable because when BBB defends in the front line, he rarely misses... The reason he is often instructed to hang out wide is to be in position for the lightening fast counter. He also drops back to be sweeper/ fullback on defense for the the same reason. Speed. Note he drops back more often late in the game, when the heavy defense has faded. But takes the front line tackles early in the game when the battle is tighter.
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
A very well drilled bunch of average defenders can defend better than a disorganised team if good defenders. it’s more the lack of positioning and urgency than individual poor technique that is leading to tries like Barret strolling in untouched... no missed tackle Involved. It’s not a backline thing, as once you get to 2nd phase it’s a team effort.
maxxlord
Roar Rookie
What $#@!??? Drop Foley? Surely not while Cheika has breath in him.