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It is time the Wallabies moved on from the Pooper

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Roar Guru
18th March, 2019
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4559 Reads

Going back through the last six World Cup winning teams, every side has opted for big-bodied, tall and powerful players at both number 8 and blindside flanker.

These players have been capable of contributing at the line out and running the ball in heavy traffic.

In the 2015 World Cup the All Blacks used Jerome Kaino (195cm and 109kg) and Kieran Read (193cm and 111kg).

Read and Kaino were also the All Blacks’ 6 and 8 in the 2011 World Cup.

The 2007 World Cup-winning Springboks opted for Danie Rossouw (198cm and 119kg) and Juan Smith (196cm and 112kg).

England won the 2003 World Cup with Lawrence Dallaglio (193cm and 112kg) and Richard Hill (108kg).

Australia won the 1999 World Cup with Toutai Kefu (191cm and 113kg) and Matthew Cockbain (197cm and 105kg).

South Africa won the 1995 World Cup with Mark Andrews (201cm and 116kg) and Ruben Kruger (188cm and 101kg)

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When playing the Pooper, the Wallabies can at best seek to be adequate in the line out, through a tall third loosie. The Wallabies will never have a dominant or world-class line out with the Pooper.

Additionally, none of the Wallabies’ powerful ball-runners are tall players that can be lifted quickly in the line out, meaning that the Wallabies will be stuck with either three heavy players that are slow to be lifted if someone like Salakaia-Loto is played at flanker; stuck without a ball-runner if someone like Simmons is picked at flanker as he can be quickly lifted; or stuck without a good line out target if someone like Caleb Timu is picked at 8.

The Wallabies tried to break from this recipe in the 2015 World Cup final, by playing the Pooper and the All Blacks picked off the Wallabies’ line out at will.

If it didn’t work in 2015, with Scott Fardy a much better line out target and complimentary player to the Pooper, is it likely to work in 2019, when neither Hooper or Pocock are as good as they were in 2015?

avid Pocock and Michael Hooper

David Pocock is better than Mike Hooper. Simple. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Fortunately, the tired argument that ‘there is no one else’ is being dispelled in 2019, and Pocock has been more or less constantly injured, while Hooper has not been in form.

Cheika has a variety of 6s and 8s playing well to select from in 2019.

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I think the ideal back-row was that fielded by the All Blacks in the 2011 and 2015 World Cup finals.

They had one smaller player who was excellent at the breakdown, a great defender and a skilled link-man, Richie McCaw.

They had one wider-ranging player with fantastic ball-skills, who was a good ball-runner in tight and fantastic at running in the wider channels, as well as a great line out jumper, Kieran Read.

Finally, they had one bigger, more powerful player who was a devastating defender and powerful ball runner, as well as a good line out jumper, Jerome Kaino.

When uninjured Pocock is by far Australia’s (and probably the world’s) breakdown exponent, he is also our most skilled link-man option, despite being slower than Hooper. While Hooper has a fantastic work-rate, is very quick and a good ball-runner.

Both of these players can play 7, and play it well. I would opt to start Hooper and bring Pocock off the bench in the easier matches; I would start Pocock and have Hooper on the bench in the matches against more difficult opponents.

Which Australian player could try and fulfil the criteria of being a wider ranging, skilled runner and passer, while also being a strong defender and a line out target?

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New Zealand's Richie McCaw walks past Australia's David Pocock

Richie McCaw. The best. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

It seems to me that this is a competition between Jack Dempsey and Lachlan McCaffrey. Both players are able to be lifted quickly into the air and have good technique when lifted. There is the added bonus that both Dempsey and especially McCaffrey contribute well at the breakdown.

Dempsey (191cm and 109kg) is tested at the international level and was excellent in some of his 2017 Tests for the Wallabies. But since returning from injury in the National Rugby Championship last year has struggled to replicate this form. While his lack of impact on the Wallabies’ spring tour could be explained away due to him just returning from injury, it is concerning that this lack of impact has largely continued in Super Rugby 2019.

McCaffrey (194cm and 108kg), meanwhile, while untested at international level is the big improver of 2019. Last year he was reasonable without being a standout for the Brumbies. This year he has been the Brumbies’ best player in every match he has played, aside from Christian Lealiifano’s heroic effort against the Chiefs.

I would not necessarily go so far as to say he is currently Australia’s standout Super Rugby player, but I wouldn’t argue against anyone who claimed he was.

McCaffrey, while not having immense power, is skilful, quick and has good feet in attack. He is good at making mini breaks past defenders in-tight and can link well with the backs out wide. He also makes good decisions.

His on-the-run cutout pass over the top of a defender to Chance Peni for his try against the Chiefs is an example of his good vision, decision making and ball skills. He is also comparable in size to both Read and Taulaupe Faletau (189cm and 110kg), two of the world’s premier number 8s. Whether he has what it takes to step up to the international level remains to be seen, but on present form, he has to be the frontrunner.

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Now, which player can be the ball-running blindside flanker that is top class in the line out that the Wallabies need?

Despite some improvements in the off season, Ned Hanigan cannot fulfil this role. He still has moments of defensive lapses, such as allowing Samu Kerevi to score a try untouched when he picked the ball up from halfback. Additionally, in his performance against the Brumbies he was ragdolled at times. He lacks the strength required for the international level.

Ned Hanigan Australia Rugby Union Wallabies 2017

Ned Hanigan of the Wallabies. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

At present, Isi Naisarani (195cm and 110kg is the only realistic option playing in the back-row. Scott Higginbotham, while fantastic in the line out does not have the tight work-rate or the form, Caleb Timu (190cm and 112kg) is currently not demonstrating enough and is not good enough in the line out.

While Naisarani lacks some footwork to beat defenders, like Billy Vunipola or Tevita Kuridrani he is powerful in terms of bending the line when ball-running in tight. He hits hard in defence and is good in the line out. He is also very quick in the wider channels and possesses ball skills.

Both Jed Holloway (195cm and 116kg) and Luke Jones (197cm and 111kg) are players capable of playing in the back-row, but unfortunately both are playing at lock right now. Either would make a massive contribution to the Wallabies’ line out, but it is difficult to see them as realistic options until they are playing back-row for their Super Rugby teams. Perhaps they could be trialled at 6 in some Rugby Championship matches, and hopefully Adam Coleman’s return forces Jones to 6. Holloway’s work rate is a concern and needs to improve.

The Wallabies have options for their back-row in 2019. At present, I would say that Naisarani and McCaffrey should be the favourites for the 6 and 8 jersey. Their additions would mean the Wallabies have four good line out jumpers, tight and wide ball-running and good breakdown abilities.

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If Jones or Holloway play in the back-row, Timu or Higginbotham improves, or Dempsey returns to his 2017 form things will be looking even better.

The Wallabies are finally in the position where they can move past playing the Pooper, return to the tried and true recipe for a successful back-row and recover from Cheika’s disastrous decision to move on from Scott Fardy in 2016.

If selections are correct, the Wallabies can have a line out competitive with the rest of the world, generate go-forward when carrying and to have fast players capable of linking with the backs.

The players are there, Cheika, will you pick them?

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