Last week I wrote an article on playmakers and distributors, and what role they play for the Waratahs, Rebels and Brumbies.
I asked the question, do the Wallabies need two playmakers in the run-on 15? And if we do, do they have to be at No.15 as well as No.10? I also discussed the role of distributors to support playmakers.
The definitions I used were: playmaker – someone who can play a traditional stand-off role and control a game, with good passing to both sides and a tactical kicking game – to be more involved than a distributor – someone who can effectively pass both sides and can read a game for opportunities.
The players I reviewed in detail were Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale, Christian Lealiifano, Tom Banks, Quade Cooper and Dane Haylett-Petty.
The focus of the review was the players’ attacking skills, positional play and unforced errors, only noting actions that were above or below what should be expected from Test players in a Super Rugby game. I did not review their tackling or simply doing what’s expected of them.
The conclusion I arrived at last week was the Rebels and Brumbies have shown that Australian teams can be successful with one playmaker in the 15, as long as that player is supported by good distributors.
I conducted the same analysis after last weekend games, reviewing the same players. This time however, I have noted the number of involvements by each player. By ‘involvements’ I mean the number of times the ball was passed to the player.
These totals do not include taking the ball from a kick, or taking penalty kicks for touch.
Number of involvements per player, First Half/Second Half:
Beale 13/8
Foley 12/6
Cooper 10/12
DHP 6/8
CLL 9/8
Banks 5/6
Some distributors, e.g. Banks, tend to run a higher percentage of their involvements when compared to Beale or DHP, who pass more often.
Kurtley Beale of the Waratahs. (AAP Image/Jeremy Ng)
Here are the highs and lows of each game.
Brumbies versus Sunwolves
00:30 CLL fails to kick out from inside 22
03:07 Banks looses ball in tackle
65:47 Banks fails to find touch with penalty kick
Rebels versus Waratahs
01:33 Beale fails to kick out after mark inside 22
39:28 Beale fails to kick out from inside 22
39:40 Beale good kick out in general play outside his 22
45:54 DHP good kick out in general play
72:42 Cooper good kick out in general play outside his 22
None of the reviewed players did anything magical in attack, nor any howlers in mistakes.
Summary
The involvement figures show that the Waratahs use Beale and Foley equally as playmakers, with about the same number of involvements, whereas the Brumbies (CLL) and Rebels (Cooper) clearly prioritise one playmaker.
Do the Waratahs believe Foley cannot do the playmaking role by himself, and therefore needs another playmaker in the team? Do they believe that both players should be in the 15 regardless of playmaking abilities?
If it is the former, and Foley is at 10 for the Wallabies, then there must be another playmaker at 12 or 15. In this scenario it could be CLL at 12 or Beale at 15. However, Samu Kerevi is the form Australian 12 and should be picked there. He is also a good distributor.
As a result, this would mean Beale at 15. Contrariwise, if CLL or Cooper is at 10, a second playmaker is not needed in the run on 15. But at least two of the other Backs (apart from 9) should be distributors.
The question is, then, should Foley be the Wallabies 10 given the follow on effects of backline selections?
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Mate definitely. No one trick ponies, but just another option that hasn't really been used since Beale was killing it in 2015ish
numpty
Roar Rookie
Bourkos, I think this is one small string to the bow of countering rush defense similar to the use of kick-passes to the wing or QC's extra long cutouts to MK. I think it'll be much more important to have good, varied play off the 9 to stop the rush defense. Switching between open and blindside regularly, halfback taking steps away from the ruck to draw the pillar, numerous forward runners etc. This is why McDermott is a smokey for me off the bench.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
1 or 2 play makers depends on your attacking strategy. How often are they on the bottom of the dog pile? Can your 9 distribute and kick, do they snipe, is the attack wide, how many pods... Cheikaball demands 2 playmakers, but it is a failed experiment, time to move on. Andrew Deegan. Young , can defend, kick, pass and go into contact.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Sorry Glenn you miss my point. I am saying that you are drawing the wrong conclusion, and that wrong conclusion you are then using to justify other points. The main point you miss is that the style of play strategically, and game plan tactically, should dictate your selections.
Glenn
Guest
Sorry TK you have missed the point. They maybe the best option for the Waratahs, and even there I'm not convinced, But they aren't for Australia. "...play make and distribute is a bonus..." is not a bonus these are required capabilities like being able to have situational awareness and tactical kicking to name two others. The Waratahs use of these two could be also to cover a myopic recuitment approach.
Glenn
Guest
My backs: 9 1/2 Genia 10 5/8 Cooper / CLL 11 LW Banks 12 IC Kerevi 13 OC Kuridrani 14 RW Hodge 15 FB DHP 16 RH TPN / Uleses 17 RTHP Slipper 18 RLHP Kepu 19 RL Coleman 20 RL Salakaia-Loto 21 RF Naisarani 22 R1/2 White 23 RB Toomua
Nate
Guest
9 White 10 Foley 11 Petaia 12 Kerevi 13 Kurindrani 14 DHP 15 Beale 21 Genia 22 Cooper 23 Hodge 29 Meakes 30 Speight 31 Banks
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Cannot agree with Toomua at 10 ..... I have seen nothing from him ever to show he is a 10.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
I can't really argue with much of that backline Jez but so much depends on how they want to play. Like you early on I thought Cooper was looking good but he has stuttered just as Genia is stuttering. Right now I am thinking in order of first pick ..... White, Phipps, Genia Foley, CLL, QC Kerevi Korobeite, Banks Kurindrani Hodge Beale
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Sorry but I disagree .... Cheika played Beale at 12 because Folau was at 15 and at the time Kerevi was 13 .... involving a multitude of reasons rather than just that Foley needed a second play maker. I believe that you are remodelling history to prove your theory.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
I don't agree with your conclusions .... to give an example the Waratahs use Beale at 15 because he is their best available 15, being able to play make and distribute is a bonus. So the Waratahs use a main play maker (Foley) with another able to step up for variety (Beale). Incidentally, you state that Beale failed to kick out from the 22m on two occasions. I believe in only one instance could you call it an error, although he was rushed, on the other occasion it was not a kick for touch but a kick for territory into space.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
If so it would only be meakes from what I have seen
Charlie Turner
Guest
Foley and Beale are compatible in attack but not defence. The wallabies cannot afford two average to below average defenders on the field at the same time in a RWC. The same applies to Cooper, select him at flyhalf and then five good defenders outside him. The only way to legitimise Beales selection is to pick Leali'ifano, a good defender at flyhalf then four other strong tackling outside backs. I'm not convinced Beales attacking form has turned but the next two rounds should reveal more. Having two defensive passengers in the backline places too much load on the loose forwards to cover for very little gain in attack.
Rugby101
Roar Guru
Yes off the bench for confidence I can understand. Yes White to give Genia some time on the bench is a good idea. No doubt To'omua, Kerevi, Kuridrani would be good defensively. It's a pity Petaia isn't 12 months further along, as he already offers a lot. Could still make the RWC. But I think Cheika and Wessels have had a chat about Hodge and that's why he's getting more time at 13.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I suspect Cooper is down on confidence so getting him back involved off the bench and then promoting him to start if he's playing well feels like a good path to me. (would even consider switching White and Genia for the same reason). Also if we went To'omua, Kerevi, Kuridrani as 10/12/13 then we have a rock solid defensive midfield. Kerevi, Hodge and Banks have some creativity to supplement To'omua with the ball and having Cooper and Beale off the bench gives us the opportunity to completely open up the pitch later in the game. The other player to keep an eye on is young Jordan Petaia - I saw a report that he was hoping to play club rugby this weekend. I love TK but the young guy would make the above backline a hell of a lot more dangerous if he is back up to speed.
Rugby101
Roar Guru
Agree with Beale off the bench, but for mine Cooper or Foley aren't bench players. Either start or not in the 23. Of your two possible Backlines, the one with CLL looks good, but as I try to highlight in the article if Foley is 10 we need another playmaker in the 15. To'omua and CLL are good bench options, if not in the 15. To'omua at 10 might work with Kerevi at 12 and DHP at 15.
jeznez
Roar Guru
p.s. another option would be to try To'omua at 10 - and this time with a proper 12 in Kerevi outside him. The more I think about it - that group above with Matty in that disputed 10 role might be the go. If QC is tearing it up off the bench then the pair can have their starting/bench roles switched around. Beale remains on the bench as a spark player and To'omua shifting there lets you tighten the game up if Quade is going off the rails
jeznez
Roar Guru
Up to about round 7 I was 100% with you, since then Cooper has shown a lack of ability to change gameplans/adapt to game situations with his team - that is a coaching issue as well as one for the team in general but is a worry given the talent he is surrounded by. I look forward to having a good look at CLL this weekend, his defence has been a worry in the matches I have seen this season but at the moment I think he might be the only genuine option outside of Foley. Which is frustrating as anything given Bernard's limitations.
Geoffrey
Guest
Jeznez You cant have Foley anymore.He has failed every year he has played in gold. One great game in 2015 does not a good flyhalf make. Time for a change and QC must be it for the RWC.
Locky
Guest
6 involvements by Foley in 40 minutes?. Atrocious.