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The first Wallabies Rugby Championship team against the Springboks is due to be named.
A team should be chosen based on a complex interaction of the best players and how you want to play the game, taking into account the opposition and ground conditions.
Michael Cheika has simplified this process by selecting a single game plan and then selecting the players he thinks best suits that plan before finally selecting players to balance out significant weaknesses, but he seems to ignore the opposition and ground conditions in his selections and his game plan. This makes the Wallabies very predictable and easy to plan and coach against, as their declining Test wins per year shows.
Note that neither of these approaches would or should mean the best individual player in each position is chosen, because the game plan that is called for may require excellence in one specific skill and mere competence in the rest. The player most pundits consider the best in a given position may be deficient in that required skill.
Cheika’s game plan has as its main focus ball-in-hand attacking play using the 1-3-3-1 system. This requires mobility, fitness and playing fast from side to side. Thus players other than the tight five forwards are chosen for their attacking skills first. Other aspects, like defence, kicking, ruck breakdown and set pieces, take a lower priority.
Due to the 1-3-3-1 attacking system, with the ball in play more often and the ball being spread wide more often, a player’s reload time is very important. This is the time taken to be able to get back up and inject yourself back into play after being involved in a tackle.
(Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
Cheika’s game plan is a major reason the Wallabies are poor at kicking, exiting from their 22 and, most importantly, defence. Players are not chosen for those skills, nor are they practised. The set piece is used as a platform to attack via ball in hand. Thus the lineout is used with quite a few various plays coming from it with the exception of a maul to score tries from. Similarly the scrum is used to get quick ball out rather than force penalties.
Even creative playmaking in attack is sacrificed on the altar of running rugby. A flyhalf is chosen for quick distribution, darting runs and support play rather than the ability to create tries and the ability to mix up a varied game of passing, running and kicking.
Finally, the game plan is why the only two world-class Wallabies – David Pocock and Israel Folau – were not used properly. Pocock was shifted to No. 6 and No. 8 rather being at openside flanker, where he is the world’s best. Folau arguably should have been on the wing. His creative kicking and world-best aerial skills were used far less than they should have been; instead Folau was at fullback so he could run the ball back more often.
I offer an alternative.
If you look at the Australian Super Rugby teams, they are not endowed with pace. Nor are there many players with very good ball carrying skills or an ability to make clean breaks and break a lot of tackles. A notable exception is Samu Kerevi.
The set piece and forward play are strengths of the Brumbies and Reds. Additionally, there are a number of players who can kick the ball a long way.
This provides the ingredients to a traditional rugby game plan focused on set pieces and kicking for territory. Moreover, the focus should be on defence more than attack and harnessing the abilities of the few outstanding best players available.
(Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Finally, I would utilise an attacking bench for impact in the last 20 minutes when an attacking focus would bring more rewards against some tired defenders.
Against the Springboks at altitude it is even more important to kick long and out where possible, thus slowing play down and minimising the impact of altitude.
The Springboks use a simple game plan against the Wallabies: they outmuscle the forwards, particularly at the breakdown and the advantage line, on both sides of the ball. They also have very fast players added to the back three from sevens rugby. After the forwards get over the gain line they go wide to fast wingers or kick high for contested kicks with quite a few chasers.
To counteract this the Wallabies need to select more powerful forwards and capable forwards at the breakdown over mobility and ball carrying. They also need to use a fast rush defence to prevent the forwards winding up or getting the ball wide, almost forcing them to kick either long or for contested kicks.
Thus the Wallabies back three should all be able to kick well and be good under the highball. The Wallabies would also focus on scoring from mauls from lineouts and forcing penalties from scrums.
I would retain the 1-3-3-1 attacking pattern since it is too late to learn the 2-4-2 pattern, which I would use from 2020 onwards. Reverting to older patterns of around the corner and so forth would not be successful against modern defences.
(Phil Walter/Getty Images)
The team I would select from the squad chosen with the addition of James O’Connor. The starting props are chosen for being the best at scrumming. The hooker is chosen for lineout throwing and his combination with the props.
Both locks have to be physical and competent at mauls both in attack and defence. One lock also has to be a proficient lineout caller. Both locks must be good at lineout catching and scrummaging. At least 1 lock must be good at lineout steals.
The back row must offer a balance of skills. The most important for a territory game is a strong lineout and, specifically against the Springboks, a breakdown presence and physicality. Finally, a strong rather than fast ball carrier who will gain metres against big forwards is required. All of those starting on the back row need a high work rate, with the bench providing more attacking power impact.
(Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
The back are chosen for being able to implement a good kicking game, defending well and finally for a varied playmaking game.
The halves need to be able to kick, pass, tackle and run the ball. They also need to have vision, game management and playmaking skills.
I would have the focus of playmaking from No. 9 and No. 10 and not No. 10 and No. 12. It suits a forward-orientated and territorial game and also suits the best players available. The No. 12 then can focus on playing as a dedicated No. 12 and not as a secondary playmaker. Where reasonable I would also look at the fullback for secondary playmaking skills, but that is of a lower consideration since the focus is on kicking and defence over attack.
All of the back three must be able to kick and be good under the highball. Ideally all three should be good tacklers. One of the wingers needs to have significant pace.
The bench is chosen for impact and against the Springboks. It’s a 6:2 forwards-orientated bench since this is the area that the Wallabies have a greater challenge from.
Centre would be cover by Hodge and O’Connor. Nos. 19, 20, and 21 are chosen not only for impact and power but because they provide a versatility not only due to injury but performance.
Both staring locks may play 80 minutes and all three on the back row could be replaced, as could Arnold. This would depend on who is performing, where the issues to be fixed are or where there are opportunities.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.