As I sat down to watch the final game of the Tri Nations between the Wallabies and Los Pumas (with a light blue tilt it must be said) the expectations were that the Dave Rennie-coached side would be looking to use a variety of techniques to move the Argentinians around.
I expected the visitors to defend with the physicality and focus we have seen over the last month. However, it soon became apparent that a version of Groundhog day was being played out in front of us all.
1. Argentina like to tackle, and they are really good at it
While the Wallabies went searching for the width needed to stretch the visitors defence, they struggled because of the lack of variation in their attack and held back by a vanilla kicking game.
James O’Connor ran into contact with five of his first seven touches and the variety of kicking which was shown to move the Pumas defence around only the week prior was simply not evident in either vision or execution.
2. Wet weather football
It sure does know how to rain in Sydney and the situation on Saturday demanded the leadership to alter the game plan to fit with what was falling from the skies.
But after an hour of football the Australian forwards had run for a collective 20 metres. The introduction of the bench and the sending off of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto saw the approach tighten up with more forwards involved, but the ability to drain the defensive tacklers with waves of heavier ball carriers had already been passed up, meaning fresher defenders who got to their feet quickly all the way to the final whistle.
Taniela Tupou, Rob Valentini and Angus Bell racked up more run metres than the entire starting pack by the end.
The lack of respect by the Australian backs, and primarily the midfield backs, for ball security was both obvious and distressing all at once, especially so early in the game – it’s hard enough to get and control the football without having it handed back softly with poor decision making and skill execution.
While the possession statistics skew this number, interesting to note Nicola Sanchez passed only twice in the game, James O’Conner fifteen times, often for the ball to go to ground outside him, he should have turned the supply valve off early.
3. Penalties early in the game are worth the same as ones at the end, right?
You wouldn’t think so the way this Wallaby side goes about its business. Given the opportunity of taking the lead on the scoreboard early in game, captain Mike Hooper spurned this for the chance to go head to head with the South American eight.
Our game has some absolutes to be followed if you want to win, having more points than the other team is one of them, I will never understand the reticence of this side to take simple kicks for goal.
This is my big bugbear and it’s somewhat rhetorical including it here, but this is getting into belligerent territory now.
While there are no doubt some green shoots in the Rennie-coached Wallabies, and presuming they are not cactus ones, thinking through and executing an appropriate game plan must surely be the first item on next seasons drawing board.
kent
Guest
look at England back in the day - any penalty within your half was almost a guaranteed 3 points because of Johnnies radar boot, suddenly you're 15 to 18 points behind and gotta score tries in the final 10 min to get the lead back.
Mmac
Guest
Agree totally here.... just too impatient with ball in hand.... got chronic Beale disease
Wigeye
Guest
I was on the bank with the scarfies omg was an Eye-opener. It was possibly b4 96. :thumbup: overnout
Simoc
Guest
That is a reason to sack the captain. If you work and build for a plan but when it gets on field the captain knows better, get rid of him. We see Hooper still failing with the referee which is common in all Australian football codes. None respect the referee and squeal when they come off worse in 50/50s. Dumb and dumber. Nick Farr Jones appears to be intelligent until he speaks. It has been going on for a long while.
Highlander
Roar Guru
Thanks Wigeye Glad you got to go to Carisbrook - it was a cold old stadium, but a great place to watch rugby
Highlander
Roar Guru
If we use the attitude word, rather than the other "a" word.....where did it come from?
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Rugby players don’t do a few things that RL players excel at. . They don’t kick to open space. . They don’t drawn the defender and commit him to the tackle before passing. . They often dance around and pass 20 metres back from the action instead of running back hard. . They don’t tackle well front on. Anyone can tackle side on or from behind . Carmichael Hunt , Kuridrani , Samu, Miller and Hamish Stewart are masters at the front on tackle. Lolisio isn’t bad either . . They don’t use the side line as their friend in defence. . Full backs don’t position themselves directly between the ball and their goal line. . They don’t insist on fast ball. . Half backs are inclined to take a step backward before passing. Duncan Thompson taught me two things about Rugby or League, a long time ago. He said fast service from the the set pieces was paramount. He also said every step side ways or backwards brings the defence two paces forwards. It doesn’t only apply to half backs. He wanted the breakaway’s to detach and move straight for the 1/2 , 5/8 or number 8.
Wigeye
Guest
Unfortunately he's going to go down as a wallaby great !! Red carpet straight into ex captains country club. That should be the last of this era from NSW mafia mob
Wigeye
Guest
Highlander, I really like your articles and you touch on all issues without the glossover. In 96 I think....that year stands out as my brother passed and saw acdc in chch ....anyway we drove down and watched the test at carries brook Dunedin wow what a game of two half's wallaby's nearly won lucky we had the points up. I can't back wallaby's much more after hoopergate scandel,even the fans take different to us they just keep putting up with it, I'm not trying to ruffle feathers but should be a royal commission or an inquiry into what's happened. Just saying :silly:
Mmac
Guest
I think Hooper needs to go as Captain... just not enough on field discipline in general play and ball security and poor decisions around tactical pressure. Current crop of Wallabies are living off yesterday’s running rugby mantra and thinking they are try scoring geniuses. They are not even with massive possession advantages.... put pressure on scoreboard and make the other team make mistakes in catch-up.... simple right.... Hooper has not learnt.... on the dropped ball etc if your’re familiar with Clockwork Orange where the protagonist is forced to watch videos until the content sickens him.... maybe it’s time we employ this method as simple mistakes keep being repeated without improvement....
Highlander
Guest
Petaia had the lack of patience disease we have seen from the All Blacks a few times this year. Not every phase needs to make the highlight reel
Highlander
Guest
I thought some continuity in leadership would be good for the Wallabies, sheek, but now I find myself agreeing with you. Rennie needs a totally clean slate and the next phase of his team needs a new leader/leaders
Highlander
Guest
and the other option is? which worked really well for NZ the week before..........
sheek
Roar Guru
Hooper has to go. Even if he has no obvious alternatives, Rennie has to 'make' another captain if necessary. Hooper, I think now on 52 captaincies, is within striking distance of Gregan (55) & Eales (59). He doesn't deserve to become the most capped captain. His captaincy has often been crap. Rennie must find someone else in 2021 to preserve the legacy of Eales & Gregan.
Dean
Guest
In point 1 you bemoan the lack of attacking variation and that JOC ran into contact with 5 of his first 7 touches. Then in point 2 you criticise JOC for passing 15 times and not turning the supply valve off early??
moaman
Roar Guru
"no-one listens to the analysts perhaps" Jacko?..........................................Jacko?............................JACKO!!!!!!! Anyone seen Jacko?
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Highlander yeah all fair comment imo :thumbup: I'm sick of losing (or drawing) games due to declining penalties kicks at goal. Hooper is the worst WB captain I've ever seen and needs to be replaced from 2021. And Petaia was the worst player on the field last weekend. He played the poorest game I can remember from WB a centre.
jim
Guest
Maybe it is just instinctive now. After years of the constant mantra of "WBs play running rugby" there might almost be a "fear" of kicking even when it is the best option. I just dont understand why the WBs gift their opponents with such strategic clarity - why tell them, the ball will usually be run even when kicks are possible. Isn't it better to keep the opposition guessing as to what you are going to do even if you don't plan on doing it. Whenever I hear Hooper in the post-match, he sounds as if he is waiting for the pat on the head - "We don't kick, we run the ball" (paraphrased) as if it is virtuous. It might be but it's the opponents who are celebrating the win in their dressing room and they are just grateful for the WBs generosity.
Harry Jones
Expert
It is disrespect
Bunratty c
Roar Rookie
Definitely. Now, the perennial problem in Australian rugby....where to find a reliable goal kicker that every South African and NZ teams have in abundance. How many games have been lost by Australian teams (SR and Wallabies) b/c of poor goal kicking!