Rugby Australia has implemented new pace benchmarks in a bid to get more players running like speed demon Marika Koroibete.
With an eye on the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Rugby World Cup, Australia’s elite male and female players are being put through their paces to see how they compare with gold standard speed measurements.
The Wallabies are currently ranked a lowly sixth in world rugby, just ahead of Scotland.
The Wallaroos come in at fifth, behind England, NZ, Canada, and France.
In Sevens rugby, the Australian men’s side was coming fourth in 2020 before the competition was put on hold, while the Australian women were in second spot.
Australia’s Super Rugby sides have regularly been flogged by their NZ counterparts in recent years.
In a bid to improve results, RA has teamed with the Australian Catholic University and its Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies (SPRINT) Research Centre.
SPRINT researcher Dr Grant Duthie has been putting the Wallabies, Wallaroos, national rugby sevens teams, Super Rugby players, and academy squads under the microscope.
RA national head of athletic performance Dean Benton is overseeing the initiative.
Greater mobility and speed are two qualities identified by RA that will be critical for players to succeed on the world stage.
Testing yardsticks have been set to keep players and coaches accountable.
“It’s an area of growth for us,” Benton told AAP.
“We’re not where we need to be in terms of speed, in particular with our national teams compared to some of the top nations in the world.
“If you take someone like Marika Koroibete, he’s regarded as world class (in terms of speed). We want a few more Marikas.
“He’s blessed with genetics. Yes, they may not all be as quick as Marika, but with a good program they can certainly get up to that 10 metres per second vicinity.
“We’ll definitely get some improvements before (the 2023 World Cup), and we have to.”
The Wallabies copped a 40-16 thumping from England in the quarter-finals of last year’s World Cup, and they posted just one win and three draws from their six Tests in 2020.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yeh Ethel, only nrl players know how to tackle. That’s why Wendell Izzy and Lote never let in a try.....oh wait? I like league but this sort of delusion begs for challenge. Australian rugby needs a lot of improvement but technical suggestions from nrl-philes isn’t one of them.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Thanks SMI Merry Christmas to you and yours. Here’s to a great 2021
Tooly
Roar Rookie
The difference between the gold standard Jonny May and Koreibeti is astounding. Wright and Rann are better.
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
You can’t fault him for effort. He gives 110% and plays with his heart. It’s just his decision making in attack and defence is very poor. Everyone remembers the tackle when he rushed to take McKenzie in the bledisloe. They forget the many other times he has rushed out of the line and let in tries. He is excellent at the pick and goes from the base of the ruck too but throws a lot of silly passes as well. But, I just think we lose more than we gain with him as a whole.
Heels
Guest
Dangunu cannot tackle.That is why Rennie dropped him. Wright is good as per his NRL experience. Ramm is another overted Tah. Vunivalu will be playing test rugby next year.
Harry Jones
Expert
A speed deficit has been one of the three holes I’ve been saying OZ needs to fill for 5 years. Shows up especially on defence.
scubasteve
Guest
"as professionalism off the chart fitness athleticism extreme pace and as a bonus they can tackle" this is just coaching and money (to attract them in the first place). I would argue that fitness and athleticism and pace are all present in Rugby. It's a different game that requires different body types and levers are different on energy systems. The game also requires more technical reads which also requires different focal points. The top S&C coaches I can assure you do not have careers at the Uni. Poach a NRL or AFL S&C coach and hope they can adapt to accomodate the demands of a different game.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Ken, and a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU! Great hopes are rising for the Wallabies in 2021.
Rugby wizard
Guest
What is so special about Koroilbete? He has speed which many do,but he cant catch or kick therefore I dont see him as a top winger, just another overhyped player.
Southerner
Roar Rookie
They definitely get results with NRL Wingers who are arguably the best Wingers en Masse in either code. Maybe they could look at scouting young talent in Fiji too as a means to get some signings for more affordable sums. You can see why Wingers leave the NRL for RA when I think Josh Addo Carr who is on around 350k a season if I'm not wrong is very well paid for a winger maybe the highest paid winger and rightly so given his skills, just compared to full backs, wingers don't get paid well. So they would often take the chance to go to Union for a huge pay rise particularly if as is the case with the NRLs Fijian talent they started off playing Union.
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Wright, Dangunu and Ramm… would have them all in the team ahead of a lad with zero professional rugby experience and a million dollar contract
Tighthead Phil
Roar Rookie
Pffft, you need to go forward first to let the backs run the ball, simple game this rugby....here's a thought, how about doing a group assessment to identify who can tackle with both shoulders, pass either side, run straight, identify weak points in defence, read the play, adapt to the conditions and pilfer the ball in an effective manner...then find the speedsters on the wing...
ethan
Guest
...and Hodge.
ethan
Guest
I have seen superb football players miss out on professional spots because they couldn't do something like jump high enough - ignoring all their other skills. Would hate to see the same happen in rugby. However, speed is critical in certain positions, particularly wing, so it makes sense for that position. I would expect all backline and backrow positions to have a minimum acceptable speed level at super rugby, but that level would be different for each position.
Springtime
Guest
Remember those times the Clown put AAC on the wing for his pace. LOL.
Humey
Guest
Agreed, the best wings for the Wallas over the past 4 years have been former NRL wings Folau and Korobiete. Massive signing Suli Vunivalu will slot into the Wallas seamlessly. Tom Wright is another NRL wing isn't he? I don't like the 1 million per season they are paying Vunivalu but i spose when Aussie rugby have zero quality wings you have to do it.
Ethel McAardvvark
Guest
Surely RA can rope in 2 fringe NRL wingers on minimal coin. You would receive value for money as well as professionalism off the chart fitness athleticism extreme pace and as a bonus they can tackle.
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Yes, a very good move. We also need to get our kicking up to par too so that all players can kick to some degree. All backs should be able to kick from hand in play. Our primary goal/field goal/ touch kickers and at least 2 backups in each team should be targeted for improvement. LO throw-ins is another area of work, though it was much improved as the RC progressed. Cheers.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
And kicking, and chasing And rucking and cleaning out And scoring points, yeh points would be good. Merry Christmas to all my friends on the Roar. :silly:
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Very interesting and I am pleased to see them working in this area. The difference between us and the Kiwi's is significant. Any chance of improvement in tackling, both in effectiveness and to ensure fitting in with new law interpretations? Then after we are fast and can tackle how about passing and catching?