Like George Washington famously fessing up to his father about chopping down a cherry tree, Chiefs’ halfback and captain, Brad Weber is always great value for his frank and honest post-match assessments. Like all good halfbacks, he couldn’t tell a lie if he tried.
Speaking immediately after his side’s impressive 40-19 win over the Brumbies, Weber was careful not to disrespect his Australian opponents but gave the game away about where expectations are set, admitting that his side was focused not only on winning, but adding bonus points for tries scored.
After two completed rounds it is apparent that an unbeaten run of five wins on its own, won’t be sufficient to make the final. Accumulation of bonus points is critical, and all five New Zealand franchises are not only hellbent on maximising their points output, they’re for the most part, succeeding.
In the box seat at the moment are the Blues and Hurricanes, but all five franchises remain in contention, and will be hunting for the maximum five points per match over the next three weeks.
That’s bad news for the besieged Australian franchises, all flat out trying to figure out how to slow things down to their pace, let alone how they might go about conjuring up a win or two.
It sounds easy; execute at set piece, retain possession when you get it; exit cleanly from defence, well over the sideline, somewhere near halfway; win the collision, and compete hard enough at the breakdown to slow down the oppositions’ recycle.
In practice, things couldn’t be more different. Matches are being played on the New Zealand sides’ terms, resulting in stressed defences struggling to get properly set, and put shoulders into places where arms alone aren’t enough to get the job done.
At the risk of over-simplifying the situation, there are three main factors feeding into the current disparity; all of them related.
The first was nicely summarized yesterday in an article by Highlander, with respect to how the breakdown is being dominated by the New Zealand sides. This area is being refereed in line with World Rugby’s 2020 guidelines designed to ‘clean up’ the breakdown, which was adopted in the UK and New Zealand, albeit at the cost of high penalty counts and a multitude of complaints from fans and broadcasters at the time.
This was in stark contrast to Super Rugby AU, which barely saw out one week of the same crackdown, before reverting to more of a ‘free for all’ approach.
Now, a year or so later, Australian sides are faced with the realisation that the game has shifted somewhat, to where referees are encouraging fast recycle, and that they do not have (in many cases) the type of halfback to take advantage of it on their ball, nor the capacity to reset quickly enough in defence, on opposition ball.
This isn’t to say that Australian halfbacks all need to emulate Aaron Smith to ensure success. Nic White, for example has particular set of strengths and it would make no sense to try to turn him into something he isn’t.
But of Australia’s current crop of halfbacks, only Jake Gordon and Brumbies’ replacement half Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa cover the ground from breakdown to breakdown with the pace and intent needed to take advantage of quick ball, and to stress defences.
Which flows nicely into the second key point of difference, being speed. Not in any ‘point to point’ sense, although Richie Mounga’s ability to ghost away from defenders from a standing start is priceless.
Rather it is the ability of the New Zealand sides to transition from defence to attack at lightning speed, that this weekend, crippled the Waratahs and Rebels in particular. There is nothing new in this; ex-Wallabies captain Stephen Moore was one who made an art form of the losing captain’s speech, where he would talk about how his side had competed well for most of the game, only to be punished in a few instances of unstructured play.
(William West/AFP via Getty Images)
Everyone understands how New Zealand rugby DNA demands of their players the forethought and creativity to seek out such opportunities. Sure, there are days when this isn’t enough, and England, Argentina and Australia have all found a way to limit those opportunities in Test matches over the last eighteen months.
But at franchise level, where the relative playing depth of the two nations is more starkly exposed, the rapidity of transition often has the effect of making defenders appear as if they are standing still. They’re not, and it’s not a fitness issue either, but the relentless pressure flows into increased physical and mental fatigue, which in turn manifests itself via small gaps in the defensive line that allow for arms to be freed to feed hard-running supporting players, which in turn flows into points.
This all doesn’t have to be one-way; for example Reds halfback Tate McDermott flashed under the posts for his try before the Crusaders’ defence was able to retire to the try-line.
But a combined 59 tries to 30, in ten completed matches, tells us all we need to know about how quickly half-opportunities are being turned into tries, by the New Zealand franchises.
The third factor is a clear difference in intensity; again, related to the first two aspects, but also an indicator of what is ‘normal’ for players on either side of the Tasman.
If anyone was expecting the Chiefs to be out of sorts following their long trip to and from Perth, up against a usually well-drilled Brumbies side coming off a heartening near-miss in Christchurch, they were sadly mistaken.
The Brumbies conceded three first half tries to the Chiefs’ set piece, and their ball runners, back and forward, consistently punched through contact, to provide Weber and Damian McKenzie with fast, front-foot ball.
It was sobering to watch the Brumbies half a yard behind all night, and failing to come close to matching the aggression and intensity of the Chiefs, for whom Luke Jacobsen was outstanding.
Perhaps the best illustration came at the end of the match, when Chiefs’ centre Alex Nankiville smashed Tom Banks over the side-line with a furious rib-rattler. Banks’ reaction was to meekly appeal to the referee for a penalty for a ‘no-arms’ tackle, which it clearly wasn’t.
Complaining about being tackled too hard is very un-Dan McKellar-like, and if the Brumbies do anything this week, it will be to work at restoring their physicality and intensity at the contest.
In Perth, the Highlanders also demonstrated a clear strategy and focus, with three first-half tries coming from attacking lineout variations. While the home side hung in with customary grit and perseverance, and denied the Highlanders their precious bonus point, the result was never in doubt.
It was a similar story in Brisbane, the opening half-hour a wave of white and red, the Crusaders intent on playing the match on their terms, not letting the Reds settle into the match at all. Most impressive was their ability to stretch and create space in between defenders, which bought their back-row into the game with telling effect.
Harry Wilson tried manfully to return serve, but he was outnumbered by a hard-running loose forward trio, including Cullen Grace and Ethan Blackadder, who are forming a compelling combination.
With Jacobsen, Dalton Papalii and Shannon Frizell also continuing to perform strongly, the All Blacks’ selectors have some interesting discussions ahead of them.
So, where to from here for Super Rugby trans-Tasman? The Force are now on the road, and while the Hurricanes do blow hot and cold, and the Force will almost certainly continue to be competitive, it is hard to see where they will find enough points.
The Rebels were the most improved Australian side on the weekend, although that’s predominantly a factor of coming off such a low base. Again, it’s hard to see them scoring enough points to hurt the Highlanders, but with another week to adjust to the different pace and a reasonably settled line-up likely, expect to see a further advance this week.
The Brumbies put in their worst performance of the season and are typically a side that goes about recognising and addressing deficiencies from week to week. They’ll be another improver against the Blues – providing there is no repeat of their passive play at the advantage line.
(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
Whatever the Waratahs do, it’s hard to imagine it making a shred of difference; they simply aren’t in the same league as the Crusaders.
Which leaves us with the Reds, who host the Chiefs, in Townsville. Coach Brad Thorn captured things perfectly after Saturday night’s hiding, stating, “Tonight you get a punch in the face, but you sit in the locker room afterwards and think, ‘that’s it, that’s where we want to be.”
With the Chiefs’ starting front row of Aiden Ross, Sione Mafileo and Samisoni Taukei’aho currently humming, there’s no better time than this week for the Reds to attempt to restore the scrum platform that has provided the base for so much of their play this year.
Thorn’s comments also serve as a sensible – and essential – blueprint for Australian rugby’s short and medium-term future. The predictable response of some media commentators and fans is that exposure to superior New Zealand teams is hurtful for the game.
Too many losses piled on top of each other and fans will simply turn away from the game, is the narrative. That may well be the case for many, but it fails to address the obvious point.
At some stage, you have to get better. Rugby at the professional level is a global sport, not a domestic one. Australian rugby can’t hide under the doona and one day in the future, pop its head out, at a World Cup or in a potential champion’s league franchise competition, and somehow hope to be competitive.
The same argument applies to those who would scale back Australia’s professional franchises to two or three, because that matches the number of players up to performing at this level.
We are seeing now what happens when Australian rugby resides in a different space to the rest of the world with respect to the breakdown. And when it comes up against sides who consistently play at higher speeds and with greater intensity.
The only way to adjust and measure up to that is to embrace the challenge, to the point where the unfamiliar eventually becomes familiar. If there is more pain along the way – and with the opposition hell bent on scoring tries to gain bonus points, there probably will be – then so be it.
That’s the game, professional rugby isn’t easy, and it isn’t easy to turn around a generation of underdevelopment on the run.
The need to sheet blame and express frustration are understandable, but they are easy things to do. Super Rugby trans-Tasman is truth serum for Australian rugby. It needs to be swallowed, not avoided.
AndyS
Guest
If it is semi-pro, and not centrally funded, then surely what you are saying is that every club has to become semi-pro and pay for it itself? We've been down that path; SS is still recovering from the consequences. All the talk over the last few years of a resurgence in the comp...it was a resurgence from that! All the legacy and values of the community game is as an amateur sport. If the way forward is in their name, that is what should be being respected. Otherwise the clubs will spend themselves into a hole again, clubs with long traditions will go under or be merged, and the SS will be destroyed in the name of saving it. Agree about the central control though, if you mean out of RA (and TBH, maybe even NSWRU). For e.g., IMO the NRC team out of Sydney should be an SRU select team funded from above, but assessing, picking and paying the players directly below right the way up from juniors. Not everyone, because the vast majority have no chance of ever being professional, but locking in those that might and keeping them local. And done without impost on the clubs themselves. I don't quite get your point on Europe and Twiggy though. They are operating at the level of SR, not amateur clubs, other maybe than funding their comps?
LBJ
Roar Rookie
I think its better (more likely, more appropriate, and more aligned to the community) that we have club championships - regional and national. | Likely semi-pro (as per NRC), but not centrally funded. | Encourages all regions to build clubs and competitions with integrity. I think its a positive to have powerful clubs that have 'healthy' conflict with the governing bodies - I'm not at all fond of central control, I like it when clubs are strong and confiednt enough to stand up to the governing body - Europe is driving the standard here, and Twiggy is the best example locally.
AndyS
Guest
Agree the SS and NRC would need to be interleaved better. A few things needed to be done better, not least paying the players appropriately. But TWAS and I were talking about where NRC needed to go, not where it had been. ---- SS clubs never seeing their players after they've gone off to SR is confusing two issues. It was never true of the NRC players, so it is disinformation to say all those players are lost to SS and the NRC is harming the clubs. SR takes those players, players are going to leave if SR comes knocking, and there was nothing the NRC could do that would change that. But it might have stemmed the losses. Instead it may get much worse, forcing SR to do its own professional player development by way of 2nds competitions and parallel development comps. --- Because the simple fact is that amateur rugby is just not adequate preparation for the professional game and it is the professional game that pays for everything. My personal opinion is that there is a separate problem with the administration having allowed the professional side to also take over all control of the code, but that is a different issue. But the professional game is going nowhere so it is about finding a way to insulate the community game from the effects specifically so it can retain its values. That most certainly isn't by professionalising the amateur game, but nor is it by putting out unprepared professional sides and watching all the revenue streams dry to dust. Neither ends up with a health code, or thriving communities anywhere.
LBJ
Roar Rookie
Its only 'at the end of' because the SS is forced to cut its season short. | And the SS clubs never see their players again because they go off to Force/ Brumbies/ Rebels/ Waratahs/ Reds, (which is terrific) but when the SS season ends, those that dont make wallabies, dont come back to SS, they would go off to NRC. And hence never be seen by their SS clubs. That number of players is 30-40 per season. | I can totally understand why professional coaches would want a series of trial matches involving only the best, to help them select players. And for journalists and administrators, it makes their lives easier to deal with fully professional organisations. But it has proven to be extremely detrimental to the game in Sydney and Brisbane. It has cost a relative fortune, and led to the destruciton of the structure on which player development depends. There is no return for the sacrifice, and when you throw in open contempt toward the clubs and volunteers to the mix, you can perhaps understand why the response has been what it is. | And please dont suggest there is disinformation here - this is evidence based over 5 years +. Not wanting this to be the case has nothing to do with the reality. So lets have a constructive debate over values and strategy, not evidence based facts. | Ultimately the strategy is either ground up, or top down (the inverted pyramid). | If you believe that the sole purpose of Aussie rugby is to win games against the Crusaders, then I can understand why you would be more than happy to destroy Sydney & Brisbane rugby to achieve that goal. | I believe the purpose of rugby is to place the community at the centre and grow from there with our values intact. In Sydney and Brisbane, the club scenes are the primary drivers of the game - if we prosper there, we will have health higher up.
AndyS
Guest
So again, you've kind of lost me. You're saying that if someone came along and offered to pay the most promising players to play in the Shute Shield up through the age groups and into the senior teams, and to do extras in a professional training program, and then once the SS season was over play in an elite comp with full time professionals, it would spit on the rich heritage of the game? Because an NRC would not be playing at the same time as SS the way SR does, it would have to be after to get the professionals involved. And given that it is after, where else would the non-SR players be getting a run if not in the local comps? So the idea that they wouldn't ever play club rugby again is pure disinformation, as they would actually be an integral part of the development program. However, IMO what is likely to stuff it is if the only thing above SS remains SR. That already tends to bypass SS and the like, taking players direct from school into their own, completely separate development systems. And when that is the only professional development system within the code, the trend is going to be for SRau to become the defacto NRC. Because as long as amateur rugby is the only playing preparation for taking on the Crusaders, the overall system is broken. So if SR has to do it all itself, inevitably that is what will happen . And as SR is played at the same time as club rugby, that actually will marginalise SS. Worse result, and if so they really will have been the architects of their own decline.
LBJ
Roar Rookie
Thanks Andy, | Youve described the inverted pyramid. Doesn't every game-plan look good on a whiteboard... | The reality though is that it does a bunch of things that have a terribly negative impact on Rugby in Sydney (and Brisbane) - all of which we now have an abundance of evidence for. And I can assure you it ended up being utterly despised across Sydney. | At it's heart though, it tries to 'fix' something that isn't broken (in Sydney & Brisbane - I recognise this might not be true elsewhere). It pushes SS down to 4th tier of Rugby in Sydney and determines that all of the talent that is fostered from U6 through school and on to professionalism (up to 60% of Aus professionals I've read elsewhere on this site) will never play in their SS club under that structure. The reason the NSW sides performed so poorly in NRC was because the SS talent rejected invitations - they simply didnt want to play in it. | The implications of that are enormous. It spits on the rich heritage of the game here and destroys the very fabric which is epitomised by the connection between the levels within the sport and across the community. And very importantly, it does this without the consent of the rugby community - which, lets be clear, is who the NSWRU work for. | On the flip side, what have 5 years of it achieved? Better performances? - Clearly not! Increased interest in the NRC comp? Obviously the commercial side was a disaster. Angst and bickering? Yep, it certainly ticked that box. | I can understand why it works for the Force & Rebels - especially thier coaches, who get to select from a series of trial matches, and it prevents them from having to build the necessary rugby infrastructure on their own (Rebels especially). | Rugby in Australia and NZ are completely different and always have been. We can certainly admire their game, and there is some learning for us in their approach. But there are very few similarties and simply copying their structure is just dumb footy. | The truth is, rugby in Sydney isn't broken - in fact its got fantastic bones. But it is under-nurtured, especially in the west. So lets work on growing the game from the ground up. | I can imagine a time when every city and region in Aus has a club scene to rival the Shute Shield - that is really something to aspire to.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Geoff, very interesting that PV is parading himself as the guy who again saves the NRL yet again, from a fatalistic end. Whereas as you say, it was more likely a directive from NSW WS. I didn't realise it actually went that deep. Once the NRL coaches and players finally get over the pain of the adjustment and an understanding of how effective a low chop tackle is in terms of the micro second gains which is time efficient and effective using less man power, I'm pretty sure you'll see less grumbles and more oohs and aaahhs with immediate buy-in. But as they say in union, it takes a brave man to tackle low. Will it take the big hits out of the game? Well yes, the unsafe head high ones but not the rib ticklers. Concussion is such a big issue and I'm glad you were bold enough to write those articles knowing too well that you'd get roasted by the NRL faithful.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Rebels were actually not that bad against Canes who I can't see beating Reds, Force or Brumbies. At least they'll lose two unless Love comes back ... Ledger is terrible.
Faith
Roar Rookie
I just hope French team is not out on their feet and the series is a damp squib. I'm sure they'll field a 2nd 23 in first game starting on backfoot ...
BledisloeAsUsual
Guest
Thanks Soapit. That’s what I meant, not literally Dmac. High level players fringe or otherwise. And yes Geoff tough ask but maybe best for NZ too if they could come around to it. Best for their clubs and fans too. Means the club product they are affiliated with increases in value if the standard of play increases. Super Rugby NZ can’t last forever, not enough teams. But yes requires NZ and Oz to rethink national eligibility, maybe just within super rugby is enough (sure should be for Oz).
J Jones
Roar Rookie
lol... I dunno
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well it would probably also mean the SS has to end earlier. But I doubt by a lot. Basically in line with NZ club rugby.
AndyS
Guest
I've probably asked this before LBJ, but the sort of professional NRC TWAS is talking about would recognise the best SS players, pay them for committing to additional professional training, while still allowing them to practice those enhanced skills playing in their SS team (just as the last version did). The only difference is that after the SS season, those players then play in an additional competition, along with other players on the same development path and the non-Wallabies SR players. What in that is divisive or "tears down the Shute Shield"?
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Still cannot work out why FLW does not appear to be in contention for #6! :shocked:
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
I think Kyle Godwin has been one of the real plusses of the Force's season - he seems to have grown as a leader, and can do the business at either centre position. He and Kahui look to have been holding the ship together int he outside backs.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Mate seriously??? :shocked: It comes up when you the arrow goes over your profile, nothing extravagant required on my part Pete.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Why you thinking about that bloke for? :stoked:
Micko
Roar Rookie
I never said there's some inherent con spiracy. I said Australia will never be on NZ's level to pursue this weird development and protectionist model they've been intent on for decades now. Kiwis promote it because it's what THEY want (including Geoff; this article's author), whereas all it does it drive interest down for aussies, and cost a lot of money they're not making up for in revenue gains.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
As legend would have it... you have a stalkers manual there or some access I don't
J Jones
Roar Rookie
You're hard act to follow Mick, you and Rolfe Harris