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Opinion
In Bledisloe 1 on the weekend Wallabies inside centre Hunter Paisami threw a cutout pass that resulted in an intercept by All Blacks flyhalf Richie Mo’unga and a try at the other end of the park. It was a key event in the match, which the All Blacks won 33-25.
Paisami has consequently been the whipping boy for Wallabies fans this week, which is very unfair if the pass is considered in context. The decision was actually forced upon him because the Wallabies were outplayed by the All Blacks over the two preceding phases. Watching the following highlights reel from 5:24 shows the chain of events that set Paisami up for that pass.
Tate McDermott attends a breakdown on the left-hand side of the field with Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Brandon Paenga-Amosa. Note Michael Hooper and Len Ikitau getting up slowly from the previous breakdown off to the left.
McDermott passes right to Noah Loleosio, who passes it on to a charging James Slipper. Loleosio is charged by All Blacks hooker Cody Taylor and momentarily delayed.
Hooper, Ikitau, Salakaia-Loto, Alaalatoa and Andrew Kellaway are on the left side of the field, walking slowly back into position.
Slipper crashes into All Blacks captain Sam Whitelock, with Harry Wilson and Darcy Swain cleaning out and with the All Blacks not committing any more players to the ruck.
At the same time All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala has run a line on the Wallabies side of McDermott, slowing him getting to the ruck. When McDermott finally gets around Laulala he looks back towards Lolesio before attending the ruck, with Laulala looking in Lolesio’s direction as well.
Laulala and All Blacks Flanker Dalton Papalii next to him check to their right in the direction of the Wallabies players from the previous ruck but then concentrate entirely on McDermott, who the All Blacks clearly see as a running threat.
From the ruck to the left and in cover defence the All Blacks have marshalled eight players, including Taylor, who has run 20 metres from Lolesio to get into position. Three-quarters of the All Blacks line to the right is defended by forwards, with winger Sevu Reece the sole back.
McDermott passes to Paisami, who is confronted with six All Blacks, with his only two realistic options for a pass being Tom Banks behind him and Jordan Petaia to his right. He has only Lolesio and Brandon Paenga-Amosa behind him, the latter the only forward to run from the right of the park. The odds of either Banks or Petaia getting turned over were high and All Blacks turnovers often lead to tries.
Freeze the video at 5:38. In the final vision of Mo’unga the six walking Wallabies players are still on the left side of the field and have only now started to run. No wonder the All Blacks are not scared of a mismatch against their forwards, there were no Wallabies backs in position to pose a threat. Neither were they in a position to defend a counterattack from a turnover.
In attempting the cutout pass Paisami made one of his only two choices, either of which could have resulted in a lucky try for the Wallabies or, more likely, one for the All Blacks. He cannot be considered to be at fault for Mo’unga’s try.
His six teammates walking on the other side of the field are another matter. That Michael Hooper is among them is a surprise – given his renowned work rate it is possible that the reintroduction to Bledisloe rugby after Japan has been a step back up, or perhaps he took a knock at the previous ruck and was out of sorts.
Whatever the case, it shouldn’t be up to Hooper to carry the team, and the other five players need to reflect on the incident. In particular the two backs Ikitau and Kellaway should have had the initiative and speed to outrun two hookers to get into position to keep the All Blacks guessing on the point of attack and to defend against counterattack.
I hope people reflect on this before they continue to pile onto Paisami. He has been asked to learn a complex position on the job that, for example, All Blacks legendary inside centre Ma’a Nonu had a long apprenticeship under another legend, Tana Umaga, before he got the regular No. 12 jersey.
It could be argued that Paisami might benefit from a similar apprenticeship under Matt To’omua. However, when reflecting on Bledisloe 1 we should remember that had it not been for an intercept that was not Paisami’s fault, he would be a hero for the role his try assist and crucial ball strips had in winning the game.
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.