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.
Who
Roar Rookie
Maybe it was Lolesio, but you can see Petaia pointing and calling before the ball is cleared. He clearly wanted that ball, but was far too flat to be useful for the pass, and Paisami was too flat to the tall timber to be able to put in a high ball for Jordie to jump (as would be his best use against shorter players like Mo'unga and DMac). This would fit the pattern that Rennie's flagged after the last two games. Ultimately, the ball should've been swapped back, or the narrow run with a tight clean out as you've said.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yep, if in doubt take the hit and let you forwards do their job. Easy to say of course and we have all got it wrong before but he didn't need to throw the pass.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Cheers Rhys.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
That is the most reasonable alternative view I have seen on here KPOL.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah refs will allow from the side in attack much more for example.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That’s incorrect because to get over the ball the support has to be slow to allow the player to jackal first. And the attack decides whether to engage or not. The jackler has to finish his defensive assignment first. So speed to the breakdown negates the defending teams good technique.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He’s a runner first as a player. So that should have been the best option for him.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
As a player whose biggest strength is his hard running, if he can’t carry into set D he shouldn’t be there then
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah I think Rhys is way off because he seems intent on saying only a forward can clean out
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Personally I thought it was poor playing going for a loopy cut out when the attack was flat. It was high risk from the start.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
A turnover would in all likelihood have cost them seven points anyway Mate. The Wallabies midfield defence was covered by two tight forwards and the All Blacks had the two best broken field runners in the World within passing distance. It was a team stuff up that was always likely to end badly.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Rhys Yes I agree but..... being isolated and losing possession cos your team mates don't provide good support beats the hell out of conceding 7 points at a critical moment in game. No excuses for Paisami. The best thing he did in the whole game was the try assist and then he evened it up by giving the Mo'unga intercept. You may be cutting him big slack cos he's a Queenslander but ..... that helps no-one. He's been terrible in all 4 Tests so far and it's obvious he's just not Test standard atm. Send him back to the Reds - he might be in a few seasons :thumbup:
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Hunter Paisami was to blame. Not only was the decision wrong, he doesn't have the skills to back it up
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
He took the tackle in two subsequent very similar situations and had the ball stripped, always a likelihood against superior numbers. The problem is the Wallabies support play, both in support of the player with the ball and in creating options for the attack and uncertainty for the opposition defence. The All Blacks play as a complete team and win, the Wallabies as groups of individuals and lose. Till Australian rugby understands that, things will stay that way.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
He actually got turned over twice after the intercept, running into contact against a set defence as you suggested he should have in this instance.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Plenty of time
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Hi Rhys You've written an article on this so you obviously feel strongly about this issue. I normally agree with you but can't on this one :happy: Paisami's pass was a clear shocker imo. It was an unnecessary high risk option with no redeeming features. He obviously didn't see well known intercept king Mo'unga waiting for his chance. He had several other options - the best being just to take the tackle and re-cycle fast. But he went for the high risk option and WBs paid a huge price. You lament that Paisami has been asked to take on the difficult role of WB inside centre. Yes I agree - but he shouldn't have been asked. He should have been dropped from the 23 after his appalling performance in the first French Test. It was obvious then that he's was not Test standard atm. Every game since just re-inforces the bleeding obvious imo :thumbup:
numpty
Roar Rookie
Moungaa was there hedging his bets and McKenzie was covering not far behind.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
It's a pity you don't listen Rhys, that's all - a number of posters in this thread have tried to (gently) nudge you in a more sensible direction - and improve your knowledge of the game - but to no avail. Ah well - we tried.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
What I find crazy is the public are quick to pile on a player who is trying to and succeeding in creating tries and potential game changing moments while applauding a bunch of mediocre players who 'should be selected' simply because they haven't been playing at all to be criticized. Deadset no wonder we're mediocre when people celebrate mediocrity, and would rather boring players who have had terrible seasons than a player who is trying to push the envelope and create something. Sometimes fans really do get what they deserve.