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Opinion

The Thursday rugby two-up: Biggest lesson from Wallabies' 'brutal' review

18th August, 2021
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18th August, 2021
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Well, we’re away in The Rugby Championship and we’ll go again this weekend, with South Africa and Argentina to face off in Port Elizabeth from the second time, but after that looks anything but certain at this stage.

With COVID-19 lockdowns gripping the south-eastern states and territories of Australia now extending to New Zealand, and with Western Australia and Queensland quick to pop what was left of the trans-Tasman travel bubble, TRC is once again on a knife’s edge.

The Wallabies are in Perth now, but the All Blacks weren’t due to arrive until Sunday. The Springboks and Los Pumas will obviously be arriving after this.

But even WA Premier Mark McGowan himself wasn’t sure if Bledisloe 3 could go ahead, when he announced the change for New Zealand entry into WA on Wednesday, or what the implications might be for the Boks and Pumas.

Like so much of the messaging and the management of COVID-19 in Australia at the moment, the situation remains ever-evolving and clear as mud.

But there was some rugby last weekend to think back to, and another game this weekend to think ahead to. And thankfully, plenty to discuss.

Question 1

For our respective teams, what’s your main takeaway from the first game of The Rugby Championship?

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Nobes
The Pumas did not know how to strategically break the great defence proposed by the Springboks.

It is evident that those in green circulate very well around the rucks, and the physical power of those who get involved in them mean that Los Pumas have to use more players to protect the ball, thus they always have fewer free players to attack.

On the other hand, having observed the series against the Lions, it seems to me that leaving only the fullback to deactivate the kicks was too risky considering that they are very well executed and have even the locks competing for those balls.

Perhaps leaving another player to quickly download or support the player who goes up for the ball, and legally hinder the race of those who are charging so that it is not a simple 50-50 ball is something to study better.

Very important is to avoid the silly penalties, which were quite a lot. I think that for the next match the decisions should be better, kicking balls where they cannot be charged and leaving them on the court is to open an unnecessary and dangerous door.

It is obvious that the Springboks are better with the foot and in the exchanges always ended up where they gained a better field position than Los Pumas, and that is a skill not learnt in a week which it is all the time Mario Ledesma has until the next game.

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Brett
Composure, without any shadow of a doubt, was, is, and just had to be the biggest lesson from last weekend for the Wallabies.

The review would have been brutal on Monday morning, but it wouldn’t have taken long before the message started sinking in. The decision made in the heat of the moment, the bold lineout call snapped up at the front, the little knock-on that resulted in the ball bouncing left instead of right and into the hands of the black jersey now running away in the opposite direction for a five-pointer.

Dave Rennie looks on.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

‘Trust the process and the result looks after itself’ is one of the great sporting idioms, a coaching cliché up there with the best of them. But it has to be what the Wallabies fall back on this week and next, and trust that all the hard work they’ve been putting in is there to help them when the need it most.

Because their most recent time on the field is the very obvious example of what will happen when individuals and teams lose their composure.

When the Wallabies found themselves on the back foot in the second half, you could see it unravel; the harder they tried to get out of trouble, the more trouble they found. The more they played, the more they buggered it up.

Keep your heads. Maintain composure. Trust the process.

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Digger
For the All Blacks, it was nice to see some consistency of selection, even if I would quibble over a few, and as a result, greater cohesion and accuracy for the most part.

However, they will still be acutely aware of their propensity to grab points against the run of play which in itself is all well and good, but too often the opposition allow them a leg up, and I suspect sterner challenges lie ahead where such gifted opportunities may be few and far between.

Greater cohesion was achieved and a good platform to build into the balance of the tournament.

Harry
Depth.

Having lost a year of building to the pandemic, the Springboks showed depth at hooker (Joseph Dweba) and scrumhalf (Jaden Hendrikse) with both uncapped players doing well, and the unveiling of young phenom Aphelele Fassi at wing (he is more of a fullback).

Third string (or is he the backup?) No.9 Cobus Reinach showed a different pace with ball in hand; super fit Eben Etzebeth followed his 240-minute Lions Series with another strong shift, chasing kicks and winning.

Marco van Staden probably took his chance best: rough flank!

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A 32-12 score line is dear to our hearts. Good win; but all about depth.

Geoff
The main takeaway for the All Blacks and the Wallabies is to respect last weeks’ 57-22 score line as an accurate reflection of what happened on the night, but at the same time, not read too much into the score line.

Matt Philip of the Wallabies reacts

(Photo by Getty images)

Fifty-seven might have been a record score, but two tries from gift intercepts and a third in junk time, blew things out. The All Blacks will be delighted to know that their razor-sharp ability to convert counter attacks and half-chances into points is still there, but they mustn’t let that allow them to get ahead of themselves.

There is still a lot of work to be done on the set piece (kick-off receipt in particular), and defensive connectedness.

The Wallabies have little choice but to dust themselves off, be crystal clear about the aspects of the game that are working for them (the sequence of play leading up to Andrew Kellaway’s second try), be fastidious about sticking to that structure, and not be suckered into someone else’s game.

Question 2

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: And who’s the one player from your own team plus one from one of the other sides who you’ll be keeping an extra eye on through the tournament?

Nobes
Personally, I think Matias Moroni represents what Los Pumas are or should be all about it.

He is a focused player for 80 minutes who leaves all his energy on the court both in defence and attack. He can play both wing and centre with good use of the foot. He is a player who infects the rest of his teammates with his energy and can make key plays that define a match.

In the Springboks it seems to me that Eben Etzebeth is playing his best rugby. To his already well-known line and ruck skills he has added great mobility and developed airplay skills unusual for a lock.

Eben Etzebeth

Eben Etzebeth is looking good (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

Brett
I’ve been really impressed with the way Andrew Kellaway has taken to Test rugby.

He came back from Japan in time for Super Rugby trans-Tasman, and just filled whatever holes the Melbourne Rebels had at the time, quickly adding spark and finishing that they just didn’t have in Super Rugby AU. And he’s always been a good finisher, his problem has more been around the opportunities being created for him to finish.

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I thought Kellaway was the luckiest bloke named when Dave Rennie first named his squad to take on France, and I’m quite sure I wasn’t alone. I didn’t really think he’d force his way into the side, until I heard Rennie explain what he liked about him, and it was that same role-filling versatility.

And he did make the bench, and he did have an impact. And then he earned a start, and has found the line three times in a week. He just knows how to finish, and sure, he made a few mistakes last week as well, but he’s not looked out of place at Test level, and he’s repaid plenty of the coach’s faith.

Elsewhere, I’m really curious about Cobus Reinach for the Springboks because he just offers them a different way to play than Faf de Klerk and the kicking scrumhalves.

And it’s not like he doesn’t kick; he obviously does. But his running danger is real, and that adds a different element to the Boks. Reinach has always had that edge about him going back to when he played Super Rugby, and I’m just curious to see the South African game evolve around him.

Digger
The All Blacks – Tough question to highlight a single player so I will cheat and suggest the loose forward trio, this is an area of puzzlement to me and what they are trying to achieve.

The Wallabies – Tate McDermott. I think he has to really grab his starters chance and has added significant enthusiasm and threat to the Wallabies.

(Photo by Getty Images)

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The Pumas – Pablo Matera, because he is so good, and also wonder how the Crusaders managed to nab him.

The Springboks – Franco Mostert, because I have never really rated him as a Test player. Cannot fault his commitment or work rate but I have often thought him ineffectual. The last few outings against the Lions have made me reconsider and I will be keen to see if he continues this fine form.

Harry
Rugged flank Dalton Papali’i is the All Black I’m watching. He’s big. He signs his name on hits. And it’s a key position New Zealand really hasn’t filled since the end of Jerome Kaino. So far, he’s the most convincing.

For Australia, same position.

For Argentina, Nico Sanchez. He has to be a field general for the Pumas to win.

For South Africa, I’m watching our fullbacks, looking for someone to raise their hand to be Willie’s successor; possibly Fassi.

Geoff
Unfortunately, it’s looking like the most important player right now is WA’s Emperor, Mark McGowan.

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Assuming things do go ahead, for the ABs, Shannon Frizell has gifted Akira Ioane a free run at 6. Ioane took a big step forward last week, and now has to show that he can bring better body height, leg drive, and defensive discipline on a consistent basis, for 80 minutes every match.

If he can do this, the jersey is his for as long as he wants it.

For the Wallabies, I want to notice more from Tom Banks than cribbing over the mark to kick for touch. I want to see him catch everything that is kicked his way, and to take the right option on every return; whether that be a long kick to space, or to step and gas defenders on the run back.

And speaking of running, wouldn’t it be great to see the cheese, Cheslin Kolbe, tossed some prime running ball, a few times a match, with free licence to entertain? Ditto Bautista Delguy.

OVER TO YOU: What did your team learn from last week’s Rugby Championship openers?

And which players have you got your eye on through this campaign (assuming, you know, it manages to follow the schedule)?

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