Smart and tactical , Richie McCaw was a defensive player who knew how to work oppositions and referees into favourable positions, especially at the breakdown.
Blurring the lines of ruck formation, McCaw had tricks up his sleeve that brought once scintillating opposition attacks to a slow and sluggish pace that favoured the All Blacks’ wider defence and counterattack for many years.
Many have pondered the Wallabies’ recent rollercoaster of wins and losses, trying to analyse where our problems lie. Some have correctly alluded to the recent head-scratchers in attack, with a lack of discipline and failing to earn the right to go wide, silencing the lethal pace of Marika Koroibete and the footwork of Len Ikitau.
But since losing David Pocock, Australia has lacked the genuine ruck threats to consistently compete.
I was in the crowd at Murrayfield last November for Scotland vs Australia. I left both bitterly cold and stunned at the Wallabies’ inability to nullify or replicate the efforts of Hamish Watson.
Watson, who won man of the match for his performance, carried his team to a victory heard around Edinburgh. With 14 tackles and a few forced turnovers, Watson’s presence both in and post tackle starved the Wallabies of quick ball, allowing his fellow backrowers to reset and compile more pressure on a tiring attack.
Scotland were not special that day. None of their attack would label them a World Cup contender, nor were their tactics anything brilliant. They won because of their supremacy at the breakdown.
This presence is not just an ability to win turnovers and force penalties, it extends to physical contests, constant pressure, sniffing for opportunities, and disrupting the rhythm of opposition attack.
Whether it be counter-rucking pressure, strong driving tackles or a clever rolling away attempt, players such as Watson, Josh van der Flier or Ardie Savea have plagued Australia at the breakdown.
Michael Hooper has a ball-carrying roll, often scampering through tired defensive lines to proved a breath of life in attack. But he is not is a ‘fetcher’. The ability to sniff the ball and apply breakdown pressure is not in his arsenal.
Because of Michael Cheika’s consistent selection of both Pocock and Hooper, and glossed over because of Hooper’s inspirational efforts elsewhere, some have looked elsewhere for the solution to Australia’s problems.
But because Hooper is not a fetcher and the other recent back row selections – including Harry Wilson and Rob Valetini – are abrasive ball-carrying options, Australia have been left in the lurch at the breakdown.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
With Hooper having courageously stepped away from international rugby, I would like to see selectors persist with Fraser McReight.
Australia’s best fetcher since Pocock, McReight offers a formidable defensive presence that forces attacking sides to move the ball away from him.
What McReight also offers, which goes unnoticed, is his support play, both in attack and defence. He has subtle hands and a knack for linking well with his inside backs – evidenced by some of his recent tries in both the Pacific Nations Cup and Super Rugby.
In defence, McReight’s ability to remain alive post-tackle offers an important advantage with upcoming Test matches against South Africa and New Zealand.
Further, with Valetini’s robust, ball-carrying capabilities better suited to the blindside flank, the second solution to breakdown woes is the blooding of young Waratah Will Harris.
In attack, Harris is a slick ball player whose athleticism and interplay with outer backs formed an undeniable part of the Waratahs’ turnaround season in 2022. In addition, he brings the constantly abrasive defensive pressure Australia has lacked in recent memory.
Forming an integral part of the Junior Wallabies success in 2019, Harris’ indissoluble defensive interplay with the likes of McReight set the tone for some scintillating counterattack from the likes of Isaac Lucas and Noah Lolesio.
With the physicality to dominate tight defensive contests, and the athleticism to cover inside and outside backs in the wider channels, the 22-year-old’s aggression and awareness make him an impressive force to watch.
Defensive pressure kills ascendency. With the likes of France and New Zealand desperate for success at the World Cup, Australia need defensive threats that can halt opposition quick ball and force panicked rugby.
Should they do so, the Wallabies have the attacking shapes and threats to make a serious run.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Maybe
Tez
Roar Rookie
Hmmm Charly Gamble might well have a strong say in that
Tez
Roar Rookie
Hmmmm interesting thoughts but I am not convinced. Currently within Australia's playing stocks there is no outstanding 'fetcher'. McReight gets ragdolled just as much as people accuse Hooper of it. Plus McReight was quite terrible in defence in his last test. Yeah Will Harris is a good and upcoming young forward, but I would suggest he needs a little bit more beef on him, plus he needs to improve his lineout work, and general workrate. Langi Gleeson could very well challenge Will for the Tahs No 8 slot in 2023, plus there is also Warren Voyavascoe in the mix. The Tahs have not signed any locks as yet, likely looking to use Sinclair, Hanigan and Holloway in that role. That leaves Harris, Gleeson, Voyavascoe, Gamble and Hooper for the back 3 positions. Harris could find himself playing a fair bit of 6.
Riggers
Roar Rookie
Great article JkBB, I reckon McReight could be the future. He had an off game against the Argies two Sunday’s ago, but he has the IQ. I reckon stick and pick. I think there a few good QLD’s there with their skill sets and I’m NSW through and through. But we need to persist. Combine these QLD backrowers with the up and coming Fly halves and 2027 may have a good team
PeterK
Roar Guru
Lonergan couldn't throw well, and Swain called poorly, he did not call 1 lineout to the best guy Arnold but to himself and others instead. Adding Wilson makes it even worse
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
I remember first seeing Pocock play and thinking, wow, just wow! I don’t get that with McReight. I look forward to that again with an Oz number 7, someday….
Fin
Roar Rookie
Pretty much hasn’t turned up since 2013!
Greg
Roar Rookie
Good point Morsie. We seem to have fewer forwards doing it lately. Our 4 props used to do a bit. Not the last 2 games.
You must be kidding
Guest
Your a Tough judge, Hooper led Waratahs to win Super Rugby 2014, World Cup final and player of the year nominated in 2015, JE medal winner 2016 JE medal winner 2020/2021 World player of the year nominated 2021. Fans choice wallaby of the year 2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2019 no award given in 2020 or 2021. Waratahs player of the year 2013, 2014,2015,2016,2017,2019
Dean
Roar Rookie
Peter, Uru is a lovely player and thoroughly enjoy watching him play. I think he is a great 5/6/8 bench option. Uru is not too dissimilar in style/positioning than the other 6’s we have run at Wallaby level. Wright is the tight, disruptive, smart and calm style of player that we would benefit from. It is very nice though to be having discussions in relation to options and depth rather than the 5/8 issue in our Backline.
Jj
Guest
I agree with this, its interesting particularly in the case of McReight his super form would suggest he would being an absolute menace at the breakdown hooper to a lesser degree but he definitely played with more freedom in his tahs games and seemed more influential. Yet wallabies breakdown defensively has been a non event and we are consistently walked over up front, the english made a mockery of the forward pack. In my opinion this breakdown issue is less to do with the blokes on the field and more to do how the Rennie/Mckellar brain trust coach the pack particularly with the loosies. I like rennie for the most part but Im very sceptical of Mckellar. I feel like if theres anywhere we should be strong its in the forwards (provided they're not concussed in training), yet we seem pretty consistently to be walked all over up front and not giving our fledging backline anychance of supermacy. This idea of best maul in the world is fine but cant come at the expense of functioning defensive forward pack and at the very least requires an equally as good lineout.
Matthew
Guest
"the issue with Wilson combined with Valetini and McReight means the lineout is weakened a lot.: You didn`t watch the disfunctional pathetic and misfiring lineout with Holloway Valetini Arnold Swain and co last week in Argentina did you? Just making up stuff now ay mate.
Geoff
Guest
And how many times was Hooper ragdolled from 2013 -2022. 400 500 700??? :shocked:
Locky
Guest
Thorn cannot coach, have you seen his dismal record against kiwi teams.
Locky
Guest
2013 was his Hoopers best year ever .He has been poor since, especially 2016-2020.
Chris
Guest
Rennie fast tracked reserve tah Gleeson so why not Edmed or Harris .And why has that proven plodder Foley been called back by Dungo Dave?
Geoff
Guest
Hooper he is a liabiIity at securing our ball at the breakdown. Who cares about a few pilfers he makes.He is smashed at the breakdown too often.
Reality
Guest
McReight hasn’t even won reds best player over the last two years, third this year I think, and thorn keeps dropping him, seriously what has he done special. Hooper was world player of the year nominated, picked in world team of the year and won the JE Medal for a record 4th time.
Chustyle
Roar Rookie
McReight is a myth. He might be good against Australian teams but get ragdolled by bigger oppositions. No idea how Hooper haters can support McReight when he's just a worse version of Hooper. Gamble seems like the best prospect for the 7 gold jersey. He needs to be brought into the squad asap.
PeterK
Roar Guru
At least Jimbo81 has changed, he used to have that visceral reaction to anything Tahs, it must be a changing scale based on the number of players of a team are holding back selecting a deserving red (which is close to every single one).