The try by James Slipper yesterday was a thing of beauty. In reality it could have been called the “tight forward’s try” for the work that preceded it, though it was great to see the final bragging rights going to the Wallabies’ captain.
The try came from a lineout maul and was preceded by runs by Nick Frost, Folau Fainga’a and Tanalia Tupou, with Frost and Cadeyrn Neville linking with halfback Nick White and Hunter Paisami to get the ball to Slipper for his cleverly angled run to glory.
The try made good use of the fact that when it comes to large men marking large men, the contest disproportionately favours an attack that is on the front foot, complemented by a little bit of smart angled running or footwork. Big fellas are hard to stop when they get a head of steam up, but changing direction to tackle when on the back foot is often too much to ask for a 120-kilo-plus man against an equally large opponent moving at pace.
The other aspect of the try that was notable was how efficient it was. Slipper crossed the chalk right on the magic fourth phase at which the Wallabies face compounding prospects of a turnover, a problem that they faced all night against the canny Scots.
The Wallabies’ attacking ruck clearly needs work, but it doesn’t change the statistical fact that the best way to avoid an attacking ruck infringement is to build fewer attacking rucks.
Moving forward the Wallabies’ new-found punch in the tight forwards can be a signature of their game that will get them into space behind opponents from anywhere on the park. However, it is imperative that the playmakers keep attacking sequences short and sharp, kicking if there is not a breakout by the third or fourth phase.
All of the halves need to keep working on their attacking kicking game, to give the Wallabies the best shot at getting the ball back as soon as possible for another attack.
Another aspect of the game of which Dave Rennie repeatedly reminds his team is the need for outside backs to work hard off the ball to pose a threat across the park, a message that seems to have sunk in. However, support play seems to be an area of the game that has fallen away to an unacceptable standard.
When I say support play I include both what we usually think of when understanding that term, running in support of a breakout to turn an attacking opportunity into a try, but also winning at the breakdown. This is because in the case of the Wallabies the problems that they have faced at the breakdown are as often caused by key players not being there in time to be effective, as they are by technical errors.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The breakout by Tate McDermott was a prime example of poor support play, especially by a couple of backs who stood and looked at him run through the Scottish line and only seemed to remember to run when they were overtaken by 33-year-old international rookie lock, Cadeyrn Neville.
It would have been funny if it wasn’t so infuriating.
In another facepalm episode, the Scots put up a high box kick and the only loose forward in the vicinity ran the worst line ever to trip over an opposition defender. He then jogged back, arriving at the breakdown too late to prevent a penalty being given away by a back who shouldn’t have had to contest the breakdown alone.
In both instances the players concerned were not switched on and were lazy off the ball.
Some players in this squad give me the impression that when the coaches are working hard on a particular aspect of play like the wonderful attacking game emerging from the tight forwards, they think they can slack off from their professional obligation to deliver the basics.
The most basic of all in rugby is that all players need to run as fast as they can to the right part of the park when required, to be any use at all.
After the loss against the All Blacks in Auckland, Rennie was asked how he was going to improve performances. He laughed, and simply said: “Selections.”
I hope that he sticks to his guns and doesn’t allow any desire for the Wallabies to enjoy their win over the sixth-ranked team in the world to prevent him from culling the passengers who will hold them back from beating the far tougher opposition to come.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Why was such a poor 23 picked for this must win Scotland game. Because of your assumption that 'WBs have 2 better halfbacks, 2 better flyhalfs, and better centres'
Guess
Roar Rookie
You talk bs. The most successful team does play that way. 'studied their play' lol study some more
Guess
Roar Rookie
Great read. Wallabies are their own worst enemies. Agreed while some players create opportunities and play with great effort others are wasting it by doing less than needed. sequences short and sharp, kicking if there is not a breakout by the third or fourth phase That's what kiwis do Seems like the reason wallabies 22 to try ratio is low is that they pass or pick and go mindlessly and go through motions. As if there's no plan there or tactic whatsoever
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Tupou was way better. Verging on goos
The Strategist
Roar Rookie
I still call BS because what you suggest is what the Wallabies have been doing and losing. They fail to build pressure and therefore they lose. None of the top teams play the way you suggest. The most successful team over the last 20 years certainly doesn't play that way. I know this because I have studied their game in the minutest of detail. The wallaby forwards would have to be the least attacking and least cohesive forwards in the top 10 of world rugby. Another reason we lose. This is the only accurate thing you have said: "manipulates an opponent’s defence with deception, breaches it at a weak point and then finishes the job to score". I would replace 'deception' with 'strategy' to make it more accurate.
mailman
Guest
Rhys, a very good summary and analysis of what the Wallabies did well and they need to do (much) better
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Neville was right behind Tate and both locks outran the other players.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
You are gobsmacked because you clearly haven’t been following the game closely enough for the last 20 years, thus are stuck in old thinking and are arrogant enough to think you know what you are talking about. I presume you are Australian because of your flawed application of league thinking to Rugby, typical in this country. What you fail to understand is that Rugby is a contested game while League is not, the Wallabies opponents can take the ball off them and as we saw with the Scots, many teams are very good at it. It is the very idea about “building pressure” that has had the Wallabies losing to over the last two decades, mostly against New Zealand who take the ball off us and promptly score at the other end. Rugby is not a game of pressure if you want to win, it is a game of mini contests where a team wins field position with kicking, possession at set piece and at the breakdown, manipulates an opponent’s defence with deception, breaches it at a weak point and then finishes the job to score. If you can’t do the past three steps within four phases you should kick it, get the ball back and go again, or most likely lose the ball. As for the forwards, the try represented an improvement in their skills leading to success and I think that is worth celebrating. If you want to sneer about it then good luck to you, it says more about you than them.
The Strategist
Roar Rookie
I am honestly gobsmacked that you would suggest that because we can only hold the ball for 4 phase we need to kick it away if we haven't scored. They even have 6 phases in league. Would have to be one of the stupidest comments I have read on the Roar. Rugby is a game of building pressure not one of releasing pressure. Also one try through the hands by the forwards and now we have a "wonderful attacking game emerging from the tight forwards". Really? Can count on 2 fingers the average number of times our forwards offload successfully in a test match.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Rhys Except that Foley, Paisami and Hanigan are not 2nd choice, or new players. None should be in the squad. And we know all about them - they've been Test duds for years and will not improve.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
I was surprise he didn't ran into the defence himself
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
"Foley and Paisami turned out to be the worst players on feild." Waxy HP knocks quite alot of ball on first phase..messing up the play and I can't believe Foley does not kick the ball out just after Slips scored the try. He didn't need to kick the ball in play as we had a ruck inside our 22, instead he kicked it to Scottish for a possible counter attack..
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
When Tate McD made that break it was Frosty that was on his right-hand side..Neville does not have that speed
savant
Roar Rookie
Yes lots of ironies in that try. The primary one being it was skilled ball movement that scored the try, not collisions or physicality or brute force or all the other garbage Rennie goes on about being the most important thing. Ironic it was forwards who passed accurately with excellent timing. Even a lesson for Paisami who passed the ball to the forwards with superior distribution skills instead of trying to crash through as Rennie wants him to do. It was a try against the whole Rennie game plan!
savant
Roar Rookie
Slipper played five eight as a junior. It was only when his body decided to limit his options that he went forward. His catch and pass game is no fluke.
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
You can guarantee tupou for 3 penalties a match minimum. He is a deadset liabilty. He had a breakout season and now he sits back and says how good he is. Should not be allowed on the bus again
Tim J
Roar Rookie
A great read Rhys, you are right about support play as many times during the RC players have been caught isolated. Clean outs is an area that needs focus also, too many times the opposition have recycled the ball with little pressure. Players seem to be cautious as they do not want to be penalised so this comes back to understanding the ref, and the laws around this area.
James584
Roar Rookie
It was simple ball movement through the hands, but yes, it was good.
James584
Roar Rookie
Actually Rhys, that comment is a bit much, my apologies. I still find quite a few of your statements a bit perplexing. But you are obviously entitled to your opinions. You are willing to put your opinions out there, in articles, too, which deserves respect. Sometimes I get the impression your analysis is more about defending your favourites, big Brad, any Red. But, we all do that to some extent.
mick
Guest
Interesting observations Rhys. You held off naming names. There were certainly a few who were lacking urgency at key times. One of the features of Australia's bad games this year has been the complete absence of urgency in defence when the opposition breaks the line. This is especially true when they are counter-attacking!