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Joined October 2020
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Terrific article Nick and spot on.
Outside of the partisan feeling of fans, and in my view both sides are playing with an equally cynical, win at all costs approach, the pertinent matter is the technical management of the ruck.
I totally agree that the clear release requirement seems to have disappeared (at least doesn’t seem to be strictly applied) and further the technique of going off your feet when entering the breakdown to avoid the first clean-out and then springing back up seems endemic. The major concern here is that the balance has shifted to such an extent (as illustrated by the tactics) that it’s safer/easier to play without the ball than with. If that situation prevails the game is doomed.
I further agree World Rugby needs to step up and back it’s officials. Don’t ask the teams to interpret to the spirit -there’s too much at stake for them. Set the standard, apply it and the coaches and teams will adapt.
How Rassie Erasmus (over)ruled World Rugby in the second Test
Tate McDermott feeding that last scrum is why he doesn’t start. Also the last phases should’ve been working to the posts for the penalty, rather than isolating players with width (Noah also at fault here).
Magnificent Seven: Jaminet's boot powers France to Game 2 victory
The yellow card from Daugunu and following penalty for offside from Hooper were soft and pathetically ill disciplined. Once behind we were rattled and chasing in the wet. The line out was diabolical and no threat defensively. The soft option is to blame the young backs, when they were never given no opportunity to impose themselves on the game. Coaches need to stand up, we were a tactical rabble and ill disciplined.
Mo'unga magic leads All Blacks past woeful Wallabies in record blowout
Perhaps too early for Rennie to change, but it was frustrating to see the Wallabies predictable commitment to go wide whenever they break through the defensive line. No support for the breakdown, so the ABs pile into the first ruck to kill or turnover. The try the Wallabies scored only occurred because Hanigan sealed over Hooper the moment he touched the ground and To’omua gave to Tupou to carry near the ruck rather than send directly wide. When you break the line, the stressed part of the defence is the area around the ruck. You only go wide once the outside defenders are committed to fill in.
How Dave Rennie’s words came back to haunt him at Eden Park
Yes, I’m equally surprised Wilson rated so well. Turnovers and defensive errors overlooked? Hanigan has ability and hopefully will make it. His two soft maul penalties so emblematic of the lack of detail and discipline in the Waratahs though. At times I think Hooper tries to do too much his misses doing a lot of cover and sometimes trying to pull off the big hit to change the game. Could have done with more support.
Wallabies Bledisloe 2 DIY player ratings vs New Zealand: The results
I find it interesting that people seem to view Banks as the culprit for not making scything breaks, apparently that’s worse than errors, dropped ball and poor kicking. I’m not suggesting he doesn’t need to do more, but he was solid and deserves a chance to find his feet at test level.
JOC was really poor. His midfield bomb to Clarke – criminal. Petaia and Wilson ooze talent, but turnover far too much ball for test rugby. Tupou’s kick? It was the same in the SR final – poor decision making under pressure.
Rennie now has to follow through or create protected species. Not sure how many from Sunday ‘nailed it’.
Rennie threatens selection changes after Bledisloe belting
Hanigan was effective in the defensive line out for the Tahs and with Whitelock out you suspect they see an opportunity to apply some heat at the line out. Hanigan and Wright over Samu and Valetini looks like they want more on ball too.
Collectively it looks like the Brumbies have been dumped from the team, although individually you can make a reasonable case for there non selection. It still worries me a little. If the players aren’t better then perhaps the brums players had the mental fortitude to deal with the tough situations in games. It’s a value that can be overlooked.
Curious to hear from the coaches, was there a presser?
Ned Hanigan returns as Dave Rennie makes four changes to Wallabies team for Bledisloe 2
Thanks Geoff, always a good read and reliably one of the best articles in Australian rugby media each week.
The Wrap: Wallabies scrape a win but the team, and the code, have entered Chinese water torture territory