True

Going by actually height and weight of each player.
Aus not smaller than NZ or most other nations.
US stand out in size difference to others.
Score not an indication of size

Not sure about the Women’s team being too small.
Went through the rope 6 teams rosters and we sit well.
NZ is same size.
The USA team is big but were outsmarted by GB who made the big girls run around. Aus didn’t do this and lost.
Women’s game is more about speed, skill, nouse and power. Not weight or height.
Eg for height – off kickoff NZ uses Blyde to jump and attempt to seat ball back –
She is short but has best vertical leap (power).

Women’s rugby is expanding rapidly and the 7’s game is very attractive to women. We need to encourage this and expand foe Rugby supporter and player base. And it’s very entertaining viewing on TV.
Men’s 7’a always been a struggle in AUS. NZ has always incorporated 7’s into annual schedule well. But AUS not so much.

Noticed that Aus and NZ Regs adjudicated breakdown very differently in TT matches and French tests.
So not surprised.
UK refs different again.
Would be great to get consistency on this – but back in the 80’s etc this was all just part of the enjoyment of touring.
No 60 min rants back then – just a few grizzly beers with the ref and opposition after the match

Like players – refs have good games and bad.
All professional refs are constantly trying to do better.
Captains should learn to lead and communicate expertly – including with the ref.
However the ref must be respected.
The ref does not need to form ‘rapport’ with the captains. The ref simply is required to implement the law consistently and accurately, and communicate clearly, consistently and respectfully to the captains.
The day the coaches and players can run around for 80min and get everything right is the day they can make 60min videos to criticise the ref.
Similarly refs need to self reflect, implement some meta cognition, and pursue perfection. They often let themselves down with an air of arrogance and an insular behind closed doors operation.
Would be good to see ref and support interviewed like players after games to discuss their performance.

TT off bench 50min mark.
Wilson – Swinton – Hooper so that Wilson & Tate can combine to provide Running threat around ruck.
Cooper inserted to help Noah Build confidence and release his natural attacking skills so that our 9 and 10 provide running threats.
All good stuff.
But our back 3 terrifies me.
Who we pick really determines a lot of our game plan, ability to execute and the opportunities for the AB’s to attack.
Whoever is picked in the back 3 better have spent a lot of time working together on defensive communication and organisation – they will need it.
Most of our engagement with the AB’s will be a fantastic tussle – it’s just the back 3 I see a big issue.
Anyone have any ideas?

Guilty ‘till proven innocent is the approach of TMO’s.

Agree with this Highlander.
Perhaps the “Orange” card a few have suggested.

And it’s joy just the media doing this – it’s past wallabies and others as well.
To get Australian Rugny back to the top we need to be affirming in our language and actions.
Building a larger player base with skills and depth is key.
By the 2027 World Cup we could be back towards the top of everyone is fair and focussed.

Well said Nick.
I would add that a good 7 also knows where to be on the field for the game as it unfolds.
A game plan is great but often falls apart when it come sin contact with the opposition.
A great 7 will read this and adjust to suit.
Hooper usually does this very well and on Saturday night did it brilliantly. As you have illustrated.
The key thing to appreciate here is Hoopers “Rugby Intelligence” to understand what was needed of him to “Fix the problem” and what was needed to be said to his team mates to keep them positive.
His decisions and then execution of his skillset would have been inspirational to the team and contributed much to the outcome.
Young men like Swain would have learnt a lot and lifted them performance wise by watching Hooper during the match.

Agreed.
Also the continuing theme that the Wallabies have defeated a second string (or third string depending on who you listen to) French side is curious.
ALL French players play in France.
So some were unavailable and they had to pick others.
Let’s consider Australian players.
They are scattered to the winds across the planet playing rugby.
Is the Wallabies side that ran on the field the last 3 times the “Best” Australian rugby players in the world??
One could consider the Wallabies a “Second string” side as well ?

Hooper also has the intellect and rugby intellect to pick up some “learnings” (can’t stand that word) whilst with Hansen and Reid et al.
Hooper would not have wasted a minute in Japan to develop and improve himself.
A very focussed character.

????

I probably don’t agree on the 2 extra teams.
Following your contracting strategy approach BH101 – if we view the teams in Australia as bolted on To RA and select teams in French, UK and Japan as “Associated” To RA then there would be an excellent mechanism to keep players “connected” and available to the wallabies.

PE money is a tool to achieve that kind of strategy and the kind of innovative thinking they would encourage to deliver a ROI.

I’m on the same page BH101.

There is an opportunity for RA to utilise Contracting as both a player retention/availability and player development tool. Not just for current Wallabies but also U20’s and maybe some younger talent to stop them going to league.

This is a very strategic corporate approach and requires a 5-10 year Vision backed by a well structured plan.
This is the kind of thing I do as a strategist but alas I’m not sure RA is up to this level of innovation.
Culture shift is needed. I think there is an opportunity to innovate at this level using a winning bid for the 2027 WC.

Good article.

That’s very interesting.
A coach that is creative and positive that views defence as an attacking tool rather than defence being ac
“ protection” against opposition scoring.
That’s probably why he is so good.
Positive and creative.
Thanks Nick

Ok
I’m hypothesising that there is more to his abilities.
Perhaps he sees things differently to others as well.

Nick I’ve heard this said a few times – why is Edwards the best D coach?
How is he strategising his D systems differently to others?
What’s the balance between individual D skills, team patterns and game situations?

Geoff you are 100% correct – the Rugby Media coverage by Fox and any media outlet owned by the same boof heads is disgraceful.
It appears Journalistic integrity is long gone. Your opinion can be bought or edited out.
However as Seneca and other stoic’s wound say “The obstacle is the way”.
Best we keep on the path of deep rooted strong positive growth in Australian Rugby at all levels and let that momentum steamroll their pathetic rags and irrelevant television side shows.
Oh and by the way Fox et al a thing that’s coming soon that may demonstrate your obvious conspiracy to attempt to undermine one of Australia’s greatest sports and sporting teams…… the Olympics and the Rugby 7’s teams.
Yes News Limited Cabal – remember Rugby is recognised as a truly International sport and proudly show cased at the Olympics … gold medals and all that jazz.
Good luck trying not to cover our Rugby 7’s teams!!!

IMO Reece Hodge did a fantastic job Sat night. Covering the wing (and watching the replay it was covering both sides) a position that isn’t his number 1 preference was commendable.

To achieve this the communication and trust that has been developed between all the players over the last 5 weeks is world class.

The coaching team and played must be acknowledged for this team outcome.

I believe that this level of trust in your team mate, knowledge of the game and roles, and concomitant communication that must happen to make it work, have not been present for many years.
This is a very important foundation stone for a winning wallabies and the 2023 World Cup.

Wow Geoff.

Woke up – read your article – feel like you took me on a 10k morning run – we covered everything rugby in 1,000 words.

Of course we all love it!!

Great article Brett.

Breakdown observations from Tuesday:
1. Wallabies once tackled don’t work hard enough or smart enough to present ball. Mostly look for extra roll rather than present more advantageous body shape on ground for clean out.

2. French have an obvious tactic of one player lingering in the wallabies halfback zone at back of the ruck. Not long enough or blunt enough to actually block a pass but enough to change halves body position, passing options and speed. (Watch the game again – it’s almost every single breakdown – very smart). Referee didn’t penalise because it wasn’t enough to “obviously” block our half – but was enough to slow it down. Again very clever play.

3. Wallabies struggling to stay on feet when competing for ball in tackle and jackal. This was also obvious in TT games. It would appear our S&C programs and perhaps skill sessions haven’t trained this aspect. The French and the kiwis can stay on feet and compete – we fall over or get easily taken off the ball. This is a 6 week fix from a S&C perspective – it is unlikely to be corrected with a “discussion” at training about urgency at the breakdown.

Anyone else see this as well?

Once you know it’s important it’s hard to leave this aspect of sports psychology out of an elite sports programme.

With so many variables and perspectives its important that the leader is respected and “followed”.
It appears Hooper has earned this position with the players and staff.
Now the leadership group needs to be trained over the next 2 years on how to make and play with the decisions made on the field.

They talk about the 1% ‘ers and this is definitely one of those.
I think its something they need to do.
If not already in action.

Great topic for this article TB.

Decision making of elite athletes in team sports is a very interesting area of study.

So many extrinsic factors: Team strategy, players, weather, referees, physical environment, opposition team strategy, opposition team players, your own players etc etc
Intrinsic factors: Age, cognitive function and capability, developmental stage of cognitive function, different types of intelligence, own performance, own fitness, position in the team, knowledge of the game and laws, stress levels (mental and physical), pain, fatigue, data and input categorisation and cognition etc etc

DO they practice difficult decision making when absolutely mentally and physically fatigued at training? Do they intentionally stress and fatigue the leadership group and ask them to identify relevant data points and make group decisions?

There is much work to do on this skill set for professional players at Super and International level.
I hope they have a program in place to build this level of decision making and leadership.
Hope ……..

True – when everyones at sea with no idea it can be hard.

But one way to get everyone focussed is to turn up in a life raft.

A financial operating model that delivers on each parties interests is doable and perhaps would galvanise their self interests into a common positive outcome.

Thats what a good PE/M&A deal would deliver.

Not sure I agree here Geoff.

Combined population of 6 Nations grouping – about 200million
Combined population of Pacific/Japan 6 nations – about 270 million

Almost the entire Japanese nation tuned into Japans games during the World Cup.
NZ all tune in.
Fiji all tune in.
Aus – about 500,000 will tube in 🙂
South Africa – not sure
Argentina – about 2 million will tune in.

The viewer number are there and they are actually at a point where it could grow significantly with the right marketing etc.

I would argue the commercial imperatives are there.