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Opinion
Well after what was a fun Super Rugby AU, everything went crashing to earth very quick against the Kiwis.
What gets me is that all the issues with why we lose to the Kiwis are tactical and are easily fixed. I just can’t see how any of the coaching set up in the Australian teams don’t see it.
The issues have been the same for at least the last five years at least and have not been properly addressed.
I looked over the last weekends Super Rugby matches and two areas really stand out.
Forced turnovers at the breakdown
NZ: 26
AUS: 13
Kicks into opposition 22 from general play
NZ: 29
AUS: 10
Yep, there you have it. The Kiwis forced twice as many turnovers at the ruck. This is not due to them being magically better at the ruck it is just a fact that they contested more rucks and 1-15 contest rucks whenever the opportunity is there (even Damian McKenzie forced a penalty in the force game).
The New Zealand teams also kicked almost three times as much ball into our 22 than we did to them. When we get the ball around the half way line we predictably run it (often one-out).
They Kiwis mix up their game and they often aim to put kicks into the corners and pressure our full backs and wingers with great chases. David Havilli did this on multiple occasions for the Crusaders and Mitch Hunt did the same for the Highlanders.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
In fact, in last weekend’s games not one Australian team won more ruck turnovers than their opposition nor kicked into the opposition 22 more often.
I don’t know how any teams expect to win when their opponents win twice as much ball at the ruck and keep them pinned in their 22 three times as often.
The solutions
1. Flood the ruck!
Make the Kiwis fight for every pill! If you don’t win the ball back at the very least it will give the likes of Aaron Smith slow messy ball.
Every player doesn’t have to be David Pocock to do this affectively. If everyone from 1-15 looks to counter ruck or pilfer when the opportunities are there penalties will still come from opposition players coming the side.
At the very least you will draw usually two opposition players to clean you out. Alternatively, just select more players who are naturally strong over the ball.
2. Kick and chase
When playing the ball near halfway have your ten and outside backs put in well chased kicks to the corners if there is no momentum after the first couple of phases.
As a Reds fan, if I were Brad Thorn I would be making some changes in the battle against the Crusaders this weekend.
To strengthen the ruck I would have Fraser McReight at 7 and Liam Wright at 6. Wright had a great game in a beaten team against the Highlanders.
These two players were the top two poachers in AU last season. But 1-15 must be looking to pilfer and counter ruck as much as possible (just as the Kiwis do).
Also, I would give James O’Connor, Bryce Hegarty and Hamish Stewart the order to put more kicks to the corners.
Both O’Connor and Stewart have done this occasionally during the AU season, but we just need to up the frequency.
Bryce Hegarty also has an accurate boot in general play and the two cross-field kicks to Suliasi Vunivalu were a joy to watch and really capitalised on Vunivalu’s brilliance in the air.
These same two issues have been plaguing Australian rugby the past five year. A couple of simple tactical changes can go a huge way to turning things around against our rivals from over the ditch.
The Ewen McKenzie-coached Reds had a record of 14 wins and only five losses versus Kiwi opposition from 2010 to 2013.
If you watch the replays of the 2011 semi final versus the Blues or the final versus the Crusaders you can see why.
They played smart rugby. The attacked dominated the ruck and it wasn’t just the backrow – James Horwill at lock, Anthony Fainga’a at centre and even Jono Lance at fullback forced turnovers.
They also kicked very smart and found grass in the 22 as much as they could.
Come on Australian rugby coaches, make some tactical changes and play smart rugby again!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.