Wallabies need to emulate England to beat the All Blacks
Last week I argued that “the future of our game right now is about survival”.
I wrote that “Rugby Australia must focus on cutting costs just like our friends at the NRL have done”.
I further suggested that, “in this climate rugby needs equity, shareholders’ funds and permanent money that is not borrowed”.
The responses from readers were scarifying.
Jason: “Another week and another forwards coach? What the hell is going on here?”
John: “A lineout coach for goodness sake. Just how far can we go to overcomplicate the game?”
Peter: “Alan, the Barcelona FC model sounds like a great idea. As a member I could then suggest that we get rid of Johnson and just have one forwards coach and one backs coach. Rennie needs to step up and fill in the gaps. If he can’t do that, perhaps he shouldn’t be coaching the national team.”
Well, how much do these views count?
Over the past few weeks, I have put a few areas of Australian rugby under scrutiny. I have probably upset a few pen-pushers at rugby headquarters.
But as the saying goes, you can’t make omelettes without breaking a few eggs.
This week I thought I’d make some observations about the on-field challenges facing the Wallabies as they prepare to take on the All Blacks in New Zealand over the next couple of weeks.
The first Bledisloe Cup Test match is in Auckland next Sunday. The Wallabies have not beaten the All Blacks at Eden Park since 1986.
In fact, the All Blacks have not been beaten there by any team since 1994, when the French beat them 23-20.
Despite all the history, the All Blacks are vulnerable.
The first step towards winning is not being intimidated by those you’re seeking to beat.
Right now their world-class captain, Kieran Read, has retired from international rugby.
They have a new head coach in Ian Foster, but most Kiwis believe they have picked the wrong bloke, so the pressure is on the new coach.
He has only been given a two-year contract, unlike our new coach who, incredibly, has been given a four-year deal on the back of no performance.
You may recall at the 2019 World Cup, Foster introduced a new “dual playmaker” attack system designed to squeeze Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga into the All Blacks backline.
The system had the two playmakers pulling strings on either side of the ruck.
It was perfect in theory until the English demolished the All Blacks “dual playmaker” attack with a heavy blitz defence in the semi-final.
With no “go-forward” through the middle of the paddock, the All Blacks’ attack system fell apart.
The author of the failed “dual playmaker” attack system was Foster.
He won’t be running the attack for the All Blacks in 2020. That responsibility goes to the impressive young former Crusaders attack coach Brad Mooar.
Mooar was the architect of the attack for the South Island team that recently beat the North Island in a wonderful State of Origin type contest that was innovative and inspiring.
If the Wallabies are to beat the All Blacks, they will need to defend well and emulate the English effort from last year’s World Cup semi-final.
Historically, Rennie-coached teams leak points and struggle to defend for long periods.
His defence coach, Matt Taylor, has a massive job if the Wallabies are to turn over the All Blacks.
Since 1986, the Wallabies have conceded, on average, 30 points a Test at Eden Park.
With the ball, the Wallabies have scored only 15 points per Test on average at Eden Park over the same period.
It means the Wallabies will need to deliver a defensive masterclass next Sunday if they are to win.
Taylor’s defence system will be put to the test by the All Blacks and their scheming attack maestro, Mooar.
It is essentially a kamikaze blitz, which means, in defence, the players rush off the line to put the attack under maximum pressure.
It is high risk and high reward; one missed tackle and there is a major line-break and the All Blacks are ruthlessly efficient in turning line-breaks into tries.
But, if the All Blacks are prepared to play more ball in the air rather than on the ground, then that kind of blitz defence can be broken up; and it is from broken play that the All Blacks are lethal.
I have to confess to a little nostalgia about Eden Park in hoping that the Wallabies can win there for the first time in 34 years. Back in 1986, it was my Wallabies side that beat the All Blacks 21-9. New Zealand did not score a try.
We played 14 matches on that tour, including three Bledisloe Cup Test matches. We won the series and the Bledisloe Cup on New Zealand soil for the first time since 1949.
My point is, we took only 26 players to play 14 matches. The 2020 Wallaby tour will see 44 players touring to play two Test matches.
With the rugby world facing a financial crisis, is it necessary for 44 Wallabies, plus the blazer brigade, to be in New Zealand?
The last time a squad of this size was assembled in New Zealand was the 2005 Lions tour.
Clive Woodward took two teams of players and coaches and essentially split the group in two.
Woodward created a split camp with first and second-class players and it proved a massive mistake. Unity is a powerful thing.
I fear the Rennie-coached Wallabies are off to a foolish start. Rugby players want to play rugby, they don’t want to hold tackle bags. How do you keep 44 players focused when there are only 15 starting spots?
But I come back to the administration. What was the rationale put forward for such an enormous squad to be taken away?
Or is it simply a case of, as Rennie says, Rennie does, with someone else’s money which these days is hard to come by?
I suppose the same people who approved a squad of 44 players are the very people who approved all these assistant coaches. I rate both a massive waste of money.
We need some tough-talking, knowledgeable people at board level who have some idea of what constitutes a victory strategy in rugby.
The administration should be saying, simply, these are the resources, no more no less, get out and get the job done.
To Michael Hooper and the boys, good luck. The 1986 Wallabies are hoping you can break the drought.
Join the conversation
Rebels seek $30m payment from Rugby Australia
Axed Super Rugby club takes Rugby Australia to court claiming the franchise has received prejudicial treatment from the governing body.
Read more
Suaalii set to join Wallabies just weeks after last NRL appearance
Little more than a fortnight after his last appearance for the Sydney Roosters, and before even lacing up his boots for the Waratahs, Joseph Suaalii is set to join the Wallabies for the first time.
Read more