I watched the Waratahs v. Sharks match live and then the Aviva premiership Leicester Tigers v. Northampton Saints game within 24 hours. I was looking for any indicators as to how Michael Cheika’s style of coaching – Cheikaball – would compare with the Northern hemisphere’s slower more forward constructed approach. Here are a few notes.
The first observation was the commitment to a more varied attack around the breakdown by teams up north; ‘probing’ as Ben Kay aptly described it. The Waratahs play very lateral with the ball getting out into the 13 channels and have big runners in mid-field, but occasionally are vulnerable to an assumption that they can retain possession with limited numbers in the tackle contest.
The Tahs also like the “little” pass around the back of the next receiver to a looping player. The smart defenders just let them do it and drift on to the next piece of action. Against a team that decides to suddenly blitz, this may become a problem. Will the Wallabies adopt this Cheikaball style of play?
The Tigers played more on the front foot than recently and this is their mindset. They are a team cultured on intimidation and in-your-face relentless footy. Ed Slater’s selection at 6 gave the forwards a little more guile and added to the line-out options and security. A point that will have been noted by the England selectors – basically a Tom Croft role with more oomph!
Cheikaball has a style dilemma for the England and Wales pool games. A former Wallaby told me they need a big robust hard running 6, but where is he? Morgan ran over Hooper to score last time they met. Pocock is better close in, Hooper better wide out; can they play Pocock at 6 and Hooper at 7? The Wallabies would get tied in at the tail of the line-out with that approach. Without a consistent flow of ball from set-piece Australia will struggle, and if the scrums on the Saints line are anything to go by, Australia could lose players to the bin.
Having said that, former Argentinian forward Mario Ledesma is in the Cheika coaching camp with a very succinct brief. If Australia get any sort of parity they can beat Wales – but England at Twickenham? I don’t think so.
Moving the huge forward Skelton into a role closer to the breakdown may be an answer. He is currently a giant trying to get going in mid-field, but the defenders are on him quickly now and he is not very effective. I think Australia will make greater use of their wingers coming into the line than before – the surprise element is their X factor. Beale’s presence and performance is very predictable this season though and if he makes the squad his contribution will be from the bench. Plus surely no-one will kick directly to Folau, somewhat reducing his contribution.
So the question remains – can Australia find a style to beat England and Wales on less than 50% possession? Certainly against England more Wallabies will be needed around and closer to the ball, and they need a scrum half who is prepared to run into the tough narrow spaces. Wales will pressurize the Australian attack with line-speed. The Wallabies will hope for quick ball in all areas and shift quickly any turn over ball. Field position and the driving maul will be potent coaching considerations.
At this moment in time my 1-2-3 in the pool, England, Wales, Australia unless Halfpenny gets injured!
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