A History of the Wallaby Back Line - Part1: 1979 to 1990

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Ella remains the best player I've ever seen in his position and equal best of any rugby player I've ever seen with Michael Jones. There are very few players who have equalled his ability to read the play and the quality of his handling and passing.

 

[Scott Allen]

Here's part 2 from 1991 to 1998

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/history-of-the-wallaby-back-line-part-2-1991-1998/

 

[Gnostic]

Thanks Austin. Again we see support in depth, players in motion (not just the ball carrier) and players working hard to get in positions of support these are the keys IMO. I also note the very high level of handling skills.

First line of attack may be flat but the second line was in depth to support the break.

 

[rhyso]

Here's part 2 from 1991 to 1998

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/history-of-the-wallaby-back-line-part-2-1991-1998/

Thanks so much for this Austin - these highlight packages are just awesome.

Highlights for me are Campo at 0:51 (what a magnificent bastard) and Burke at 4:15. Horan awesome throughout, and some great straightening from Little etc. Not much crabbing in these highlights, funny that.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Yep, two things stand out for me in the second video: in the mid to late 90's we started passing the ball differently. Much more of the spiral/spinning pass and less of the soft hands and "floating" ball that we see from Ella, Walker, Lynagh and Knox. I'm not convinced that this was an altogether positive development. From my own playing days I recall that it was easier to move the ball quickly through hands with the more floating pass.

The second thing that stands out is the straight, hard running from the centres. Little lateral movement by the player, it was done by the ball or angles. The ball beats the man. I'm not seeing a lot of that right now and I think Gits has a part to play in this (especially at 12). Someone needs to get him to run straighter, because in the last couple of seasons (I especially saw this live when he was at the Force) he has been crabbing across field too much. I think the lack of Morts has hurt us too, because if nothing else he would be able to carry the ball over the advantage line when nothing else is on. At some point we need to have an outside centre who can consistently do that for us. I had thought that Horne might be that guy at the beginning of the season and perhaps he still could be, but hopefully AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) do do the role for the moment.