Hux sees it too - where have our smarts gone?

[Gagger]

Awesome article, if I may say so

the-hux-files-donde-estan-la-rugby-smarts

 

[randalf8]

He's right. One-out pick and drives are useful for

• making small adjustments to field position for the purposes of launching a specific attack or kick; and
• having a crack at the line when you are inside their 10.

As a basic "plan" for moving the ball downfield they are fucking useless, yet it is one of only two plays that we have left (the other being pass the ball to the 10 and see what happens). You often read about "wearing the defence down" but it has long stopped working, at least against SA/NZ. It's absolutely do drama for the AB and SA inside defenders to shut down our pick an drive, they don't even look remotely stretched doing it.
Even though we are creatively bankrupt, we do have elite footballers playing and they are capable of impressive feats when they have the ball and some space.

 

[cyclopath]

I'd love to see the stats for the ABs last weekend, or in any recent game.
Nice article, Hux.
Look forward to more.

 

[Nelse]

He's right. One-out pick and drives are useful for

• making small adjustments to field position for the purposes of launching a specific attack or kick; and
• having a crack at the line when you are inside their 10.

As a basic "plan" for moving the ball downfield they are fucking useless, yet it is one of only two plays that we have left (the other being pass the ball to the 10 and see what happens). You often read about "wearing the defence down" but it has long stopped working, at least against SA/NZ. It's absolutely do drama for the AB and SA inside defenders to shut down our pick an drive, they don't even look remotely stretched doing it.

Even though we are creatively bankrupt, we do have elite footballers playing and they are capable of impressive feats when they have the ball and some space.

I wouldn't write off the pick and drive so quickly. It also helps settle play and allows the backs to reset their line.

The problem isn't with pick and drive or one off's so much. Its the one dimensional tactics. If we were constantly spreading it to the wing it would be just as bad... worse maybe because getting the ball too far away from support has a greater risk of losing it. Its all about mixing it up. Draw them in close, spread it wide, draw them to one side, hit the other side, go wide a few plays, then inside ball to attack the middle.

If you can keep the defence guessing then it creates holes. Even better if like what Hux says, you analyse the other team and have a good idea where those holes are going to appear.

 

[Rob42]

Great article. It really struck a chord when he pointed out that the players are skilful and committed, but the plays they are executing - diabolical. As Mr Timms pointed out in a podcast months ago: we are being out-thought on the field, when clever strategy is an essential element of great Wallaby teams.

And that last sentence - one more loss this week might start the "journey home"? Pure prose. The classical influences are rubbing off on you, Hux.

 

[Aussie D]

As others have stated the pick-and-drive has its place in the game, what infuriates me as a supporter is when an Australian team gets within 5 metres of the opposition tryline through some wonderful expansive play and then goes all conservative and try to pick and drive over the line, with very limited success. Sure, if they need to re-align have one or two quick pick and drives and then send it wide as the defence closes in on the ruck. Rugby 101 is to attack the space FFS.

 

[daz]

As others have stated the pick-and-drive has its place in the game, what infuriates me as a supporter is when an Australian team gets within 5 metres of the opposition tryline through some wonderful expansive play and then goes all conservative and try to pick and drive over the line, with very limited success. Sure, if they need to re-align have one or two quick pick and drives and then send it wide as the defence closes in on the ruck. Rugby 101 is to attack the space FFS.

Imagine how many tries we would have left behind over the last few years if Genia had not been clever enough to spot the gaps and then execute perfectly from 5 metres out?

Without his try scoring modus operandi we would be struggling to crack the top 5.

 

[Aussie D]

Sometimes the space is near the ruck and Genia did the correct thing (which is not what I was referring too). I am speaking more of the piggies lining up in threes at the back of the breakdown, waiting for 15-20 seconds to allow for the defence to set and then trying to overpower a set defensive line. How often does that work?

 

[randalf8]

i think Daz was agreeing with you

 

[Scarfman]

Is it possible to be a dumb human but a smart rugby player? Cooper, maybe?

I think the kind of smarts Hux is talking about might be about general intelligence. Larkham was the smartest guy in the team and Greegs was no slouch in the brain department either. No wonder they outsmarted the likes of Carlos.

 

[fatprop]

Larkham, Beale, Barnes & Copper et al can all pass the ball, but they need ball runners running lines into space, they need the ball runners to work harder off the ball

 

[Hairy Test Eagle]

Loved Hux's article, I think he really puts his finger on what's going wrong. I think that there's a lack of confidence in the team as well because we don't have the established combinations we usually would have (could be the reason for the mindless kicks?).

 

[redstragic]

Is it possible to be a dumb human but a smart rugby player? Cooper, maybe?

I think the kind of smarts Hux is talking about might be about general intelligence. Larkham was the smartest guy in the team and Greegs was no slouch in the brain department either. No wonder they outsmarted the likes of Carlos.

When link first started at the Reds he really took the time to know Cooper ( this was around the time of Hynsies bucks party debacle) . I remember one of the things he did say was how astute Cooper was at Rugby tactics.

 

[Rob42]

Is it possible to be a dumb human but a smart rugby player? ...

Yes - take Warnie as a cricketing example.

 

[Viking]

Yes - take Warnie as a cricketing example.

haha I think Warnie was pretty smart, Just a cheeky bogan.

 

[redstragic]

Yes - take Warnie as a cricketing example.

Alfie Langer in the Loig.

 

[Viking]

When link first started at the Reds he really took the time to know Cooper ( this was around the time of Hynsies bucks party debacle) . I remember one of the things he did say was how astute Cooper was at Rugby tactics.

Maybe so but lets say there are 20minutes remaining in a match, we need a converted try to win. Larkham notices our line-out is dominating, so he cooly kicks to the corner. Cooper however thinks we need a try i better pull out a miracle and win the game with a cheeky flick-pass, or i'll try side step the whole team. Then when it doesnt come off he will say "Im an attacking player and i cant play any other way, at least i had a go etc. etc."

I dont think we can compare the rugby smarts of Larkham to Cooper. Cooper may be aware of "rugby tactics" but Larkham actually displayed good (self-less) decision making on the field, Cooper struggles to do this. I think Coopers sublime skills often get misunderstood as "rugby smarts".

 

[redstragic]

Maybe so but lets say there are 20minutes remaining in a match, we need a converted try to win. Larkham notices our line-out is dominating, so he cooly kicks to the corner. Cooper however thinks we need a try i better pull out a miracle and win the game with a cheeky flick-pass, or i'll try side step the whole team. Then when it doesnt come off he will say "Im an attacking player and i cant play any other way, at least i had a go etc. etc."

I dont think we can compare the rugby smarts of Larkham to Cooper. Cooper may be aware of "rugby tactics" but Larkham actually displayed good (self-less) decision making on the field, Cooper struggles to do this. I think Coopers sublime skills often get misunderstood as "rugby smarts".

He didn't do this last year (as far as i can remember) and in the 5 games for the Reds he played this year. That's more of a 2009 observation when he overplayed his hand too much. The other point is it really depends on the team around them and the pattern they are playing too. The try against the Blues last year where he stepped the winger and a few others and put Taps in was pure razzle dazzle but would not have meant anything if the guys around him weren't prepared to go with him.

 

[armatt]

The try against the Blues last year where he stepped the winger and a few others and put Taps in was pure razzle dazzle but would not have meant anything if the guys around him weren't prepared to go with him.

His fend on Lachie Munro was a beautiful thing.

 

[randalf8]

He didn't do this last year (as far as i can remember) and in the 5 games for the Reds he played this year. That's more of a 2009 observation when he overplayed his hand too much. The other point is it really depends on the team around them and the pattern they are playing too. The try against the Blues last year where he stepped the winger and a few others and put Taps in was pure razzle dazzle but would not have meant anything if the guys around him weren't prepared to go with him.

I hate to be inconvenient but what about when he plays for Australia?