I don't know if you have been following some of the discussions on other threads or a few rants on other forums about structure, building pressure, going through the phases etc. Basically Australian players have been coached from a young age since 1998 onwards that phase play and structure is the way to win rugby. Its all about structures. Forget basic skills, structures will make up for that. Forget in depth team work structures and phase play and building pressure will win us the game.
When they are asked why they failed, they do not understand, because they are following the prescribed structures. Even the coaches don't know and think it must be fitness so Chieka bangs on and flogs the players into the ground in the name of fitness (and it must be said would have killed the Conditioning coach's season tapering program in doing so). They have no conception that it is the basic skills and actually being able to play as a team that is lacking. They are so structured the Blues tonight were able to make the tackle as the ball is received, able to line up defenders and have them running onto the receiver as the ball is passed from on onside position, because AUstralian play is so structured you know what they are going to do before you even give them, the ball. Add to that if you kick the ball to Folau and chase so that you block is god aweful low trajectory kick he will either very poorly pass the ball or be forced to run it so double team him and turn it over. Easy. Same with Taquele - cannot kick, double team him and run at him and step on attack because he is a very poor defender especially if he misses his first tackle of the day. Target the ruck because Australian forwards for all the gym work are weak in contact and will not be able to move a single opposition player at the ruck and will most likely go backwards in contact.
