The Wallaby gameplan

[Swat]

The Wannabes got smashed by the Boks and looked down out tired! Question is can they backup a week later? Are the Wannabes ready for anther 80 mins of hard tough physical battle up front? Can the Wannabes get sufficient possession in the forward confrontation?
Its up front in the tight five that will dictate the break down phase of play. The ABs had a good hit out with the Argies and will be much better for it. On the bench the depth the ABs have is a sure advantage, Dagg and Kahui will return with SBW bench duty.

All will be revealed come Sunday-the first 25mins will be a telling factor on which team dominates!

I think the question is do you overuse rhetorical questions?

 

[rookie]

I really agree with the comments about our kicking strategy. It seemed like the wallabies believed that just kicking the ball up the other end whenever they had it would amount to field position. Obviously that didnt work out. In my view the best field position kicking comes off front foot ball. So, particularly in midfield, it’s better to build some momentum and then roll the ball into the corners, with a good chase boxing the winger/fullback in. It seems like the very best field position kicks come when there’s space on the outside and the 10 or 12 is able to go to the line, draw the defensive wingers up, then kick with the aim of pulling the ball up close to the try line and side line. The aim of all this is to either have them kick it out deep in their own half or pressure their lineout if we kick it out – either a steal, a crooked throw, or a poor clearing kick. I think the Irish and welsh both played this game much better than us over the weekend. And I think we need to stop approaching field position kicking as a negative or somehow defensive tactic. It works best on full attack. It’s also about setting up future attacking opportunities a few moves in advance.

 

[chasmac]

Kaino is the player to nullify in the AB's

IMO Kaino is their danger man. He was missed in the TN final like we missed Pocock vs the Irish. He influences the forwards battle the most from the AB's.

We should have a better result in the lineouts this week.

Scrums are likely to favour the Blacks.

Both backlines can defend well and can capitalise on opportunities.

The winner this weekend will be the team that can build sustained pressure for the longest. I would look at all strategies that have this purpose in mind.

I don't see either team being able to resist sustained pressure. Wallabies used their quota last week and the AB's seem spooky and flitty now they are nearing the business end of the campaign.

 

[pete88]

I dunno, I wouldn't wanna confuse the NZ public with the team. They were pretty clinical against the Argies.

I think it's all pretty much psychological, without wanting to tempt fate I don't see the All Blacks "playing above themselves," unless some fuckhead Wallaby gives NZ their team talk with some stupid line about choking or whatever. Let the batshit crazy Kiwi public do the psyching out, they're giving it their best shot. Unfortunately the ABs are good enough to not need someone to motivate them, especially if it rains.

I think it comes down to whether or not the team and management can keep their heads screwed on, have a number of plans and contingencies in place and the wherewithall to pick the right one at the right time. I don't think the requisite enthusiasm will be a problem, but if it is we're going down by 20+.

 

[Bullrush]

IMO Kaino is their danger man. He was missed in the TN final like we missed Pocock vs the Irish. He influences the forwards battle the most from the AB's.

We should have a better result in the lineouts this week.

Scrums are likely to favour the Blacks.

Both backlines can defend well and can capitalise on opportunities.

The winner this weekend will be the team that can build sustained pressure for the longest. I would look at all strategies that have this purpose in mind.

I don't see either team being able to resist sustained pressure. Wallabies used their quota last week and the AB's seem spooky and flitty now they are nearing the business end of the campaign.

SSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I've said all year that Kaino in more important to the backrow and the ABs than Read is. Every tackle, every hit and every carry is done with real purpose and impact.....he's my player of the tournament so far....

 

[Athilnaur]

Yeah Kaino is a huge asset. Even with an injured McCaw the AB backrow has an edge on ours, but if our forwards and midfield play like bled2 all bets are off in backrow. How will Read play? He will be at least excellent I'd say, potentially superb, same for Rocky.

Kahui I'll watch with interest. He's a lot like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), but does he have enough speed to capitalise on outside space? Right player tho, SBW for impact later.

My biggest question is how well will Cruden play kicking options? We know he's a great runner. But the ABs are used to relying on the space and time Carter creates, both in attack and defence.

I don't buy into the arguments we have an edge, except psychologically. The kiwis will be under immense pressure. Unlike us, they play percentages rugby always, and the pressure will inevitably take a toll on those percentages.

To combat that they will try to surprise us with their approach. Success in that surprise will breath life into their confidence and accuracy.

Hopefully Robbie has that covered.


Playerwise for me the teams are well matched. Points of difference are their home advantage and tight drills vs our ability to rise to an occasion and Aussie flair.

ABs favourites, but not by a lot. Cooper is the magic question. If he's given an opportunity to play at even 80% kiwis will have some very hard questions coming their way.

Equally if Cruden and Wee pu are superb, we're in for big headaches.

 

[Swat]

Kahui I'll watch with interest. He's a lot like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), but does he have enough speed to capitalise on outside space? Right player tho, SBW for impact later.

I actually rate Kahui, I think his ability to bust tackles more than compensates for any loss of pace. Who's wing is he on? It might be a tough day for JOC (James O'Connor) on defence if Kahui is running at him. That said, Beiber certainly punches above his weight, a clash to watch.

 

[pete88]

I'm not even sure he's that slow to be honest. Not particularly slower than JOC (James O'Connor) or Digby anyway. Guilford's quicker I suppose, but as you say I'd prefer we have to tackle Guilford if we're ahead in the 81st minute by 4 and defending our own goal line.

 

[Joe Mac]

Anyone remember this video?

[video=youtube;9TJb601KIGI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TJb601KIGI&feature=player_embedded#at=37[/video]

If our kicking doesn't improve then the AB's will do to us what the Crusadars have been doing for five years to everyone else.

However, if Deans can the kicking just right (like discussed in the video) we will be in with a shot!

 

[Bowside]

I think we also need to chase the kicks better than we have so far this season.

Someone once said the difference between a good kick and a bad one is who is chasing it.

 

[chasmac]

Athilnaur

Yeah Kaino is a huge asset. Even with an injured McCaw the AB backrow has an edge on ours, but if our forwards and midfield play like bled2 all bets are off in backrow. How will Read play? He will be at least excellent I'd say, potentially superb, same for Rocky.[/B]

My view on Bled 2 was that we were allowed to play well for the first 40.
AB's won the second half 17-5. They took until half time to implement changes that allowed for Kaino being out of the team.

We won't be given an easy first half. Read has been in the press already discussing this issue.

 

[Groucho]

I've posted my views on how we should tackle the game in detail on my blog, so won't go into it here other than to say the obvious, assuming Quade and our forwards rock up, much will depend on how cleverly we attack Nonu and Cruden. Nonu is not the defender many perceive him to be. On attack he's potentially even more lethal outside new Wee pu and a very slippery Cruden.

My personal theory is we try to go outside Smith, inside Nonu and over Cruden.

 

[Groucho]

I really agree with the comments about our kicking strategy. It seemed like the wallabies believed that just kicking the ball up the other end whenever they had it would amount to field position. Obviously that didnt work out. In my view the best field position kicking comes off front foot ball. So, particularly in midfield, it’s better to build some momentum and then roll the ball into the corners, with a good chase boxing the winger/fullback in. It seems like the very best field position kicks come when there’s space on the outside and the 10 or 12 is able to go to the line, draw the defensive wingers up, then kick with the aim of pulling the ball up close to the try line and side line. The aim of all this is to either have them kick it out deep in their own half or pressure their lineout if we kick it out – either a steal, a crooked throw, or a poor clearing kick. I think the Irish and welsh both played this game much better than us over the weekend. And I think we need to stop approaching field position kicking as a negative or somehow defensive tactic. It works best on full attack. It’s also about setting up future attacking opportunities a few moves in advance.

Good post. What you're describing is something that Barnes does very well.

 

[Athilnaur]

Could be right Chasmac, tho my read of the day was that we blindsided them and didn't really let them into the game first half. Yeah they changed to a tight game in the second half, but our forwards had burned a lot of energy in the first 30 getting ascendency. A direct reverse of Bled 1 really.

Either way I'd agree that we aren't going to blow away their back row no matter how well our guys come out of the blocks, not with Kaino, McCaw and Read. But we might gain a bit of an upper hand in key periods.

Both sides will want the first 20. It is gonna be brutal, though maybe not as much as the bok game was.

 

[Groucho]

Well, we're certainly battle-hardened.

 

[da_grubster]

Athilnaur

Yeah Kaino is a huge asset. Even with an injured McCaw the AB backrow has an edge on ours, but if our forwards and midfield play like bled2 all bets are off in backrow. How will Read play? He will be at least excellent I'd say, potentially superb, same for Rocky.[/B]

My view on Bled 2 was that we were allowed to play well for the first 40.
AB's won the second half 17-5. They took until half time to implement changes that allowed for Kaino being out of the team.

We won't be given an easy first half. Read has been in the press already discussing this issue.

I suppose in Bled 2, we were missing Kaino and then read had the ankle injury very quickly with thomson injured and staying on the field (to our detriment as he was too ineffective - see samo's try). No surprise we were owned at the breakdown. Pleased that Kaino, Read & Mccaw have had a game together as the breakdown is looming as the decisive area of the game.

Just to comment on peoples thoughts on the AB performance vs Argie game. I didn't think the Abs were poor more that the argies defended pretty well with huge commitment. we controlled the game and territory pretty well and were never in danger of losing the game event though the scoreboard was close. dont forget we were tring to bed in Slade who was then injured for 20 minutes so we virtually played that period with 14 men trying to get him right before he was replaced. Cruden and weepu were the big plusses that night along with the backrow back together.

Sure we pushed some passes but overall I was pretty happy. Our set peice is looking very solid and lineout is performing at its peak. I think we will go after your set piece this week as the saffa's did. If we can disrupt your ball and limit your ball then it may be too much for the wobs after the heroics of the 1/4 final.

It was the perfect step up in intensity for this week and the game we needed

 

[Dai bando]

:Australia probably don't want to run with the ball incase they knock it on and have to scumage:lmao:.

 

[Joe Mac]

:Australia probably don't want to run with the ball incase they knock it on and have to scumage:lmao:.

While I want to punch you in the face for you saying anything bad about my beloved Wallabies Dai Bando; there is probably a little truth in that comment about our scrum problems. Owen Franks is our biggest threat on the weekend.

 

[Athilnaur]

It was the perfect step up in intensity for this week and the game we needed

Agree Pumas played well, but as you point out kiwis always looked like they'd win. Tho Slade was looking like crap and the Pumas did have a good 20.

If the Kiwis lose tho, I think history will disagree with you Grub and say yet again the build up was too soft.

Victim of your own success really, because you did have a semifinalist in your pool. Problem is the frogs went belly up at 15 mins.

 

[fatprop]

I expect the ABs to play tight and grind us up for big segments of this game, over the last few years Aus has got into quality positions against an expansive ABs;and the ABs have flicked the switch, gone more direct and got home.

Unlike the Boks they will kick their goals and hold the ball - it is going to be bloody tough.