Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
From the SMH today:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/this-is-how-you-beat-the-all-blacks-20100828-13wu3.html
Another mention of Gaggerland in mainstream press!
Former Wallabies coach John Connolly reveals the tactics that will win the Sydney Test for Australia.
Saturday, September 11, is a very important day in Australian rugby history. Australia, after nine consecutive losses to the All Blacks, are staring down the barrel of an unprecedented 10 straight defeats - one of our most humiliating records in more than 100 years of rugby.
A line has to be drawn.
Australia can win this match, but they will have to have a strong technical and tactical approach - the commitment is a given. You obviously need an ounce of luck, too - don't ever underestimate the value of that factor.
New Zealand off the field have a great internal structure to develop their players. They've also got three outstanding coaches and support staff who together develop strategies and tactics for the team, always staying ahead of the game.
When you're playing South Africa, Wales or England, you always have a sense of what to expect because each has a trademark style.
New Zealand, however, is a lot different. They're a bit more off the cuff and have many individual threats, built on some great athletes. But they also play to a structure.
Bob Dwyer's comments last week (on greenandgoldrugby.com) doubting that the Australian coaching staff ''have the perception, knowledge and courage to instruct and correct their 'elite' charges in the fundamentals of the game'' probably has some support from rugby followers. At the end of the Tri Nations there will be a review of the campaign, but it should be independent, not run by the ARU.
What the Kiwis have are three outstanding coaches, all proven international head coaches in their own right. That experience enables them to keep their opponents guessing.
We've seen two wonderful examples of this, one in Tokyo last October and another in the second half of the Christchurch game earlier this month, during which the coaches made clear tactical changes at half-time.
The All Blacks play instinctive rugby, which has been bred into them from a young age. Even though their Super 14 teams play very differently, their national coaches have managed to pull them all together and get them on the same page.
The philosophy is very much that they will play to the style that suits the players, and if you try to match them or imitate, they're comfortable with that. If you score two tries, they'll step it up and score five.
For Australia to get across the line, the game has to be divided into a number sections. Our starter plays - from the scrum, the lineout and the kick-off - have to be in top order.
In the scrum, the All Blacks push up and across and loose-head prop Tony Woodcock's side will always go forward. Australia failed to counter that in Christchurch. It's a technical issue that can be overcome. Since 2003, the scrum has been Australia's Achilles heel. The eye was taken off the ball at Super level. It's an area where we have improved but we want parity - and we'll accept parity against the Blacks and win the game in other areas.
The lineout - it's been our strength. Whenever the great teams of Australia have performed well, the lineout has been solid.
Hopefully this can be a weapon for us.
Against the All Blacks, we have to defend the middle and the back and be comfortable enough that if they win the ball at No.2, we can either sack it or drive them into the sideline. And even if they win the ball at No.2 you know they can't go wide because our back-rowers will be free to compete at the next breakdown.
This also has the advantage of taking Richie McCaw out of play at the first breakdown.
The lineout is an area in which I believe we can put tremendous pressure on them. We haven't done so in the last couple of Tests and it's something that has to be addressed.
The kick-offs - that's an area of major concern, as was the case in the game in Australia when we were firmly beaten. It improved in Christchurch, but it's an area that needs attention. Again, that's a coaching organisational issue.
The breakdown and the rolling mauls are huge weapons in the game. The maul is not only an attacking weapon, but it also commits the defence, potentially opening up the game for the backs. Used sparingly and with nous, we can make the most of this tactic.
Australia has to decide whether we use the English form of the driving maul, the French form where they split or the style we use in Australia, the roll. It's an area we haven't touched on too much this year and it's an area in which the All Blacks don't defend very effectively. It could be a huge plus if done properly. Again, that's a technical aspect.
At the breakdown, we saw a complete change in the All Blacks' strategy at Christchurch: they didn't compete at the breakdown in the second half. They were happy enough to put one or two in and put players across the field, back their defence and play field position.
I expect them this time to be a lot more competitive and work the breakdown very hard. It's an area in which Australia can't afford to over-commit. They have to be selective when they go in and can't fight over lost causes, which is something they've done in the past few Tests against the All Blacks. This is another major battleground for Australia.
The general-play attack was the big minus in the last game. The predictability, not using Will Genia to play off, with one pass from Matt Giteau into the midfield - a strategy we maintained for the whole game - became easy to defend against.
We need far more variation and have to be able to play off No.9 and No.s 10 and 12, or decide to go wide.
Genia has not been used effectively in the past two Tests because he has not had support runners around him. There needs to be more emphasis on trying to break the advantage line through footwork and running the correct lines. At the moment we're easy pickings for the defence.
Our defensive focus against the All Blacks has to be ''stop it at the source''. This puts a line in the sand for the defence and allows us to get organised.
They have many threats and are able to get momentum too easily.
There's no doubt that playing the All Blacks, you pay for your mistakes. You tend to lose games, not win them. But you have to take a very positive approach to the game. They will prey off your mistakes with all their brilliant individuals. They're the team to beat at the moment.
At least for the Wallabies' sake, there won't be any Dan Carter this time. But don't underestimate Aaron Cruden, he's a real attacking threat.
If we tick all the boxes, Australia are in with a very real chance.
Go the Knuckles: Connolly's top tips
THE SCRUM
It has improved but we need to get even better to achieve parity against the All Blacks. If we can hold our own here, we can win the game elsewhere.
THE LINEOUT
The Wallabies' traditional area of strength. This is where we must attack the All Blacks. Contest hard and force them to throw to No.2.
THE KICK-OFF
Much, much better in Christchurch compared to the Melbourne Test, but there is more room for improvement. Must be wary of the All Blacks mixing it up.
THE ROLLING MAUL
Vastly under-used so far. Very difficult to stop when implemented properly. Should be a weapon.
THE BREAKDOWN
A major battleground. The All Blacks will attack this area in Sydney and we must be selective when to join and when to hold back.
THE GENIA FACTOR
The halfback can only be effective if he has options. We must provide him with a number of runners.
BASH THEM IN DEFENCE
If the All Blacks start getting over the advantage line, they have the threats to cause mayhem.
HIS TEAM TO FACE NZ
15 Kurtley Beale
14 James O'Connor
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper
12 Matt Giteau
11 Drew Mitchell
10 Quade Cooper
9 Will Genia
8 Rocky Elsom
7 David Pocock
6 Dean Mumm
5 Nathan Sharpe
4 Mark Chisholm
3 Salesi Ma'afu
2 Stephen Moore
1 Benn Robinson
Reserves: Phil Waugh, Saia Fainga'a, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/this-is-how-you-beat-the-all-blacks-20100828-13wu3.html
Another mention of Gaggerland in mainstream press!
Former Wallabies coach John Connolly reveals the tactics that will win the Sydney Test for Australia.
Saturday, September 11, is a very important day in Australian rugby history. Australia, after nine consecutive losses to the All Blacks, are staring down the barrel of an unprecedented 10 straight defeats - one of our most humiliating records in more than 100 years of rugby.
A line has to be drawn.
Australia can win this match, but they will have to have a strong technical and tactical approach - the commitment is a given. You obviously need an ounce of luck, too - don't ever underestimate the value of that factor.
New Zealand off the field have a great internal structure to develop their players. They've also got three outstanding coaches and support staff who together develop strategies and tactics for the team, always staying ahead of the game.
When you're playing South Africa, Wales or England, you always have a sense of what to expect because each has a trademark style.
New Zealand, however, is a lot different. They're a bit more off the cuff and have many individual threats, built on some great athletes. But they also play to a structure.
Bob Dwyer's comments last week (on greenandgoldrugby.com) doubting that the Australian coaching staff ''have the perception, knowledge and courage to instruct and correct their 'elite' charges in the fundamentals of the game'' probably has some support from rugby followers. At the end of the Tri Nations there will be a review of the campaign, but it should be independent, not run by the ARU.
What the Kiwis have are three outstanding coaches, all proven international head coaches in their own right. That experience enables them to keep their opponents guessing.
We've seen two wonderful examples of this, one in Tokyo last October and another in the second half of the Christchurch game earlier this month, during which the coaches made clear tactical changes at half-time.
The All Blacks play instinctive rugby, which has been bred into them from a young age. Even though their Super 14 teams play very differently, their national coaches have managed to pull them all together and get them on the same page.
The philosophy is very much that they will play to the style that suits the players, and if you try to match them or imitate, they're comfortable with that. If you score two tries, they'll step it up and score five.
For Australia to get across the line, the game has to be divided into a number sections. Our starter plays - from the scrum, the lineout and the kick-off - have to be in top order.
In the scrum, the All Blacks push up and across and loose-head prop Tony Woodcock's side will always go forward. Australia failed to counter that in Christchurch. It's a technical issue that can be overcome. Since 2003, the scrum has been Australia's Achilles heel. The eye was taken off the ball at Super level. It's an area where we have improved but we want parity - and we'll accept parity against the Blacks and win the game in other areas.
The lineout - it's been our strength. Whenever the great teams of Australia have performed well, the lineout has been solid.
Hopefully this can be a weapon for us.
Against the All Blacks, we have to defend the middle and the back and be comfortable enough that if they win the ball at No.2, we can either sack it or drive them into the sideline. And even if they win the ball at No.2 you know they can't go wide because our back-rowers will be free to compete at the next breakdown.
This also has the advantage of taking Richie McCaw out of play at the first breakdown.
The lineout is an area in which I believe we can put tremendous pressure on them. We haven't done so in the last couple of Tests and it's something that has to be addressed.
The kick-offs - that's an area of major concern, as was the case in the game in Australia when we were firmly beaten. It improved in Christchurch, but it's an area that needs attention. Again, that's a coaching organisational issue.
The breakdown and the rolling mauls are huge weapons in the game. The maul is not only an attacking weapon, but it also commits the defence, potentially opening up the game for the backs. Used sparingly and with nous, we can make the most of this tactic.
Australia has to decide whether we use the English form of the driving maul, the French form where they split or the style we use in Australia, the roll. It's an area we haven't touched on too much this year and it's an area in which the All Blacks don't defend very effectively. It could be a huge plus if done properly. Again, that's a technical aspect.
At the breakdown, we saw a complete change in the All Blacks' strategy at Christchurch: they didn't compete at the breakdown in the second half. They were happy enough to put one or two in and put players across the field, back their defence and play field position.
I expect them this time to be a lot more competitive and work the breakdown very hard. It's an area in which Australia can't afford to over-commit. They have to be selective when they go in and can't fight over lost causes, which is something they've done in the past few Tests against the All Blacks. This is another major battleground for Australia.
The general-play attack was the big minus in the last game. The predictability, not using Will Genia to play off, with one pass from Matt Giteau into the midfield - a strategy we maintained for the whole game - became easy to defend against.
We need far more variation and have to be able to play off No.9 and No.s 10 and 12, or decide to go wide.
Genia has not been used effectively in the past two Tests because he has not had support runners around him. There needs to be more emphasis on trying to break the advantage line through footwork and running the correct lines. At the moment we're easy pickings for the defence.
Our defensive focus against the All Blacks has to be ''stop it at the source''. This puts a line in the sand for the defence and allows us to get organised.
They have many threats and are able to get momentum too easily.
There's no doubt that playing the All Blacks, you pay for your mistakes. You tend to lose games, not win them. But you have to take a very positive approach to the game. They will prey off your mistakes with all their brilliant individuals. They're the team to beat at the moment.
At least for the Wallabies' sake, there won't be any Dan Carter this time. But don't underestimate Aaron Cruden, he's a real attacking threat.
If we tick all the boxes, Australia are in with a very real chance.
Go the Knuckles: Connolly's top tips
THE SCRUM
It has improved but we need to get even better to achieve parity against the All Blacks. If we can hold our own here, we can win the game elsewhere.
THE LINEOUT
The Wallabies' traditional area of strength. This is where we must attack the All Blacks. Contest hard and force them to throw to No.2.
THE KICK-OFF
Much, much better in Christchurch compared to the Melbourne Test, but there is more room for improvement. Must be wary of the All Blacks mixing it up.
THE ROLLING MAUL
Vastly under-used so far. Very difficult to stop when implemented properly. Should be a weapon.
THE BREAKDOWN
A major battleground. The All Blacks will attack this area in Sydney and we must be selective when to join and when to hold back.
THE GENIA FACTOR
The halfback can only be effective if he has options. We must provide him with a number of runners.
BASH THEM IN DEFENCE
If the All Blacks start getting over the advantage line, they have the threats to cause mayhem.
HIS TEAM TO FACE NZ
15 Kurtley Beale
14 James O'Connor
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper
12 Matt Giteau
11 Drew Mitchell
10 Quade Cooper
9 Will Genia
8 Rocky Elsom
7 David Pocock
6 Dean Mumm
5 Nathan Sharpe
4 Mark Chisholm
3 Salesi Ma'afu
2 Stephen Moore
1 Benn Robinson
Reserves: Phil Waugh, Saia Fainga'a, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes
