Wallabies 2012 Championship Squad

[wamberal]

So what type of tactics can we use in the forwards to get front foot ball?

Prayer?


I don't think it's a tactical question. I think it is a question of picking the best 8, and having them play absolutely out of their skins for 60 or 70 minutes, then ditto for the bench players as they come on. The ABs are beatable. They know they are beatable. We have to believe, and work very hard, pushing ourselves to the limits. That's what they do.

 

[Braveheart81]

Putting pressure on the ABs from the start is critical.

If you get behind against the All Blacks it is very hard to ever come back. If you stay competitive, get some early points and put them off their game, anything can happen.

The second and third tests against Ireland are cases in point of this. Stay in the game and anything can happen. Concede early points and you're likely to get smashed.

 

[Scotty]

If you're correct TOCC and we have limited clean ball on the front foot, our backline won't be able to function.

Genia's running game will be nullified and the defensive line will be moving forward pressuring our #10.

If it's Barnes at #10 working off back foot ball, he'll drop back into the pocket and kick, whereas if it's Cooper at #10 working off back foot ball he won't be able to use his flat, long pass to set up wide opportunities.

Either way the outside backs won't get many opportunities.

So what type of tactics can we use in the forwards to get front foot ball?

First stop for me would be to improve our fitness levels. Any tactics we come up with won't matter unless we can execute them for 80 minutes. At the moment the majority of our forwards only have a good 40-50 in them.

I would then be looking at the multiple close runner game that Genia employs so well at the Reds. When he has two runners to choose from he inevitably picks the correct one, and that one is able to get over the gain line as he is not double teamed by defenders. He also commits the closest defender to the ruck when he takes a step or two (they are generally worried about his running game).

I want to see our forwards running off Genia, not in a big pod 10m from the ruck and 3-4m back.

Later in the game it would be worth seeing how a faster combination goes. Bring on Hooper, move Pocock to 6 and Dennis to lock. Play a slightly wider game through our centres and use the additional mobility to secure faster ball.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...ian+|+Sport)&utm_content=Google+International

Deans trying to turn Gill into a 6 maybe.

 

[wamberal]

I think the only big tactical question for the forwards is how aggressively we choose to attack the breakdown, how often we try to flood it. If Pocock can establish dominance, that will be pretty good. Another factor is for us to avoid the Kiwi tricks, like the off-side sentinels, and all the little off-ball incidents that they are so bloody good at.

Restarts are another area that we need to get smarter, as well as more committed.

 

[Braveheart81]

It's a pretty good idea.

If you're going to play a 4/3 bench split, you really need versatility out of that backrower reserve. Even if you end up with 5/2, having a 6/7 gives you an opportunity to play a specialist 8 (i.e. someone of the Fotu Aeulea mold).

 

[Scotty]

It's a pretty good idea.

If you're going to play a 4/3 bench split, you really need versatility out of that backrower reserve. Even if you end up with 5/2, having a 6/7 gives you an opportunity to play a specialist 8 (i.e. someone of the Fotu Aeulea mold).

Yeah, but surely Hooper is closer to 6 at the moment than Gill?

 

[Scotty]

Ha. Just saw that I share the same birthday as Liam Gill.



Except mine was 16 years earlier!

 

[Braveheart81]

I guess so. It's much of a muchness really. They're both pretty much the same height and weight from the stats I can find.

Their style of play as a fetcher isn't overly different.

 

[fatprop]

Yeah, but surely Hooper is closer to 6 at the moment than Gill?

It may be more about giving Gill a chance off the bench initially. We don't want to carry a bench forward that can only play one position

I don't think Hooper has played as a 7 yet in a test

 

[No4918]

It may be more about giving Gill a chance off the bench initially. We don't want to carry a bench forward that can only play one position

Of Schatz, Gill and Hooper i'd have thought Schatz the more versatile at the moment. Also a better lineout option.

If Barnes is 10 i'd like to see Schatz on the bench. If a Cooper/Barnes partnership one of Hooper or Gill would probably suit.

 

[fatprop]

Of Schatz, Gill and Hooper i'd have thought Schatz the more versatile at the moment. Also a better lineout option.

If Barnes is 10 i'd like to see Schatz on the bench. If a Cooper/Barnes partnership one of Hooper or Gill would probably suit.

but that doesn't give Gill any game time, which I think is the point

 

[wamberal]

Pocock to 8, Gill to 7? Although I would prefer Hooper at 7 over Gill.

 

[Richo]

More likely Dennis to the bench, Gill to 6.

 

[What2040]

Jeez if we cannot fit a player in the side IN HIS POSITION because someone else is better - so be it (Pocock and Gill) The no. 2 player is screwed until he tips the other bloke out

 

[Richo]

Palu's injury is a factor here, IMO. If he wasn't hurt, we'd be looking at Dennis off the bench as loosie / lock cover.

 

[Hawko]

Against NZ we would be better off with a 5:2 split on the bench so we can make sure we can bring on fresh forwards. We need the pack working as though every starter is going to get 50 minutes so we can increase the intensity of our effort. Strangely for a NZ team, some of their weaknesses are in the forwards (depending on who is available and who they select). But the only way for us to take advantage of that with the potential forwards we can select is for us to play out of our skins and at the sort of intensity that NZ brought to the WC semi. So, IMO, 5 forwards is a requirement.

That leaves two backs on the bench, one of whom has to be White to cover for Genia. So the backs selection has to incorporate the fact that we will have only one cover for 10 to 15. Fortunately our backs are reasonably flexible: Beale covers 10/15, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) covers 11/13/14/15, Ioane covers 13, Barnes covers 10/12 and Fainga'a 12/13. So, if the rumours are true that the backline will be Barnes, Ioane, Fainga'a, Horne, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Beale, then who is best for the last bench back? Deans has indicated that he wants Barnes at 10 and "the lady's not for changing". So having Cooper on the bench, which would mean that Barnes would have to move one out may not be the desired choice in his mind. Therefore, White and Mitchell might be the surprise pairing.

 

[Ruggo]

I would like to see us use a pick and drive game more.

 

[tigerland12]

Anyone who thinks Gill or Shatz will be thrown onto the bench for their debuts against THE FREAKIN ALL BLACKS is off their nutter. It will be Hooper or Samo or both on the bench, simple as that.

 

[biggsy]

I would like to see us use a pick and drive game more.

What and play rugby. Not under Deans..