Wallabies Fightback - Part 1

[Scott Allen]

It's time for a fightback - Robbie Deans has conceded the Wallabies can't be number one in the world and I don't think that is the case - read the article at http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/wallabies-its-time-for-a-fightback/

 

[louie]

IF the coach is conceding that the goal can't be reached then he needs to be sacked. Belief is what we need.

 

[What2040]

sick of belief wanna see some Can Do

 

[Roundawhile]

As always, a brilliant article.

Thanks Scott

 

[tranquility]

Could you please make a video for beginner explaining the ruck contest? I think it would be a fantastic tool for educating new rugby supporters... Cheers

 

[Hairy Test Eagle]

What Robbie Deans said in the article paints a pretty good picture of the attitude I saw in Saturday night's match. We defiantly need a new coach and it's a pity that Ewen McKenzie can't take the job at the moment due to his commitments with the Reds.

 

[It is what it is]

Some might call Deans comments reality but professional sports are also played between the ears.
He has effectively provided his whole Wallaby squad with a cop out for future losses against NZ.
At a later date are we to expect he'll somehow come out and declare "Yes, we are now ready to beat NZ" or do we just assume he'll leave the players and us fans in the dark?
It's the last thing the players needed to hear from their coach.

 

[mark_s]

Good article Scott (as always). Can't blame the AB forward dominance for the poor execution by the aus backline in those clips.

 

[liquor box]

It's time for a fightback - Robbie Deans has conceded the Wallabies can't be number one in the world and I don't think that is the case - read the article at http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/wallabies-its-time-for-a-fightback/

But sometimes you just cant be number one in the world, If Australia regularly played against Asian opponants then they would have the same attitude. The All Blacks are in a class of their own. While they have their current players and we have ours I cant see this changing in the near future. Until a new generation of players come along the dominance of NZ will continue.

That being said, a coach should be fired for admitting this in public

 

[Hugh Jarse]

This could probably go in several threads, the Bled 2 thread, the ARU/Deand rant thread or here.

In the act of discussion the weekends game with an ex-Sheep Shagger (SS) at work, the lack of Wobs attack was discussed.

SS said it wasn't so long ago that they were sh*t scared whenever the Men in Gold got the ball in the last 10 minutes of tests if the Darkness didn't have a lead of greater than 10 points. If the lead was only 3 points or less then they were almost apoplectic knowing that the Wobs would close it out on or near the siren with a Willie O try or John Eales PK or the like.

It seems that, and IIRC he is right, the Men in Gold always managed to do something in the last 10 minutes to either go bloody close or win the game.

SS said that he and his fellow Darknessers are no longer fearful of the Men in Gold in the last 10 minutes and their ability to close out a match. I said what about Brissie last year. His response - "Meh, yes we lost that one, but there still wasn't the old fear factor whenever the Men in Gold got the ball like we used to have".

In the eyes of many Darknessers ( and probably Wobs supporters as well), the Wobs are the goat staked in the middle of the jungle clearing rather than the tiger. Bait rather than predator.

The Wobs have lost their Mojo, and need to find it otherwise they will remain Darkness roadkill.

Anyone finding it should return it to St Leonards for a very handsome reward.

 

[fatprop]

It's time for a fightback - Robbie Deans has conceded the Wallabies can't be number one in the world and I don't think that is the case - read the article at http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/wallabies-its-time-for-a-fightback/

If you look at the Crusaders backline structure, which is what Deans was always going to try to emulate, it has always been about great skills executed simply. Catch and pass to someone in a better position, while working working really hard to give the ball carrier someone to pass to in that better position. It is a very fluid approach that relies on good skills and effort.

The Wobs have rarely been able meet that goal. Those clips show that approach, but the execution was horrendous (shit passes everywhere under pressure) with the support work off the ball dire. Guys like Beale cut his teeth on reading play well and supporting the ball carrier by running good lines from depth - but he hasn't done that this year.

The answer? dunno.

New coach would fix it? dunno, I actually have my doubts, but a more structured approach may improve execution, and that could help.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Great article and video analysis, as ever.
The point where Mitchell gets the ball with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Digby outside him is disturbing. Mitchell had plenty of time to pass and there was no pressure on either AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) or Digby - in fact there was actually some room.
But Mitchell looked frozen you can almost see him thinking I know what I've go to do but I cant do it.
That speaks of a lack of confidence to me: Mitchell has had a shocking trot, there's no doubt.
But it makes me wonder what analysis is being done as to the mental space some of these guys are in.

 

[Scarfman]

OK, but fp, when you've got guys kicking the ball away randomly and no-one chasing, you've got to wonder whether they are just stupid and can't understand simple instructions, or whether those instructions are coming out garbled.

 

[fatprop]

OK, but fp, when you've got guys kicking the ball away randomly and no-one chasing, you've got to wonder whether they are just stupid and can't understand simple instructions, or whether those instructions are coming out garbled.

That is the big question.

A bit of both I think. They started out with pick and drives (and looked promising) a couple of failures/penalties and it was given up on. Then it was lets try some random options under pressure with no coherence

Lack of confidence in eachother and lack of a work ethic seems to be the issue to me.

Coach driven? maybe, but he doesn't get off the ground and walk to the next ruck, and he doesn't chase the kicks and/or create support options for the ball carrier on kick return.