A couple of weeks back, Jamie Joseph, ex-All Black and the Highlanders’ first-year coach, was quoted as belittling the Australian Super Rugby teams: ‘they’re like schoolboy games’ compared to those featuring South African and, of course, New Zealand teams. He is a new boy at this level of coaching, but he will do well to remember the lesson. His team also suffered from a lack of respect for their lower-placed opponents and the Force punished them with a dominant last quarter performance.
With the intensity of the Highlanders defence falling well below that required at this level, the visitors scored two tries through David Smith, who was also called back on two other occasions for forward passes. One of these was a poor call – I think from the touchline assistant, Vinny Munro – and Smith should have had his third.
The Force have had their moments this season and could, with a little more luck, have been two or three spots higher up the table. They played some quality rugby in this match, especially in their dominant fourth quarter, and showed just what can evolve from a focus on dominance at the tackle contest and genuine urgency in the recycle. This gave them opportunity for options around the tackle and put pressure on the Highlanders defence.
Unfortunately for the Dunedin faithful, their team were not able to respond. James Stannard, out of position at fly-half, relished the steady supply of front-foot ball, and consistently beat the first – and sometimes second and third – line of defence. Stannard has genuine ball-carrying skills and was a dominant figure for the second week in a row.
As usual with the Force, all of their players contributed, but again their all-Wallaby back-row of Hodgson, Pocock, McCalman and Brown, off the bench, were stand-outs.
The Waratahs desperately needed a win in Pretoria – not the easiest of tasks against a resurgent Bulls team – and they will rue the ridiculous report from the referee’s assistant, which made their continued fightback almost impossible. But in reality, their lack of quality execution continues to undermine the qualities that are innate in this team. They have real spirit and genuine courage and, given the total lack of technique in the execution of the fundamentals tasks of the game, they survive on those qualities.
Their passing skills are abominable. I could choose numerous examples, but one, in particular, stands out. From one lineout win, Alcock’s pass to his back-line bounced along the ground, was picked up by a mid-field team mate and his pass also went along the ground, to be fielded by the Bulls’ winger!
In another example, from an attacking position 5 metres from the Bulls’ line, their clearing pass was delivered a good five or six metres behind the intended receiver and continued to bounce further and further behind. It was finally fielded about 20 metres behind the original pass, by a Bulls player—and that phase ended with the Waratahs throwing into a defending 5 metre lineout!
Their pre-occupation with width indicates a lack of knowledge of the attacking game. A good, long look at the Force’s last quarter would be an appropriate education. In the first 25 minutes of the game they were forced into touch three times, and this trend continued. Cross-field running and ridiculous long passes serve no purpose whatsoever for the attacking team; the defenders, on the other hand, just love them.
To some degree, the game’s commentators encourage the pursuit of width and, I fear, this gives impressionable young players entirely the wrong idea. Width, in itself, has no value – remember the old adage that, in defence, ‘the touchline is your best friend’. Attack is about attracting, and limiting the line of, defenders – and then moving the ball into the unguarded spaces. That’s all! Sometimes, desirable width can then be realised, with a succession of shorter, controlled passes. More frequently, the smaller gaps that are forced through the middle are the more likely to deliver points.
Their support play is also way below standard. In the 20th minute, TPN made one searing break just off the edge of the tackle and came to the last line of defence with NO support. Those closest to him in the attack line were busy assembling the next phase! All of the good defence coaches talk constantly about how ‘the ball is the threat’, and they continue with their demands that defenders ‘do not over-read’ the play.
They are asking for a focus on the ball, the ball-carrier and those support players around him. The ball is king! So it is with attack – with the opportunity lying in and around the ball-carrier, and the attacking team’s prime aim must be to support him. Never mind the next phase. In fact we don’t want a next phase; we want to continue with this one and score.
If the Waratahs’ technique and execution were of the same standard as their innate ability and commitment, they would have won this game – and a few others. Kurtley Beale was fantastic and deserved a better outcome.
No such problem with the reborn Brumbies! No over-reads in attack for them. They focussed on the ball and attacked the tackle contest with a passion. (I wonder what Jamie Joseph thought of this ‘schoolboys’ match’.) They threw their much-vaunted opponents completely off their stride and, no matter how the Reds tried, they could not find their way back.
The Reds had underestimated the Brumbies’ pride and commitment and, as evidence of this, they were well under-represented at the tackle contest. Their execution was consistently inaccurate, with sloppy off-loads under pressure and poor support play. I winced as I saw potential support players standing in front of the play, not willing to make the minimal effort to realign and make themselves genuine options.
It’s true for all that ‘pride cometh before a fall’. If you don’t give your opponent respect, he may just remind you of that!
