Well, well, well three holes in the ground usually containing water. A new head coach, a new coaching team, a different competition, and yet our Wallabies still suck. Noting all the commentary on the site post the game, there seemed to be a central theme. The coaching team has changed, but players remain the same, and therein lies the problem.
The Super Pacific Rugby Season highlighted a lot of our player’s inadequacies, and at the international level, these just get magnified. So let’s take a look at a few key areas to discuss before we move on to the other game of the weekend.
Well done Bokkes
Firstly a hearty congratulations to our South African opponents. A lot of people, including me, thought they were putting up a bit of a ‘B’ side, and that was something perhaps we Wobs fans could take confidence in! Alas not so! They were simply too good. Their forwards were brutal, clinical, and overwhelming. Bravo I say!
Our Pack
There is no way to hide it but our pack was severely outmuscled. Beaten up! Brutalized!
And until Tupou and Bell are available we don’t have many other options. Until our next generation is fed up on Biltong and Boerewors from babies we are simply going to have to adjust our game plan accordingly, but more about our game plan later. Our breakdown work was rarely effective, and we conceded too many turnovers. On numerous occasions, our players were isolated, and arriving cattle were simply unable to dislodge the man mountain Saffa’s that had positioned themselves over the pill.
Leadership
Well, our captaincy has remained the same, and our on-field discipline and failure to adapt have as well. Two cheeses are not a good start to the Eddie era. Although some may question the veracity of both, the fact remains we got pinged. Not only were there lots of dairy on display, but two penalty tries to boot. The onfield leadership didn’t seem able to rectify this on the fly, and I am convinced that the players just think that they are getting the rough end of the pineapple from BOK. But the fact is they haven’t adjusted, and the Wallabies still continue to look like an ill-disciplined side.
In addition to this, it was fundamentally evident that the game plan wasn’t working after about 10 minutes. The captains need to have the smarts to re-adjust and get the game orientated to playing what’s in front of them. This has always been a complaint about Hooper, and I think new leadership is needed. Because with no change, will come no change.
Discipline
As mentioned above, our discipline yet again was poor. Two yellows, and a very lopsided penalty count. When we infringed, we did so in bad locations that generally piggybacked the Dutch Dirt Farmers down inside our 22. We have to kill this trait off before the RWC.
Skills
Our skills and players’ abilities haven’t improved. Dropped balls, inaccurate cleanouts, crap line-out throwing, forward passes, and the list goes on and on. But none of this was a surprise to any of the pundits watching. this has been evident for years. Gee, what we would give for a hooker that can throw straight. Gee, you have one primary role, and if you can’t do that why are you there?
The Wallabies’ defensive structure and the ability for players to complete first-up tackles went to crap in Pretoria. Too many times the Boks were able to slip off first tacklers to enable the good old ’round the back’ maneuver to be executed ensuring the Boks were able to keep the ball moving forward and ensuring that the Wallabies were always back peddling. The defensive structure will have to be examined post-game to discover the key breakdowns of this plan. But low and behold they need to sort it out and quickly.
Game Plan
Our game plan appeared very disjointed, well either that or our inability to execute any facet of it made it appear that way. Nic White kicking predominately from 9 at first phase disjointed our backline from being able to generate play. Whether this is combinations not gelling, lack of understanding of the plan, or just a bad game plan remains unknown. But I am sure this will become evident in short order.
Selection Changes?
With the above-mentioned points about our game plan, it is really hard to know where to adjust selections. However, I would consider the following. Matt Faessler is to start at 2. We need a Hooker that can at least hit the barn door. the others couldn’t hit the broad side of the barn with a blunderbuss at this stage. We need to potentially start Tate McDermott, A. to not kick off the first phase, and B. have a faster running game to break the gainline and get us some front foot ball against the Pumas. Skelton wasn’t up to speed, and we definitely need two jumping locks in the next game. With a non-jumping lock, our back row was unbalanced.
Anyway, enough of that undignified performance. Feel free to have at it in the comments below.
All Blacks vs Argentina
An interesting game to watch in many regards. Firstly, the Kiwi team got off to a very shaky start with DMac getting charged down in the in-goal area. With what was only a millimetre away from being a try within the first minute, the Kiwis re-gathered and got on with the job. with three Barretts on the field, it really was a family affair with a nice try coming off some brotherly play. DMac’s kicking off the tee looked wonky at first, missing his first two attempts, but he adjusted to the conditions and got the job done.
The Argies certainly looked better in the second half making some good headway, but this really was our friends across the ditch’s game. I am not 100% sure that Foster yet knows what his best combinations are. But like all four teams’ coaches in the TRC, he will be experimenting and testing, and adjusting leading up to the Bill.
Hope you all enjoyed Mad Monday and BL’s ramblings. Have at it.
BL out!
