Welcome to this week’s Tuesdays Top 5 with Scott Sio scoring his maiden try, Aussie rugby seeking gardening advice, we ask the question what makes a fruit loop a fruit loop, and some brilliant NRC games as usual.
The Wallabies
Well that’s another one in the records book and as usual the less said the better. It’s sad times when the “discussion” post-game ends up being a repeat of the pre-game discussion.
But glass half full and all that, (we will get to the psychology further on); Scott Sio managed to bag his maiden test try and the only try of the game. In what was a slick and well-constructed backline move that required quick hands and a slick well directed pass by Kepu, who seeing the space, drew a defender and then put Sio, who on a good running line, stepped off his right foot cutting back inside and running through a hole and beating the defenders to dot it down over the line (who needs backs right!).
Sio and Kepu will need to be cautious should they find themselves in a similar situation in future. They will need to avoid a repeat demonstration of skills similar or akin to the likes of Dane Coles or any Kiwi front rower for that matter, which Aussie rugby player are not supposed to have. It’s simply not the “Aussie way”!
Check out the “highlight” from the game:
Next stop is Twickenham against the Pumas and a real “banana skin” game for the Wallabies and a must win of they want to finish second in the RC. If the Pumas spring a massive upset it could see the Wallabies left holding the RC wooden spoon.
Reap what you sow – it turns out its weeds
So while the Wallabies are faltering the NRC is going gang busters. Many fans are turning to watch this new style of rugby, with plenty of tries and something which we all thought was non –existent in Australian rugby … skills such as passing, offloading and attacking rugby.
But behind all of this excitement there is something a little darker lurking. Yes, the NRC is entertaining to watch and there are some wonderful examples of attacking rugby. I mean so far in 24 matches there have been 229 tries scored. That’s 14 more tries than the 5 Australian teams combined scored in the entire Super Rugby season. Impressive, right?
But in this quest for try scoring, running, entertaining rugby it’s starting to look like an important element of the game is being overlooked. You see out of those 229 tries that have been scored, only 125 have been successfully converted. That comes out at 54%. Let me say that again … 54%. That is a very poor percentage in anyone’s books.
But this is the NRC and kicking doesn’t matter, does it. Isn’t that why they changed the scoring system so that tries are worth more and penalty kicks worth less (note there have been a grand total of ZERO penalty shots taken this season)? And on the surface it looks as though those missed conversions aren’t actually affecting the outcome of the matches.
So is goal kicking now being devalued as a result? In many Wallaby losses this year the difference has been goal kicking. No, winning with penalties isn’t the so-called “Australian way” of playing, but it is still winning! Goal kicking is an important skill as shown by the English, All Blacks, South Africans and even the Pumas. In years gone by the Wallabies have won both the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup off the back of penalty goals. Who can forget the heartbreak of losing the World Cup to England when Jonny Wilkinson kicked a drop goal? Not to mention Foley winning the Super Rugby title for the Waratahs with a penalty.
We have some decent kickers available at the top level now, but in a few years those goal kickers will (hopefully) be the younger guys coming up through the NRC. Those same players whose missed kicks have little impact on results. But it is more than that, the decision about when to go for the line and when to go for goal is a high pressure decision, usually needing to be made at crucial times in the game. Players in the NRC don’t really need to even make the decision, it’s a no brainer to go for the try.
So at the next World Cup or even beyond (I mean let’s face it, Foley will probably still be goal kicker for the Wallabies in 3 years) will goal kicking still be our self-induced downfall as a result of our quest to play entertaining, try scoring rugby?
(Stats courtesy of rugby.com.au)
Fruit Loops
It’s odd. When you stop and start thinking about the comments coming from the Wallabies and the behaviours it’s just simply odd. Psychologically there is something very wrong with our national team both on and off the field.
It’s hard to fathom how an international coach is so blasé and dismissive of another loss from his team. The post-game comments after a loss always seem to contain the same elements; we were in the game, poor choices, didn’t take options or execute, happy with the effort, if only and as usual the referee. This is usually served up on a platform of crafted pre-game comments that serve as a pre-prepared platform should things not work out. “Committed to the Aussie way” was this week’s platform. What does it mean? Well nothing really, but it give you the sense that it does and there is a plan behind the chaos.
Is losing acceptable? Where is the bar set? Should we be tolerant and accepting of the mediocrity?
But it runs deeper than that and it’s contagious. Take for example the last two debutants. Both Coleman and Robertson both were warned within minutes of getting on the field for fundamentally being over aggressive. Before the outrage sets in, just consider that these are professional sportsman on an international stage – the top flight of rugby and we are talking behaviour issues in a matter of minutes.
But then there are even more bizarre comments. We all know about the “defence is easy to fix” and the “we can win any day” hyperbole but it’s becoming increasingly questionable:
“Ten metres out from the line, not getting frantic, having a real good idea of how we’ve got to get over the line is the improvement we can make.”
What? This is an international team we are talking about right? They don’t have a good idea about what they should be doing and don’t know how to keep composed?
But stop. It goes even deeper. So let have a quick look at Gitueau’s Law. It yielded nothing beyond the RWC but further expense to an already financially struggling ARU in the cost of importing players who have not been needed. With the exception of Genia who justifies selection on pure form and Giteau’s misfortune, no other 60 capper has been needed. Ironically, those who have stepped up to fill the void are the locally based players. But the irony doesn’t stop there. Most of the “tempted back” like the Mumm’s, Douglas and Naiyaravoro certainly haven’t been the saviours they were touted to be.
But why call back players when the ability to play a particular position, or be a specialist in a position is no longer required. Have a look at the selection policy. ”We can play 12 at 10, 10 at 12, fullback on the wings, centres on the wings, we don’t usually select any “wingers”, props are interchangeable – just pick a side, locks are disposable – you get a new one each game, we play a world class 7 at 8, an 8 at 6 etc etc, we compromise to accommodate players, and play out of form players on reputation.
There is something very wrong with the psychology of the Wallabies and the highest level of our game.
Two wise men have shared the following wisdom with me this week and their words hold a lot of merit and are worth considering as they may be prophesying the future issues of our game:
“Aussie rugby should not compromise in making sure we develop Aussie players in specialist positions”.
“A fish rots from the head down”.
One comment I keep seeing that seems to sum up the current Wallabies for me: “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time”.
Who saw those upsets coming? (NICK WASILIEV)
Well, that was a surprising week. Just when I thought I could predict the NRC, Queensland came out of nowhere and beat table-toppers NSW Country to grab country bragging rights for the first time ever (I can hear RugbyReg breathing a sigh of relief: Finally, a Queensland team won!). While neither Queensland team can make the finals, that takes nothing away from what QLD Country achieved on the weekend. They are a team chock full of talent, and while that talent has seriously misfired most of this season, Kepu, Thorn and company showed what the team was capable of down in Toowoomba.
QLD Country vs NSW Country
But QLD Country’s victory has more of an impact than what many may believe. Suddenly, the aura of invincibility has been lifted from the Eagles, who now only lead the red-hot Rays by a solitary point. Considering how the Eagles have been the pace-setters of the competition for much of the regular season, there is a serious possibility (if the Rays win down in Melbourne, and the Eagles fall to the in-form Rams), that they may fall at the final hurdle to lose 1st place. Regardless, them picking up a bonus point against QLD Country means they won’t finish any lower than second, meaning a home semi-final is already guaranteed.
Speaking of the Rams, who the heck saw this coming?! I must say I have been seriously impressed with the Rams this season. While they didn’t grab the wins early in the season, they proved themselves to be more than competitive, and have earnt the respect of a lot of teams. But, on Sunday they made history and brought a whole new meaning to their hashtag #GetRammed: not only was it their first victory against Melbourne, but they also became the first NSW team ever to claim the Horan-Little Shield. This was a demolition disaster for the Rising, who now hold onto 4th place precariously and are coming up against a strong Rays outfit in the final round (who demolished the Vikings at the weekend).
By comparison, in two short weeks the men from Sydney’s west have a serious chance of ending the regular season with some silverware if they beat NSW Country next week. It is certainly an ominous sign for NSW Country that the Rams have beaten QLD Country and the Rising, the two teams the Eagles struggled the most against this season. Also, if the Rams win big (and have other favourable results), they may find themselves in the Top 4! Definitely didn’t see that coming.
Melbourne Rising vs Western Sydney Rams
Four teams, two finals spots. Get along to a game! (NICK WASILIEV)
Well, this weekend has the matches that will decide the Top 4. And every single team has something to play for! Mathematically, the two teams who have a guaranteed semi-final placing are the NSW Country Eagles (24 points) and the Sydney Rays (23 points), marking the first time two NSW teams will feature in the finals. In third place are Perth Spirit (18 points), who made a strong statement on the weekend by mauling Brisbane City in the west. Melbourne Rising makes up the top 4 (15 points), however they are closely followed by the wildly inconsistent Canberra Vikings (14 points), who barely got a chance to make any impact thanks to amazing defence at the weekend by the Rays. Following them is the in-form Western Sydney Rams (12), with Queensland Country (6) and Brisbane City (5) making up the numbers.
Perth Spirit vs Brisbane City
Sydney Rays vs UC Vikings
This means the Spirit, Rising, Vikings and Rams all have a chance to clinch those final two places. There’s no excuse, every team cannot afford to lose this weekend. To finish this wrap up, I thought I’d put up what is at stake for every team in their respective matches this weekend:
Western Sydney Rams vs NSW Country Eagles
This has the makings of what could be a classic. For the Rams, it all comes down to this. They have to win this (and win big) to have any chance to scraping into the top 4. A win here would also guarantee they finish the season as holders of the Horan-Little Shield, the first time a NSW club has ever done that. Lose, and they lose the Shield and the potential finals position. For the Country Eagles, a top 2 finish (and home semi-final) is already guaranteed, but they will want to win this after last week. They have never held the Horan-Little Shield before, and already having silverware would give them confidence and momentum going into the finals. A big win would also guarantee finishing at the top of the table. Lose, and they could potentially fall to second if the Rays win in Melbourne.
UC Vikings vs Perth Spirit
Much like the Rams, it is do-or-die here for the volatile Vikings. It has been such a topsy-turvy season for the men from Canberra, but they have the benefit of a home game advantage. They currently sit four points behind the Spirit (and one point outside the top 4), so even to win would put them equal. The Vikings have to win big, there is no other way around it. As for the Spirit, their big win against Brisbane will come in mighty handy here: the only way they can be out of finals contention is if Melbourne beats the Rays and if the Vikings beat them with a winning bonus point. Realistically, the Spirit will be playing to consolidate their third place position, and with momentum on their side, they will want to make sure they have the best position come finals time.
Melbourne Rising vs Sydney Rays
The Rising really didn’t do themselves any favours with their performance against the Rams last week. Realistically, they have to chance to still finish in 3rd if the Spirit lose in Canberra and they win against the Rays, so they will be up for this. The Rising are also feeling the heat from the chasing pack, and will be hoping that the Spirit prevails over the Vikings and the Country Eagles beat the fast-finishing Rams, because if either of those teams win, the Rising will have to win to keep their position. For the Rays, their top 2 finish is pretty much guaranteed, but they will want to win this badly. They have the chance to go top of the table (if the Rams beat the Country Eagles), and with Simon Cron pushing the team, a win here would be pivotal for the rest of their campaign. No excuses, it is a win or nothing else.
Brisbane City vs Queensland Country
Yep, in amongst all these intense games, it is easy to forget that the biggest rivalry grudge match of the NRC is on this weekend. Both Queensland teams have had woeful seasons, so to beat the old enemy will end their season off on a much brighter note. The winner of this match claims the Andy Purcell Cup, and escapes the wooden spoon. The loser… well let’s not think about that. Either way, with the NRC season gone for the QLD teams, they will throw everything at each other, so this should make for a cracker of a game. Brisbane City have already lost The ‘Toaster’ and the Horan-Little Shield. They won’t want to give this up. By comparison, Queensland Country have never won the Cup in NRC history. Their defeat of NSW Country will hopefully put a spring in their step. Either way, it’s going to be an explosive end to the rugby season in the Sunshine State! Get to Ballymore for this one!
