An Analysis of the Wallabies through Quade Cooper

Just an interesting way of seeing how the Wallabies fare following Quade Cooper throughout the 80 minutes of the Test match against New Zealand-

Min 1- Two passes made in the first minute. One to the inside and one to the outside. Both to backs.

Min 3- On turnover ball, on the gain line, throws the cut out pass immediately to Kurtley Beale on the wing who gets tackled but wins the lineout.

Min 4- After two phases, kicks low from about 30 metres out and the ball goes out at the 5 metre line.

Min 5- When returning a clearing kick by the All Blacks, his attempted pass over the head of Conrad Smith is intercepted. High risk, high reward play is undone by poor execution.

Min 7- High kick that is easily fielded leading to All Blacks attack.

Min 8- Tackled by Ali Williams at the ruck and held down away from the ball. Piri Weepu attacks blindside where Cooper would have been defending and gives the All Blacks the momentum that ends up in a try for Nonu a few phases later.

Min 10- Restart doesn't go ten.

Min 12- High kick. Achieves nothing.

Min 16- First run. Puts All Blacks on the back foot and ensures quick ball where a break and a good attack happens.

Min 18- Wide flat pass to Elsom 15 metres out who get put into touch about 3 metres out. Could have passed to Ioane to commit the tacklers.

Min 23- Low, flat cross kick straight from a scrum in oppostion 22. Exposes a gap behind the defender and only a bounce away from Ioane collecting and scoring.

Min 25- Awful garryowen attempted in own half.

Min 33- Another cross kick/in behind winger. Another unfortunate bounces goes against Beale this time.

Min 36- At second receiver off lineout ball. Cut out pass.

Min 38- No look short pass to Kepu which gains some ground.

Min 40- Takes the ball back from a clearance kick, commits defensive line, then passes to a player on his way back (pretty outrageous). James O'Connor makes 20 metres from this pass.

End of the first half, Australia have dominated territory and possession but find themselves two tries behind to a Clinical All Blacks side. Quade Cooper has made 27 passes at this point.

Min 43- Wins a kick chase.

Min 48- First touch of the half.

Min 53- Cooper kicks touchline conversion.

Min 62- Second touch of the half.

Min 65- Forward pass.

Min 66- Out of the back pass on 5 metre line. Complete brain explosion. 5 metre scrum given away. Replays show it should have been an Australian scrum though as Nonu got a hand to the pass and knocked it on.

Min 76- 30 metre cut out pass to McCabe on opposition 22, who offloads quickly to Elsom who goes in for the try.

Australia actually win the second half on scores but the All Blacks were dominant and gave Australia precious little chances. Cooper in this half made just 10 passes and went for long periods without having any impact on the game.

Other notes are that all his kick offs are short and apart from the one that is noted for not making the 10 metres, they all caused trouble. In defence he was hidden away but when he had to make tackles, he did what was needed.

From watching this game, I thought he was the main threat to New Zealand and in the first half, his variety really caused them trouble and if they hadn't shut down the Australian team as a whole, I think he would have finally made the breakthrough. From watching, he probably needs to bring the forwards into the game more often on the short passes he likes and sometimes, a simple pass is better than going for the money ball. His passes are exemplary though and only on 2-3 occasions did they not go in front of the player to run onto.

His low and short kicks are fine and cause problems but anything high needs some real work.

On a side note, it was not to notice how well a few Wallabies played, especially Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore and James Horwill. Higginbotham did well of the bench and provided the much missing cut from the back row. Kurtley Beale didn't make as many big runs as possible but he is always buzzing somewhere near the ball and did really well creating Ioane's try and committing Muliaina before Ioane stepped him. Ioane was a constant danger. Will Genia was fantastic and must be the best scrum half in world rugby at the moment.

Thanks, that was a good read. Cheers

Was very impressed with Horwill, seemed to really be everywhere a real workhorse in the pack. Beale seemed classy but far too quiet needed to stamp some authority on the game where instead he was easily handled by the NZ defence. Genia is still the spark in the OZ team and the wings make ground for fun. However, Oz need to get some in form centres and get them running good lines, McCabe worked hard but didn't threaten much and AAC was so far out of form it was sad to see.

Pack still too easily bullied around the breakdown and they need to support the hard workers like Horwill, Kepu and Moore as at the moment they seem isolated.

Have to say that there were a few people bigging up Pocock before the game and once again McCaw comes out on top, as he does with every contender. Pocock was incredibly quiet. They really needed his presence at the breakdown to stifle the New Zealand side.

Ioane seems to be the forgotten one in the Aus back line sometimes. I'm tipping him to be their top scorer at the WC.

MBTGOG wrote:Have to say that there were a few people bigging up Pocock before the game and once again McCaw comes out on top, as he does with every contender. Pocock was incredibly quiet. They really needed his presence at the breakdown to stifle the New Zealand side.

He was there constantly by himself - the problem was no other backrowers were with him assisting. The lack of back up for Pocock is affecting his form.

Great analysis MBTGOG. Would like to see Carters as a contrast and the same from each 10 in tomorrows match. I'd actually thought Weepu outpointed Genia in this match but perhaps not.
Interesting...

can't believe how people, blindly go judging Pocock against McCaw, they are bringing completely different packages to the table.
pocock as an individual achieve 's more turnoivers.
McCaw besides his other captaicny role is playing more of a combination with his no.8.
furthermore if one was to think that they could make a conclusive comparison and say that McCaw came out on top , against Pocock begs the question how come both teams were equal in won turnovers? maybe everyone was just watching Quade.......

Is Pocock the only player that makes turnovers for Australia?