Australia must regroup and rethink

It all looked so promising after Sydney. However, Saturday appeared to reveal that one team treated that draw as a loss and the other interpreted it as almost a win. Semantics you might say but Link's comments 'NZ will need to bring their A game because we'll bring ours' was either false bravado or they really felt they had a chance to break the Eden Park and Bledisloe drought. I'm inclined to think it genuinely was the latter but Hansen's retort that NZ could lift 10-12 notches and he didn't know what the Wallabies were capable of lifting proved much closer to the mark.

There is no need for panic but a game looming against SA who also will be smarting after consecutive shaky performances against Argentina is no easy follow-up game. The fact it's in Perth where there are plenty of SA ex-pats only complicates the issue for Australia.

Link must realise changes have to be made. Some are enforced like McCabe's injury, some are selection issues and some are more complicated: for all the talk of increasing depth, the Wallabies have had bad luck on injuries in certain positions like hooker and wing and they lack genuine options in others like lock.

There are two options what to do with McCabe's replacement. He can once again shift AAC out to the wing and put Kuridrani in at 13 or he can go a little more left field (excuse the pun) and recognise Kurtley Beale, no matter what he says, is not a test fly half. He is either a very useful 23 or he could be a fullback. I don't think Israel Folau would appreciate a move out to the wing but much like NZ might see Cory Jane replaced by Ben Smith and Dagg reinstated, Australia need to look at the balance of their team. McCabe and Horne might provide defence but they offer very little in the way of attack. Folau, for all his aerial skills, never seems to get an opportunity to showcase them on attack. At least on the wing, that could be a viable option.

Link must swallow his pride and recognise that Beale will never cut it as an international flyhalf. Beale is an improviser. He is always looking for that break and he found a few on Saturday. However, in return for finding those breaks, he shuffled from side to side for much of the game. He has no controlling or attacking kicking game to speak of. His lateral instincts looking for a gap means the attack is rarely ever straightened up. Add to that his combination with White's ponderous pass and lack of zip and it's a recipe for disaster.

I would much prefer to see Beale come on in the last quarter at 12 as an impact sub. He could find the gaps then and Toomua, with Foley standing flatter in the line outisde Phipps, could utilise his straight running more effectively than Beale who inevitably stands deeper and favours moving sideways. Or you give him free license at the back to express himself because Beale is quicker than Folau and has a better passing game. But just because he's a special footy player does not mean you bung him in at 10 and think he'll be able to have more of an impact because he gets to touch the ball more often.

Personally, I'd like to see a backline of Phipps, Foley, Toomua, AAC, Folau, Speight (when he's eligible on September 11) and Beale at the back with Kuridrani as utility back. You could easily shift Folau to fullback and replace Toomua with Beale, add in Kuridrani and shift AAC out to the wing in the last quarter. The other option is to keep the Waratahs backline axis: Phipps, Foley, Beale, AAC and find two other wingers but that won't happen until the Argentina game when Speight becomes eligible. Australia are in desperate need of a player like Drew Mitchell, JOC or Digny Ioane in form on the wing. The problem is there are makeshift options at the moment.

But the key problem for Australia is, and will continue to be for some time it seems, the pack selection. Admittedly, this is not helped at the moment with bad luck in the front row. Two frontline hookers out and now Nathan Charles is injured. That's rotten luck and NZ would struggle to fill that void in the hooker position as well. It's not helped by frontline prop injuries as well. Bad luck there too but there just doesn't seem to be many genuine options there.

Lock is also a problem. Sam Carter needs to have a violent limbo drill where every time he doesn't get his body under an iron bar going into the tackle, he gets whacked with it. You run the risk of getting him concussion problems but he needs to learn you cannot go into contact with poor body position. Horwill got dropped for being out of form but Simmons and Carter look like bystanders when put up against Whitelock and Retallick. I'd much rather have Horwill's never-die attitude to the invisible work pairing of Simmons and Carter. Having locks that turn up for more than just the tight defensive work cannot be overstated.

The backrow lacks balance as well. It may be controversial to say this but Hooper is not doing his core job. He has pace to burn and is a menace carrying up the ball. But my oh my how Australia missed the presence of Pocock, who is strong enough to stay over the ball and slow down ruck ball or turn it over. For all of Hooper's impressive work around the field, he simply failed miserably to slow down NZ ball. Quick ruck ball for NZ was up in the high 80s. You cannot allow NZ to operate with so much quick ball. They will hammer you with so much front ball. You can talk about an aging Richie McCaw all you like, but the guy knows you have to get your body into a position to slow down that ball. Obviously the blame cannot be laid solely at Hooper's feet but as a 7 he must take responsibility for Australia's failure to slow down NZ ball.

Palu may have had a good Super campaign but he went missing last Saturday. It may not have shown up in the Sydney rain but he just lacks pace and doesn't contribute enough in carrying up the ball over the advantage line. Fardy seems more of the Mowen mould: good, honest hard-working but lacking the X factor. Higganbotham seems to be more dynamic and potentially can be that X-factor player but he's been unable to stamp his authority at test level for a while. I'd still replace Palu with him but that still raises the question who is able to consistently steal or slow down opposition ball at ruck time?

There are definite changes Link can make particularly in the backs. With Beale's selection, he lost continuity with what Australia had built up against France and he must end this Beale fantasy at 10 much like with what happened to JOC. He may want to play there but he has proven enough times at test level as well as S15 level, that this is not his favoured position and is simply not up to task. The pack is the big problem for Link because though he can make changes, the tight five is going to be a problem no matter who he puts in there and this will continue to be the case until they find genuine options. Skelton is not that option in his current state. He is an impact player simply because he is carrying too much weight to be a genuine starter. Australia are lacking two mongrel players in the backrow and locks that can add some steel to the pack. There are no more lightweight but energizer bunny type players like Retallick either. Hooper has incredible pace and there is much to like about many aspects of his game but to me he is not nearly as strong as Pocock, who was fearless over the ball and that is hurting Australia because their rush defence looks shaky when there are gaps and space to be exploited from not being able to prevent front foot ball.

Tactically, Australia need to be smarter as well. This absurd move at half time to stay out on the field has to stop. Australia looked slow and lethargic after the restart and when you stay out on the park sitting on chairs for 10 minutes this cannot be a surprise. Restarts started off well with Toomua kicking away from the specialist catchers and then inexplicably after success with reclaiming possession, the ball got kicked out to the right to Retallick and NZ claimed their restarts. Why on earth change when things are going right? NZ showed what to do with a man down but Australia kept the ball far too much in play and didn't try to slow play down. Is this a leadership issue or is this a lack of drilling at training for these types of scenarios?

SA won't arrive in Perth with the confidence they had last year. They seem to be trying out the NZ policy of withholding players from the ruck but it's early days yet. I'm hoping there will be no talk of bringing an A game and that emphasis is put on righting the wrongs of Eden Park and not worrying about what SA will bring. Make the changes, keep the heads down at training and come out with some pride in the gold jersey and a hunger to make amends for the last performance. Nothing drastic. No need to get clever or complicated. I'll await with interest Link's changes. He needs to recognise a lot of damage has been done but it's nothing that largely can't be fixed.

Thanks for taking the time to write that, Kia.

I see they have quite a few tests at the end of the year. Following the Bledisloe dead rubber on the 18th October, they travel North to face the Barbarians, Wales, France, Ireland and England on consecutive weekends. That's the top four Six Nations sides.

Not sure how often a visiting side gets that schedule. There's usually one of the weaker Home Nations sides (whoever that is at the time) or Italy in the mix.

Reeeaaaally long read, will get through it today at some point.

Aus are in a position of weakness, and numerous selections by Link have highlighted this.

mcabe and Horne on either wing is all well and good at home looking to stem an electric NZ backline, but to go chasing a result in NZ you need much more firepower.

The problem with Aus is that they just don't have the fear factor, they have lost some top players, and names that strike fear. Folau and Hoooper are pretty much all thats left.

a few years ago Genia, Beale, Pocock, Giteu, moore, Sharpe, Higginbotham etc were all deemed top class, added to Iaone, AAC, Lilo , Cooper, JOC etc

Aus had a ton of talent, th Aus team of the last few weeks are relative no marks, and frankly some players are a quandry to why theyre there!

The tight 5 is average, and young, restructuring there I can get on board with, its been needed for a while. But 12 months out from the RWC?

Back row is unbalanced, Pocock has been out for about 6 years, who knows if he'll ever return, Hooper is the form 7 in the world, and a must! But 8 and 6 looks a mess, Fardy and Palu aren't going to win you the RWC, both have brain fades, and are generally lack any real effect in matches. If Aus back row is 6. Pocock 7. Hooper 8. Higginbothamit looks extremely classy.

White looks like he's finding his feet, although he is making mistakes still, and well if Beale wants to play 10 it has to be off the bench!

Centres are a mess, like England, however Aus have the opposite problem, there is just too much talent to not get it right. Lilo, Tomua, Kuridrani, mccabe, Horne the list goes on!

If you look at Aus potential team...

1. Robinson
2. Nau
3. Slipper
4. Horwill
5. Simmons
6. Pocock
7. Hooper
8. Higginbotham
9. White
10. Cooper
11. JOC
12. Beale
13. AAC
14. Speight
15. Folau

Then you look at their bench options, Kepu, Skelton, Fardy, Genia, Lilo, Tomua Kuridrani etc..

Aus could be a huge force come RWC 2015, it would take all their stars to align though.

I agree with the last point. A fully fit first choice Aussie XV is a class act and in a knock-out World Cup game could beat anyone. Problem is that it only takes one or two injuries the the level to drop significantly.

The XV listed above (switching Genia for White) would be an absolutely nightmare to play against in a WC QF or SF. Players who can attack from anywhere and a 10/12 axis that could rip any defence to shreds. The front 5 still looks military medium against the best sides, but facing Hooper and Pocock at the breakdown would be a real nuisance.

The biggest issue is injuries. Pocock and Cooper are world class players, and Australia look a significantly lesser force without them. McCabe and Horne on the wings speaks volumes. Bring back Wendell Sailor!!

hahaha Sailor was a legend. I don't get why Kuridrani isn't played on the wing, he seems to have all the attributes.

For most of my life Australia have had the same problems,the tight 5 get that right and everything else follows.
The run of injuries of ALL 3 of top 4 RC sides are mounting Australia however have been
unfortunate that its front rowers in particular..Mc Kenzie had his winning run ended on
Sat.
Next year no doubt the pensioners of all countries will be back in country for RWC
so much for loyalty.
Aus. named may well have been but for various reasons not available at present Sa
have similar problems.
NZ had finished on Saturday with a 9 covering wing,Barrett injured,Crudon injured,
Jane injured,Crotty injured.
Not to mention Carter,Nonu,Romano,Woodcock,Kaino,Vito,Dominic Bird,and Dagg
not even considered.
Argentina usually would be games coaches may be tempted to experiment with
BUT not with them on current form.
Slade can cover 10 ,Tom Taylor 12 or if fit Carter ,Dagg back to 15 etc.

Speight will be the number one talking point out of Oz in the next few weeks. Stunning ball carrier and can't wait to see him in tests. Born for it.

Scotland get close to most teams when playing in the wet, when they play in normal conditions they suffer.

Its the same with AUS vs. NZ. The conditions meant there was a single linebreak in Sydney and thus the game went down to a 12-12 borefest.

I don't understand why the don't use Skelton more though. Bring him on for a half rather than 10 mins here or there. The boy got skills and the scrum instantly gets far far stronger.

I thought AUS were a little unlucky in fact and that the score didn't fully reflect the game. It sort of ran away with them at the end, went through a few mad mins where NZ scored 2 tries off the break. After that the flood gates opened.

You leave yourself quite exposed though when they are playing chaps like McCabe on the wing. He has a good defensive game but no real pace. Bad conditions great choice, good conditions and you will be exposed... and they were.

I remember in 2003 NZ put a similar score up in the 3N prior to the RWC. 3 months later AUS turned it around and I think this lot have the potential to do so also... but they need their personnel back and they need to pick players in positions who can compete at that positional level.

Australia regroups. The re-thought is: Them lads are better than we thought, better than us and better than we want them to be.

As the Foster's Ad goes.... Good Call

McCabe forced to retire

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9443013,00.html

Always sad to see a player succumb to injury. Always scary when it's a neck injury. Hopefully, there are no more scares for him now.

Never rated McCabe as a player but he was versatile and despite his slim physique, he was fearless in the tackle. If only some of Australia's flashier players showed his level of defensive commitment. Beale, I'm looking at you for one.

Wish him a safe and uneventful retirement from the game.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Always sad to see a player succumb to injury. Always scary when it's a neck injury. Hopefully, there are no more scares for him now.

Never rated McCabe as a player but he was versatile and despite his slim physique, he was fearless in the tackle. If only some of Australia's flashier players showed his level of defensive commitment. Beale, I'm looking at you for one.

Wish him a safe and uneventful retirement from the game.

You never know though with enough time perhaps he can come back like Steve Thompson did. Hopefully he got a good insurance package on his retirement as leaving the sport perhaps 8 years early was probably not foreseen.

I thought Aus looked promising going into this. They smashed France in a 3match series and now have strength in depth on par with NZ/SA. This RC is NZs to lose, Aus should come 2nd I reckon, Arg won't register a win. I think Aus will also go unbeaten on their NH tour.

Thoughts,a flexible contract been announced of a 1 year overseas contract for selected players.Unsure if it on NZ sabbatical lines or the Bok pattern and overseas based players available for selection.
Faoo as a fellow Scot or in m y case Anglo=Scot remember the halcyon days of Murrayfield
and the famous dribbling foot rush.The screams of "feet,Scotland,feet"law changes nante
that.
Wet Weather Rugby changed now at least for NZ play usually ball in hand as well in any
conditions.
The Munster pattern of the "Garry Owen"and foot rushes no longer apply.
McCabe forced to retire enter Henry Speight by end September,saturday was just one
of those matches.
Next week another game for both sides,2003?NZ put 50 points on both Aus ,and Boks
back to back AWAY.Took out Boks in the RWC and then lost Aus in the SF that side[NZ]
was way below the standard of this especially forward.
Best 3 players in there positions 15,10,7 absent Cullen,Merthens,Kronfeld absent.
The current crop are much better as a squad and it wasn't till the bench was cleared
Aus scored there tries.
No side is invincible especially in a RWC,and next year Aus could well win Group A
with a straight run to the final in theory.
With England ?wales?battling it out with AB`s and Boks.RWC`s are very different
th Championships.

Alan, I've been informed by Irish posters that Garryowen is one word and refers to a rugby club in Limerick rather than a person named Gary.

I`m just a pc dyslexic Anglo-Scot and the prefer the to quote "That damned Up and Under AGAIN".1956 AB v Boks a very wet winter in a country with a siege mentality during there
first winning series.
Or to quote Hennie Muller of an incident during 1949 tour ball in the air Bob Scott awaiting
man and ball at the same time.A leap in the air a jink and the ball in touch 50 yards down
field.
THE greatest player in any position he had played against from "Tot siens to test rugby"
Hennie muller.
I was of course aware of the information quoted above.

I didn't doubt it, Alan.

I just wanted to show I'd been listening. And any excuse to hear about a blast from the past.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/09/01/spiro-welcome-home-prodigal-son-james-oconnor/

Here's a blast from the recent past. I had to post this-the anecdote about the ABs changing room is hilarious, and yet totally understandable.

Any ideas on who the dumped dumper was?

George Grogan? Piuflota?

It was an AB mate. Was wondering if it was maybe Flavell, McAlister or Lauaki.

Peter fatiafloater. I know but Couldn't think of ABs with pooh names. Shayne philpotty. Cable Ralph. Olo Brown.

Piri Weepu!!!!!!

Had to be a big smelly forward who was expendable. Lauaki is a good shout.

Wallabies team to face SA in Perth:
1. James Slipper
2. James Hanson
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Sam Carter
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Nick Phipps
10. Bernard Foley
11. Rob Horne
12. Matt Toomua
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Israel Folau

The backline makes sense and one more week of Horne before Speight becomes eligible. Surprised there is only an injury change in the pack as they were pretty woeful. Is that Link taking a cue from Hansen and asking his forwards to raise the level of intensity and execution or is it an admission that there are not that many options?

Only 2 backs on the bench Super Skelton absent,Horwill and Higgonbotham should
have started.So expecting forwards battle the team should have started v AB`s but
RC is the Boks to lose now they lead it 3 wins will be enough this year methinks.

Alan

Don't try and kid yourself that the boks are in the driving seat.

The boks will do well (really well) to take 5 points for their next 2 games. I expect NZ to take 9. And then NZ still have a ARG match to bank thereafter.

NZ will have to slip up big to lose the title this year.

The OP is dead right on Hooper