Analysis: The Wallabies busted 'catfish' play that changed Bledisloe Game I
With the game in the balance and the All Blacks holding a slim 12-6 lead, the Wallabies received a scrum on their own 40-metre line in the 51st minute.
Moments later, Beauden Barrett would score to stretch the All Blacks lead to 19-6 and the try would be a catalyst for a Wallabies collapse. This pivotal moment changed the game, so what went so wrong for the Wallabies?
The Wallabies tried to run a variation of a common backs play. Last year a number of sides ran the midfield screen (also known as an ID play) with a blindside winger attached as an inside option off the backdoor receiver.
Here, the All Blacks run a screen around 10 and 12 and Naholo looms inside off 10.
https://giphy.com/gifs/cfuliMrTFl9nQS4daO
Aaron Smith fills the role a 10 would normally, and decides to either hit Sonny Bill Williams short or Lima Sopoaga out the back, Sopoaga then has Naholo as an inside runner.
This year, a number of sides ran a slight variation of that play that has the winger injecting earlier, hitting the ball unexpectedly between the backdoor screen pass. In the above example, it would seem that Aaron Smith is passing to Sopoaga but Naholo would inject himself and split the two to take the pass.
This ‘Catfish’ variation, when run properly, disguises the true receiver and can be a great move to target a midfield defence.
The backdoor option of the screen (usually the 12) has the job of pulling or attracting the attention of the opposite centre as wide as possible. Here the Highlanders run the play perfectly against the Chiefs from a lineout.
https://giphy.com/gifs/fQuiM3f6Pi0Es6yZW8
Damian McKenzie defending at 13 initially rushes out and reads his opposite centre running a short line, so he slides out the back to take Tei Waldon only to be ‘catfished’ as Naholo pops up in between.
The play forces the defending centre to progress through three reads and on this occasion, McKenzie bites on the second one.
https://giphy.com/gifs/8m5dbFzzVBdX6pYC1d
The Wallabies tried to run this play with Dane Haylett-Petty as the disguised option but he dropped the ball cold and Barrett kicked it ahead to score at the opposite end. The dropped pass was inexcusable, but the play was already busted by the time the ball was delivered.
The initial setup by the Wallabies has two key issues. The first one is how narrow all the inside backs are lined up which becomes a problem as the play unfolds. The second is Dane Haylett-Petty and Reece Hodge have far too much depth to start with.
Here are the projected lines that each player has to run to make this work.
Haylett-Petty’s line is already a bit too vertical, and by being too deep he can’t ‘pop’ around the corner horizontally with much surprise like Naholo does.
As the play develops, they never get out of the narrow formation they start with, failing to create the space required.
All players are running fairly vertical and Dane Haylett-Petty is already outside Foley’s left shoulder before he has the ball, which will immediately raise red flags with the All Blacks midfield that he is a likely option.
Compare that to the same time stamp with the Highlanders.
The Highlanders have a much flatter formation, with far more horizontal spacing between all the players. Naholo (14), our undercover recipient, is even frontrunning Sopoaga slightly and still a long way inside of him.
The Wallabies are too narrow and both Hodge (13) and Haylett-Petty (14) are too deep.
As we get to the point of release for the pass, Beale hasn’t even crossed out behind Hodge yet, with both runners inside of him. Beale’s job is to pull Goodhue as wide as possible, which is not going to happen at this point. Hodge coming from too deep delays Beale from completing the sliding run, as he has to wait for Hodge to catch up and then surpass him before bouncing out.
At the Highlanders point of pass release, Walden (12) has already bounced out behind the centre runner, who is also flat in line with Sopoaga. We can see Walden has successfully pulled McKenzie wider who is trying to adjust his assignment.
Goodhue has both Beale and Haylett-Petty inside of his eyesight making the read an easy one – whoever got the ball was going to be tackled but Haylett-Petty drops the ball and Barrett, the keen opportunist, makes the Wallabies pay.
The Wallabies set-piece attack has been plagued for years by the lack of detail required to manipulate Tier 1 defences. The problems evident in this play are all too common for Cheika’s side. Poor execution is not only limiting the Wallabies own attack, it’s costing them with opposition points.
Would you believe the same thing happened last year, with the same score in favour of the All Blacks by 12-6, at the same ground?
The Wallabies should be trying to run a diverse set-piece attack but they have a long way to go before they can start profiting from these plays instead of conceding big losses. Whether the players are getting enough detailed coaching and feedback is unknown, but given these issues rear their head time and time again the question has to be asked.
The spotlight has to go on assistant Stephen Larkham, who as great as a player he was, has coached sides that have not been proficient at scoring points through back play. The Brumbies were categorically stale at the end of his watch and as the Wallabies backs and attack coach since 2015, has failed to get a group of talented players to execute at a high level.
With Australia’s best players back playing for the Wallabies, there are no more excuses. They will need to bring their A-game if they are any chance at Eden Park this week.
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
3 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
3 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments