Analysis: Why the Wallabies need to play Kurtley Beale at 12 against England
What a difference a few months can make.
England’s 3-0 whitewash over the Wallabies in Australia last June was a dramatic turnaround of fortunes for the side that was unceremoniously eliminated from the World Cup pool play in 2015.
Eddie Jones had seemingly masterminded the turnaround of England in less than a year, and after losing to Australia in the RWC pool match this tour was sweet revenge. England continued the reversal with their fourth consecutive win over in the November test last year.
However, one man was missing from all of that – Kurtley Beale.
His return to the Wallabies this year has been nothing short of sublime. Beale presence at 12 gives Australia more balance in attack, taking playmaking pressure off Foley and giving the Wallabies a world-class two-pronged attack alongside Israel Folau.
“Kurtley is the most wonderfully gifted player. He does things other players don’t even dream of,” praised England coach Eddie Jones.
“He’s got that ability to make that big play. His stint at Wasps has aided him, he’s become a lot more professional, a lot more consistent.
“He just adds that extra dimension that you don’t know where he’s going to turn up in attack, you don’t know what he’s going to do and he does it with skill, he does it with pace, he does it with precision and a smile on his face.’
With Folau rested for the end of year tour, Beale has been playing fullback. However, if Australia is going to reverse their recent results against England they need to revert him back to the jersey where he’s done the most damage – 12.
The White Wall
England’s revival and success down under against Australia last year was based on one key factor more than anything else – defence. Owen Farrell’s golden boot was a close second.
England’s defensive system successfully absorbed an enormous amount of pressure from the Wallabies. In the first test of the series, England held just 36 per cent of possession, they were outscored four tries to three, out-run 454 metres to 311 and out-carried 134 to 67 – but won the match 39-28.
Even more impressive – England’s second test 23-7 victory was won off an astoundingly low 29 per cent of possession. England doesn’t need the ball to win. They play defence and territory.
The system
England keeps its defensive line condensed with short spacing. They often leave space outside the 15 metre lines on the edges, and operate almost exclusively on ‘zero’ ruck contests. That is, they barely ever commit anyone to contest the breakdown – and when they do, players like Maro Itoje only seem to strike at opportune times.
The benefit is two-fold: England’s defensive line is often set early with as many bodies as possible (giving them a numbers advantage) and reduces any possibility of giving away ‘piggy-back’ ruck penalties.
England can sustain large waves of phases and still generate line speed by setting early.
Below we can see only one English body (the tackler) on the ground, short spacing across the field and space is given on the edge.
Folau is Batman – Beale is Robin
One of the key aspects of Beale playing 12 is he often takes over control of first receiver from Foley. He has the nous to identify space on the fringes and move the ball, knowing exactly when to release Folau.
In Bledisloe III, Beale ensured Folau had the ball when opportunities were presented on the edge. This eventually led to Folau’s crucial try right before halftime.
One of the failings of Foley last year was his inability to make the right decision, illustrated twice in this piece of play from the second test against England.
Foley receives the ball after 11 phases, with England stretched. He has Folau and Kuridrani outside with both players running into space as genuine receiving options. Rob Horne is also at the bottom of the screen.
Foley decides to dummy and takes on the line himself, while both Kuridrani and Horne are free options. Kuridrani is likely to score with a cutout pass.
Three phases later the same situation presents itself.
Foley dummies and goes himself for a second time, despite having a huge overlap. England’s winger Jack Nowell jams-in to cover, leaving Kuridrani and Horne open with acres of space.
Foley’s form this year has not been his best. If he is tasked with too much and does not have Beale to shoulder the load, he will fail.
With England’s strong defensive system, Australia’s best chances of breaching the line will be on the fringes. With Beale stationed wide at fullback, the ball may never get to him when it needs to.
Beating England without Folau is going to be a tall order, beating England with Beale at fullback is even less probable.
Comments on RugbyPass
Crazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
4 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
4 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
211 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
23 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
23 Go to commentsWow, do we really still have to listen to all the excuses and “unfairness” of it all. Even blaming the bounce of an egg shaped ball for the loss. But the article is about context, so what about the Springboks having to play the other 5 teams in the top 6 and still beating a comparatively rested AB team on a very empty tank.
211 Go to comments“Teams would generally have three coaches below their head honcho; attack coach, defence coach, forwards coach” do they? I’m not sure what the NZ set up is tbh, but the other 4 sides top 5 sides all have very different structures to the one outlined in the article! As well as attack, defence, and forwards coaches, SA, Ireland, and France also have specialist scrum coaches. England have a specialist scrum coach too, but arguably don’t have a forwards coach, with that role taken on by Borthwick. SA also have a backs coach in addition to defence and attack, and Ireland and England have fitness coaches, with England also having two skills coaches.
2 Go to commentsWorst article I've read in a while. Trying to disguise a backhand slap as a compliment. The whole article is a bit weird and negative. I think South African men are emotional in general… think Clad le Clos’s father 2012 London Olympics.
4 Go to commentsIreland are going to win the world cup.
23 Go to commentsIt was the strangest result ever. Etzebeth should've been yellow card for his cynical retiring move and a penalty try. Birth second half tries by the Allblacks were fantastic and the TMO operating outside the law to rule out the first try was egregious. Yes, the boks got the win but it was through some bizarre officiating that allowed them to sneak home against 14 men that dominated them. The quieter Bok supporters know and acknowledge the Allblacks were the better and dominant side. Justifying the win because they beat a pre world cup Allblacks selection is silly.
211 Go to commentsA very English thing to do hey Courtney, blerrie kant
4 Go to commentsIt sounds like Andrew is trying to convince himself or has just lost all perspective. The team did look jaded for the last couple of games of the six nations but a few things were wrong there. Italy tackled their hearts out and made Ireland work hard for every try. Outsmarted by Scotland? Huh? Ireland got held up over the line about 4 times. Scotland did nothing on attack the whole game other than one breakaway near the end. A recharge and reset is needed which they hopefully will have had before the SA your.
23 Go to commentsIncluding SA and Argie teams was great for the quality of rugby, but middle of the night games and player travel/ jet lag make that unworkable. I think that SA in Europe and Argie building an American league with USA, Canada etc would be better long term. If Oz can't sustain Rebels then next cab off the rank should be a Japanese team. Keep regional comps to time zones, both club and test rugby. Then existing test windows for test tours plus RWC.
7 Go to commentsMisogynists have feelings too!
4 Go to commentsCrowd sizes of the URC v the Premiership must be a big factor.
1 Go to commentsWell you’ve made a proper tit of yourself, haven’t you! 😂
173 Go to commentsBen it's beyond their comprehension-
211 Go to comments