Cheika's system is undoubtedly being proved ineffectual at Super Rugby level
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are investigating a case in the Lakes District and are forced to camp out due to a lack of lodgings. After a good dinner and a bottle of wine, they retire for the night and go to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes wakes up and nudges his faithful friend.
“Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”
“I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes,” replies Watson.
“And what do you deduce from that?”
Watson ponders for a minute.
“Well, astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful and that we are a small and insignificant part of the universe. What does it tell you, Holmes?”
Holmes is silent for a moment. “Watson, you idiot!” he says.
“Someone villain has stolen our tent!”
Jokes aside and in context to the 2019 Wallaby selectors, I certainly hope that the Rugby Director-in-waiting Scott Johnson, newly appointed selector Michael O’Connor and Wallaby Coach Michael Cheika have the clarity of thought illustrated by Sherlock Holmes and not that of his trusted side-kick Dr. Watson when selection comes upon them.
No doubt all three of those gentlemen will forensically sift through footage, facts and figures in the coming months prior to finalising a squad for the 2019 Rugby Championship and I suggest that a step towards solving any selection mystery is to focus on exactly what is happening in the present, not what may have worked in the past or could work in the future.
It is no secret that I do not support the dual playmaker system principally employed by the Wallabies. It is a system that has simply not delivered the success desired in the past, is not delivering now for Australian Super Rugby sides and will likely not deliver in the near future despite what any astrologist, astronomist, horologist, meteorologist or theologian may tell you.
The two Australian sides that employed a dual play-maker system in the latest round of Super Rugby were the New South Wales Waratahs with veteran Wallabies Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale in the 10 and 12 jersey’s and the Queensland Reds using the uncapped Isaac Lucas and Duncan Paia’aua in the same with neither side having any stunning success despite the Reds running down the Sunwolves in the latter stages of the game.
Firstly, on the Waratahs, to the naked eye, it could leave one flummoxed that a Wallaby-laden side like the Waratahs playing with the experienced Wallaby dual playmakers in Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale could be made to look relatively ineffective by a far less experienced Brumbies outfit.
Foley, a veteran of 68-test matches and Beale with 83, failed to dominate the less experienced Christian Lealiifano and Irea Simone with the Brumbies coming away 19-13 victors and were unlucky it was not by more.
Despite not being the Wallaby incumbent 10 and 12, both Foley and Beale have played a significant part of their professional careers in these positions, yet could not exploit the Brumbies and unleash to any winning affect the talents of Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Michael Hooper, Rob Simmons, Jack Dempsey, Sekope Kepu and the list goes on.
The last time Foley and Beale combined in the 10 and 12 jerseys for the Wallabies was against Wales in 2018 where the Australian backline play was hopeless, and couldn’t even score a try! They did not look that much better last Friday night in Canberra either.
Why is this so?
Quite simply that method of play is outdated and ineffective at test level and is now being exposed at Super Rugby level.
Hypothetically, if both Foley and Beale were selected at 10 and 12 for the Wallabies, I wonder, if they can’t beat the Brumbies, why would you expect them to beat the All Blacks, Springboks or Welsh?
Some may argue that this method brought New South Wales a Super Rugby Championship in 2014. And who could forget how lethal both Foley and Beale were against the English in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup in 2015. But despite some patchy brilliance by both since there is no cogent evidence to support the method or selection of Foley and Beale in the 10 and 12 jerseys for 2019.
The game has moved on and the selectors should not be romanced by what once was, but by judging the evidence, can never be again.
The Queensland Reds looked their most potent in round one of Super Rugby when they played Samu Kerevi at 12 and Jordan Petaia at 13 against the Highlanders, however, since the ankle injury sustained by Petaia against the Crusaders, the Reds have moved Kerevi away from his most potent position and have struggled accordingly.
Kerevi was Queensland’s most effective back in their recent loss to the Waratahs and few would argue he was at his most damaging when he shifted in closer to the recycle as opposed to the fringes. Why he was ever moved from the 12 jersey still is a puzzle to me.
For reasons yet to be uncovered Queensland selected Kerevi again at 13 this time against the Sunwolves, but again the evidence indicates Kerevi is best suited to the 12 jumper as illustrated when Kerevi positioned himself close to the recycle, busted his way through defenders off a short ball, freeing his arms and offloading to the young Harry Hoopert who was simply too powerful to stop and scored a much-needed try contributing to Queensland’s eventual win.
With respect to the playmaking of Duncan Paia’aua, the Reds defence and alignment has looked out of calibration since his inclusion to the starting XV and I have been a strong advocate of moving Chris Feauai-Sautia off the wing and into the 13 jersey allowing Samu Kerevi to return to his natural position at inside-centre post the Petaia ankle injury.
Such a selection is congruent with the initial selection of Petaia at the commencement of the season and unleashes two powerful centres for an opposition to concentrate on, not two playmakers which are critical for future Wallaby success.
Future Wallaby success must be focussed on winning the collision and gain line through the middle of the park, not lateral play and sideline flirtations as seen in 2018. How this is achieved in 2019 with dual playmakers is unknown and I submit almost unachievable.
What is clear is that all the Australian sides have looked better in 2019 with larger bodies in the 12 jersey. A hallmark of any good side is their ability to win the gain line both in space and in the tight. This is a facet of play and subsequent selection the selections should have absolute clarity on. In fact, it is elementary my dear Watson!
Alan Wyn Jones and Warren Gatland on Wales’ Grand Slam:
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments