Frustration, field position and Reece Hodge can be the answer for the Wallabies
The Wallabies can defeat England in their quarter-final at Oita Stadium this Saturday if they can frustrate the English out of the rhythm and the areas in which they like to play the game.
It is far easier said than done, but if the Wallabies select the now-available Reece Hodge, their chances of doing so improve.
I say this as Hodge’s ability to not only punt the ball further than most, but also his ability to kick penalty goals from over 50 meters could make him an effective weapon if used properly as part of an overall strategy designed to agitate England.
Eddie Jones’ side enjoys grinding down the opposition through their strong set-piece and powerful ball-runners through the likes of Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje, yet seldom do they use such tactics to work their way out of their defensive zones for multiple phases.
Like any tactician worth their salt, Jones likes England to be constantly applying the pressure of field position and does so through the kicking games of fly-half George Ford and inside centre Owen Farrell.
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If selected, England will look to single out Marika Koroibete with contestable high balls, as it was shown against Wales the powerful Wallaby winger is built for ground warfare only.
Therefore, I suggest the Wallabies select a back three who can defuse such high ball tactics, but can also kick long-distance in return to counter such tactics.
Australia, in the past several seasons, has failed to deliver as a true counter-attacking side from such opportunity. In fact, I would suggest counter-attack is something the Wallabies struggle with.
They traditionally do look to run the ball back at the opposition from a deep kick if there is space to do so.
An Irish rugby legend has called on @IrishRugby coach Joe Schmidt to have the "moral courage" to bring young fullback Jordan Larmour into the side. #RWC2019 #NZLvIRE https://t.co/H597oD01YK
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Israel Folau did this for numerous seasons, and since his departure, Kurtley Beale and Dane Haylett-Petty have often both followed suit. I suggest England would expect the Wallabies to do so again this weekend.
So, why wouldn’t the Wallabies do what England neither expect nor want them to do and kick long back into their opponents’ 22 and follow up with a strong line chase looking to force the English into error in their half?
If you were the Wallabies, would it not be more advantageous to expel your energy on keeping England down in their half than trying to run the ball out of your own?
If Michael Cheika were to employ such counter-tactics to the English kicking game, it effectively limits England’s ability to use their ‘choke’ tackle and line speed as they like to do so in asserting their authority at the collision.
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While I am sure the inevitable long kicking ‘tennis game’ would ensue for a period, yet it may also invite the likes of Jonny May and Elliot Daly, both of whom are dangerous runners of the ball, to counter-attack from deep within their half.
This where the Wallabies must shut the English down, and can do so with a fast yet connected defensive line in kick chase.
Such a tactic would frustrate England, and may force the game to be played more in the middle of the field rather deep in the opponent’s half.
This too could play into the Wallabies’ hands, as if penalties are given away in such an area, they can call upon Reece Hodge to start taking shots at goal.
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Although Hodge may not have the most accurate boot, what he has is the distance in his kicking, and if he does miss the penalty goal, the game will likely have to re-start from an English kick-off from the 22, thus giving the Wallabies possession again with England defending in their half.
As the Welsh illustrated to the Wallabies in their pool match, one must keep the scoreboard ticking over, and having a long-distance goal-kicker at your disposal enhances a team’s ability to do so.
If the Wallabies find themselves leading or within seven points of the English with 25 minutes to go, that is when they can unleash the bench and look to exploit the gaps that tend to exist in the latter parts of the game.
However, if they try to run over England in the opening 20 minutes, I think that will play right into English hands as they want the collision early.
The Wallabies should look to do everything possible to disrupt and prevent the rhythm he English enjoy to play.
My Wallabies side
1. Scott Sio
2. Tolu Latu
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Izack Rodda
5. Rory Arnold
6. Jack Dempsey
7. Michael Hooper
8. Isa Naisarani
9. Nic White
10. Christian Lealiifano
11. Jordan Petaia
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Reece Hodge
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves:
16. Jordan Uelese
17. James Slipper
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Adam Coleman
20. David Pocock
21. Will Genia
22. Matt To’omua
23. Marika Koroibete
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments