Kiwi pundits on why 'everyone's nervous about the Wallabies'
Eddie Jones is promising a quick and efficient game plan for the Wallabies in 2023, a statement that as usual, proves the coach is on top of the latest international trends heading into a World Cup.
The Australian coach is endorsing the end of phase play attack in rugby and openly discussing his intention to employ a gameplan of kicking the ball away if no progress is made within three phases.
Jones is validating his ideology with a statistic indicating 75% of tries are scored in the first three phases of play in the modern game.
“Why waste energy? I totally agree with him,” Former All Black James Parsons told The Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “Especially in parts of the field – I say it all the time, between those two 40s, why would you play any more than three rucks? Kick on your terms, absolutely. It can be a long kick, it can be an attacking kick, whatever.
“But conserve that energy of your big boys for when it’s maul D, for when you’re on your line defending breakdown after breakdown. It’s smart.”
Clarifying it’s not a law, more of a general approach, Parsons went on to add that it’s pointless kicking for the sake of kicking.
“Don’t give yourself to three (phases) and you’ve still got four (players) in the backfield and you still try to kick,” He said.
Fans will get their first glimpse of the Wallabies’ gameplan when the Australian side faces the Springboks on Saturday night (SAST). It’s a mouthwatering prospect to kick off The Rugby Championship.
It’s Jones’ first game back in charge of the Wallabies since being sacked from the position 18 years ago and the pundits agree the coach has the personnel to execute his game plan.
Parsons shared his observation of the Australian teams possessing some of the best tactical kickers in Super Rugby Pacific, noting the Reds specifically as a team that executed expertly when taking down the Chiefs in the regular season.
Up front, Rob Valetini has made his presence felt and will be joined by the sizable frames of Will Skelton and debutant Tom Hooper to assist in providing the platform the kickers need.
“You even look at the trends in Super Rugby,” Former Maori All Black Bryn Hall added. “Look at that final with the Chiefs and the Crusaders, both of them kicked over 1000 meters because you don’t want to play inside your end of the field.
“With Australia, (it’s about) their decision making on when to have the ball, and when not to have the ball. They’ve played in that no man’s land for long periods of time and they weren’t getting any pay out of it, weren’t getting any scoreboard pressure. Then it might be two tries off the back of that (against them), for not playing where they should be.”
It appears those shortcomings will be directly addressed under this new coaching group. Time will tell whether the Wallabies’ defence is up to the task of handling a lower-possession game but the pundits were convinced there were the right pieces in play for the Australians to be a real threat come World Cup time.
“Mate, everyone’s nervous about the Wallabies at the moment,” Parsons claimed. “I reckon every nation is. They’ve got the right side of the draw, they’ve got a coach that will leave no stone unturned and gives people the belief they can do it and always has that ability to change a squad into a winning squad really fast.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
22 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
22 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
44 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
44 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
44 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to comments