A tale of two scrums
Which lily-livered former back said the scrum was not important?
Well, I hope they were watching the All Blacks v France and Australia v Ireland Test matches this weekend.
Both games pivoted on vital scrums. The French were well and truly in the game, leading 11-8 at halftime and were playing superbly, shutting down the All Blacks across the field.
But then, their scrum was detonated in the 48thminute and it was all downhill from there. The deflation of France was quickly added to with a lineout turnover in the 49th minute and a dubious yellow card for a head high tackle in the 50th minute.
The All Blacks kicked up a gear and scored 44 unanswered points from the 52nd minute to win handsomely 52-11. But the rot started for me when the French scrum suddenly disintegrated in the, which marked the point where Les Bleus put up the white flag.
Though not as significant as the sudden collapse of the French scrum, the Wallabies scrum in the 67th minute still proved very important.
The game was in the balance until the Wallabies literally drove back the Irish scrum at pace, completely dominating them. The Wallaby scrum, so maligned in Europe, dominating the best Northern Hemisphere had to offer.
This gave a huge lift to the players – with Ireland leading 9-8 at this stage – as the Wallabies went on to win 18-9.
Credit the French for providing the blueprint for beating the All Blacks; any team playing them this year will look to that first half for guidance.
Michael Cheika will be studying this period of great French play with interest.
First of all, you must have parity in scrums, lineouts and re-starts, in which the French were rock solid.
You must then dominate the tackle area. The French first-up tackles were superb, they were driving the All Black ball carriers back behind the gain line, stopping the quick ball and shutting down their up-tempo game.
The French forwards were combative and very physical at the breakdown. Wallabies take note, the pick and go still exists and is not illegal, Les Bleus employed it with great effect.
The French rush defence from set piece and phase play paired with the big-hitting first up tackles lasted for 48 minutes, shutting down All Black attacking options and any thought of an up-tempo game.
If I was in charge of Ireland for the second test in Melbourne next weekend, I would also look to the example of the first half French performance to shut down the Wallabies.
The Irish need to limit the Wallabies width and slow their up-tempo game. They need their rush defence to be rock solid and make first-up tackles to deny reaching the gain line.
The Wallabies never attack near the ruck so the Irish just need to stack one pass off and belt the ball carrier back. The Irish also have a good lineout and can pinch some turnovers in that area.
The Irish should – like the French – load the ruck and pick and go. One pass off the ruck for 19 phases like the Brisbane test is easy to defend for the Wallabies; the Australian teams do it every weekend in Super Rugby.
As for who stood out among the Wallabies, David Pocock was superb last night.
I don’t like his politics, but he can certainly play. His 49th minute turnover was a standout and stopped a dangerous Irish attack in its tracks.
I think the disallowing of Folau’s try in the 60th minute was a disgrace and reinforces my impression that those running the game would like handbags at 10 paces for the direction of rugby.
Adam Coleman tackled a decoy runner in back play and referee Marius van der Westhuizen deemed it dangerous play. The incident had no effect on the try and it is debatable whether it was dangerous. A woeful decision and no doubt would have features in the news if the Wallabies had lost.
Next week in Melbourne is the second test, where the Irish will be looking to level the series.
The Irish will do their homework and come back stronger; I’m predicting a very tight game again and one that will be hard to pick.
The All Blacks take on France in Wellington next weekend for their second test, where I think they will pile on a half-century once again.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments