'You will certainly see a change in how the Wallabies operate': Reinventing one of the world's most feared nations
Wallabies fans can expect a new brand of rugby in Sunday’s Bledisloe Cup Test with a melting pot of European, Kiwi and Super Rugby experience now at the coaching table, according to defence guru Matt Taylor.
After eight years in Scotland, including serving as defence coach for the national team, Queenslander Taylor has joined Kiwi Dave Rennie, who has won Super Rugby titles as well as coached Glasgow.
Attack coach Scott Wisemantel was one of Eddie Jones’s most trusted lieutenants in helping England smash the Wallabies and the All Blacks to reach the World Cup final last year, while forwards coach Geoff Parling is a former British and Irish Lions lock who has been coaching with the Melbourne Rebels.
Taylor, who helped the Reds to the Super Rugby title in 2011, said they had worked together to put a new stamp on the Wallabies.
“I think you will certainly see a change in how the Wallabies operate from maybe how it’s gone in the past,” said Taylor, ahead of the opening Wellington Test.
“We’ve got a really exciting coaching group; we’ve all had different influences and experiences.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about how we want to coach the Wallabies to get clarity around certain areas and have challenged each other and tried to come up what we believe is the best method moving forward.
“Hopefully the public will see what we’re all about come Sunday.”
Taylor said skills had been a particular focus during their preparation, while he had also implemented a new defensive system.
Rennie will name his first side on Friday, with a number of debutants expected, while game-breaking outside back Jordan Petaia is set to play after overcoming a hip injury.
Taylor, who replaced Nathan Grey in the Test set-up, wasn’t giving away any secrets.
“There might be a few surprises in terms of what people think but it’s probably not a surprise to us in terms of how they’ve operated or performed in the environment,” he said.
“Most of the squad have put themselves in the position to be selected and we’ve just got to work out the best team that has the ability to win this Test match.”
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He said both the Wallabies and All Blacks were playing “guessing games”, with Ian Foster new at the New Zealand helm.
They are also expected to blood some young players.
“We’re probably having a little bit of a guessing game between both squads,” the 48-year-old said.
“The main thing we’ve focused on, being a new coaching group, is embedding our structures.
“We don’t know how the All Blacks are going to operate so we’ve just been really focused on us.”
– Melissa Woods
Comments on RugbyPass
Except 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.
33 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.
2 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
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
33 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.
33 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. 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.
33 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.
33 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.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments