Bob Dwyer Rugby Workshops

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Saturday, 26^th July, 2010.

The Wallabies have achieved a two-tries-to-nil victory over Ireland, in their final game leading into the Tri-Nations Championship, but the match never reached any great standard. This was perhaps expected, given that both teams had many players unavailable and had been forced to select players with little international experience.

However, this situation can never excuse fundamental errors or lack of correct technique and this match gave ample evidence of both. For example, it was not until the 25^th minute that Ireland were able to secure quality possession from their own lineout throw, with the first three fumbled and lost. The Wallabies were off-side, advancing in front of the kick, twice in the first 35mins, for six points to Ireland – from nothing! Two Wallabies restarts, six minutes apart, were allowed to bounce into touch, by the Ireland team, giving the Wallabies unearned gains of 30 metres on each occasion. I could go on and on.

Despite very poor goal-kicking by Australia, they led 16-15 at the break, courtesy of some great footwork by Quade Cooper. Perhaps the Irish were unaware – how and why? – of Cooper’s outstanding ability in this area, and stood off him, were consequently flat-footed and beaten in the tackles. There had been some excellent individual moments, but precious little teamwork. Ireland needed the interval to be reminded, perhaps, that they were the team in the green jerseys, for they had passed the ball, on three occasions, directly to a Wallaby.

The scoreline was close and the outcome uncertain, but we were all hoping for some quality in the second half. Wallabies supporters, in particular, were well aware that the Tri-Nations Championship was imminent and a repetition of this standard would see heavy defeats at the hands of the All Blacks and the Springboks.

We were to be sorely disappointed. Within the space of three minutes we were to see a clumsy one-handed scrum-feed, one poor pass along the ground and one forward pass. Not bad for three minutes and then, from the resulting scrum, yet another scrum penalty against Ben Daley. To go into the Tri-Nations with this front-row trio, brave as they are, looks to me like some new form of antipodean  Hari Kiri. It can’t be much fun either for the players themselves. Message to selectors: “It’s not a crime to make mistakes, and to admit them may well be good for the soul – and the team.”

Soon after, we were greeted with the sight of the hugely talented Kurtley Beale, who had substituted for Horne at the break, rejecting the option of taking on the Ireland prop, Cian Healey, and choosing the grubber, from only a few metres from the tryline. This decision seems most strange to me and totally outside of Beale’s normal instinctive attacking style. It smacks rather of indecision and a “what would the coach want” thought process. Such actions should be ‘ bread and butter’ for an outside back and indeed form a part of most practice sessions.  In any event, it’s not good enough.

For most of the match, Ireland did not perform at quality international level. Poor passing, poor catching, poor kicking destroyed any advantage which they were able to build. An intercepted pass from the #8, on a simple 8-9 play, brought a try for Luke Burgess.  O’Driscoll put down one pass, thereby ending a promising attack, which a great player should have taken easily. Indeed, many of Ireland’s quality passes were sent directly into Wallaby hands.  In one ten minute period of the second half, Ireland missed touch with consecutive penalty kicks. Their whole effort was just completely off the mark. In post match interviews, both captain and coach felt that the final score flattered Ireland. That the Wallabies were not able to mount a convincing score against such a poor Ireland team, speaks volumes for their performance, or should I say, lack of performance.

I am in Italy at the moment and watched the game with a UK commentary team, at the home of an Italian coach. Their commentary totally flattered a below par effort. I guess that it’s their job to be positive and to lift the performance in the eyes and minds of viewers, but it runs the risk of allowing acceptance of mediocrity.

That’s what this was – mediocre!

I shudder to think of what is in store for the Wallabies in the next couple of months.