Bob Dwyer Rugby Workshops

Christchurch, NZ. Saturday, 7^th August, 2010.

Yesterday’s game was really “more of the same” from both teams. The All Blacks played well – again! – and the Wallabies played poorly – again! Certainly, there was more spirit and determination from the Wallabies and they had clearly worked on their restarts – both chasing and receiving. They probably outpointed their opponents in this aspect of the game, but that was the only win for them.

The only real difference came from the referee. Jonathan Kaplan had clearly decided, before the game had begun, that he was not going to “yellow card” anyone. “There’s been far too much of that already this season”, he appeared to be thinking, “and, anyway, that’s for the lesser referees. I can control the game without any unnecessary reference to the laws.” How else can you explain no yellow card for Tony Woodcock’s “cheap shot” and, for that matter, King Richie’s umpteenth “final warning”?

Anyway, back to the real game. In my Coaching Manual, I stress that quality attack is based on quick recycles at the tackle contest, with the ruck-ball a last resort, and urgent realignment of the attacking line to take advantage of the resulting space. Maximum pressure applied around the tackle contest – achieved with arriving numbers (mainly forwards), powerful leg drive and continuous ball movement – will draw defenders and make space available elsewhere. The New Zealand coaching team seem to agree. Support players arrived directly behind the ball - the only accurate position to take advantage of any opportunity available – and the pop-pass or off-load were clearly the top priority option. As a result their attacking game was played at an excellent pace which the Wallabies could not contain.

The Wallabies management, on the other hand, seem determined to ignore these fundamentals. The “one pass, crash ball” style of attack continues to be our favoured option. If only they understood that this is also the favoured option for the defending team as well; it is ridiculously easy to defend. You have to tackle well, of course, but no decision making is required. McCaw praised his defence afterwards, but, more accurately, he should have praised the “tackling”. The Wallabies adopted the same inane approach against Scotland last year, with similar lack of success. “Realignment” is obviously not a word in their vocabulary.

New Zealand continue to play well, with an admirable concentration on getting the basics right, all of the time. The instinctive ability of their players can then be allowed to show. Opportunities present themselves and are then exploited. Such performances are frequently described as “clinical”, but I would prefer to say that “they are well coached in the fundamentals of the game”. All players need this and consistently – and, perhaps strangely, especially at the highest level. At this level, less than perfect technique is exposed and only consistent honing by consistent “perfect practise” will produce this. Well done New Zealand.

More of the same also, in terms of law breaking, this time from the New Zealand scrum. In the first half, the New Zealand scrum was dominant, generally by way of an old-fashioned  “boring in” by the tight-head, Owen Franks, and some driving upwards by him in association with his hooker. The three officials had obviously forgotten about this ploy; it hasn’t been used for a while. I can’t believe that Stephen Moore would have succumbed so easily, and I was amazed that Faingaa was not substituted. Ben Franks did not seem to achieve the same result in the second half, but perhaps the Wallabies had addressed the problem at half-time. This was, unfortunately, about 40 minutes too late, as the damage had been done. Such is the problem from selecting inexperienced front-rowers. I was pleased, on the other hand, to see that Tony Woodcock was able, at last, to get his left hand off the ground. Maybe I’m being too kind and that this occurred only because this week’s scrum tactic was to attack from the tight-head side, not the usual “launch off the ground” from Woodcock. They like to stay one step ahead of the ref, these Kiwis, and that’s obviously not too difficult!

New Zealand are definitely playing better rugby than they have for some years. This seemed to begin on last year’s tour, with more attention to the detail of the game, and full marks to them. It is most pleasing to see, even if the rest of us are on the receiving end. Perhaps taking a leaf out of their book would be worth considering. Individual players also appear a little more trim to me. I’m not sure if they’re lighter or have reduced body fat, but they are markedly sharper. Muliaina, Mealamu and Nonu have benefited from this and Keiran Read has positively blossomed. He is a significant factor in his ream’s improved performances, week in week out. Indeed, no-one is off-form and the All Blacks look to me like a genuine “work in progress” team, with progress the key word, and vision and knowledge the driving forces.

Alas, I cannot say the same about the Wallabies. They look like they have no idea of how to get where they clearly have the desire, passion and determination to go. Week by week we seem to be getting deeper and deeper into the mire, and the longer we go, the longer it will take us to extricate ourselves. Selection is a vital part, perhaps the most vital part, of the coaching role and, from where I’m sitting, we are getting it horribly wrong. We’ve got babies in the front row and each week our scrum is getting dished up. There is a reason that Laurie Weeks is preferred to James Slipper in the Reds team and Ewen McKenzie has been in a few scrums, and at tight-head. Perhaps a bit of humble pie might see the welcome return of Al Baxter, if only temporarily. Al probably had his best ever Super14 season this year, and I remember that he was a member of the scrum that demolished England at Twickenham not so long ago.

I figure that Mafu, Slipper, Mumm, Brown and both Faingaa brothers are not up to international standard. I can’t see a winning World Cup team with even one of these players starting. O’Connor is not an international class winger. He lacks the pace required for the position and in the “kick chase”, he looks like he’s going up and down on the one spot. Surely Turner or Shepherd are much better. Anthony Faingaa was found wanting in defence and on three occasions lined up against nobody, such was his indecision. These defensive lapses cost his team badly and, given that his attack is hardly scintillating, made his selection questionable. Ryan Cross and Will Chambers are both class players and this would enable Adam Ashley-Cooper to play fullback – and, dare I say it, contest the spot with Kurtley Beale. I’ve been trying to convince my mates for some time that Kurtley is a rare talent; I think that they’re beginning to see the light. I have thought for some time that he could be a super outside-centre and he certainly made it clear that he has the pace for it. Scott Higgenbotham had an outstanding Super14 and has size, aggression and pace. He can “take you where you want to go” and must be in the squad. I could go on and on, but I won’t. Let me just say that “we are all sick of it!” We want to see some direction and some progress. Now!

A parting word on Will Genia. How has his performance been allowed to deteriorate from the excellent levels he produced in the Super14? I thought that he was awful on Saturday. He is slow to the tackle contest and now doesn’t arrive at all sometimes, just waddling across the pitch in the vague direction of his pass. He should be wherever the ball is. It’s as simple as that! He is far too upright and has now added a little skip step to his pass, making his clearance much slower and giving his support runners no chance at all. Attention to detail is everything and is the responsibility of the coaching staff. They are letting their players down.

Many thanks for all of last week’s comments. I certainly welcome them, but, if the Kiwi comments of “whinging” and “cry-baby” could be replaced by something a little more constructive and intelligent, I’d welcome them even more.