What the Wallabies must learn from their Boks bashing
The Wallabies faced a new-look Springboks side on Saturday, but the result of the second Test against the world champions was the same as the first – comprehensive defeat, by 18 points.
As Joe Schmidt’s players pack their bags for the trip to Argentina – where the Wallabies will face a los Pumas side high on confidence after a rare victory over the All Blacks two weeks ago – what lessons do they need to learn from their performance in Perth?
Wrap Angus Bell in a big ball of cotton wool
The job of a loosehead prop is unglamorous but crucial – and Angus Bell reminded the Wallabies of the difference a world-class practitioner of the craft can make to the team.
After injuring his toe playing for the Waratahs in April, it was feared Bell would need to change positions due to the strain on his feet when scrummaging.
Bell had surgery to reshape his foot and, on his return to the Wallabies side, provided an immediate difference to the scrum, providing much-needed stability.
In his 40 minutes on the field, the Wallabies did not concede a single scrum penalty – indeed they won two.
Bell’s importance also goes beyond his ability in the scrum: in a team desperate to break the gain line, he uses his feet to find soft shoulders and consistently wins collisions.
Freeing Tom Wright
Under significant pressure, Tom Wright had a strong game: solid under the high ball and able to provide an attacking spark when it was needed.
The Brumbies fullback is at his best when attacking the broken field and in this example, his vision to set up winger Marika Koroibete highlights the threat he poses.
Wright’s outstanding individual try in the first Test against Wales in July was an example of what he can do when he runs the ball. No defence can fully relax when he is around.
Against a far tighter Springboks defence, Wright still managed to find space with his feet – and if Koroibete’s chip and chase had been executed better, it could have led to a try at a critical time in the game.
Curb the cross-field kicks
In the post-match press conference, Schmidt admitted the cross-field kick had been a pre-planned tactic. It was used eight times in the game – four in each half – but only worked effectively once.
In the 55th minute, debutant Max Jorgensen caught a perfectly weighted kick from Wright under pressure – but, like Koroibete, just failed to execute his chip and chase, which would probably have led to a try.
The other seven cross-field kicks varied from aimless to downright dangerous, with only a stunning scrambling tackle from Wright stopping Makazole Mapimpi from a certain try early in the game (below).
The strategy behind the cross-field kick was sound in theory – to take advantage of the Springboks’ rush defence and the wet conditions – but its execution was off and the tactic should have been shelved far earlier. A plan B was needed in attack.
Springing surprises
The Wallabies’ attacking playbook is being written gradually, and this blindside move from a scrum, executing a clever use of the 50-22 kick, shows there is the potential to surprise even the most miserly defences.
Schmidt wants every player to be involved, even off the ball, and his decoy runners do a good job of keeping the Springboks on edge.
Wright is the man who is entrusted with finding grass with his kick and executes perfectly, providing the Wallabies with a perfect attacking platform just before halftime.
Attacking the line from 10
Wallabies five-eighth is a position scrutinised more than any other, and Noah Lolesio received his fair share of criticism for his performances against Wales in July.
Against the Springboks in Perth, Lolesio put in a considerably improved display – but there is a need for him to take the ball closer to the line to keep a defence guessing.
One of Schmidt’s most astute pupils at Leinster and Ireland was Johnny Sexton. The five-eighth was never static and often ran a line so flat that he opened space for his backs, heedless of the physical punishment meted out to him.
Lolesio has the potential to do the same and must exploit the slightly wider gaps against Argentina for his centres.
The menace of the maul
Maul defence has become a focus for the Wallabies, who have missed the size and experience of second-rower Will Skelton.
In just 14 second-half minutes, the Wallabies lost four front-rowers and the already daunting task of holding up the maul against the Springboks’ fresh bench of World Cup-winning forwards became mission impossible.
Three of the Springboks’ tries in the second half came from the rolling maul, with hooker Malcolm Marx taking two and breakaway Marco van Staden one.
The Pumas pack will present a similarly difficult task for a forward pack low on confidence, but the return of abrasive second-rower Brumbies Nick Frost adds bulk into a light pack.
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