Waratahs v Highlanders - Super Rugby round 3
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They're delaying naming the team until Friday morning because fullback Ben Smith and THP Chris King are in doubt.
This doesn't pertain only to this game but it's as good a place to put this article as any. Cully is one of the best rugby writers going. He talks about the Kiwi technique of playing past the ball.
From the Sydney Morning Herald
*******************
Beware Waratahs, there's a touch of Henry in the Highlanders
Paul Cully
March 8, 2012
There was a lovely little exchange picked up on referee Jaco Peyper's microphone during the fabulous Highlanders v Crusaders game last Saturday that would have prompted raised eyebrows among every loose forward across the ditch who has ever laced up a boot, and wry grins among fans that follow the Wallabies.
“You're taking space,” Peyper opined to outhouse-sized Highlanders No.8 Nasi Manu after he had made a huge tackle, released, got to his feet, and drove through and over the ruck. “You're taking space beyond the ball.”
It was a delivered as an admonishment, an explanation for the penalty Peyper had awarded, but it could just as easily have been an excerpt from the textbook on New Zealand forward play. Such is this game we love: legality is often in the eye of the beholder.
But above all, it was a moment that summed up why New Zealand teams have been so formidable down the years. Manu's body position was low, the action of his legs piston-like and his physicality was uncompromising. Michael Foley has been on the money all week. This is about the breakdown tomorrow night, on attack and defence.
Consider the musings of the old sage Graham Henry on offensive play last month.
“We want quick ball in New Zealand and so we concentrate on dominating the space beyond the ball carrier,” Henry wrote on the website he has a hand in while not arming coaches, near and far, with his knowledge. “We want our supporting players to get under the opposition and to move them backwards. We flood past the ball to create good possession for our strike runners.”
As an articulation of the huge role the breakdown plays in All Blacks rugby it could not be any clearer.
The philosophy has been embraced with gusto by the Highlanders under Jamie Joseph, whose bruising pack combine size with accuracy in the collision zone. For Henry's “strike runners” read Hosea Gear, Tamati Ellison and Adam Thomson. There was a touch of the All Blacks about the way they got stuck into the Crusaders.
And if you had paid a visit to Hamilton last Friday night you would have seen the same principles in action during the Chiefs v Blues game, especially in the first half.
With former Henry lieutenant Wayne Smith now among the Chiefs' brains trust, the home side scored two tries – to Tim Nanai-Williams and Tawera Kerr-Barlow – on the back of aggressive cleanouts, clearing the space for explosive runners to dart in behind.
On both occasions, Blues defenders could be seen protesting to the referee that this constituted obstruction. Nonsense. The day the game stops rewarding the side moving forward then we really are in trouble. It allows halfbacks such as Kerr-Barlow, the Highlanders' Aaron Smith and the Waratahs' Sarel Pretorius to express themselves. It pulls people through the turnstiles.
The authorities would seem to concur, given the clampdown on forwards arriving off their feet to 'seal off' the ball. This year's change in emphasis puts the onus on the attacking team to stay on its legs and encourages the sort of constructive, up-tempo breakdown work described by Henry.
The Waratahs took one step forward against a Rebels side that will not grow while it sticks by individuals who serve it poorly, but the Reds remain the only Australian team that consistently dominates the space ahead of the ball. They have done their homework. It is not by coincidence that Ewen McKenzie liked to line up the Crusaders as opposition in recent pre-seasons past.
His side won the competition last year because the Reds' pack was prepared to work harder than any other, overcoming oxygen deprivation to try and keep up with Will Genia's flat (and too often forward) passes on the gain line.
While watching them play it is instructive to forget about the backs and focus on the likes of Rob Simmons and Ben Daley. When the Reds' tight five hit their rucks they aren't concerned about what's going on behind them or cluttering up the midfield, they just keep ploughing straight on, clattering anyone in their path out of the way. The ball is being recycled at pace and holes are being created along the defensive line. It's the sort of unselfish work that brings them few five-pointers as individuals but might produce a much bigger team prize at the end of the season.
As for the Waratahs, they are about to get a much clearer picture of where they lie. All-Australian affairs are often talked about as Wallabies trials but much more can be learnt from overseas opposition. Win in New Zealand and everyone sits up and takes notice. Closed ceiling there may be, but fireworks are waiting in Dunedin.
From the Sydney Morning Herald
*******************
Beware Waratahs, there's a touch of Henry in the Highlanders
Paul Cully
March 8, 2012
There was a lovely little exchange picked up on referee Jaco Peyper's microphone during the fabulous Highlanders v Crusaders game last Saturday that would have prompted raised eyebrows among every loose forward across the ditch who has ever laced up a boot, and wry grins among fans that follow the Wallabies.
“You're taking space,” Peyper opined to outhouse-sized Highlanders No.8 Nasi Manu after he had made a huge tackle, released, got to his feet, and drove through and over the ruck. “You're taking space beyond the ball.”
It was a delivered as an admonishment, an explanation for the penalty Peyper had awarded, but it could just as easily have been an excerpt from the textbook on New Zealand forward play. Such is this game we love: legality is often in the eye of the beholder.
But above all, it was a moment that summed up why New Zealand teams have been so formidable down the years. Manu's body position was low, the action of his legs piston-like and his physicality was uncompromising. Michael Foley has been on the money all week. This is about the breakdown tomorrow night, on attack and defence.
Consider the musings of the old sage Graham Henry on offensive play last month.
“We want quick ball in New Zealand and so we concentrate on dominating the space beyond the ball carrier,” Henry wrote on the website he has a hand in while not arming coaches, near and far, with his knowledge. “We want our supporting players to get under the opposition and to move them backwards. We flood past the ball to create good possession for our strike runners.”
As an articulation of the huge role the breakdown plays in All Blacks rugby it could not be any clearer.
The philosophy has been embraced with gusto by the Highlanders under Jamie Joseph, whose bruising pack combine size with accuracy in the collision zone. For Henry's “strike runners” read Hosea Gear, Tamati Ellison and Adam Thomson. There was a touch of the All Blacks about the way they got stuck into the Crusaders.
And if you had paid a visit to Hamilton last Friday night you would have seen the same principles in action during the Chiefs v Blues game, especially in the first half.
With former Henry lieutenant Wayne Smith now among the Chiefs' brains trust, the home side scored two tries – to Tim Nanai-Williams and Tawera Kerr-Barlow – on the back of aggressive cleanouts, clearing the space for explosive runners to dart in behind.
On both occasions, Blues defenders could be seen protesting to the referee that this constituted obstruction. Nonsense. The day the game stops rewarding the side moving forward then we really are in trouble. It allows halfbacks such as Kerr-Barlow, the Highlanders' Aaron Smith and the Waratahs' Sarel Pretorius to express themselves. It pulls people through the turnstiles.
The authorities would seem to concur, given the clampdown on forwards arriving off their feet to 'seal off' the ball. This year's change in emphasis puts the onus on the attacking team to stay on its legs and encourages the sort of constructive, up-tempo breakdown work described by Henry.
The Waratahs took one step forward against a Rebels side that will not grow while it sticks by individuals who serve it poorly, but the Reds remain the only Australian team that consistently dominates the space ahead of the ball. They have done their homework. It is not by coincidence that Ewen McKenzie liked to line up the Crusaders as opposition in recent pre-seasons past.
His side won the competition last year because the Reds' pack was prepared to work harder than any other, overcoming oxygen deprivation to try and keep up with Will Genia's flat (and too often forward) passes on the gain line.
While watching them play it is instructive to forget about the backs and focus on the likes of Rob Simmons and Ben Daley. When the Reds' tight five hit their rucks they aren't concerned about what's going on behind them or cluttering up the midfield, they just keep ploughing straight on, clattering anyone in their path out of the way. The ball is being recycled at pace and holes are being created along the defensive line. It's the sort of unselfish work that brings them few five-pointers as individuals but might produce a much bigger team prize at the end of the season.
As for the Waratahs, they are about to get a much clearer picture of where they lie. All-Australian affairs are often talked about as Wallabies trials but much more can be learnt from overseas opposition. Win in New Zealand and everyone sits up and takes notice. Closed ceiling there may be, but fireworks are waiting in Dunedin.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I forgot who or which game but there was a very clear moment of this by a NZ player right in front of the referee on the weekend. It was so bad that the player ended up obstructing the defenders from even hitting the ruck by tackling (wresting) with them a metre ahead of the ruck.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I gave up on them 2 years ago after 40 years
I think youre too hard on him - Barnes Carter is better than Halangahu Barnes: Hangers wil be found out by the in your face kiwi back rowers much as he was against the Crusaders last season.
There is no reliable compelling 5/8 IC combo in Aus rugby.
sonny crockett
Allen Oxlade (6)
There is nothing particularly new about getting past the ball, and controlling the space beyond it. It comes down to decision making and the thngs that people see on TV, the George Smith and Richie McCaw tackle. What TV doesnt tell you is that these guys have made a decision to stop and contest the footy as they believe they can do so before a ruck forms and win it one on one and quickly. For a greater part of the game, and you stats men will be able to look at straight tackle/ruck turnovers, and how many of them there are in comparison to total brekadowns/tackles, there is a great requirement to hit and shift, one of the 4 basic tenets of the game is to go forward in my opinion. However, it is quite difficult to get people to not constantly stop a the ball, and to go beyond the ball. It is a fantastic part of the physical contest, and requires accuracy and precision. Another issue I have with it is some of the stuff being coached at NTS or whatever they call it these days level, requires you to stop and not go forward, stuff they call "the forklift" and "the crocodile roll", rarely used stuff that requires great physical strength, and a necessity to stop going forwards. Nasi Manu sure did go on with the drive a little too much though, and was deservingly penalized. The space behind the ball can be controlled a little more subtly than drilling a guy 5 or 10 metres backwards, it also made Manu reaonably ineffective in what he could do or was able to do just post that smashing, he had taken himself out of play in reality.
The Foxsports commentators were talking about the Australian 5/8s last weekend in terms of Wallaby selections.
Basically the comment was that there isn't one potential Wallabies 10 playing 10 in Super Rugby.
The Western Force have a halfback playing 10.
The Brumbies have a genuine 10 but he is nowhere near Wallabies selection.
The Reds have a Kiwi playing 10.
The Tahs have a genuine 10 but he is nowhere near Wallabies selection.
The Rebels have a Pom playing 10.
Out of the three potential Wallabies 10s (O'Connor, Barnes and Cooper), two are play inside centre and one is still recovering from a knee reconstruction. It certainly must frustrate Robbie Deans that he is continually stuck selecting key playmakers who haven't played there all season.
Richo
John Thornett (49)
The Waratahs' reticence to play Barnes consistently at 10 over the last couple of seasons has never really made sense to me. Injuries aside, they need to commit to this and build the backline around it. Instability is just about the worst thing possible for the development of combinations.
I agree.
I'm pretty convinced that he will end up there before too long.
Unless we see a Gaffney masterstroke and the Halangahu/Barnes dual playmaker combination is unstoppable.*
* I'm thinking this is far more unlikely than seeing Barnes at 10 within a few rounds.
I'm pretty convinced that he will end up there before too long.
Unless we see a Gaffney masterstroke and the Halangahu/Barnes dual playmaker combination is unstoppable.*
* I'm thinking this is far more unlikely than seeing Barnes at 10 within a few rounds.
SouthernMan
Frank Row (1)
Highlanders:
1. Jamie Mackintosh ©
2. Andrew Hore
3. Chris King
4. Josh Bekhuis
5. Nick Crosswell
6. Adam Thomson
7. John Hardie
8. Nasi Manu
9. Aaron Smith
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Hosea Gear
12. Phil Burleigh
13. Tamati Ellison
14. Kade Poki
15. Colin Slade
Reserves
16. Jason Rutledge
17. Bronson Murray
18. Culum Retallick
19. James Haskell
20. Jimmy Cowan
21. Kurt Baker
22. Buxton Popoali'i
1. Jamie Mackintosh ©
2. Andrew Hore
3. Chris King
4. Josh Bekhuis
5. Nick Crosswell
6. Adam Thomson
7. John Hardie
8. Nasi Manu
9. Aaron Smith
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Hosea Gear
12. Phil Burleigh
13. Tamati Ellison
14. Kade Poki
15. Colin Slade
Reserves
16. Jason Rutledge
17. Bronson Murray
18. Culum Retallick
19. James Haskell
20. Jimmy Cowan
21. Kurt Baker
22. Buxton Popoali'i
No Ben Smith is certainly a boost for the Tahs.
Obviously Slade is no slouch, but I'd be much more worried about the attack of Smith.
Obviously Slade is no slouch, but I'd be much more worried about the attack of Smith.
I don't see "reticence" I see Barnes being injured (or as the issue another being injured)
At the moment, I expect if Mitchell or Turner were about, then AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) could be at 13, Horne 12 & Barnes 10
I'm not pissing in your pocket, Lee, but with well-crafted pieces like that you'd give Cully a run for his money in any rugby media. If Henry's philosophy's oblique advice for every Kiwi rugby coach surely your thoughts are a warning for every Australian coach to be very aware of it.
suckerforred
Chilla Wilson (44)
I'm glad he made that clear. I am sure the Scott or RGS will be able to tell us the actual occurance's of Genia forward passes last year. I will even settle for all passes and not only those to the forwards.
I agree LG that Cully is one of the better rugby writers around (although not a patch on you) however I would like some unbias comentary occasionly without the 'snide' remarks. Other then the Genia comment interesting read. Than again I am a QLD'er so burr up when people slag off at our players without backing it with fact.
Torn Hammy
Johnnie Wallace (23)
Maybe the Waratah selectors can tell me who is going to run the crash ball.
I thought that rugby stopped playing 2 playmakers at 10 and 12. It doesn't make sense to me when you consider the impressive drive from the Highlander forwards and the inexperience, youth and lack of size of their inside backs. Seems like the perfect situation to be running a crash baller at 10/12 channel all night.
People may dislike the crash ball, but if you are not going forward you are going sideways.
I thought that rugby stopped playing 2 playmakers at 10 and 12. It doesn't make sense to me when you consider the impressive drive from the Highlander forwards and the inexperience, youth and lack of size of their inside backs. Seems like the perfect situation to be running a crash baller at 10/12 channel all night.
People may dislike the crash ball, but if you are not going forward you are going sideways.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
i dont get this call for Horne to move to IC - I thought his attributes related to speed and elusiveness? Neither of those will get much of an outing at IC
There is one justification for playing a 10 at 12 and that is to have a second playmaker available if the 10 is caught in a ruck....when was the last time Hangers took the ball into a ruck?
Funny ain't it, he would be good enough for other countries, but not Aus.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Hangers?
Surely not!
Unless Harris has an Aussie parent or grandparent, he'd still be a year away from qualifying I believe.
I think you have to reside for 3 years somewhere before you become eligible. He would have just started his third year I believe.
I think you have to reside for 3 years somewhere before you become eligible. He would have just started his third year I believe.
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