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Video Analysis: Wales Breakdown Defence

Matt Rowley June 21, 2012 15

No GravatarI’ve wanged on about it in a number of different places, including the second Test match review and the latest PODSLAM, so I thought I’d bung together some quick video analysis to show what I’ve been on about.

The difference in the way the Welsh defended the ruck between the first and second Tests was pretty crucial. In the first Test they obviously either thought our wide threats were worth sacrificing men at the breakdown for, or had underestimated Sanchez and our pack in close. Either way, they certainly changed it for the second Test.

Of concern for Australia will be that despite Wales concentrating more men in tight, the Wallabies weren’t able to take advantage out wide. Was this partly due to our lacking gas and an outside break out wide? It’ll be fascinating to see what happens in this respect on Saturday — will the return of Kurtley Beale to the back three be a factor?

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POSTED IN » Wales, Wallabies
About the author: Matt Rowley View all posts by
Matt started G&GR just before the 2007 Rugby World Cup and has been enslaved ever since. Follow him on twitter: @MattRowley

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Discussion »

  • Lee Enfield

    The lack of speed out wide is something that hurts the Wallabies. That is why AAC should have moved to 13 and Shipperley or Morahan should have been at 14.
    Having Morahan or Shippers running off Beale from kick returns could seriously put Wales in the hurt locker.
    The way I look at the current Wallabies backline, there are too many work horses and not enough race horses.

    • Mart

      Spot on!

  • Gumby

    Beale should add some zip and unpredictability from the back. Even if he has a quiet game the Welsh will be expecting something mercurial from him and that should create an opportunity or two elsewhere.

    Quality player though he is I’m expecting he will be a bit under done which will be interesting as there are only two backs on the bench.

    • Robson

      Agree.

  • James

    I like that the picture on the home page for this article has Pocock in front of and detached from an Oz ruck holding on to 2 Welsh defenders.

    Simmons seems to do this a fair bit as well.

    This seriously causes me to throw objects at the tv when the kiwis do it – I wish it wasn’t part of our game (not that it is too any great extent) so that the moral high ground is available when kiwi-bashing.

    • Dally M

      Would be great if the ref’s would actually police it and penalise teams for doing it. It’s clearly obstructing defenders.

  • Who?

    Welsh effectiveness in the breakdown (how many times did their tackler get past the tackled player’s torso before we supported?) slowed our ball (along with creative entry and use of hands), which, when combined with Wales regularly being 1m or more offside and rushing up, meant that we generally couldn’t get around their defense. You’d think that after all the years playing against Bokke teams using this type of midfield rush, we’d have some clue as to how to break it, but we didn’t.

    Last week would’ve been the perfect time to have Gilbert’s old specialty – the short chip and chase. Or a somewhat crossfield chip. There was space in behind, and it would’ve forced Wales to rejudge their line speed. Instead, we just continued to play behind the gain line, often off slow ball.

  • JJJ

    There’s not much point having pace out wide when we have two centres who like to take the ball into contact and don’t unload in the tackle.

    For all he seems to be forgotten following his disappointing showing at the world cup, Cooper’s long passing game would be ideal to exploit the gaps out wide.

    That said, I wouldn’t want to see him defending against these big welsh backs. Even their halfback would run right over him.

    • murph

      Make that two centres and a fullback

      • murph

        Beale’s return, of course, will thankfully add someone who passes to the backline.

        AAC should have been moved to 13 and Horne moved out of the side.

        • Robson

          As good as he is, I don’t think that AAC adds too much more at OC than Horne does. I have always thought that AAC’s best position is at fullback, so I would have put Beale into 10 and Berrick at 12 with McCabe moving to centre; or even going to the bench and leaving Horne at 13. Whether you have McCabe or Horne at 13 is, imho, six of one and half a dozen of the other; although Horne seems to have slightly better vision on where the outside space is in the defensive line and that’s where all good centres should be aiming to go.

  • JezaCBHS

    What surprises me is the general lack of players from both sides at the breakdown. Obviously dry conditions and good tracks lend themselves to more width and pace but the welsh, while defending the breakdown with more numbers, weren’t committing a lot of numbers.

    The Boks and the AB’s use similar tactics re slowing down but occasionally they’ll pile in the numbers to get a turnover – throwing half your forward pack is still effective sometimes.

    Australia need to be ready for a more combative scenario at the breakdown. Unfortunately the welsh appear to be less brutal in this area than both the irish and england – they’re the australia of the northern hemisphere style wise

  • RJ

    I thought the welsh made an absolute scrap of the breakdown all game. Cold have been pinged a lot more.

    I see they have employed the “Sleeping kiwi” tactic at the back of the breakdown.

    Genia having to straddle a welsh forward whilst passing off the back of each brearuck.

    • Mart

      I noticed that a lot too. It was like watching the All Blacks.

      Genia has a cool head. Which is frustrating at times, I want him to blow up at the guys obstructing and take the law into his own hands (a little bit), ala a bit of rucking just to bring the issue to the refs attention.

  • Joe Mac

    More than the lack of speed, its the lack of passing skills from out centres and the lack of Quades cut out pass to hit the players out wide…

    Thansk Gags, great video

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