'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Wallabies had a disastrous tour of Europe in November last year when they lost heavily both to England and Scotland.They have a packed schedule in 2018 as well, as they are going to host Ireland in June and subsequently take part in the Rugby Championship starting in August. To make matters worse, the Australian club teams have also fared very poorly so far in the ongoing Super Rugby championship. Michael Cheika should make some changes in his team's strategies to avoid further ignominy and rejuvenate his team. With the Rugby world cup now less than 18 months away, this is the correct time to make those changes.
#1. Proper Defensive Cover:
Ideally, there should be at least one or two players behind the main line when a team is building an attack so that, a) when a player is passing the ball, there is always a defensive cover for him if he plays a wrong pass or his pass is intercepted and b) the scrum half has the option of playing a 10-15 meter backward pass instead of always passing it sideways.
Passing the ball back backwards to the full back means that he can then kick it to the touchline or opposition territory. This offers the team a chance of gaining territory and also ensures that they do not lose possession inside their own half. I did not see the Australians doing that and instead, they went gung-ho and attacked without any defensive cover. As a result, when a Wallaby pass was intercepted by an opposition player, he ran unchallenged to score a try.
In the Autumn tests against the visiting Australians in November last year, England and Scotland scored 2 tries apiece after intercepting an Aussie pass. This scenario needs to be avoided altogether. Australia have some very good defensive players like Kurtley Beale and Reece Hodge and those players should stay behind the main line to ensure proper defensive cover.
#2 Eliminating Defensive slowness:
The Australian defence was very sluggish against the Northern Hemisphere teams. They were too slow to defend within their own 22 and outwitted by the zigzag runs and nimble footwork of the opposition players, especially against Scotland. They were found wanting in terms of speed and agility. At times it seemed that they were not interested at all.
To cite one instance, I could see the Wallaby No. 4 literally limping and not even bothering to challenge when Scotland were in the process of scoring their first try of the second half through the left wing. In all, the Australians conceded 8 tries against Scotland and 4 against England. This is totally unacceptable and they would have to sort this out.
#3 Making some changes in the attacking set-up:
The Wallabies need to make some changes in their attacking set-up. Australia always look more dangerous when Bernard Foley, their fly-half, is given more attacking freedom. He can be a defensive liability at times but really has some superb attacking vision and finesse
Having Foley on the side would mean that the likes of Kurtley Beale and Reece Hodge would have to take more defensive responsibility. Beale could play as the outside centre, Hodge in the right wing, Marika Koroibete in the left wing and Israel Folau as the fullback. Koroibete scored 4 tries in 8 tests for the Wallabies last season which is a very impressive record for a debutant. The above formation would also enable Folau to make those incisive, try-scoring runs at times. Also, Hodge could share the penalty kicking responsibilities with Foley.
#4. Accommodating David Pocock in the side:
David Pocock, one of the best breakdown experts in the world, is back from the lay-off and now playing in the Super Rugby for the Brumbies. With Michael Hooper also playing as the No.7 for the Waratahs now, the Wallabies would have to find a way out to accommodate both of them in the starting line-up. Either of them could play as the No. 8.
This would also mean that 2 of the better breakdown players in the world would be in the Australian back row. This should definitely improve their performance in the breakdowns. Pocock has more than a decade's experience and almost 70 caps for the Wallabies and this experience is too precious to be ignored.
