IMPRESSIONS OF THE AUSTRALIA vs ENGLAND SERIES SO FAR
Both teams were not great in the first Test and it was clear you had two teams that hadn’t played for a while.
Australia executed a lot better and took their chances while England found it hard to break the Wallaby defence line in the first part of the test in Perth. They played better in the last 10 minutes. Why not play that way all the time?
England didn’t really seem up for it but the second Test was a very different story with the visitors playing like a team of champions.
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The Wallabies thought it would be easier than what it was in the first Test and could see that England were here to play. You quickly learn in international rugby – you can’t rely on last week’s result to get you through the next week.
It’s another challenge and you’ve got to adapt, improve and stand up again.
England really upped the ante and we didn’t really have an answer. Maybe if we keep the ball and back ourselves more! It’s very difficult to come back from such a slow start against a world class team like England.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF COMBINATIONS
You need those combinations at vital times and I think the Wallabies are still lacking that big game experience in vital positions.
Marika Koroibete, who got little opportunity in Perth, still showed he is a danger man.
You can see he is frustrated at not getting enough ball to show how good he is. Both wingers are great finishers, but need the ball early and in space.
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I’d love to see an effort to get the ball wide as quickly as possible to create one on one opportunities. But not by cut outs or 20 metre spirals! They haven’t been able to and that’s one part of our play that can help us in the future.
That was the style that made us so great. Quick hands and support the ball carrier.
Getting the ball to the wingers and allowing them to finish and put points on the board.
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WHAT STYLE IS RENNIE TRYING TO PLAY?
I’m still not really sure what the Wallabies gameplan is.
Samu Kerevi is a strong runner but needs players around him who can give him options and break the defensive line.
If we had two playmakers it would give us more attacking plays. If our 10 gets tackled then the opposition realise our centres will just hit the ball up. We saw this in the All Blacks vs Ireland game last week. Just a thought!
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The game is about moving chess pieces around and when you’ve got players that are one dimensional it’s difficult, even when you do get quick ball, to get it out wide.
It looks hard to do but just put it through the hands and support.
That’s how I look at the game but it is hard to say if it’s right or wrong when you’re not in the inner sanctum and don’t understand what they are trying to achieve. Are we trying to create space out wide?
THE PETAIA PROBLEM
It was sad to see Jordan Petaia get knocked out in Brisbane and unfortunately injuries are badly affecting his career so far.
If you want to have a successful backline then you’ve got to have combinations that understand each other.
Now we’ve got Petaia, Tom Banks and Andrew Kellaway out.
I would have liked Jock Campbell to come into the squad even though he hasn’t been playing great for Australia A.
He is a specialist fullback in my eyes and they seem to be looking for stop gaps instead.
You’ve got to give young guys a chance and Ben Donaldson played very well at 10 for Australia A against Fiji.
NO LACK OF TICKER
I am pleased to see the fantastic spirit and character in this Wallabies side. But when they get their chances in Sydney they’ve got to ram it home.
That comes with experience and confidence as a team. Speaking of ticker, I am happy that Harry Wilson is getting a start – he is a good player and has great vision and skills.
I hope he has a big game even though he hasn’t played for a while. Great players turn up when you get a chance to play for your country. It is a very big Test.
THE EDDIE FACTOR
I caught up with my old Randwick teammate Eddie Jones at a function in Perth which was a bit of fun. He told me to just keep saying what I’ve been saying so I said: ‘I will mate, thanks!’ He will have a good game plan this week.
I hope we put pressure on England by using our skills and not kicking it away so easily.
If we give the likes of Koroibete and Tom Wright early ball and follow them in support then something will happen. Whether it’s a lack of confidence, knowledge or experience playing together, I’m not sure.
THE PREDICTION AND SCG MEMORIES
Before the series I said Australia would win 2-1 and I stand by that.
I know I can be hard on the Wallabies sometimes but that’s just because I think we should demand high standards. This week they’ll know they have to stand up and be counted and it should be a really good Test.
I’ll be at the SCG which was my favourite ground as a player. As a young kid in the 70s and 80s I watched my team the St George Dragons play there, Russell Fairfax playing for Easts and Mark Ella playing against the All Blacks.
And then of course all the great cricketers that have come along since Don Bradman.
We used to use the old members’ dressing rooms where all the great cricketers had been before us. As a young kid that was the ultimate, playing in one of the best stadiums in the world. When people ask what my favourite ground was to play on I say the Sydney Cricket Ground. They look at me funny and I say: ‘this is Australian sport, this ground.’
It was just a buzz to play on the hallowed turf where all my sporting heroes had come before. My final message to the Wallabies is just run the ball and back yourself. If England don’t have the ball they can’t score.
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