Wales and Australia provided a fitting finale to week 2, continuing the momentum of World Cup and providing a brilliant game of rugby to cap off possibly the best week of rugby ever. The game to decide Pool D and avoid a route which could possibly include England and New Zealand was a key game to win and Wales brought a touch of class long forgotten in the first minute of the game.
The first minute Wales played a strong and aggressive move deliberately targeting a position on the pitch Australia were weak and forcing an error straight away. Aaron Wainwright produces a quick chop tackle lassoing and bringing down Hooper as Wainwright himself gets away from the ruck area.
lWhilst Australia and Genia look to clear they don’t prepare and secure the ruck well enough, expecting Hooper to have hit the second defender and leaving very little ruck resistance. Instead due to Wainwright making the tackle, Wales have two tight forwards in, Alun Wyn Jones and Ken Owens able to really apply pressure to the ruck.
The turnover is then secured by Wainwright, giving Wales an immediate possession in the Australian 22 where they could look to attack and really grind for a try. However Wales instead switch immediately to set up the next part of their move. And I use move deliberately, the planning of the first kick off looking incredibly similar to the depth put into a plan versus Ireland in the Grand Slam game earlier this year. On this occasion however rather than kick under the posts, Wales drive a pod in the centre of the field twice. Setting up a field position underneath the posts. Allowing Biggar to set for a drop goal under little pressure as there has been no extensive preparation for the drop goal.
The specific game management by Wales allows them to immediately return with points showing respect for the Australians while simultaneously laying down an intensity they were unable to match. This first move therefore can be seen as crucial in setting the tone of the game.
However, the main key for the game came in restricting Australian possession when Wales were dominant. This came down to an integral plan for any side. Prevent Hooper and Pocock from attacking your ball. In the play above the first carry is aimed at exactly where hooper is standing again preventing slow ball. Throughout the game, Hooper and Pocock only returned 1 turnover between them. A remarkable feet when you think they combined for 24 with Scot Fardy at the last world cup.
The best way of course to avoid their threat is to make sure the ball stays far away from them. This tactic was no better demonstrated in Wales’ purple patch than off a lineout in the 11th minute. The ball is thrown to Justin Tipuric at the tail. Wales win and Navidi runs round targeting the Australian tail gunner, Micheal Hooper. This pulls him away from the lineout
Hooper shoots to make a tackle on Navidi. However the Welsh Number 8s wider line also brings the interest of Pocock with him. This means that the Aussie 8 is drawn from behind the lineout. From here, George North comes cantering on a hard line. While this may seem counter productive, running at the Australians main threat, North cuts on his inside putting him on his heels.
It also means that North is supported by the heavy pieces. Tipuric is sat advantageously alongside Wainwright able to make a quick clearing pair should Pocock be able to get near the ball. The angle of the carry then brings him also through weak Australians, carrying North from the 22m to the 5m line. Wales have plenty of support nearby and Australia are unable to challenge.
Then on the third phase from this move, Wales having cleared pocock out of phase 2, run directly at Hooper yet again clearing the ball free as Hooper gets trapped underneath the welsh support. Including Tipuric who provided a steady supply of ball keeping it away from pilfering hands on most occasions.
In the still above, the 6th phase of this move we Tipuric is yet again working. Him and Wainwright working to hold off Hooper and Pocock from the Welsh ball. The speed off ball also means that hooper is in at 1st defender. This means it is harder for him to easily adjust into a jackaling role as he has to worry about Gareth Davies and can’t immediately focus on stealing welsh ball. Meanwhile Tipuric is close enough to restrict Hooper any access once he can compete.
This incredible work rate summed up wales and in this instance led to the Hadleigh Parkes try. Wales attack may not have been glamourous but the technical work and the hard carrying around the ruck was something of a beauty. I have hardly don’t it any real honour in covering it in such little detail but intended to give a small insight and hope it helps to explain why Welsh dominance was secured for the first quarter.
But rugby is a game of two teams and it was Australia who exerted the pressure in the second half, bending but not breaking the welsh defence. It was the adventurous attacks in the wide channels that gave Australia a platform. As the graphic above shows, Australia were an attacking force, especially Kerevi who maximised the gains attacking around the edges of the Welsh blitz which allow though at times functioned well, struggled to contain the threat of Australia as at times they were exposed around the back.
While the graphic above does not show the explicit amount of wide plays it does show the Australians adventurous spirit allowed to prosper through Kerevi. It also shows something which maybe a worry for Wales. Who despite their strong overall defence may have given up yards softly, but it could just well be a system weakness.
I will wrap this post up now, as I no doubt am starting to wear you down and bore you with words. There are many insights I am yet to cover and hope to eventually get round to.
Overall the game provided a great insight into both teams. Wales yet again shown to be a menace of the first kick when it matters as well as able to defend. The Australian attack has finally turned completely to one of high adventure and looks like a threat which may develop especially if they begin to really exploit the gains they make. Wales however won the battle of white and black styles. Their attack of conservative pressure and sensibilities with 9 kicked exits to Australia’s 0 prevailed at the moment, yet it will be interesting to see if the Wallabies change or stick to this adventurous style of play.
The Analysis Guy 