As pointed out in the title, Australia were undisciplined conceding 2 yellow cards in their game against Los Teros. However, following a close defeat to Wales the Wallabies will be glad to have started winning again.
The game against Los Teros enabled the Australians to experiment, and test some combinations. Mat Toomua started having been influential off the bench in the game against Wales. The Aussie centre playing a key role in their first try.
The Uruguayan defence had tightened following a line break by Australia. In the image above you can see that Uruguay have 4 players defencing close to the ruck. This really constricts their line, whilst out wide they have no one defending the outside channels.
Toomua interjects after a poor carry from the forwards getting driven backwards. However it is the inability of Uruguay to adapt that leads to the try. While not surprising, especially given the general strength of Los Teros it is Toomua and Kurtley Beale’s ability to execute the attack that will have pleasing to see freeing Haylett Petty to score.
Australia also brought an array of strike moves which helped them to progress down the field and score. The Uruguay defence was picked off by the Australian playmakers. For example in the image below Uruguay face inward and allow Australia to find width. Whilst it’s the good footwork that makes the try possible the attack from Australia was launched from Uruguay’s 50m area.
The significance, is not that the strike plays were effective it is the fact that Australia were launching from deep and attacking Uruguay from the 50m area than the Normal red zone. Rather than attacking from a platform within the 22m Australia favour a longer attack, turning usually a lethargic area into a hot area. With the opposition having to cover the kick it enables Australia a perfect opportunity to exploit a modern defence. From this area Australia have scored 6 tries, scoring an equal or the majority of their tries in ⅔ games. The outlier in this respect being Fiji where they gave away the ball 10 times in the Fijian 50m area.
Overall, Australia should be a feared force going forward. They have the tools to trouble the most robust of defences. However most importantly they are beginning to really control the game and even though it was against weaker opposition the bedding in and decision making of their playmakers should be a promising sign for any Wallabies fan.
The Analysis Guy 