Opinion
Why rugby Bazball could be the answer for the Wallabies at the World Cup
Paul Cully
Rugby columnist1. What the ‘Australian way’ would really look like
The concept of an Australian way of playing rugby has been ill-defined and arguably counterproductive for years. No one has really delivered a coherent explanation of what it looks like. Playing at speed, with skill? Perhaps, but how is that unique to Australia?
However, if the Wallabies were to go Tate McDermott at No.9, Carter Gordon at No.10, Tom Hooper at No.6 and Fraser McReight at No.7 at the Rugby World Cup, that would be a tangible identity built on youth. It would be Bazball-esque: have a crack and live with the consequences.
Of course, you don’t build a rugby team by appealing to populism, but I’d be willing to bet Australians would genuinely feel an affinity with that sort of a team – and accept the risks.
2. Eddie: Australian rugby has to change
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones joked after Saturday’s 23-20 loss to the All Blacks that he wouldn’t be a rugby administrator until he’s 75, but he did offer a firm view on the state of Australian rugby – and why things have to change.
Eddie Jones before Saturday’s game.Credit: Getty
“Well, I think when you’ve had a long period of time where we have been unsuccessful – you know, you change the coaches, you change the players – there’s something more intrinsically wrong and that’s for Rugby Australia to have a look at.”
When pressed on whether David Nucifora should be targeted for a director of rugby-style role, Jones replied: “Possibly, yes.”
Jones – who has previously been on record supporting a three-team Super Rugby model – has to walk a fine line on the subject, but his endorsement of Stephen Hoiles’ view that the structure is wrong should carry significant weight.
3. Change is hard – and divisive
Rugby Australia has no appetite for cutting Super Rugby teams, which means any change would have to come in the vexed area of the ‘third tier’. With exquisite timing, New Zealand’s NPC kicked off a day before the second Bledisloe Test, and although its costs trouble the heavy hitters at NZ Rugby, the high-performance advantage is obvious.
Wallabies Angus Bell and Pone Fa’amausili after Saturday’s loss to the All Blacks.Credit: Getty
However, this is where things get tricky for Australia. One Super Rugby boss told the Herald they favour an eight-team, NRC-style tournament, not the supercharged club rugby competition advocated by RA chief executive Phil Waugh. This is a minefield but necessary to resolve, because young Australian players are not being set up to succeed and the Super Rugby chief told the Herald: “One of my young props has played against more All Blacks than he’s signed autographs.”
4. Awful England are good news for the Wallabies
First, the positive news from the Tests played overseas at the weekend. England – a possible quarter-final opponent for the Wallabies – were very poor in their 20-9 loss to Wales in Cardiff. There wasn’t even a semblance of improvement from their Six Nations campaign, and they have not improved one bit since sacking Eddie Jones – in fact they’ve probably gone backwards.
Wales thumped England 20-9 in Cardiff this weekend.Credit: Getty
Now, the bad news. The Wallabies’ group stage rivals Wales and Fiji – who beat Japan 35-12 in Japan – have something about them. Fiji benefitted from an early red card against Japan, but they were already one try to the good and confidence in clearly building after three wins on the bounce. Wales, as usual, have come out of their notorious pre-World Cup training camps as a much fitter side, and they have some natural footballers who need to be respected.
Pool C isn’t the hardest one at the Rugby World Cup, but any thoughts that the Wallabies are automatic qualifiers should be quickly shelved.
5. Nawaqanitawase has changed the whole attack
Interestingly, Eddie Jones name-checked Suliasi Vunivalu in his pre-Test press conference, noting that he trained exceptionally well in Dunedin. That may be a pointer towards the Rugby World Cup squad naming on Thursday.
But in terms of the current starting wingers, Mark Nawaqanitawase is clearly the most influential. His ability to come off his wing and look for work in some heavy traffic has turned the Wallabies into a ball-in-hand, possession-based side that is a handful when they run off No.9 Tate McDermott. They’ve shown their hand to an extent with the style of their past two Tests, but that doesn’t make it easy to defend.
And, if they get Len Ikitau back, it wouldn’t entirely surprise if Jordan Petaia becomes an option at No.15 – Samu Kerevi revealed on Friday that it’s his preferred position.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.