Unwanted coach John Muggleton says Australia lacks diligence in defence

[travelling_gerry]

Unwanted coach John Muggleton says Australia lacks diligence in defence

• Wayne Smith
• From: The Australian
• August 30, 2010 12:00AM

John Muggleton knows why the Wallabies are conceding more tries per Test than at any time in the past decade.



Yet the unwanted coach, who turned Australia into the best defensive side in the game, has signed with Georgia for next year's World Cup.


Muggleton, who worked as defence co-ordinator under three Wallabies coaches, Rod Macqueen, Eddie Jones and John Connolly, has returned to Sydney from the stint at Llanelli he began in 2008 when he realised there was no place for him on Robbie Deans' staff.


But apart from the work he is doing with Sydney clubs Warringah and Parramatta, he has been left untouched by Australian rugby, and recently agreed to terms to work with Georgia through to next year's World Cup.


Certainly, the Wallabies could make good use of him after having conceded 16 tries in four Tri-Nations Tests this season. By contrast, the All Blacks have let in only seven in five matches, while the Springboks have given away 17, also from five Tests.


Overall, the Wallabies have leaked 67 tries during Deans' 36-Test stint as coach (1.86 per match), compared to 34 in 25 Tests under Connolly (1.36), 57 in 94 under Jones (1.64) and 43 in 50 Tests under Macqueen (1.16).


The attack stats are no more flattering, with the Wallabies reduced to 2.38 tries per Test under Deans, compared to 2.73 under Connolly, 3.52 (Jones) and 3.39 (Macqueen).


Muggleton yesterday attributed the Wallabies' eroding defensive record to a lack of attention.


"I don't think we're drilling situations enough," said Muggleton, the man who made the "jockey" defence as much a part of modern rugby as the spiral pass by constantly drilling it into the Australians. "In terms of the Wallabies' goal-line, I see guys like Nathan Sharpe and Rocky Elsom and Salesi Ma'afu and Saia Faingaa just ripping in, with no thought of their own safety, but further out from the line, where players have to make decisions, there is often confusion.


"Good teams _ and let's face it, the Wallabies play the top two teams in the world in the Tri-Nations _ will make you pay if you're indecisive."


Under Muggleton, the Wallabies would build defensive work into virtually every training session but he sees no evidence of that now.


"I don't think there is that degree of diligence on defensive matters because the Wallabies don't have a specialist defensive coach, someone who looks at defensive problems and issues all the time."


http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225911614705

[Ecky]

What? Letting in 126 points in the last 4 matches means there is insufficient diligence in defence?

Get outa here! The man is a dead-set genius - probably a rocket surgeon, I'd reckon.

[CunnamullaFulla]

I think he makes some good points.
To a defence coach, the wallaby defence must look pretty ordinary. It looks pretty ordinary to me

[jazza93]

Well the game was played in both teams 22 (because of such easy kicking metres at altitude), defense needs to improve but it was an inflated scoreline on Saturday to say the least. I'm sure he has a point, but he didn't really offer a sollution, unless the reporters just decided to leave it out.

[PerthGirl]

Maybe he didn't offer a solution because he isn't being paid to offer a solution!

[TOCC]

whilst Muggletons defensive patterns might have been first rate in the past, the game has evolved past them and they are no longer suitable.

[Ecky]

whilst Muggletons defensive patterns might have been first rate in the past, the game has evolved past them and they are no longer suitable.

....and he has no new ideas, nor the ability to adapt to the evolution of the game?

[TOCC]

....and he has no new ideas, nor the ability to adapt to the evolution of the game?

how did i know someone was going to say that

John Muggleton came over from the NRL and introduced a very structured heavy drift style of defence, this is the style of defence he perfected in the 90's and its the style of defence he still teaches today.

Drift defence is the style of defence where you show the defender the outside and push across, this worked for Australia during the 90's and early 00's due to the size of the backs, they gifted the attacking team the outside and just pushed them towards the sideline. However it also meant that you have your back to the inside players, the advent of bigger backs and faster forwards running inside angles meant that only the bigger teams could allow time for there attackers to build momentum.

Teams like New Zealand still use a combination of drift defence at times, however having the likes of Carter, Nonu and Smith as the midfield allows this, they are all solid defenders and more often then not perform dominant tackles.


Most International sides now play a up-and-in, blitz or umbrella defensive pattern in modified formats. South Africa perfected the rush defence in the Jake White era, but have since moved on to a up-and-in/umbrella defensive pattern. These defensive patterns are suitable to the smaller, faster backlines but also rely heavily on a mobile forward pack to sweep across.

Many international sides also try a combination of multiple defensive patterns, depending on whether its a scrum, line-out or broken play. However not many top teams limit themselves solitary to 'drift defence'.

[James]

The other problem with Muggleton was that he was an advocate of less players in at the breakdown and more in the defensive line. But if you can pressure the breakdown enough and slow the ball it shouldn't. Plus you've got better chances of getting a turnover if you compete at the breakdown.

What the ABs do at the moment of fluctuating the effort at the breakdown is nasty. They leave off to concentrate on defence and the opposition becomes complacent and as soon as they do they are driven off the ball in numbers.

[BeeJay]

Defensive efforts are energy sapping. High veldt or not, we lost the second half 20-3. Turning over possession just means those big Bok forwards keep running at you - and holes open up.

Fitness, bigger more aggressive forwards (and backs for that matter) may help, whatever the defensive strategy. Would have been interesting to have Higginbotham in the side. I'd like to see McCalman start.

[Burgs]

Apart from riding the last of the Macqueen glory years, Muggles didn't exactly enjoy a stellar period as part of the coaching team.
His department may have been good, but at what expense to attack etc.
Since Alan Jones there has been a string of past coaches who happily lay the boots in at any opportunity.
Far more constructive to STFU or write directly to the coach if they are so concerned.

[normie]

It's just his opinion Burgs, (a superficial one at that) and he probably only gave it because Wayne Smith asked for it. Saying that, WS does sound like a Muggles fan though.

[GIGS20]

Would have been interesting to have Higginbotham in the side. I'd like to see McCalman start.

I'm beginning to really like the idea of starting McCalman at altitude, Brownie's not really the type of player who wears teams down, he's more like an openside, who is agressive at everything he does. Ben, on the other hand, is abrasive, hard running and difficult to handle.......Look for a scheduled replacement at about 50 or 60 with Brownie coming in to take advantage of some good work done by Ben.

Along with which, Brownie will be fit to chew nails by halftime!

Pocock for MOM again!