Australia V Wales

[valzc]

Fantastic work again Andrew!Love seeing the figures. Am really shocked at how low the percentage impact is for the forwards pack. Even though the whole team seemed to have been making more of an effort getting quickly to rucks doesn't seem very good how little impact the forwards are having eg Hooper Simmons & Carter. The backs aren't doing that much less rucks but they're stats at making an impact are way higher.

[Herbasimplex]

Ruck involvement for full game:


+ Simmons (67 mins) made 30 rucks, 23 early (77%) and 3 with impact (10%).
[/U]

simmons - Mr 10%. has a future as a player manager for sure

[UNCLE BOOG]

Haha. You are like my tax accountant Andrew. You could be making all that up, but I'll still believe you for the simple fact I can't be arsed checking myself! Good work mate.

[andrewg]

This was the first Test under new coach Cheika.

One feature that was obvious was his expectation of involvement by the Forward Pack - especially over their planned game/replacement time.

There appears to rest periods and periods when the tight 5 are expected to step up. I don't think that this just represents just how the game progressed. There is a clear strategy for conserving energy during the game.

First 10 - Fianga'a and Kepu (8 rucks each) to have major involvement in Rucks in Attack and Defense - others (4 or 5 rucks each) mostly on attack.
10-20 - Slipper, Simmons & Carter to step up in both A&D (8 or 9 rucks each); Hooper & Fianga'a less involvement (2 or 3 rucks each ); others focus on Attack rucks (5 rucks each).
20-30 - Fairly even contribution but holding off on rucks in Defence (Fianga'a had the single D ruck stat).
30-40 - Those expected to play the full 80 keeping low (Hooper & McCalman - 2 or 3 rucks each) with all others ( 4 or 5 rucks each) holding off D rucks.
40-50 - Fairly even involvement (McCalman still resting - 2 rucks) and laying off D rucks until late in the 10.
50-60 - McCalman still resting. Skelton involved in some D rucks early in this 10. Generally even spread of ruck involvement but hanging off D rucks.
60-70 - Some early involvement with Hooper, McCalman & Skelton in D rucks. Alexander expected to put in (fresh off the bench) and remainder holding off on D rucks.
70-83 - Wallabies have been criticised for losing games at the end.

Hooper had saved himself well in the 1st half to be able to rise at the end. He combined well with Hodgson. McCalman had rested early in the 2nd half. (See my earlier post for ruck details during this period.)

A Ruck efforts: Hooper (16), Hodgson (10), Skelton (8), Horwill (9), Hanson (7), Leali'ifano (7), McCalman (6) and Alexander (5). Those off the Bench provided the coverage of D rucks; Hodgson (8), Skelton (3), Horwill (2), Hanson (2) & Alexander (1) plus Kuridrani (3).

Hooper & Hodgson entered a ruck every 40 seconds and Hooper also found time to lay on 6 tackles (as he had almost no involvement in D rucks). Impressive effort by both players.

The attached photo shows the individual ruck stats for the Forwards.....

Attachment 3543

[valzc]

There's also that article today onGAGR re the game strategy where the Wallabies were concentrating on going into tackles/rucks with the intent of not necessarily taking down the opposition but turning their forwards back into the line and stopping the go forward. Is pretty interesting IMO Andrew in light of those stats you've done, could explain some of the nos. perhaps? So missed tackles weren't really the issue it was more the tactic of getting Welsh players to turn in to cover defence due to the pressure.

[chibi]

Some words from Scott Allen

[chibi]

I will add a disclaimer to Scott Allen's comments, in that Rod MacQueen found himself in a similar position in 1997, getting the job just prior to the Argentina tour, and we were less than impressive then also. So, given time, we'll have to wait and see. But his points on the fundamentals and laziness, were worrying.

[andrewg]

[andrewg]