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Inside Line: Why England must beware a tactically rebooted Australia

Samu Kerevi - Inside Line: Why England must beware a tactically rebooted Australia - AFP
Samu Kerevi - Inside Line: Why England must beware a tactically rebooted Australia - AFP

High stakes and a healthy dash of needle in keeping with a historic rivalry: this Anglo-Australian series could be special.

Both contestants are striving for consistency and to establish an identity, or re-establish one in the case of the tourists. Spills are as likely as thrills, but the spectacle is sure to be compelling despite any flaws.

Sparked by the 2016 whitewash and standing at eight straight wins, Eddie Jones has a remarkable record against his compatriots over his England tenure.

For that unbeaten run to remain intact, however, would be hugely impressive. Thanks in part to the pain dished out by England in the past, the Wallabies are clearly progressing and capable of a victory that would intensify pressure on Jones.

Respecting territory

Ahead of the World Cup quarter-final in 2019, Michael Cheika raised eyebrows by admitting that he was “not a big analyser of the opposition”. Australia’s then-head coach stated that he did not have a view on England’s strengths and weaknesses as a team.

A few days later, the Wallabies were thrashed 40-16. Australia only kicked the ball 15 times. England kicked 20 times and completed 193 tackles while their rivals only tallied 86. In yet another rope-a-dope operation, Jones’ side scored two of their four tries directly from turnovers.

Aided by heavy scoreboard pressure, Anthony Watson’s late interception felt symbolic. It came as Australia were attempting to play out of their own territory and encapsulated how England had used their defence to squeeze and suffocate the Wallabies over the previous three years:

With hindsight, Cheika’s pre-match comments seemed rather pig-headed. Was pride more important than pragmatism, even if that meant playing into England’s hands?

A marked increase in kicking has been a flagship tactical shift of the Dave Rennie era. Opta’s numbers bear that out undeniably:

There are 15 Brumbies players in Australia’s 35-man squad for this series and Dan McKellar has come into the national set-up on a full-time basis. McKellar, Brumbies head coach until the end of the current Super Rugby campaign, was also seconded to the Wallabies in 2021.

Brumbies reached Super Rugby’s last four this year and their 35-25 triumph over the Hurricanes in the quarter-final was an exhibition in patience. They kicked 32 times and made 948 metres through the boot. Hurricanes made 778 metres from 22 kicks.

Nic White was a prominent figure in that strategy and the scrum-half was name-checked on Friday by Jones, who predicted that Australia’s half-backs would kick long and in-field to restrict the number of line-outs. As ever, the territorial and set-piece battles go hand in hand.

Line-out as a launchpad

For various reasons, Rennie is without a host of locks including Will Skelton, Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman and the Arnold twins, Richie and Rory. There are three debutants – Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville and Jed Holloway – capable of covering there.

Darcy Swain and Matt Philip would appear to be the front-line second-row combination and those two only have 30 caps between them. There is uncertainty at hooker, with Dave Porecki a potential debutant. Then you have the possibility of Harry Wilson and Rob Valetini joining Michael Hooper in a hard-carrying back row.

All of those moving parts could weaken the line-out. Whether Courtney Lawes is picked as a lock or a flanker, England will be confident of disrupting Australia in this area. They may have to.

Of the 39 tries that the Wallabies scored in 2021, 23 originated at a line-out.

A tally of 11 first-phase tries indicates a penchant for mauling and strike-moves.

This over-the-top ploy, which sees Hunter Paisami send Andrew Kellaway to the line, catches New Zealand cold:

A month later against Argentina, Australia score two tries from different options stemming from the same line-out peel.

In the first half, hooker Folau Fainga’a launches Valetini through the middle:

The key is that Fainga’a is able to arc around opposition forwards in the line-out to reach Julián Montoya. That forces Rodrigo Bruni to choose between jamming in to cover Valetini and staying wide to pressurise Quade Cooper:

Aus
Aus

Much later on, with Argentina wary of a short pass, Fainga’a delivers a pull-back to Cooper that instigates a try out wide for Kellaway:

In both cases, White bolts down the blindside to keep Argentina honest. Players in motion cutting incisive angles is a hallmark of Scott Wisemantel, who joined Rennie after leaving his post as England attack coach.

Wisemantel’s way

Under the guidance of Wisemantel, England attacked with an efficiency that they have not rediscovered since.

Players worked hard off the ball to offer various options to the ball-carrier and caused defenders to make decisions. At worst, multi-faceted attacks win collisions and generate quick ball. At best, their runners hit holes.

Kyle Sinckler’s try against Australia in the 2019 World Cup quarter-final is a prime example.

Owen Farrell is able to put his tighthead prop into space thanks to two other team-mates. Billy Vunipola is a primary flat option, fixing Rory Arnold and Tolu Latu. Meanwhile, Manu Tuilagi circles around into a second wave to distract Christian Leali’ifano.

Sinckler takes the lane between Latu and Leali’ifano:

In the semi-final, Jonny May arcs all the way across from the blindside wing to hold Jack Goodhue. This isolates Richie Mo’unga and gives Elliot Daly a one-on-one:

Billy Vunipola and Tuilagi would often line up alongside one another under Wisemantel, presenting a beastly conundrum for defences. Which one would carry? Would one tip the ball to the other? Would there be a pull-back to a deeper distributor? Often, room was manufactured for colleagues.

There are a number of precocious runners in the Australia squad and last year showed flashes of the simple yet effective attack synonymous with Wisemantel.

This try in July’s third Test against France, finished by Tate McDermott, comes one phase after Tom Banks returns a clearance. Australia are actually down to 14 at this stage due to Marika Koroibete’s red card.

However, from a ruck five metres in from the touchline, they cut France apart:

The try is made by the speed with which Australia’s forwards coordinate themselves and adopt a 3-2 shape. Here, as Banks counters, we can identify the chief protagonists and the roles they adopt.

Lachlan Swinton and Brandon Paenga-Amosa hit the ruck. James Slipper, Swain and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (marked by circles) form a three-man pod off scrum-half.

Allan Alaalatoa and Michael Hooper (marked by squares) line up in a two-man pod off fly-half. Isi Naisarani (marked by the triangle) backpedals all the way towards the near touchline to offer width and stretch France:

rugby
rugby

When the ruck is won, McDermott feeds Swain. Noah Lolesio is in behind the three-man pod with centre Hunter Paisami in behind the two-man pod. Australia have options. Watch Alexandre Bécognée, Cameron Woki and Arthur Vincent in France’s defensive line:

rugby
rugby

They become disconnected because Bécognée turns in slightly as Swain pulls the ball behind Salakaia-Loto to Lolesio:

rugby
rugby

Woki must cover Alaalatoa and gets isolated because Vincent is concerned about a wider pass and does not jam in. A cut-out to Hooper creates the line-break as the flanker flies between Woki and Vincent:

Hooper does brilliantly, beating Antoine Hastoy in the back-field before linking up with McDermott, who hunts a second touch to score. England will need to monitor a number of threats.

Precision and power

Australia’s discipline unravelled on their tour of Europe last autumn at the end of a long – and largely positive – international campaign. Undoubtedly, the highlight of their 2021 was back-to-back wins over South Africa.

You do not beat the Springboks without steel and composure and it is no coincidence that the Wallabies had Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete and Taniela Tupou in their squads for both of those victories.

Tupou is a doubt for the first Test against England but could be a big influence on the series. He spearheaded a crucial shove to force the decisive penalty in the first win over South Africa last year…

…and surged through the world champions in the build-up to Len Ikitau’s second try a week later. Koroibete’s offload is crucial, too:

Eddie Jones has highlighted that Kerevi can be used as a first-phase focal point, particularly from line-outs, and that the centre often picks and goes through the fringes of breakdowns.

In the past, Jones has admitted that the presence of Kerevi has caused him to select Owen Farrell at fly-half rather than inside centre. Might it make England reluctant to deploy the midfield axis of Marcus Smith and Farrell?

Cooper’s poise on the gain-line makes Kerevi more dangerous. The delay on this pass against Argentina, with runners in motion around the fly-half, is delicious:

Angus Bell, the 21-year-old loosehead prop, is another tackle-breaker. Ikitau provides additional thrust in midfield. Rob Valetini, Pete Samu and Harry Wilson are all tough to stop.

Indeed, these carriers allowed Australia to stay patient inside the opposition 22 for a number of close-range tries last year, which takes us back to the very start of this article. The territorial battle will have a significant bearing on three gripping Tests.

Another series success would rank among Jones’ greatest achievements as England head coach, not least because Australia could be a resurgent force.