What the Wallabies have to get right against Fiji
Scrum coach Mike Cron is so well regarded as a disciple of square, technically correct scrummaging that he has previously been employed by World Rugby as a consultant. The implication is that Cron's teams scrum properly – no mucking about or games.
Given the Lions' scrum issues on the tour so far, the Wallabies have the chance to show against Fiji that they want it to be a contest and they want to back themselves, and that any issues during the Test series will be coming from the Lions. Taniela Tupou lost the refs in Super Rugby Pacific. They were never really convinced that his occasional dominance was above board, and we saw the Lions repeatedly penalised against the Reds for the same crime – the tighthead angling inwards. Angus Bell has to go forward in the No.1 jersey and plant that positive perception in the minds of the match officials.
3. Test the fringes
Picking holes in this Lions team isn't easy – they have so many big and dynamic men. But with that in mind, it has been surprising to see some of their defence around the fringes of the ruck. That has been borderline lazy during the games against the Force and Reds. It is something for the Wallabies to explore.
There have been a few occasions when the Lions forwards have been slow to get back into the defensive line around the ruck, and Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott's eyes must be lighting up. If there are opportunities for the Wallabies' big men to go to work in tight against Fiji, they need to take them.
4. Close down the space at No. 10
Lions No. 10 Finn Russell will cut most teams to shreds if given enough time and space. He punished the Reds when they became a bit passive in Brisbane on Wednesday. Teams in this part of the world are typically not big on the rush defence, but the Wallabies are either going to have to make a complete mess of the Lions' ruck or get off the line faster than normal to negate Russell.
The primary concern, by far, for the Wallabies is Lions halfback Jamison Gibson-Park getting quick ball to Russell to give him time to choose his runners – because those runners will be coming in numbers against the Wallabies. The Lions use No.13 Garry Ringrose as their line speed missile, but it doesn't have to be the No.13. The great Welsh side of a decade or so ago used No.12 Jamie Roberts as their way of putting pressure on the No.10, and the Wallabies have Len Ikitau - one of their best decision makers.
5. Breakdown control
Loading
The most disappointing performance on the Wallabies' end-of-season tour last year was the 27-13 loss to the Scots in Edinburgh because the visitors never really got their game going. Scotland caused a lot of issues at the breakdown, where they are particularly strong, and the Lions can deliver the same pain due to the number of scavengers they had selected in the back row.
Super Rugby-quality carries and cleans won't cut it against the Lions: the Wallabies have to be aggressive and accurate here against the Fijians - or perhaps count their blessings that they have one Test to blow away some of the cobwebs.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
8 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Wallabies: Rob Valetini fit for second Test against Lions
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News. Wallabies star Rob Valetini has declared himself 'good to go' for Australia's do-or-die clash with the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night at the MCG and has backed the decision not to play him in his team's first Test loss in Brisbane. The presence of the intimidating flanker was sorely missed by the Wallabies in the Lions' 27-19 weekend win at Suncorp Stadium. Missing the game hurt, Valetini thought he was a 'shoo-in' to overcome a calf injury and be fit for the match. 'But it was a smart idea just to have a week off and get through some more training and a bit of more loading through the calf,' Valetini said in Melbourne. 'I did a session Saturday morning. I did a pretty tough session there, so (the calf) feels good to go. 'I had to put all my focus through my recovery and getting through all my exercise and trying to get the body right for the next two Tests.' Rob Valetini is ready to return to Australia's forward pack on Saturday night against the British and Irish Lions. Picture:However the third Test on Saturday week in Sydney will mean nothing if the Lions clinch the three-game series with a win at the MCG. 'I was eager to get on the field (in Brisbane) but couldn't, and that's the challenge for us this week, knowing what's coming and trying to prepare for that,' said Melbourne-born Valetini, who hopes to deliver a strong performance in front of family and friends. Not that he's feeling any extra pressure to do so despite the series being on the line for the Wallabies. 'I feel like it's just another game of rugby and something I've been playing ever since I was young,' Valetini said. 'I just try to go out there and just do my job, whether that's carrying (the ball) or doing the tackling. I'm just trying to do my bit for the team, and hopefully I can help the other boys as well.' Veteran Wallabies prop James Slipper welcomed the likely return of Valetini, a two-time John Eales Medal winner. 'His size definitely helps – he's a really good player,' Slipper said of the 26-year-old ACT Brumbies back-rower. 'He gives a lot of boys around him a lot of confidence just the way he goes about his business.' Wallabies prop James Slipper has now played in two series against the British and Irish Lions. Picture: David Gray / AFP) Slipper suggested the Wallabies pack would also be boosted by the expected return of towering lock Will Skelton, who also missed the first Test with a calf problem. 'He (Valetini) won't be the only one that we'll be looking forward to seeing back out there this week. We've got a pretty full fit squad to pick from this weekend,' Slipper said. Slipper has now played in two series against the Lions after also being part of the Wallabies squad that lost 2-1 in 2013 when Australia won the second Test of the series – also in Melbourne – to ensure a decider a week later. 'The belief is there in the group. It's about diving into that and making sure we prepare really well,' he said. Originally published as Rob Valetini set to return from calf injury to play for Wallabies in do-or-die battle with British and Irish Lions
Sydney Morning Herald
9 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tom Lynagh was smashed by the Lions in Brisbane. A Wallabies great wanted an immediate response
Veteran prop James Slipper said Australia have to meet the Lions 'on the edge' of the rule book in the second Test in Melbourne as former Test star Matt Burke questioned why no Wallabies responded with menace to a cheap shot on young five-eighth Tom Lynagh in Brisbane. Slipper pointed to a more ruthless attitude at the MCG by the Wallabies as key back-rower Rob Valetini confirmed his availability for the must-win clash. The grunt work of Valetini was missed at Suncorp Stadium, where the Lions physically dominated the Wallabies. Valetini said he felt on track to play after a calf injury but revealed coach Joe Schmidt had made the call not to risk the big back-rower for the first Test. 'I thought I would have been a shoo-in for the first Test but [it was] sort of a smart idea just to have a week off and get through some more training, a bit more loading through the calf,' Valetini said. 'It feels good to go.' The return of Valetini and Will Skelton will go a long way toward helping the Wallabies improve their physicality in the contact zone, and a more street-smart approach to the breakdown as well could help, in the eyes of Slipper. Slipper, 36, is the only survivor in the Wallabies from the 2013 series, when Australia rallied from a first Test loss in Brisbane to win in Melbourne. Slipper said the advice he would pass to the team is to 'being composed and relying on your preparation'. One area the Wallabies need to improve is matching the Lions in pushing the boundaries with the referee. Australian coaches throughout the whole Lions tour have been privately miffed about the sight of tourists repeatedly slowing down or impeding halfbacks by 'accidentally' being offside at the ruck, and Curry did it several times in Brisbane as well, without sanction.
The Age
9 hours ago
- The Age
Tom Lynagh was smashed by the Lions in Brisbane. A Wallabies great wanted an immediate response
Veteran prop James Slipper said Australia have to meet the Lions 'on the edge' of the rule book in the second Test in Melbourne as former Test star Matt Burke questioned why no Wallabies responded with menace to a cheap shot on young five-eighth Tom Lynagh in Brisbane. Slipper pointed to a more ruthless attitude at the MCG by the Wallabies as key back-rower Rob Valetini confirmed his availability for the must-win clash. The grunt work of Valetini was missed at Suncorp Stadium, where the Lions physically dominated the Wallabies. Valetini said he felt on track to play after a calf injury but revealed coach Joe Schmidt had made the call not to risk the big back-rower for the first Test. 'I thought I would have been a shoo-in for the first Test but [it was] sort of a smart idea just to have a week off and get through some more training, a bit more loading through the calf,' Valetini said. 'It feels good to go.' The return of Valetini and Will Skelton will go a long way toward helping the Wallabies improve their physicality in the contact zone, and a more street-smart approach to the breakdown as well could help, in the eyes of Slipper. Slipper, 36, is the only survivor in the Wallabies from the 2013 series, when Australia rallied from a first Test loss in Brisbane to win in Melbourne. Slipper said the advice he would pass to the team is to 'being composed and relying on your preparation'. One area the Wallabies need to improve is matching the Lions in pushing the boundaries with the referee. Australian coaches throughout the whole Lions tour have been privately miffed about the sight of tourists repeatedly slowing down or impeding halfbacks by 'accidentally' being offside at the ruck, and Curry did it several times in Brisbane as well, without sanction.
