Wallabies set to make use of NRL tactic as ‘free hit’ suggestion rubbished: World Cup Burning Questions

The World Cup is upon us, and the Wallabies are trying susceptible.

Since Eddie Jones changed Dave Rennie as head coach earlier this yr, Australia has suffered 5 consecutive Test defeats, together with final week’s heavy loss to host nation France.

Jones, who led Australia to a World Cup remaining in 2003, has remained optimistic in regards to the Wallabies’ probabilities after unveiling a youthful squad forward of the quadrennial match.

The Australians have fortuitously been positioned on the ‘easier’ aspect of the draw, and the Wallabies will cruise into the knockouts if they will survive group stage matches towards Fiji and Wales.

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WILL WALLABIES EMPLOY NRL TACTIC?

Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau famously exploited excessive balls throughout his stint in rugby union, and it’s a ploy the Australians are wanting to revive in France this yr.

During final week’s loss to the host nation in Paris, Suliasi Vunivalu scored after leaping to gather a excessive ball that was kicked by halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa.

When quizzed on whether or not Australia would proceed exploiting the aerial experience of Vunivalu and fellow winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, Wallabies assistant coach Jason Ryles joked: “You haven’t bugged our meetings, have you?

“Certainly, it’s there to see. That’s certainly one of their strengths and that’s one of the things you would have seen in the France game that Suli and Mark had opportunities in the air, one-on-one in those contests.

“That’s certainly something that we’re moving towards and building on. Again, it’s a strength of ours and it’s something that when the time’s right we want to give them the opportunity to show what they can do.”

Vunivalu, a former Melbourne Storm winger, was the NRL’s main try-scorer in 2016 and 2017. He has been named within the reserves towards Georgia however might nonetheless see break day the bench. Nawaqanitawase additionally performed rugby league in his youth. Ryles has a background in rugby league himself, serving as an assistant coach with the Storm and Sydney Roosters, additionally working below Jones when he was England’s mentor.

The Wallabies haven’t shied away from altering their assault to go well with the talents of their enjoying roster, so Australia’s wingers may very well be spending loads of time within the air all through the World Cup marketing campaign.

“When those kinds of guys call for the ball, you want to get them the ball, whether that’s through a pass or through a kick,” Wallabies utility Ben Donaldson mentioned of Vunivalu and Nawaqanitawase.

“As we saw in that last game, we put a kick up, and nine times out of ten they’re going to get the ball back.

“Part of our game plan at the moment is to use that smart kicking game to win the ball back or apply pressure to the other team.

“If they can keep getting the ball back for us, I don’t see why we won’t keep doing that.”

IS THIS WORLD CUP A ‘FREE HIT’ FOR THE WALLABIES?

Jones raised some eyebrows final month when he unveiled Australia’s youngest World Cup squad since 1991.

Long-time skipper Michael Hooper and veteran five-eighth Quade Cooper have been axed forward of the quadrennial match, discarded in favour of a youthful technology of expertise. Only eight members of the 33-man squad have prior World Cup expertise, whereas solely 5 gamers are aged over 30.

The unanticipated squad led to solutions Jones was prioritising the 2027 World Cup marketing campaign on house soil, however Wallabies assistant coach Dan Palmer brushed apart the notion this week.

“No, no, no. I don’t see the World Cup as a free hit,” Palmer mentioned.

“We’re here to impose ourselves on every team we come up against and I think we’re in a good position to do that. We plan on going deep into this competition.”

Australia has slipped to ninth on the World Rugby rankings, however the present Wallabies squad doesn’t carry any baggage after years of heartbreaking defeats — their fearlessness might give the Australians an added edge in France.

“Kids bring that confidence that nothing can hurt you, let’s just play,” former Wallabies captain James Horwill instructed The Guardian.

“Fans want to see our boys throw caution to the wind and have a crack. There’s nothing better than young players having a real dig.”

IS THE FLYING MULLET READY FOR VITAL ROLE?

The No. 10 jersey is one among rugby union’s most vital roles, and Jones has entrusted Carter Gordon with the playmaker tasks in France.

The flying mullet was the lone fly half named in Australia’s 33-man squad for the World Cup, with utility Ben Donaldson his lone backup.

Gordon, who made his worldwide debut earlier this yr, is but to style victory at Test stage, however his inventive aptitude has set tongues wagging in his 5 appearances donning gold.

The 22-year-old scored a strive off the bench on Test debut towards South Africa again in July, beginning in each of Australia’s Bledisloe Cup contests towards the All Blacks. He confirmed sufficient promise within the back-to-back defeats to edge out Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley for the coveted No. 10 jersey.

“Being the only 10 on the sheet doesn’t mean too much to me, it is more about getting better and still earning my spot,” Gordon mentioned final month.

“If you go out there and play some bad rugby, you’re going to be giving it up.

“I am just making sure I am growing as a player every day and doing everything I can to keep the jersey.”

Melbourne Rebels assault coach Tim Sampson asserted that Gordon was prepared for the trials and tribulations of World Cup rugby, backing the Queenslander to flourish as Australia’s chief playmaker.

“He’s very robust physically — we saw that this year in Super Rugby, where he carried a lot of a lot of the load for us as well,” Sampson mentioned final week.

“It will be a challenge for him … I do think he will be able to handle it, and I’m sure Eddie and his staff will manage him wisely, because he’s so important.”

However, Gordon’s wobbly goalkicking throughout final week’s warm-up loss to France was trigger for concern, lacking 4 of his 5 makes an attempt in Paris.

Jones threw his help behind Gordon after the 41-17 loss to France, however has since shoehorned Donaldson into the fullback place for Australia’s World Cup towards Georgia, confirming that further goalkicking ability was the catalyst for his shock choice.

“We need to bolster the goalkicking, that’s evident, and that’s why (Donaldson) is in the team,” Jones mentioned on Thursday.

COULD TEENAGE PRODIGY MAKE TEST DEBUT?

Teenage prodigy Max Jorgensen, who’s coming back from a knee damage, was one of many many shock additions to Australia’s World Cup squad, having turned heads throughout this yr’s Super Rugby match.

The 19-year-old, who spent the vast majority of final week coaching at fullback, is without doubt one of the candidates for Wallabies’ No. 15 place, and Jones would possibly establish Australia’s group-stage match towards Portugal as a primary alternative at hand Jorgensen a Test debut.

“I hope he does (debut),” Petaia mentioned.

“Max is an unreal player. He is elusive and a quick learner. He gets along well with the boys and it’s easy for him to gel in and mix with the boys.

“He’s been smashing it.”

Four years in the past, Petaia turned youngest participant to characterize Australia at a World Cup, a document Jorgensen will break if he will get a chance in France.

“He’s training really well, so some really good signs,” Palmer mentioned.

“He hasn’t missed a beat since he got into camp. Obviously, a young guy but he’s thrown himself into it and he’s been training really well.”

AND WHAT ABOUT AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE?

The Wallabies have proven glimpses of their attacking prowess this yr, however defence stays a obvious downside.

In 5 Tests since Jones took over as coach, Australia has conceded 179 factors, scoring lower than half of that tally themselves.

Blame it on expertise, blame it on self-discipline, blame it on no matter — you’ll be able to’t win a World Cup conceding almost 40 factors per match.

Adding to Australia’s woes is the looming heatwave that’s about to hit Paris — the Wallabies may very well be confronted with 30-degree warmth after they face Georgia this week.

“We obviously had our camp in Darwin, which was a little bit warm as well,” Palmer continued.