What the Wallabies have to get right against Fiji

2 months ago 21

The British and Irish Lions are predictably doing a “Bazball” against the Australian Super Rugby teams, running up big scores with an open style of play that was signposted by their selections.

Whether that means the Wallabies should be fearful is open to debate, as it more likely just restates the obvious: club or provincial rugby is the distant cousin of Test rugby in the modern era.

The Wallabies will get the chance to make their statement on Sunday, and after the first three Lions performances, it is pretty clear what they need to do well.

Here are the key areas to look out for against Fiji.

1. Get the Lolesio-Wright-Suaalii axis humming

This trio are without a shadow of doubt the most interesting part of the Wallabies attack, and the hopes of the home side against the Lions will depend on how quickly they get on the same wavelength. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii could also be used as a midfield crashball merchant, but that’s not really what the Wallabies started to embed on the end-of-season tour.

Where Joe Schmidt really wants to get Suaalii is in a bit of space as the second ball carrier, with Tom Wright coming up into the frontline off No.10 Noah Lolesio to create a bit of defensive panic before looking for Suaalii on his shoulder. The Wallabies are happy to run this play from deep as well, and one of the attributes that Suaalii showed during Super Rugby Pacific was the ability to maintain top-end pace over distance due to his long stride. There are obvious ways to use Suaalii – restarts and so forth – but good teams plan for that. Wright’s play-making ability is the key – he’s such an important player for the Wallabies.

2. Scrum clean and square

The Wallabies have already secured a major victory when it comes to perception at scrum time – an area where they have been smashed by referees in the past.

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.

Taniela Tupou at a Waratahs training session in Sydney, with scrum coach Mike Cron and Angus Bell.

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.

Finn Russell (R) and Sione Tuipulotu of the British & Irish Lions celebrate after their victory during the tour match between the Western Force and British & Irish Lions at the Optus Stadium

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

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.

All nine matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.

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