Summer Break in the South With Plenty to Think About

You get the feeling the summer break couldn't come soon enough for NZ. SA played 12 tests and NZ played two extra. Rotations were made but SA looked more composed and assured this autumn. NZ looked like it was running on the vapour left over from Ellis Park. SA adjusted much more to the conditions up north and changed their tactics accordingly. They used it as a forerunner to the RWC and they proved to the world they will be a formidable team for anyone to face in 2015. They are building very nicely. NZ, the impression I have, appear to be perceived as having peaked or have little room for improvement. This, ironically, is in my view a positive thing for NZ. The teams that they faced will believe NZ are on the wane and can be rightly beaten. I take the view that there is still much improvement in this side. There will no longer be so many changes and we can expect to see a more settled squad from now on. There will be some interesting additions but generally combinations will settle and performance should improve as a result.

Australia, on the other hand, will actually feel that it's a shame they have to take a break now. After the disappointment of England, I have been impressed with how Australia have come back and claimed the number three spot. They have their confidence back and they have had four tests in Europe. They are trending upwards and if they could choose when to play their extra Bledisloe test, you'd feel they'd be screaming out to play it now.

So SA, Australia and NZ go back to their off-season all with their tails up for differing reasons. Argentina have to truck on with their players playing in the NH club scene and once again I expect them to start off with their first match in SA with a hammering. The Super season will be an intriguing one with what new tactics we see notably with the breakdown and the set piece. I expect some changes in physiology to adapt to the new scrum laws and I expect SA to increase their rolling maul tactic.

The SH 3 have the luxury of watching the 6N and seeing how teams compete among themselves up north. Then it's into the Super season with a Chiefs Toulon world club challenge to kick things off in the off season. I expect Toulon to soundly win but for the NZ chiefs to fill their coffers and probably they will play without their AB players. But they will be mindful of the games they faced this autumn and that there will be some watchful eyes on some of the matches to see how consistency and performance work for some teams. Is Ireland on the up or did we see one of their one-off performances. Can England construct something useful out wide as well as build on their growing pack stature and can Wales forget about their SH horror run and continue their 6N consistency? What are we going to see from France and can Scotland and Italy throw some spanners in the works?

The thing NZ will have in the back of their minds over summer is not what the north is up to but what awaits them down south after the summer. They will know the NH teams played very well against them and that they were lucky to remain unbeaten. But more of a threat is the growing confidence of Australia and the consistency and effectiveness of SA. It's a well deserved break but there will be some time devoted to thinking of ways to stay ahead. Australia are still a work in progress but they are on the right path. Link must be commended for turning around this year. SA too are a work in progress but further down the right path. NZ too, despite what people think, are also a work in progress and particular attention will be devoted to the forwards and their approach to the breakdown and the set piece.

A well earned break but there will be a lot still going on at the back of the players' minds and coaching staff.

I think Hansen's men will be tired but satisfied after having a perfect season, they won't worry too much about the fact that they weren't as convincing in the November series as they should have.

Meyer will be very satisfied that his focus on coming north and being undefeated for the second year running. However he will be obsessing over how to beat the All Blacks next season as he knows New Zealand will be waiting for the Springboks in the Semi finals.

The Boks look like they have the goods to in different conditions against most teams. However they will have to work on balancing attack, tactical kicking and defensive structures, all this dependant on smart players making the right decisions.

Australia had a mare of a start, but then having to play the British and Irish Lions, then the AB's and a resurgent Springbok team would be daunting for any team.

They came ou of this tour with their heads held high, having only lost to England with what can only be seen as a few unforeseen errors.

What the SANZAR nations will have learnt from the year is that everyone gets a match where officals play a bigger role than they should and thus far only the AB's have shown they keep on winning.

I do think the Boks learnt from it when you consider they had two perfectly good tries disallowed against France and yet always looked in control of the match.

I suppose when you look at ten wins and one loss for us over the Autumn tour we don't have much to complain about.

Well I think this year, for ABs, boks and wallabies, the most improved side is the boks.

The kiwis won all their's, kudos to them, but I don't think they showed any improvements, or is it they are already at the top of their game? Still an awesome side, but with the improvements the boks have had from the start of the RC with power and more back movements looks to be the side to beat next year.

Wallabies playing with more freedom which I enjoyed but still lack the steel the other 2 sides have. The Welsh game helped us cause I think they gave us heaps too much room for our backs, plus I think they went into too much of a macho mode, as shown by all the posturing and face up, which were unnecessary, and the worst was when they tried to muscle their way out of their 22 near the end of the first half 3 times when most sides would have played safe and kicked for position. From that they gave a turn over and penalty away which gifted us 3 points.

I would love to see what the kiwis bring to the table next RC, hopefully not too much more cause then they really will be unbeatable. I'm looking forward to the boks playing with power and pace, which will make them an exciting side to watch. for our lot, I am wondering if the 3 talismen, Pocock, JOC and Beals, makes a successful comeback and if they do we going to lose Hooper, Folau and one of the centres? which would be a shame cause I think there's the start of a good squad bonding there.

Looking forward to the RC for sure!

NZ had the toughest AI series undoubtably. No easy game against Scotland or Italy to rest and rotate the side. The also hit the toughest opponent first and then had to build again for the revenge match against England.

Don't believe Meyer's media hype about playing a less expansive game - he did exactly the opposite which seems to have slipped under the radar. By switching in Le Roux to fullback he has found another dimension and it payed off in the try scoring stats, where I believe the springboks topped the chart, and also kicked the least amount of possession away.

Australia, well the copped it in the penalty count at twickenham and then mckenzie's complaint saw to it that the scrum weakness was again hidden disguised.

GE, I think the players have started to use what they have learnt in the RC.

Our tactical kicking was used to better effect, and our forwards managed to dominate, which automatically allowed our backs more freedom.

I think Meyer is trying to find the balance between all the aspects.

My feeling is that ironically SA may have opened themselves up for the high ball assault next year. Interesting to see if anyone challenges them to that game.

OzT wrote:I would love to see what the kiwis bring to the table next RC, hopefully not too much more cause then they really will be unbeatable. I'm looking forward to the boks playing with power and pace, which will make them an exciting side to watch. for our lot, I am wondering if the 3 talismen, Pocock, JOC and Beals, makes a successful comeback and if they do we going to lose Hooper, Folau and one of the centres? which would be a shame cause I think there's the start of a good squad bonding there.

Looking forward to the RC for sure!

Hard to predict if they will return soon given the different situations with the three of them. With JOC especially it will be interesting to see if he returns to Aus for the S15 or makes a move to France for next season. If they did return I'd be very surprised if Folau and Hooper were the guys too miss out for them.

Personally I've always viewed Pocock as more of a 6 than a 7 given he offers brilliant defence/breakdown work but little in the way of link play between forwards and backs. Hence why I'd be very interested too see 6.Pocock 7.Hooper on the flanks.

1.Slipper
2.Moore
3.Kepu
4.Simmons
5.Horwill
6.Pocock
7.Hooper
8.Mowen

9.Genia
10.Cooper

11.Tomane or Cummins
12.Leali'lifano
13.Kuridrani
14.Folau
15.Beale

Throw in the likes of Polota Nau, Robinson, Alexander, Fardy, Gill, Toomua, AAC and Foley plus the possible returns of Ioane and JOC - Australia are actually building a pretty strong squad if they can find consistency. The above side would offer a big challenge to most in the world.

The AI's clearly missed Conrad Smith as Ben Smiths form couldnt have gone from world best mominee to almost invisible (in comparison to his earlier efforts) quicker so next year that gets restored.
 
The battle for the back 3 (and Conrads backup) as well as 9 and 10 will continue.
 
McCaw and DC's layoff will be interesting- does it mean they miss the England series?
 
Other than that its BAU for the sxv and I've again an interest in the Blues- the JK/ Henry influence will kick in at some point- thats just a matter of time. Just hope its sooner than later.
 
Meyers gotta be happy overall. More options, real things to work with, best position SA rugby's been in since 2010. Now its about how well the sxv can feed into the side over the next two seasons. That will be crucial for injury back up and continuity.
 
Oz are the dark horse. Cooper has super impressed with his comeback both on and off the field so I expect him to be a critical part of both the Oz strategy and leadership going into 2015- that is a concern when in the past strong oz identities lead the way to the World cups- the Campeses/ Horans of 91 and Little/ Eales of 99- and two years out from both those the Abs were on almost as hot a streak as they are now.
 
Oz showed that so much can change in two years

I watched Luatua in the Barbarians game. He had a storming game. When he is able to range wide he's a real handful. I think he might play in the Australia tests but much like Kaino in his early days he hasn't yet learned to dominate the breakdown. We could see a few changes in the forwards depending on the opposition. Where will Ben Smith play in Super rugby: centre or fullback? I expect a few changes.

It just goes to show what a few games can do to change your side. The expectation from Oz or SA fans will be a NZ scalp. That is always the expectation but if NZ don't slip up, the following RC in a RWC year won't matter. Teams will be focused on peaking for October. So the psychological points will be the 2014 RC the big 3 want to make a statement. The stakes are raised and that should see teams bring their A game. Going to be fascinating to see Super rugby and RC next year. Who can extract the most improvement?