Holding back the world
THE Wallabies posted a record score to humble England but World Cup history says it’s Australia’s defence that has them on track to lift a third Webb Ellis trophy next month.
The Wallabies are one of two teams under the allimportant figure of 12.3 points conceded per game after three matches in the pool stages – and the other isn’t New Zealand.
Statistics from the Fox Sports Lab show every World Cup winner has averaged 12.3 points or less a game in their pool matches; exhibiting the stern defence they would later require to win the final.
At the 2015 tournament, Australia and Ireland are the only sides who are under the mark. Miserly Ireland are averaging 8.6 points per game and the Wallabies are not far behind with 9.7 points. Both sides have only conceded two tries in their three games, along with Wales. Although Welsh ill- discipline has cost them 15.7 points a game.
The Kiwis? They’ve conceded 40 points and three tries in a tougher- than- expected pool C, and are averaging 13.3 points per game.
There is a long way to go, of course, and World Cups are a combination of attack and defence – but even here Australia are competition leaders with a differential of + 97 points.
The Wallabies still have a tough fight against Wales on Sunday, but holding England to 13 points last weekend at Twickenham was an impressive defensive display from which to draw confidence.
Or you’d assume.
For the Wallabies, and hard- marking defensive coach Nathan Grey, there is much improvement to be made.
Grey said England getting 13 points, six linebreaks and forcing 23 missed tackles out of Australia was poor, and the damage was only limited by a spirited, scrambling defence.
“You’re never happy leaking points,” Grey said. “The guys are really fighting for each other.
“We leaked a fair few linebreaks against England, but our scramble was really good. They applied themselves really well, but as a defence coach you don’t like to see the side scrambling too much, you like to shut it down nice and quick.
“We need to continue to improve each week and we’ve already spoken about that from the England game looking into Wales and the threats they pose.
“They’re going to stretch us. They play the ball to the width a lot and look to capitalise. There were a few squeaky moments against England early on.
“Credit where credit’s due for England with their attack, they were trying to sit us down and play around us. They did that quite well occasionally and we’ve got lots of improvement from that perspective.”