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Kangaroo's Cohesion Crisis: World Cup Hopes Fade
26 Oct
Summary
- Australia's World Cup success hinges on teamwork, not stars.
- Fiji's performance highlighted Australia's lack of cohesion.
- Questions linger over key player selections for Australia.
The Australian Kangaroos are grappling with a significant cohesion problem in the World Cup, a recurring issue that has overshadowed their individual talent. Despite possessing star players, the team's lack of teamwork has become a major concern for coach Kevin Walters.
Recent matches have highlighted this deficiency, with Australia's victory against Fiji being flattered by the scoreline. Fiji's spirited performance, led by five-eighth Kurt Donoghoe, exposed the Kangaroos' disjointed play, proving that individual efforts from players like James Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic were necessary to secure wins.
This lack of cohesion was also evident during last year's Ashes Tour in England. Even with different player combinations in the spine due to injuries and rest, the fundamental issue persists. Tough selection decisions loom for Walters, particularly regarding the fullback and halfback positions, as the team prepares for potential semi-final clashes against Tonga or Samoa.
Forward pack performance also remains a question mark, with other teams in the tournament seemingly boasting stronger units. The Kangaroos must resolve these teamwork and selection issues quickly to progress further in the World Cup.
