The Expansive Game

I don't think it would have succeeded. The brand of rugby the Reds played is not sustainable at test level. The NH sides can easily deny Australia that platform.

 noone seems to be bringing that expansive game this week on S15 YET EXCEPT THE CHEETAHS, I so detest that ref - maybe it will continue with the Reds vs Rebels and then the Blue vs Bulls!

I haven't watched the Reds game yet, but the Bulls game was a complete shambles! Completely onesided at the breakdown throughout that second half. Two teams robbed. What's the point of even watching rugby anymore?

 Australian number 10s offer examples of how best to manipulate space. Stephen Larkham was a master at attacking the space between the attacking and defensive lines, using depth and speed. It is about getting across the gainline in different areas, not just from set-pieces, and making the defence think. 

That is very true. As if by instinct, the Australian 10s know how to engage the defence better. They seem to be more adept at reading the defence and making use of the support runners that, lets be honest, offer more options than their South African counterparts. Morne suffers from this problem. He attacks the gainline well, and offers calculated and precise distribution; the support play is unfortunately non-existant. More often than not his only options are to a crash balling 12, a forward/pod to bash it up or a miss pass to a static outside back. He hasn't even had the luxury of Habana coming in as he is reduced almost exclusively to a cleaner role. Repeatedly I have drawn attention to this area of play, but Saffex in particular is intent of making Morne the sole problem. A ball carrier is only effective as the support runners that offer themselves up to extend play. That's the real power of an attacking side. I would like to cite Carter as an example. From a technical standpoint he is nothing special, and he doesn't offer the same individual threat that he did in 2005. But his decision making has been the chief cog in that backline for the inside backs. They play off him well, and he maes the right decisions more often than not. This threat is further augmented by the penetrative running of Nonu and the playmaking of Smith.  Very simple, but very effective. Not an example of the individual brilliance that Dave likes to laud, but the cohesive and functional units that work as a team. That's what South Africa is missing.