Reading the Wallabies’ body language
Roar Guru By LeftArmSpinner, 26 Jun 2009 LeftArmSpinner is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Al Baxter, Drew Mitchell, French rugby, Japanese rugby, Luke Burgess, Matt Giteau, Nathan Sharp, Pek Cowan, Phil Waugh, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Stirling Mortlock, Timana Tahu, wallabies, Waratahs
Australian rugby union coach Robbie Deans (centre) talks to players during a training session for the team in Sydney on Monday, June 1, 2009. The Wallabies will play the Barbarians on Saturday night. AAP Image/Paul Miller
I arrived for an appointment at the Football Stadium at about 8.45am as the current Wallabies squad were leaving the Waratahs Headquarters for the training field a few hundred metres down Drivers Avenue.
Robbie Deans had apparently arranged training for the Wallabies at Moore Park, commencing at 9am that morning.
With time to spare, I watched as they made the journey.
Firstly, those I missed included Tuqiri and Deans. Presumably they were part of the early bird crew who were already on their way when I arrived.
Pek Cowan had just commenced his walk on his lonesome when Stirling Mortlock, about 50 metres behind him, called to him to stop and then ran to catch up. The two then talked on their way to the ground.
Now, that is captaincy for you. Well done Stirling.
The “Julios”, the cool guys, were led by Nathan Sharp, mostly the tall timber, and at a gangly, giraffe-like gait and pace. But after a call from someone even more Cool than Bruno, uber cool Matt Giteau, “Hey, Sharpie, wait up!,” the Julios waited for their leader.
Was this just a Western Force friendship/connection or were the Julios hoping that Giteau would choose them for the final pass with the try line open on Saturday evening?
All had their full tracksuits on and boots, headgear and mouthguard stored in the “cute” backpack they were wearing.
Drew Mitchell and a few of the younger players bounded out, more like lambs exiting the stable in Springtime.
Phil Waugh came out on his own, minimally dressed, minus the boot bag, no track suit, wearing his plastic molded soled boots across the bitumen. I was shocked.
Surely all forwards would wear boots with sprigs, and why ruin them on the bitumen surface?
As he walked along, he read a piece of paper. I mused: “was this a playlist, a shopping list from the wife, a fan’s letter or an emailed contract offer from Japanese rugby club?”
After a gap where I thought I had seen my last Wallaby for the day, Timana Tahu appeared on his own. No tracksuit, no boot bag, just calf protecting Skins that looked like granny stockings.
He was also wearing his molded sole boots. Maybe all his slipping over this season could have been corrected with a decent pair of boots with sprigs!
He looked lonely, and moved as if he was a bit late, but not very late.
A few minutes after he disappeared around the corner, the door was flung open and out raced Luke Burgess. He was in a hurry, but wore his customary smile and positive body language.
Last and not least, was Al Baxter, fully dressed in the Wallabies tracksuit. He clearly had a late note from his mother because he was not in a rush at all.
Or maybe he was already at full pace for a prop!
So make of my observations what you will, and nothing, if you like. Good luck to the Wallabies on Saturday evening.
Recommend this story.
June 26th 2009 @ 8:08am
spiro said | June 26th 2009 @ 8:08am | Report comment
Leftarmspinner that is interesting about the moulded studs because players around the world are falling over all the time, especially when it is a bit slippery. Clearly their studs aren’t holding them. In the State of Origin match I noticed the same thing. Is something happening to the boots with fashion taking precedence over usefulness?
The bonding that goes on, as described in this article, is very important. One of Robbie Dean’s strength as a coach is that he creates teams, rather than a collection of individuals. I’m impressed that so far, for instance, Lote Tuqiri has taken his demotions which must be very galling with restraint. He hasn’t spat the dummy. This is most impressive. This off-field class now needs to be augmented by some on-field class and he’s back.
June 26th 2009 @ 8:38am
sheek said | June 26th 2009 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Leftie,
Beautiful prose & observation of human hotshots, love it.
June 26th 2009 @ 9:26am
LeftArmSpinner said | June 26th 2009 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Spiro, myself and Diplomatic Immunity have the same argument with our sons at the start of each season. They prefer the molded soles, we oldies prefer the studs/sprigs/cleats. But it is a different world.
I would polish my cutdown Adidas boots with either white or lime green stripes, remove and tighten the studs each week, wash and dry the white laces and finally apply leather reconditioner to the leather uppers.
The feeling of putting those shining boots on made my feet and legs feel lighter and that much more powerful.
Then, I get the brown shoe polish out, polish the “Goalfinder” leather footy and then put the reconditioner on it too. The wonderful non slip surface created probably lasted about 5 minutes into a game. But it was always my footy that everyone wanted to play with and when kicking for touch, I always felt that much more confident.
It was only a few years later when I was buying my own footballs, that I lashed out on one of the Adidas Footballs, white with black cone on each end, and a sort of felt/slightly furry feel. The prince of footies.
I agree that Tuqiri has taken his demotion well, as in relatively in silence. But, the question is whether he can do the hard yards to get back. I am unconvinced. But I will be watching the ABC tomorrow at 3pm for the match of day, Wests Pirates V Gordon at Concord. Gordon have some speedsters.
Horan is saying that the Wallabies need Tuqiri as tall, big timber at the back come Bledisloe and 3N. Hmm, while I can see the logic, and rate Horan as a player and commentator, Turner is not small and nor is AAC. Finishers are much more important.
Like Beale, neither Tuqiri or Beale had ever suffered a demotion. I think that when it finally came, and it comes to all sportsmen, at least once, (the only exception in more recent times being Gilchrist) would make it that much harder to cop.
Sheek, No doubt there is a bit of star gazing and celebrity watching going on, but not obtrusively. I successfully fought the temptation to give Lukey Burgess a verbal hurry up by comparing his tardiness to that of his Uncle, based on my very unreliable memory.
June 26th 2009 @ 9:26am
Jameswm said | June 26th 2009 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Lote’s a good guy I reckon.
The moulded boots are a lot more comfortable by the way, but I have maybe 1 in 5 in my U10s team who wear metal studs. maybe they do it to be tough! One is a half back too!
June 26th 2009 @ 9:55am
Hendo said | June 26th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Nice one – top read – thanks!
June 26th 2009 @ 10:01am
The Phantom said | June 26th 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
I have always gone for the metal studs but in the country with the lack of rain over the past few seasons the grounds are just too hard and comfort has prevailed. I recently purchased of some moulded boots for the first time since the Under 5′s soccer. If I was playing on the lush surfaces the pros do there is no way I would have turned to the dark side – maybe the change in the rucking laws have also contributed a bit???
June 26th 2009 @ 11:37am
SouthernWaratah said | June 26th 2009 @ 11:37am | Report comment
LeftArmSpinner – Any truth to the rumor that you are actually Murray Bennett in disguise?
June 26th 2009 @ 11:45am
Timmypig said | June 26th 2009 @ 11:45am | Report comment
It’s been a few years …. do refs still check the condition of sprigs before the game? Plastic studs were verboten, and only metal would pass muster. Wouldn’t the same restrictions apply to plastic moulded soles?
June 26th 2009 @ 11:51am
Hoy said | June 26th 2009 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Clubs are still checked every now and again. Ground it too hard up in QLD for the screw ins. I started playing in them, then switched at Uni to moulded. Having played in them for so long now, I don’t think I could go back to screws. It is also hard to find screw ins around. Almost all boots on offer in the shops are moulded.
June 26th 2009 @ 1:03pm
Campbell said | June 26th 2009 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
My thoughts on moulded boots and slipping:
The cleats tend to be orientated north/south – great for side stepping.
Guys seem to slip alot when they slow as they hit the defensive linedown – to change direction. As they plant a heel to lose speed and slip a defender on the inside they tend to slip before the front of the boot can get a purchase and assist with the step.
Just my obsevation – anyone agree?