So Robbie, when can we expect some silverware?

 
Brett McKay Columnist

By , 15 Sep 2009 Brett McKay is a Roar Expert

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Australia's Wallabies react after their 19-14 loss to New Zealand's All Blacks during their Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008. AP Photo/Kin Cheung

Australia's Wallabies react after their 19-14 loss to New Zealand's All Blacks during their Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008. AP Photo/Kin Cheung

Like a lot of Australian rugby fans, the recent breakthrough victory by the Wallabies in this year’s Tri-Nations tournament was exactly the sort of win I have been waiting to see under coach Robbie Deans.

The Wallabies that ran out last Saturday night against South Africa carried the weight of a nation’s expectations, but put on a display that can only come with the unbridled enthusiasm of youth.

Annoyingly, I didn’t think about hitting ‘record’ until well after half time.

Despite three disallowed tries, the Wallabies were outstanding in their two-tries-to-nil 21-6 win in Brisbane, while the South Africans were forced to suspend their seemingly inevitable march to the Tri-Nations title for another week.

South Africa resumed the inevitable on Saturday night just gone of course, wrapping up the Tri-Nations with a methodical 32-29 victory over New Zealand in Hamilton. It is South Africa’s first Tri-Nations series win since 2004.

Australia’s Tri-Nations drought, unfortunately, runs even longer.

2001 was the last time the Wallabies have held the trophy, while the Bledisloe Cup hasn’t been seen in our cabinet since 2002.

And it’s this drought that had me thinking while driving home from a weekend away.

Sure, we’ve got the chocolates against most or all of the European Six Nations over the last twelve months, but with the greatest respect to our northern hemisphere rivals, it’s the trophies that are won down this way that we yearn for the most.

So Robbie Deans, when can we expect some silverware again?

I ask this not as any form of criticism, of either the Wallabies recent history, or even of Deans’ ability as a coach (as has been questioned in recent months), but as a genuine question from a rugby follower who’s been happy to allow the Kiwi coach some time to mould his first international team.

I don’t think I’m being too harsh in describing the Wallabies’ progress this domestic season as “steady”.

While they started out reasonably well against the Barbarians, Italy and France, once the Tri-Nations started it was almost as if a different team was playing in the Gold jerseys.

Poor options, bad execution, and ill-discipline was the hallmark of the Wallabies first four outings in the tournament, and while some gems were discovered along the way (namely a solid scrum, and Berrick Barnes’ midfield organisation), this year’s Tri-Nations campaign was over not long after it began.

Fast forward to the Brisbane match against South Africa, and it was like all our prayers had been answered.

A scrum that could not be moved was once again the proverbial foundation for the win, and indeed has led to the South African front row been likened to breakfast cereal for the way they were snapped, crackled and popped out of the scrum engagement (true story, I could not make that up).

But just as importantly, the lineout functioned as a cohesive unit, rather than seven blokes loosely assembled while another one throws a ball to the opposition.

Further, after being outclassed by Springbok lineout general Victor Matfield in Perth, the Wallaby forwards were much more shrewd in their calls in Brisbane and Matfield’s presence was mostly nullified.

Thankfully, this was the night that the backline clicked, too.

The decision to give young Queensland scrumhalf Will Genia a debut start was well and truly justified with his outstanding service from scrum and ruck base, and Adam Ashley-Cooper has without a doubt provided a season highlight, with his cracking set-piece try finished off by hugging the first three rows of Suncorp Stadium’s Bay 311.

It’s at this point though that I need to turn around a well-worn cliché. Yes, the Wallabies are currently only as good as their last game.

But for me, the true test of this team comes this weekend against the All Blacks in windy Wellington.

For the Wallabies this week, the cliché needs to be “you’re only as good as your next game”.

Interestingly and ominously, New Zealand have never lost three Tests at home in a single season. A win this weekend for the Wallabies would a nice little piece of history, if nothing else.

And they’re good enough to do it.

Wallaby supporters can see the team is coming together.

There’s undoubted potential and promise on show every time the Wallabies take the field. I’m liking what I’m seeing in this focus on youth.

But by the same token how much longer do supporters have to survive on potential? When might this promise develop into series victories?

And on that note, what are were building towards currently? Is the 2011 Rugby World Cup the start or the end of this “rebuilding phase”? What about the 2010 and 2011 Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cups before then?

Test wins here and there are great, but they’re going to need to be strung together more now, preferably bringing home some trophies for the dusty, disused cabinet.

I know there’s been a lot of necessary change and experimentation, and I appreciate that a new coach needs time to put his stamp on proceedings.

But surely the time must be rapidly approaching where the Wallabies are no longer “in transition” and once again are just The Wallabies?

Follow Brett McKay on Twitter: @BMcSport

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