Wallabies humiliated by courageous All Blacks

Roar Guru

By LeftArmSpinner, 20 Sep 2009 LeftArmSpinner is a Roar Guru

Tagged:: All Blacks, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Tri Nations, wallabies, Wellington

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My sincere congratulations to the All Blacks and the courage they showed in winning the Wellington clash after such a disappointing international season. The All Blacks legacy and brand is still intact, even if they are not playing at the top of their game.

They still have that edge. Stu Wilson called it the “Killer edge!”

But, as a Wallabies supporter, I write this article about the Wallabies.

The core reason that Robbie Deans was hired was to change the culture of the Wallabies who were soft, mentally and physically. On this performance, there has been no change in the culture.

Now the only value of the win against The Springboks two weeks ago is that it serves as a benchmark for proceeding Wallabies performances. Any comparison can only conclude that the Wallabies were so appalling as to be an embarrassment in Wellington.

The Wallabies did not turn up ready to play. This is unforgivable. The Wallabies represent our country and our country expects its representatives to be prepared to play and give everything to win. The Wallabies did not do this.

The Wallabies played dumb rugby across the park. The forwards didn’t contest the critical area on a rugby field: the breakdown. The All Blacks weak lineout went uncontested by the Wallabies. The Wallabies backs threw poor passes, ran across the field or kicked it back to the All Blacks.

No one stepped up to lead this team. No one was laying down the law when there were breaks in play.

Add to these basic mistakes, an attitude similar to a grumpy teenager who has been told he is grounded, and the Wallabies never had a chance.

Rugby is a game based around possession. The All Blacks treasured it when they had it and fought to the death to get it on every occasion when they didn’t. The Wallabies did not appreciate or covet possession and, at the tackle, couldn’t be bothered to counter-ruck.

Well done to the All Blacks and I call on the Wallabies to offer an apology to their supporters and fellow countrymen for a disgraceful performance.

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The Crowd Says (261) | Page 1 of Comments

Kyle said | September 20th 2009 @ 2:40am | Report comment

sadly, predictably…….it was like watching the 1st Grade team playing the Under 15s……boys playing men….etc, etc

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- chipkick said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
  
  it was simple, the ab’s outmuscled a soft wallabie pack putting them on the back foot, i am surprised there was so much talk of the wallabies back line stuffing up, you can’t go forward if you keep getting smashed at the breakdown, can’t play if you don’t have the ball , and when you do have it you go backwards. The ab pack was just too good,they didn’t allow aussie to play well.
  
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pothale said | September 20th 2009 @ 3:18am | Report comment

Jeez – it was a game of rugby, not a real public disaster.

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- LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
  
  pothale, you are right. It was just a game of rugby. But, the premise of the game is that it is country against country. The Wallabies where charged with the responsibility to represent theirs and my country. They didnt take this responsibility seriously and in doing so, were disrespectful to many people who pay their salaries.
  
  whether you depict it as representing their country and fellow country men, or whether you represent it as a financial relationship, the Wallabies did not deliver on their end of the deal. Forget about who won the game, the Wallabies didnt take their responsibilities seriously enough to give everything they had nor do their best.
  
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  - pothale said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment
    
    LAS – coming from Ireland I know that sick-in-gut feeling only too well when the team that you support or your national teamd don’t do well – I suspect I’ve had to feel it more often than you.
    
    I was reacting largely to the last line of your article in particular, but I understand the emotion, so I won’t carp on about it – it would be unfair.
    
    Hard luck and commiserations.
    
    Reply
Midfielder said | September 20th 2009 @ 3:24am | Report comment

Every time the AB had the ball they looked like scoring… only a few times in the game did we look like scoring and often after a bit of luck which we could not convert into points… well that’s how I saw it anyway…

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- LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:04am | Report comment
  
  and that was because we didnt respect the possession of the ball or when we had it playing to the basic and well proven methods of the game. Run straight, win the breakdown, support the ball carrier. compete at the lineout.
  
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Breakdown? What breakdown? said | September 20th 2009 @ 4:09am | Report comment

I haven’t been to this site for yonks but I have to say, that really was a crap performance by professional athletes. The tennis, cricket, soccer, league, and Air NZ Cup (NPC) games I’ve seen lately have ALL been comprehensively better than that in entertainment terms.
Sure the ref seemed lenient towards various AB offside play, and made scrumtime a sad joke, but as indicated above, the Wallabies simply didn’t compete while the ABs showed some commitment.
After their last outing it was shocking to witness their lameness at the breakdown. What was their strategy? Where were their heads at? The lack of leadership was chronic and they became a fumbling bumbling rabble who should’ve attended the Undy 500, not a test match.

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Nick_KIA said | September 20th 2009 @ 5:17am | Report comment

sorry are you saying the ref was collapsing all those scrums? It sure looked like the Wallers were being beaten up in the scrums to me. And Nick Farr-Jones. I think a better ref would have penalised the Wallers off the park at scrum time.

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- Ziggy Olivier said | September 20th 2009 @ 6:07am | Report comment
  
  As should have happened in Brisbane.
  
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Isaac Mahood said | September 20th 2009 @ 6:06am | Report comment

Deans just doesn’t have the cattle.

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sheek said | September 20th 2009 @ 6:49am | Report comment

Leftie,

There’s no point blaming the coach, or the players, for that matter….. it’s the gene pool.

Australians are generally not predisposed to playing any sport, especially rugby union, that requires technical discipline….. we’re simply not wired that way.

We have guys running around in rugby league who are as tough, if not tougher, than the toughest All Blacks & Springboks. And they can bash into each other as often as they like without worrying about the technical subtleties of their sport.

In the Great War (WW1), British Generals bemoaned the fact that Aussie soldiers, Diggers, lacked respect & tradition for Army discipline & heritage, & were unruly on the parade ground.

But gee, but them in a battle where the only rule was to win, & it basically didn’t matter how you went about about it, & couldn’t these guys fight!
‘
That’s the problem about rugby union. Sure, you’re required to be tough, but you have to mind your p’s & q’s, & your ‘stay on your feets’ & ‘come through the gates’, & damn if it ain’t just too hard to remember all those things, & try to play the game as well!

Yep, it’s the gene pool. Australians aren’t meant to play rugby union. The Victorians understood this better than New South Welshmen, when they created Australian football in the 1850s!

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- LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:14am | Report comment
  
  Sheek, and I quote “But couldnt they fight….” We like to think that this is true and thankfully sport is the primary way that we relive this supposed national trait.
  
  Last night, the Wallabies didnt fight. Did you see them get together behind the goal posts with a leader (or the captain) laying down the law? Did you see players giving that extra effort, displaying desperation in defence and enthusiasm in attack. Nope.
  
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- Daniel J said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:36am | Report comment
  
  Gene Pool? what kind of twisted theory is that? there is no difference in the athletes physically. Mentally i would say there is a huge difference. The Wallabies have mercenaries for players, the All Black’s/Springbocks have players who want to represent their country that is it. Period. The Wallabies owned everybody from 1999 through to arguable 2003.
  
  I will tell you what the wallabies need to do, don’t bloody pay them for shit games like last night, sure they would run over seas and our depth will be lessened but at least the positions would be left to people who would die for the jersey. Currently, they get paid regardless of how they perform for each test match they get something like $5000 – 11000. I would defy anyone on here to justify that kind of a payment to 3/4′s of the Wallaby team that played last night.
  
  I hope, i really hope that some of these players would read these comments, i am only sorry that i couldn’t be more succinct in my comment, then again maybe i can – Wallabies are an embarrassment.
  
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- Hansie said | September 20th 2009 @ 11:05am | Report comment
  
  Er, hasn’t Australia won the World Cup twice?
  
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  - sheek said | September 20th 2009 @ 11:50am | Report comment
    
    Yeah, there’s occasional compared to regular success. India were well nigh unbeatable in field hockey until the 1960s. Not any more.
    
    Finland dominated distance running in the 1920s & 30s. Not any more. Australia dominated tennis in the 1950s & 60s. Not any more.
    
    The Wallabies were a force to be reckoned with mostly1980-2004. Not any more. And very occasionally before 1980 were they a rugby union power. Our success has genrally been in the exception rather than the rule.
    
    Reply
  - DanielJ said | September 20th 2009 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
    
    Er, yea, they won with players who gave a shit.
    
    Reply
- Vented Relief said | September 20th 2009 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
  
  Yeah I guess cricket isn’t very technical.
  
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  - sheek said | September 20th 2009 @ 3:40pm | Report comment
    
    Yes,
    
    At least in cricket the umpire won’t penalise a batsman who has less than perfect technique, but it works for him.
    
    In cricket the umpire won’t penalise a bowler who has less than perfect technique, but it works for him. The only proviso being he keeps his arm straight.
    
    You don’t see an umpire say, “Sorry Mr batsman, I’m dismissing you because when you pushed forward to that delivery, even though you scored a four, your feet weren’t in the correct alignment with the body”.
    
    Now just think of all the stupid parody penalties that occur in rugby union, that have nought to do with a team’s ability to construct play.
    
    And I say this acknowledging the ABs were clearly the better team.
    
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- Bay35Pablo said | September 20th 2009 @ 4:47pm | Report comment
  
  Ba-bow!!! Disagree. The Wallabies have played awesomely in the past, and done what needs doing. We aren’t curently, and that is what is so annoying. And the fact we managed to play decently 2 weeks ago, and then forget all that.
  
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  - DanielJ said | September 20th 2009 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
    
    Are you crazy? they have played woefully this season, with 1 match, yes ONE MATCH where they actually played well against a South African team that wasn’t switched on.
    
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Mark said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:12am | Report comment

Well done wallabies once again I need to convince my work mates that union is the game too watch. After that performance I need to convince myself!!!!

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- LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
  
  well, you have to admire the All Blacks play. It is always the downside of focusing on the loser of a two horse race, that you appear to disregard the winner and their efforts.
  
  If nothing else, the All Blacks were courageous in overcoming their demons in the form of massive public criticism, poor lineout and general lack of form
  
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jools-usa said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:16am | Report comment

Jeez!
Outplayed in every area……….breakdown, scrum (in 2nd half) kicking for position, backline thrust.
Constantly being last to rucks, being counter-rucked, etc., is bad enough, but box kicks &
sideline kicks went straight to the finest counter-attacking team playing the game!
With all the NZ possession score should have been in the fifties.
Who was in charge of tactics…………….dare we say it?
Jools-USA

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cookee said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:17am | Report comment

SHEEK,”the gene pool” has got to the rwc 3 times and won it twice.and the diggers didnt have to contend with the general giving the last line of defence the team mascot to look after before playing men.what is deans thinking?how can he possibly criticize his team for capitulation when clearly as sheek says the wallies technically were not up to it,and thats totally a coaching role.the consequences of deans are there for the world to see.

and i resent the idea that its ok to lose major games in between rwc on the condition we are blooding kids—-this is a clumsy attempt to excuse poor strategic coaching.it really is pitiful and ive now heard every excuse why the coach is not at fault.
the fairies select and coach them after midnight——-which is not as bad as the wet journalism.

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- Nicol'arse said | September 20th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
  
  I totally agree Leftie. Deans has a lot to answer for. At half time I expected a marked improvement in their attitude… but sadly they crawled even further under the proverbial rock (in this case the AB’s sprigs).
  
  They may be a young team building to the RWC yudda yudda… well them treat them like a schoolboy team. Put them in a room ans show them the replay of the 2nd half of the Boks V AB’s game last weekend. When the AB’s were down 29-12 and gone for all money they threw absolutely EVERYTHING they had at it. And came incredibly close to snatching a win if Carter’s cross kick had found Ross. The point is, they didn’t roll over and assume the position. They fought like hell to win… and they very nearly did.
  
  There’s ample talent and potential in that team…. but there’s no steel or backbone. And that’s where Deans et al must be held accountable. There is no excuse for not having a go.
  
  Phil Waugh may not necessarily be the best no.7 in this country but he is the best leader we’ve got and he has the ability to lift and inspire others. He should at least be in the 22 shouldn’t he??
  
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  - sheek said | September 20th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
    
    Nicl’arse,
    
    Deans has a lot LESS to answer for than the players. You can lead a camel to water, but you can’t force it to drink.
    
    When you get to test level, you ought to be able to self-motivate. They’re all adults now.
    
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    - Dexter William said | September 20th 2009 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
      
      Therein lies the difference between a good coach and a bad one.
      
      Reply
  - fred said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:23pm | Report comment
    
    cant in all honesty disagree with your sentiments NIC
    
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- LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:26am | Report comment
  
  Cookie, sure O’Connor had a poor game along with the back three tirumvirate. However, it was no secret that the All Blacks would test them in the unpredictable winds of the Cake Tin. So, where was the effort from teammates to get back and support the back three?
  
  I disagree that the Wallabies were not up to it technically. This group of players can play, technically. They have demonstrated that in patches in previous games and for most of the 80 minutes in Brisbane against the best team in the world. But, “technical” counts for nothing if you are not ready to play when you find yourself in NZ, wearing a Wallabies jersey, embroidered with the Wallabies and Australian badges and the details of the game, and against an All Blacks team with their backs to the wall. simply, their heads were not there. Not even remotely. it was so bad that, in my opinion, they were disrespectful to the faithful.
  
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- sheek said | September 20th 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
  
  cookee,
  
  My remedy is to go & watch something that we Aussies can’t be beaten at – Australian football.
  
  Forward, passes, knock-ons, offside, no problem. Miss a goal, get a point, no problem. Very few technical rules that we can get tripped up on.
  
  On a more serious note, it’s easy to point the finger at Deans, but the real culprits of Australian rugby are elsewhere – the players, the ARU, the domestic structure, & this stupid attitude that “she’ll be right, mate”.
  
  Because clearly it’s not right, & hasn’t been right for at least 5 years.
  
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  - cookee said | September 20th 2009 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
    
    yep cant disagree but only focus on controllables and innovation—the stamp of the great coach to circumvent
    
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