Wallabies humiliated by courageous All Blacks
Roar Guru By LeftArmSpinner, 20 Sep 2009 LeftArmSpinner is a Roar Guru
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- 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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September 20th 2009 @ 7:42am
Knives Out said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:42am | Report comment
Australia,
We’re delighted that you accepted our invitation to attend our most wonderful party on 7th November 2009. However, we hope you bring your A-game (if you do in fact have an A-game). Twickenham deserves no less. Anyway, I suppose it’s the taking part that counts. We hope you have a good rest before the match – we heard those All Blacks and Springboks were awfully unkind to you. Time is the greatest healer, as we are sure you all know. Marseilles is probably just another word to you chaps now, and not a scarring psychological reminder of total physical capitulation. Safe journey. We simply can’t wait to see you. TTFN.
Best wishes,
England.
P.S. (1) Mr Sheridan says that he can’t wait to meet Mr Alexander for the first time.
P.S. (2) Mr Wilkinson hopes he can practise his long kicking with Mr O’Connor. We hope he acquiesces.
September 20th 2009 @ 7:42am
Knives Out said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:42am | Report comment
I’m such a card.. ho ho ho.
September 20th 2009 @ 7:57am
fred said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:57am | Report comment
many a true word spoken in jest and it sure as shit beats the transparent obsequiousness of aust journos
September 20th 2009 @ 7:58am
Knives Out said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:58am | Report comment
Better a chuckle than a tear, Fred.
September 20th 2009 @ 11:36am
Mr Grumpy said | September 20th 2009 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Did England have an A-game last November? Did they even take part in tests against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa??
On 15 November last year the great scrummager Al Baxter outplayed Sheridan. Should Alexander fear the bully? Possibly not.
September 20th 2009 @ 10:00pm
Knives Out said | September 20th 2009 @ 10:00pm | Report comment
Oh Mr Grumpy, where is your sense of humour? No, the least experienced England side of all time did not have an A-game last November, but it’s arguable they are developing one. I admit that the Australian pack definitely had the power over the England scrum, but Baxter certainly did not outplay Sheridan. If you watch replays then you will note that Baxter simply does his usual trick and drops scrum after scrum. I’m no worshipper of Sheridan – I was merely joking – but for as many mediocre days he has had he has had an excellent one. I hope Alexander brings his long studs.
September 21st 2009 @ 12:24pm
Rusty said | September 21st 2009 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
good to see some people still have a sense of humour
September 20th 2009 @ 7:56am
Colin N said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:56am | Report comment
“We’re delighted that you accepted our invitation to attend our most wonderful party on 7th November 2009.”
Ooooh, that’s a good sporting day, I believe Haye fights Valuev as well. Plus, it might well be the first round of the FA cup.
September 20th 2009 @ 7:59am
Knives Out said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:59am | Report comment
Indeed. I’m considering going to Germany for that fight. I went to the Haye v Macaranelli fight. I’d love to see Haye put Valuev through the ropes.
September 20th 2009 @ 8:24am
warrenexpatinnz said | September 20th 2009 @ 8:24am | Report comment
Do you rate the Tua v Cameron fight coming up in NZ in October as a true world class heavy weight bout or more of a journeyman versus an Oceania to flight heavy weight?
I personaly rated Tua when he was five years younger and 15 kilos lighter and even though I took a shine to Cameron his ability to cut and to be out boxed has been shown in his last five fights.
Maybe Joe Bugna and Jeff Fenech need to take the Wallabies on a training camp for a couple of weeks and throw in Daniel herbert and Toutai Kefu for the ex Wallaby hardness as well.
I can’t even get the Sunday papers here in NZ this morning as to bloody painful reading the gloating, vindictive reporting that I know will be in there.
Bugger
September 20th 2009 @ 11:24am
ohtani's jacket said | September 20th 2009 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Dude, the Herald’s lead column is “All Blacks: Tests, coach(es) face knife.”
September 20th 2009 @ 11:47am
QC said | September 20th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
OJ that is not even close to the truth I think roarers might want to have a look at the http://www.nzherald.co.nz themselves and they will clearly see it’s not the lead story.
Questions do have to be asked OJ and you of all people should know that, when questions aren’t asked look what happens the Wallabies at the moment are a perfect example of noone being held accountable.
I don’t know where you come up with all your summations sometimes but from the papers I have read this morning they have all been overwhelmingly supportive.
September 20th 2009 @ 11:57am
ohtani's jacket said | September 20th 2009 @ 11:57am | Report comment
How did you get “story” and “column” confused?
September 20th 2009 @ 12:15pm
QC said | September 20th 2009 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
Yes OJ i got it wrong but you imply that New Zealand media is snapping at the heels like a bunch of wild dogs. Over the last few days you have implied that the public is out of line demanding more from their team, New Zealands team.
I have let much of it slide but today I think your pushing it a little far and you cannot take one story and thrust it to the top because it suits your argument. Like I said the Media and fans are absolutely ecstatic with the performance last night and one story from Gregor Paul does not account for 4 million people.
I personally don’t believe the ABs shouldn’t need to be pressured so much to perfrom they should be simply happy to have the chance to wear the jersey and that should be enough incentive, however the demands of the public and media for better performance and more dedication it is what they needed, they delievered in spades last night.
When there is no pressure to perform the team becomes stagnant and that is clearly what has been happening most of the International season todate.
September 20th 2009 @ 8:27pm
ohtani's jacket said | September 20th 2009 @ 8:27pm | Report comment
Are you trying to say that the media and a bunch of disgruntled fans inspired that performance? Come off it. The new slant is “that was a good performance but the rest of the Tri-Nations was ordinary.” They got what they wanted and still they find something to bitch about.
September 20th 2009 @ 8:43pm
QC said | September 20th 2009 @ 8:43pm | Report comment
OJ
Maybe you mate need to get with it.
henry and Richie have both stated on the news that they were feeling the pressure and the weight of the nation and they had to deliever what the public was demanding.
So maybe up there in Japan you are not getting all the information which is understandable but you are way off the mark here mate big time.
Out of curiosity are you telling me that the NZ public and media had no input on the performance are you. Are you trying to tell everyone here at the roar that the ABs don’t care about their fans or the media.
please do tell me what was the catalyst for the dramatic turnaround I am very curious to know.
September 20th 2009 @ 8:54pm
QC said | September 20th 2009 @ 8:54pm | Report comment
Thomson admitted motivation came from heavy criticism of the side, which reached a crescendo last week.
“When the pressure comes from the outside it brings you tighter because all you’ve got is the people that you’re with,” he said.
Have a look at http://www.allblacks.com also you may want to have a search for pre and post match interviews.
September 20th 2009 @ 9:07pm
ohtani's jacket said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:07pm | Report comment
The catalyst for the turnaround was that they played better.
There’s a difference between saying their was public pressure on the All Blacks to play well and that it was the pressure itself caused the All Blacks to play well. Thomson’s comment sums it up.
I’m saying the NZ media and public have a negative effect. Time and time again. What makes you think a groundswell of support wouldn’t have achieved the same result?
September 20th 2009 @ 9:44pm
QC said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:44pm | Report comment
I’m sorry mate but your way off track here and it’s ok to admit it.
The reason why the played better OJ was because they had to for their fans they have admitted it. They got a reality check last week from their loyal followers and realised that they weren’t playing forthemselves but a whole nation and some of the guys had forgotten that. The All Blacks and coaches have come out admitting that they had to deliever for their fans and that the disappointment of their matches had an effect on not just the team but the wider rugby public and they had to get it right.
New Zealanders are supportive of their team and like I said a few days ago your views and assumptions are not that of the majority. The All Blacks get huge support and at times they do not deserve it. Like any job they have to be held accountable perform or there’s the door and if they had lost last night you could guarantee some would have had it shut behind them.
These ABs have this year consistantly under performed well below par and were on the cusp of creating some unwanted history. Like I said earlier the Australians have given us a clear example of why not to sugar coat things and give them the it’s ok lads you’ll knock them over next time attitude.
The game is professional now OJ the fans are paying these guys their wages by paying for the tickets the merchandise the tv subs and they like any shareholder in a team have a right to voice their displeasure at a season that has been largely disappointing.
Unfortunately OJ I’m more inclined to believe the words of the All Blacks coach, captain and team members as to what drives them opposed to a fellow fan sitting in Japan
September 20th 2009 @ 9:53pm
QC said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:53pm | Report comment
Just incase here’s a link for you
http://www.allblacks.com/news/11141/McCaw-We-had-to-play-well
September 20th 2009 @ 10:10pm
Knives Out said | September 20th 2009 @ 10:10pm | Report comment
I certainly wouldn’t say either are world class contenders, Warren, but then what heavyweight contenders currently are world class? Probably Klitschco (Jr) and potentially Haye, but even Haye is a clumsy operator.
Katsidis put in a strong performance last night. He’s a horrible boxer but absolutely ferocious.
September 20th 2009 @ 9:34am
LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
Dear Mr “Knives and Things”, On behalf of the Wallabies and their disappointed and even disillusioned supporter, people in glass houses shouldnt throw stones.
All in all, it could well be a very dull affair.
But, from first hand experience, the English have been even worse than Wallabies fans (in Bledisloe games) at believing their own misguided press and misplaced self belief. Their basis of believing that because they created (arguably) the sport, they should win them all the time. I refer specifically to soccer world cups, Wimbledon and The Open.
September 20th 2009 @ 10:13pm
Knives Out said | September 20th 2009 @ 10:13pm | Report comment
I think you’re living in the past, Leftie. No rugby fan that has had to put up with Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton has a superior sense of being. I don’t think English football fans have that mentality either.
Will it be a dull affair? I hope not, but then the weather and England’s lack of game time may be a factor. That said, England has shown a real willingness to attack the line. Maybe you guys will enjoy watching a bit of running rugby for once?
I have no knowledge of cricket or tennis. Or golf.
September 21st 2009 @ 1:46am
Michael Lee said | September 21st 2009 @ 1:46am | Report comment
hear hear
September 20th 2009 @ 4:51pm
Bay35Pablo said | September 20th 2009 @ 4:51pm | Report comment
KO, comments like that will make it even sweeter if we knock the Roses off.
September 20th 2009 @ 10:14pm
Knives Out said | September 20th 2009 @ 10:14pm | Report comment
Play what’s in front of you, Bay35Pablo.
September 20th 2009 @ 10:49pm
cookee said | September 20th 2009 @ 10:49pm | Report comment
eternal hope or is bay35 really ward 35.;the only thing the wallies could knock off would have their shorts around their ankles ..some antipsychotics could help but i think your magical thinking suggests a long stay .good luck
September 20th 2009 @ 7:52am
Darryl said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:52am | Report comment
Hey Spiro, are you still looking for the peopled who bagged Deans a few weeks ago?
September 20th 2009 @ 8:00am
mother teresa said | September 20th 2009 @ 8:00am | Report comment
KNIVES OUT WAITING;
DO YOU THINK ONEIILL WILL HAVE WORDS WITH DEANS OVER PERFORMANCE
September 20th 2009 @ 8:03am
Knives Out said | September 20th 2009 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Who knows what goes on behind closed doors, MT. I’m sure that O’Neill will keep quiet in public.
September 20th 2009 @ 9:37am
LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:37am | Report comment
I hope he does along the following lines:
“Robbie, you have complete responsibility and authority to do whatever, and I mean what ever, it takes to get this team’s culture up to the necessary standards of any national sporting team.
Go for it and dont spare the horses.”
September 21st 2009 @ 3:41am
Maxxy said | September 21st 2009 @ 3:41am | Report comment
It is difficult to believe that this was not said on day one of his tenure. He is a “mentor supercoach” as we are told on this site regularly and who presided over the famed Crusaders culture for many seasons, the reason he got the job in the first place. I find it very hard to believe that JON put restrictions on this at all, and in fact has been assisting in the cleanout by getting rid of Lote and a bunch of others who were allowed to go o/s without their contracts being renewed. You do make an interesting point when you talk about the “National Sporting Team’ perhaps the cultural differences between NZ and Australia are significant to the untrained eye and overcoming this for an imported coach is not as simple as people think and might even be impossible
September 20th 2009 @ 8:11am
warrenexpatinnz said | September 20th 2009 @ 8:11am | Report comment
Looking forward to my staff on Monday ‘ welcoming’ me in through the front door. My only saving grace is that I am six foot one, and their boss so any ribbing will be gentle.
It showed last night the following;
: that Palu,if promising to be a 100% should start
: Smith can’t or doesn’t command the respect of the referee as the All Black flop overs at the ruck, a clear tactic should have been highlighted by Smith every waking minute
: Mortlock when fit needs to be there for his leadership alone or dare I say it Sharpe as we may be too youthful as seen from last nights very average performance
: Why is it our scrum has been performing well against most sides recently but not against the ABs? It asks the question of All Black tactics as a side doesn’t just go poorly in that area unless the fade out, pull back is happening. Someone with more experience on the scrum may have ideas on this
: I officially dislike Joubert as he is an inconsistent referee, for both sides but he seems extremely home side focused on occasions with forward passes on quick moves missed and the offside of the All Blacks annoying BUT this didn’t make Australia play without heart
: Get some well know ex Wallabies in to talk one on one with some of the youngsters and get them to understand that you spill blood for the jumper and you smack the crap out of the oppossition and it was painfully obvious last night the All Blacks where likes us, the Wallabies in 2003, more passionate, driven and physically up for it and I don’t know why we weren’t?
We were flat last night but I would rather have a stinker now than on the end of season tour and realisticaly this All Black side in its present form and coaching staff, players will not be what we see last night come 2010 as the Wallaby fragil heart and mind set allowed them the first two wins then the third was big bully beating up new kid.
The Wallabies will be a far better side fo the loss and although Knives Out has the tounge in cheek England will be difficult not only for the Wallabies but the All Blacks, and with Sheridan, Shrek without balls I don’t think he seriously turns up half of the time, I am just hoping though the Wallabies get this hot cold out of them before the tour.
Hang your head boys and make that the worst game you have ever played until after the 2011 World Cup.
Cheers, from a dissapointed, hurting, snakey also potentialy sore losing but forever faithful Wallaby supporter
September 20th 2009 @ 9:12am
Mark said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
The wallabies have underperformed before deans during deans and it will after deans. Breakdown was poor, that was poor bla bla bla. We need a larger playing pool. Australia is competing against 2 nations in a code that is far superior in other nations. More choice in a better comp will save australias problem. Rugby dosent even exsist on free to air tv no national comp and we expect to win the tri nations lol lol. As much as I love union I’m in reality. Deans is a great coach, you can only teach primates so much.
September 20th 2009 @ 9:25am
mother teresa said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:25am | Report comment
mark,ok and yes deans is no better than previous but lets hope the future pans out better.
why have the wallies reached 3 rwc finals and won 2;deans wasnt there mark,and you say youre in reality –thats great so is deans and its also his favourite word ———i wonder—
September 20th 2009 @ 9:40am
LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:40am | Report comment
did you see the disgust on Deans face in the coaches box. It said a lot more than the antics of malthouse, throwing headphones and the like. Deans was just disgusted and rightly so. Williams was blank
September 20th 2009 @ 9:20am
MR said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Warren – for the first 10 the Wallabies owned the breakdown by coming in so low they had no chance of staying on their feet, the Abs simply followed suit when it became clear that driving into a ruck at 12″ off the ground was going to be allowed. So ABs flopping is a rubbish excuse as both were as bad as each other.
Your tighthead is rubbish, he should’ve been pinged off the park in the first 1/2 for slipping as he was unable to take the hit.
Yep, he did allow some AB offside play, then again he did pick it up as well so he was consistent in being inncosistent for both sides.
Correct, Wallabies were flat, but the game was still anyones for most of the match.
September 20th 2009 @ 9:32am
MM Fike said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment
Thanks for a terrific perspective leftarmspinner.
I have been on this planet a fair old while and I doubt I have ever been so dissapointed in a sporting performance.
I was gutted Saturday night and I’m gutted Sunday morning.
Okay so it’s only a game of rugby but I expected better of our representatives.
I can take a loss but when it’s a shameful hiding like last night I find it hard to take.
Even worse, I can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.
I do agree the All Blacks plsyed very well and deserved the win. Congratulations to the players and coaching staff.
September 20th 2009 @ 9:41am
LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment
MM Fike, with you all the way.
September 20th 2009 @ 9:41am
Mark said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment
Yes mother……. The world cup is very different to the tri nations can’t compare, bet you Argentina won’t win a game in tri nations for about 3 to 5 years but they came 3rd in last rwc
September 20th 2009 @ 9:46am
Who Needs Melon said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
sheek, not sure about your comment that Australians are not ‘wired’ to be proficient at anything that requires ‘technical discipline’ but your comment that we have plenty of hard men in League struck a chord with me. There are plenty of League boys who understand teamwork and are used to hunting in packs too – something we need in the Wallabies. I’m not suggesting we pilfer League boys – just that there seems to be a dichotomy between League and Union… and musing as to WHY.
This game wasn’t lost because we lacked ‘technical discipline’. It was lost because the ABs simply had more enthusiasm and attacked the breakdown in numbers – i.e. as a pack – rather than 1 or 2 individuals.
My thoughts are that, prior to the nineties, when Union was amateur, we DID value the hard men in the game and were less technically proficient. The nineties – the rise of professionalism and coaches such as McQueen and Eddie Jones – saw a much greater focus on technicalities but, back then, we still had the hard men and mentalities carried forward from the amateur era. Unfortunately the pendulum seems to have swung now much too far. When we lose you hear that we have ‘a few things to work on’ like if we practice this and that skill we’ll be much better next time. That sort of talk has been going on for years – not just since Deans came along.
For at least a decade now we have been losing to teams sinply because they wanted it more. Union IS a more technical game than League but, as in ANY sport, half the time the winner is just the team/guy who wanted it more. I’m not sure that Deans’ softly spoken ‘no-one is safe’ is getting through to the players and providing them enough incentive.
I know I’m glorifying the past a little but I would like to see an end to the softly-spoken coaches and captains and a return of the hard men.
September 20th 2009 @ 9:57am
stillmissit said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Who needs Melon – Very well said and a great insight into the crap that has been going on in Australian rugby for too long. Platitudes rather than actions.
Deans comes from Canterbury where rugby players expect and look forward to a confrontation. What a shock to realise that this group of ‘entertainers’ would rather go and hide under the bed if things get too hot.
I blame it all on soft parenting combined with the idea that their ‘darling Benjamin’ is an exceptional talent with 40,000 cuddly toys and electronic kids games to play with.
September 20th 2009 @ 10:22am
LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 10:22am | Report comment
SOUNDS like Deans let rip after this one. and about time. I would be interested in what the brains trust in the Diamonds net ball team would be saying publically and privately if the diamonds had played against the NZ net ball team, like the Wallabies did last night.
So, A clarion call to Natalie Medhurst or Liz Ellis or Sheryl McMahon………………….
September 20th 2009 @ 10:26am
stillmissit said | September 20th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
There is twice the do or die attitude in the Diamonds team than in the Wallabies last night. Give me a game of Netball v NZ over that rubbish last night anytime.
September 20th 2009 @ 10:30am
LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
I agree. they play entertaining, passionate, skilful and very determined sport that happens to be netball
September 20th 2009 @ 11:08am
sheek said | September 20th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Melon,
I am having a bit of tongue in cheek fun.
September 20th 2009 @ 4:25pm
Who Needs Melon said | September 20th 2009 @ 4:25pm | Report comment
Thought that might have been it. Subtlety was lost on me.
September 20th 2009 @ 9:47am
stillmissit said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment
Leftie – Very logically argued and I appreciate that as I am ‘mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it any more’.
Getting this team into a state of mind where they can forget the idea that they are world beaters in the making and that they are a poor team fighting a Panzer tank troup with rifles (to steal Sheeks back drop) is nigh on impossible. There appears to be zero mud sticking to the conscience of this group, I guess they think they were just not confident enough or some such bullshit. Not one of them would think that they didn’t have the balls for the game.
Deans will have to answer for this one and his abilities with the bench and reading the game as it unfolds is now seriously under question. His comments about still being in the game with 10 mins to go make you wonder where he got this idea in any form but the scoreboard. Any serious watcher of rugby could tell you this game was lost before half time came around. This was the time any general worth his salt would have read the signs and made some changes in the hope of changing the attitude out there.
September 20th 2009 @ 10:06am
LeftArmSpinner said | September 20th 2009 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Good parents quickly realise that their kids can often not listen to parental advice as much as advice from others, friends and family, mentors etc.
So, on that principle, here is a novel approach. Get a group of true Wallabies supporters to talk to the Wallabies and explain the reality of the situation.
September 20th 2009 @ 4:38pm
Rabbitz said | September 20th 2009 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
So could we get the mob who did the gender test of that runner to run the magnifying glass over the Wallabies? Specifically I would like them to check for any trace of balls, because on the that games evidence, I would be surprised if they found any…
September 20th 2009 @ 7:10pm
fred said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:10pm | Report comment
still,absolutely,it amazes me how people see it differently;guess we see it from our own life paradigm until we have an eureka experience and see the others view for the first time.but im with you on this