By Brett McKay
September 29th 2009 @ 2:05am
Related coverage
It’s time we all got off the Wallabies’ back
South Africa's Victor Matfield tackles Australia Will Genia during Tri Nations rugby. app images
I’ve had this topic in my mind for a couple of months now. What really got me scribbling notes was that tragic period back in August, where the Ashes and the Bledisloe Cup were lost on the same weekend. The reaction in the week that followed was astounding.
For every person that was willing to give England and New Zealand respective credit for being too good on the day (or days), there was another who wanted Ricky Ponting and George Smith presented for a public hanging.
But even that reaction has had nothing on what the Wallabies have been copping in the last week-and-a-bit.
After Wallaby coach Robbie Deans very politely declared that some of his players “departed the contest” in the closing ten minutes of the final Tri-Nations game in Wellington, the scrutiny and subsequent reaction toward the Wallabies has been unending.
Further, the Wallabies won themselves no favours with last Monday’s revelation that their Association has requested player payments for what was going to be a Possibles v Probables trial match ahead of the November Spring Tour to Japan and Europe.
Whether the payment request was made or not, or even who did or didn’t make it, is immaterial. Based on the Wallabies’ last performance, the timing of such a story could not have been worse.
Anyway, around when I started scribbling notes, legendary All Black flyhalf Grant Fox wrote a very interesting and timely column at the end of August in the Sunday Star Times in New Zealand.
At the time, the All Blacks were copping similar abuse and scrutiny after a less-than-successful home series against France, and then a similarly bad run against South Africa during the Tri-Nations.
Fox’s column came a few weeks after the worst of this, but it’s still relevant even now, two months later. He wrote:
“I don’t know whether I’m getting more sensitive or if the emotion around rugby is changing. I love the passion that surrounds our rugby, particularly the All Blacks, but sometimes that emotion overflows to the point where the debate around All Blacks’ performances lacks a bit of intelligence and becomes irrational.”
Substitute ‘Wallabies’ for ‘All Blacks’ here, and you’ve pretty much summed up what I’ve been feeling in this last week or so.
Some of the articles and comments I’ve read over the last week attacking the Wallabies have been very well thought, but unfortunately, there were just as many that bordered on hysteria.
Yes, the Wallabies were disappointing against South Africa in Perth, and even more so against New Zealand in Wellington. But what does an irrational soapbox rant prove, apart from possibly making yourself feel better?
What good can possibly come out of mass sackings and the wholesale changes that have been suggested?
Even worse, it occurred to me that some of the “they’re not getting my money again” comments that have been made this week completely miss the point that the author is attempting to make.
If any – let alone all – of the veiled threats to cancel season tickets, pay-tv subscriptions, no longer attend Wallaby Tests, or buy a jersey from some other code are actually carried through, the impact on rugby in this country could be dire.
It’s when our teams are going through a rough trot that they need our support the most. Of course everyone loves a winner, that’s human nature, but being there week in week out despite the results is the mark of true supporters.
One of The Roar’s regular contributors, LeftArmSpinner, happens to be a very astute rugby analyst. Some of his work in recent times has been so on the money you just wish you could find a way to get his message to the Wallabies directly.
But even he wrote an interesting article last week in which he curiously “officially rested” several key players including George Smith, Steven Moore and Matt Giteau from a theoretical squad for the Spring Tour.
I bring this up not as a criticism of Leftie’s article, or even the reasoning he used, but just to point out that even the most astute can be guilty of occasional over-reaction.
Leftie himself wrote an article back in June, entitled “Ask What You Can Do For Rugby”, which also called on supporters to do their bit in the down times.
While he spoke specifically of supporting rugby sponsors from the grass root to national level in these tougher economic times, Leftie also made a point that I’ll use to highlight the futility of making vague threats in times of underperformance:
“The simple things can bring significantly more money into the game and hence improve the scope, growth and performance of the game at all levels.”
In short, before you cancel your season ticket or buy a different jersey, think about what impact your decision might have on the game you’re so obviously passionate about. Imagine if we found in time that some junior development program was scrapped because five more people didn’t attend a Test next year?
By all means, express your disappointment. I’m guilty of this myself.
But then once we’ve said our piece – or even before, ideally – let’s all just calm down a bit and think about what good can possibly come from such threats and vitriol.
If it’s not going to help, then let’s just not.
And then let’s get back behind our team, because they need our support now more than ever.
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(96)
Knives Out said | September 29th 2009 @ 5:17am | Report comment
A balanced Australian press response! Does the Australian media not consider that treason? Spiro’s gna’ hunt you down ‘1984′ style, Brett.
MH said | September 29th 2009 @ 6:37am | Report comment
I’m happy for loyal Wallaby fans to vent, even if it is just to make themselves feel better.
The Wallabies attitude is unacceptable and they should know it will not be tolerated. The team hasn’t won a major trophy since 2001, and the world cup quarter final in Marseille was without a doubt the worst game of rugby ever. We the fans who stayed beyond that display are obviously loyal.
Peter Fitzsimmons was bang on when he said the players can share in the losses that are made as a result of their sucky attitude. Long suffering fans can cope with losing, but when the team doesn’t appear to care, why should we?
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
I say, give others the chance to show if they can perform in a Wallabies jersey at the expense of the incumbents. If the replacements dont make the grade, then keep looking for others who can. at some point, and probably at the beggining of 2011, make a decision on the RWC squad on the basis who have done best. If some underperformers are selected, we just know that Deans and co did their best but could not find players with the necessary character.
IN this context, this NH tour is very important to check out the next tier. thats why Carter should be there.
Epi said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
He will be, with a number 10 on his back – in a black jersey. What’s that? Tom Carter you mean? You must be having a laugh… He nowhere near meets the criteria that you need at least a modicum of talent to play for your country.
Nashi said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
LAS, sorry but I recall some semblance of life was breathed into the Tahs backline when Carter sat on the benchat the end of last season, Carter is a good crash ball player but lacks the finesse required of a number 12 at international level. I don’t see him as a prospect at 13 either, there is far more competition for that jersey.
sportym said | September 29th 2009 @ 7:28am | Report comment
I can see where you are coming from Brett, but in all honesty, I do not agree with the comparison between the All blacks and wallabies, I think the wallaby supporter has been very very passionate and supporting of thier national team. The All Blacks coped a hammering from their fans cause they had a bad 2009, as for us wallaby supporters we been backing our team that has been underperforming for the last 5-6 years. After all these years of disapointment I believe we have everyright to finally say enough is enough. The fans have put in the hard yards, it time the ARU / wallabies put in the same effort or people will leave the sport. There are 4 competing codes in oz, rugby has to lifts its game, and frankly since 2003 rugby has pissed away a great opertunity to grow as a code. Its the only code that is run by old school dinasours and when a player makes the squad he is almost guranteed that postion.
Its give and take, I say we fans have given, lets see the wallabies and ARU making an effort to evolve the code, and not jsut treating it as money making venture.
Brett McKay said | September 29th 2009 @ 7:56am | Report comment
maybe Knives, maybe..
I’m calling this my ‘Greg Russell column’, the call to put down the arms…..
Sporty, you’re very correct in your response too, and I expect yours to be the first of many (hopefully!) along these lines. I’m not saying that the reactions have been wrong, just that the longer it goes on, the less productive it becomes. That said, I’ve noticed there’s been more constructive talk about the much-needed domestic comp again this week. This sort of talk is useful, and the powers that be would be mad not to take notice.
By the way, I’m not comparing the ABs, just using Grant Fox’s words on a different audience. What he said applies to Wallaby supporters just as much.
All I’m saying is let’s end the ranting, and start moving forward. The Wallabies will improve, so let’s stick with them.
Knives Out said | September 29th 2009 @ 9:16pm | Report comment
John Lennon would be proud.
Hoy said | September 29th 2009 @ 8:34am | Report comment
I am not so sure it is that easy. I am with MH, although I disagree about the 07 quater final being the worst game ever, as the shite that was dished up a fortnight ago was a lot worse in my opinion.
I support the Wallabies, but some of the games this year it is like they aren’t even trying. Or they are so dumb in what they do that I am sure a club side could out-think them. That is serious.
So I will continue to support the WALLABIES. But I want the those players to know that if they keep playing like their last game, I can’t support any of those players, and nor should I.
tradegen said | September 29th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Great article Brett, once put into perspective the Wallabies performance although not what we would all want, there are some positives that will help shape the bright future of this team.
It has been mentioned numerous times that a national domestic comp be created no matter what the cost and I tend to agree, however I find that will be near mission impossible with each faction within Australian Rugby having their own agendas. This political infighting has been going on for years and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. I believe that a collective approach to developing the pathways to the Wallabies is the only way to achieve “cut through” in what has been described as the most competitive winter sport market in the world. At the moment the majority of the development of junior rugby is done at a state level with differing degrees of success. I would like to a national approach to development (something akin to the Auskick) program which exposes kids to the sport. This can only be done from a national level. Until we have all the state bodies and the national body singing from the same hymn book, this will be nearly impossible.
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
tradegen, can the undoubted potential of this squad be brought to fruition if the culture is wrong and crippling most performances.
formeropenside said | September 29th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Unless the ARU get the message (via falling revenues) that things need to change, they wont change. As long as the ARU does stupid things like ignore the traditional heartlands of Qld and NSW in favour of made-up extra “provinces”, cans the ARC third-tier comp, and plays tests against the Boks in Perth, it does not deserve my support.
Justin said | September 29th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
It looks like there is going to be a shakeup FOS at ARU headquarters. Have a look at Wayne Smiths article today – http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26138024-5015651,00.html
This may lead to significant change within the corridors of power. Lets hope so…
Invictus said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:53pm | Report comment
Very interesting!
It’s going to be an extra-ordinary meeting – heavy casualties expected…..
Harry said | September 29th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
I’ll take your point that we’ve gone on long enough. But when there is consistent underperformance and poor return on capital, hard questions and realitiies have to be confronted. That means criticism and unpleasant, confronting actions.
I pay a not inconsiderable amount to support the Reds. This season alone, and its happened repeatedly in the last few years, I see “professional” players blatantly unfit and teams effectively not trying in several games.
Similarly with the Wallabies I see players earning circa half a million dollars a year turning in very very average performances.
There is a difference between whinging and passionately supporting your team and code. I think we’ve seen the latter from Roarers in recent weeks.
By the way IMO LAS was right to call for changes and to rest senior players. Its not as if these guys have so outperformed that it is ridiculous or wrong to explore alternatives – the opposite in fact.
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
go harry. you and I might get a call up…………….
Bay35Pablo said | September 29th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Brett, take your point, but even long suffering supporters eventually reach breaking point.
When a team is down but still trying, you can cop it, but when the players aren’t fronting up and.or just being repeatedly dumb, and the administrators repeatedly reveal themselves as incompetent narcissists, you expect the lynch mob to gather.
Much of this lies at the feet of those in charge, and the changes that need to occur are unlikely to be brought in by those who will then lose their jobs. Wayne Smith’s article in the OZ today is a step in the right direction (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26132931-5015703,00.html)
However, this should have happened 5 years ago, and it still leaves 5 directors chosen by the states who will engage in the usual back stabbing and jockeying. the NSWRU and QRu need similar changes, and the majority of directors on each board should be independent, with the minority stake holders. Look to the AFL Commission for a guide.
amused said | September 29th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
aaah, the ole switcheroo. bring in the results of another aussie team that hasn’t performed as well as expected.
well that don’t wash from where i am sitting.
the cricketers are very well paid also but have a much heavier schedule, spend up 9 hours a day in the field, travel much more to many different countries and pretty much play all year round. plus you could see how much they put into the ashes and promptly came back 6-1 in the one dayers and are now contesting the champions trophy.
the wallabies? they break your heart most years but clearly this year was above and beyond the usual, “we let you down guys, sorry” that supporters get every test season. they weren’t trying and it showed.
i think the wallabies need our support, but not this kid glove rubbish they have relied on or that you suggest. much like their main sponsor, qantarse, they seem to be a protected species. “oh, you can’t say that, it might hurt their feelings”….rubbish. maybe if they HTFU it might show on the field. they are professional sportsman getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, earn it or keep getting bagged by fans and the public who actually pay their salaries.
here’s one fan who will not be paying for super 14 at the SFS or tests in sydney anymore till i see an improvement. i just saved at least $1500 this year by doing that, great. enjoy it ARU. my $350 SCG membership is great value, thats why i’ve kept it for 18 years and go to all the games. wheres the value for money in the lollabies?
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
amused, I hate to tell you but, I too am a Member and have you seen what is being served up as cricket this summer? Rather than lobster, it is that crab substitution stuff!!! Well, i might have to spend more time in the bar!!!!! now, there is a change………
katzilla said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
’spend up 9 hours a day in the field’
Oh be still my aching sides! Certainly a feat any Ironman would struggle with.
Dingbat said | September 29th 2009 @ 9:54am | Report comment
Agree with author. Sport is emotionally draining at times. Screaming at the screen is a great stress reliever. Debating wins and losses and the international rivalry that goes with is one of life’s great treats. In the end, however, it’s just sport.
Daniel J said | September 29th 2009 @ 10:32am | Report comment
I agree somewhat.
I think you have missed the point from some of us who have been venting. I am a Queenslander, and before you roll your eyes just hear me out. Queensland has a small but yet very proud and very passionate supporter base, to see the Reds fail for so long and then to see the Wallabies fail on top of that can be to much to handle (financially). Mate it is not cheap for season memberships, test matches, beer at games, getting to the game and so forth. If you saw the Wallabies laughing and carrying on after a loss, and maybe the players, just maybe for once give something back to the fans only to have them slap you in the face with a “we won’t play unless you pay attitude” give me a break. what would you do? All up it cost me $500 for a season membership for the Reds, $50 – $150/ Test match. Is that cheap? Nobody cares if a team loses as long as it was done with a bit of passion and they gave it their best. I was one of those who said i would not be renewing my membership, and as far as i am concerned this will remain because i don’t see that i am getting my monies worth or that the team that i am passionate about doesn’t take it seriously as to how much it costs fans to go and see them play. I will however maintain and support at grass roots level (club rugby) however I am not sorry for being passionate, and i am not sorry for paying the amounts i have in the past to support a team and code that is played/and plays in heaven, however if the national team doesn’t play to their best and take it as a joke then i won’t pay that amount. that’s fair isn’t it? Thanks for hearing out my rant
peace
SouthernWaratah said | September 29th 2009 @ 10:37am | Report comment
I think we need to keep our sporting woes into perspective. In Australia we have an abundance of competitions sourcing all our sporting talent. Here’s the list:
AFL
NRL
A league
1st Class Cricket
NBL
Premier Rugby – Sydney & Brisbane ….(I don’t consider these two in the status of the others but It does feed the Wallabies & yes all the NZ readers will tell of their great domestic Rugby Union competition which is far superior to the Australian version… Kudos to you….)
It’s such a competitive market now that different sporting bodies having to offer juniors contracts to align them with a particular sport. Brett Deledeo who plays for the Richmond Tigers in AFL was a junior cricketing prodigy; one loss to cricket is a gain to AFL.
Now where am I going with all this? While the Wallabies are having a tough time of it consider this rugby fans! That if Australia was a one nation sporting country imagine for a minute what sort of Rugby Union team we could field.
Allowing for the spread of talent in this country over the different sporting bodies I think we are doing ok for the moment, sure it would be nice to have won a few more game against the All Blacks but heading into a 2011 RWC I think we are in reasonable shape for a side that loves to peak when it matters.
amused said | September 29th 2009 @ 10:46am | Report comment
i resent you putting AFL first on that list!
i kid!
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
they certainly cannot be accused of peaking early…………the question is whether they will peak at all
katzilla said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Why would we tell you about our domestic comp? It appears you already know. And I dont even see how it would even remotely be appropriate to your list seeing as the rest are Australian Comps.
Howi said | September 29th 2009 @ 10:49am | Report comment
Like Justin above I have been following Wayne Smith’s comments lately, which seem pretty insightful to me:
Have a read of Wayne Smith’s article yesterday: “Lesson on bridging gap between players and officials”
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26132931-5015651,00.html
He is perhaps putting forward that the ARU itself should be held more accountable than the players and coaches. There’s much that is not right with Australian Rugby as a whole, and he holds this point of view up in the light of the hugely successful AFL season that just culminated last weekend in a wonderful grand final match. It’s a good read.
Chris Beck said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:15am | Report comment
They say that it’s always darkest before the dawn. That said, I once saw a variation of this that I thought was funny: “it’s always darkest before pitch black.”
I’m not Australian, so I can’t really identify with what real Wallaby fans are going through. I agree that it’s difficult to be positive in the face of seemingly overwhelming despair. But sooner or later things have a way of turning around.
Case in point: my college football team has been atrocious over the last six years (18 wins, 54 losses). With each new year we found new ways to lose – with last year being the low point (0-12, the worst in the country). While I never stopped attending home games in this span, I will admit that the value per ticket proposition became harder to stomach the worse the play, and (more annoyingly) the effort put forth on the field, became.
But things are looking up again – nine days ago we were finally rewarded with an unexpected, and deserved, win against a good team. Progress in small steps.
Hammer said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
The answer is simple – don’t place them on a pedestal they don’t belong on and stop over hyping every player that comes onto the scene as being / or going to be the best in the world …
Australia has a depth problem sure – but more so the system rewards mediocrity .. I’ll give you 1 example – O’Connor – he is not now the most promising youngster in the world and he certainly won’t be the best player in the world in a couple of seasons time – (contrary to the never ending hype) – why ? because he’s already cracked it into the starting Wallaby team and despite all the inherent flaws in his game he has zero incentive to fix them – because he’ll keep getting selected …. Look no further than Mitchell as a prototype to where he’ll be in a few seasons time … he should be dropped and told what’s wrong with his game (and possibly attitude) and informed what’s required of him in order to gain reselection … it’s not new – Jones did it with Latham .. and the NZ selectors have done recently with Thomson …
SouthernWaratah said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:39am | Report comment
Hammer O’Conner’s learning his craft at Test level and there’s no where else in Australia for him to do otherwise!
So where do you propose he go back and reassess his game?
At Surfers Paradise running along the beach during the end of season tour when the other promising young rugby talent are being taught the ropes by the coaching master?
…. Have a think about these things before making silly suggestions!
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
Rob Horne was playing in the 1st grade colts GF last week……. honing his skills????
formeropenside said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
And probably O’Connor, as well as Beale and Q. Cooper, might have had their careers better served by spending a few years in colts and grade rugby, learning different things from different coaches, rather than having to be tossed in the deep end because the rugby talent we have is spread thin across too many S14 teams.
Horan and Little were absolute freaks to do what they did so young: I see no signs that JO’C is as good at this stage.
Harry said | September 29th 2009 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
That actually cheers me LAS … I reckon, yes, do a bloke like Horne the world of good to step back a bit and play colts. Hopefully he carved them up!
Justin said | September 30th 2009 @ 4:17am | Report comment
The old you are only as good as your last game theory coming into play me thinks. Yep had a shocker but to say he has inherent flaws and no incentive to fix them is wildly inaccurate. The kid is bloody good and playing out of position. I think he would be well aware of his failures in Wellington and dying to get out and prove the critics wrong, which he will.
anopinion said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:53am | Report comment
Can I raise a question? How can one tell if a Wallaby has cared enough or not? It seems subjective to me. Would it help if they lay on the grass after a game and cried? Would you prefer a drop to the knees and a raising of arms and eyes heavenward with a cry of noooooo?
Personally I am proud of the way the Aussies have quitted themselves in defeat. To shake the opponents hand and smile and even laugh with an opposition who has outplayed you shows style, not, a lack of passion. I hope for the same from 8 year olds after a a win or loss why not from the flagship players of our code?
To lose to a rd hot SA side or the perpetual world leaders NZ is not an insult.
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
Why didnt they contest the AB lineout? why didnt they counterruck like the AB’s did? why did they run acoss field, too scared to run straight? surely these behaviours were so basic, that junior teams know not to do these things, to indicate that they jsut dont care or are scared.
ohtani's jacket said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
Because they’re not good enough?
Attitude may get you across the line every once and awhile, but there’s a gap in skill level between the Wallabies and the All Blacks and passion and enthusiasm won’t make up for that.
Hoy said | September 29th 2009 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
I disagree OJ. Show me the skills gap, and I will give you an instance where attitude would make a difference.
We didn’t even try to pilfer the All Black’s lineout. That is attitude. Attitude is piling into rucks like the All Blacks did, rather than back away, like our players did.
Everyone in the Lion’s squad had never heard of Justin Harris, and called him a plonker, right up until he stole their lineout and saved the Wallabies. Attitude.
The skill gap looks a lot bigger when our players don’t even look interested. Passion and enthusiasm make up plenty of ground in defence, and that is half the game.
ohtani's jacket said | September 29th 2009 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
“Attitude” is an assumption that if the Wallabies had the right sort of mental toughness they would beat the All Blacks. It’s just not true. The All Blacks were technically superior in just about every facet of the game.
How will attitude make Giteau a better first five or O’Connor a better fullback? Attitude is fine and good in the set pieces, at the breakdown and in the tight stuff, but has anyone stopped to consider that the Wallabies didn’t disrupt the All Black lineout because they’re not a particularly good lineout unit themselves?
The Wallabies have lost to the All Blacks six times in a row. Some of the Wallaby efforts have been good and twice they’ve been blown out, but regardless of the commitment level, they have only controlled the breakdown once and that was when McCaw was injured and Braid and Lauaki played. They don’t have the right backrow to challenge the All Blacks. That’s a selection error not an attitude problem.
Now that there’s no sting to the Wallaby midfield, their backs are easier to defend than ever before. Tactics and skill level. Not only that but the back’s defence has fallen off completely. Is that an attitude problem or is it the fact that they look clueless on defence?
If the Wallabies play the All Blacks four times a year, attitude will win one game tops. Trust me, I’ve seen plenty of All Black sides who had attitude but didn’t have the players or skills to win. Winning on attitude alone is a sporting fairytale, and if you ask me, it’s part and parcel of the problem with the Wallabies.
Knives Out said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:12pm | Report comment
‘Everyone in the Lion’s squad had never heard of Justin Harris, and called him a plonker, right up until he stole their lineout and saved the Wallabies. Attitude.’
And the fact that the Australian camp had found out the Lions line out codes, but yes, Harrison did have attitude, albeit a very bad one.
Knives Out said | September 29th 2009 @ 9:21pm | Report comment
‘Why didnt they contest the AB lineout?’
Because they wanted to contest the rolling maul?
‘why didnt they counterruck like the AB’s did?’
Defensive pattern?
There is no way that a team of 15 adults would ignore the coaches if they had said: “Contest the lineout like we have in practice and analysis sessions and counter ruck vigorously.” Being scared just doesn’t come into it. The Australians have played the New Zealanders in test and Super rugby for years.
formeropenside said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
no, but how you lose is pretty important, too
Hammer said | September 29th 2009 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
Nothing silly about it SW – so you’d rather have a flawed youngster as your last line of defence … gee that worked a treat in Wellington … and he will be shown up again in the AI’s
you don’t learn your craft at test match level – you should have a sound alround game before reaching it .. he hasn’t – Mitchell hasn’t, Turner hasn’t and the next cab off the rank will be Beale – a player who hasn’t shown in 2 seasons of S14 that he warrents continued selection for NSW let alone be included in the Wallabies set up ..
anopinion said | September 29th 2009 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
Could not agree more Hammer. Southern Waratah may like to consider O’Connor reassess his game like the thousands of other kids his age at either colts or premier. If he is indeed good enough then the Super 14. I know it is off season, gains are still made during this period.
He is flawed, he is not good enough for the Wallabies yet.
SW as for your …. Have a think about these things before making silly suggestions!” comment, insults tend to be the last line of defense for the ignorant, they do not count as points in a discussion forum.
Justin said | September 30th 2009 @ 4:25am | Report comment
Cmon hammer stop being lazy and throwing cheap shots at the kid
What are these inherent flaws you talk of and please don’t rattle off each mistake in Wellington as your proof. Give us somethings you have noticed about him throughout the season that say this kid is nowhere near ready for Test football.
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
Brett, Excellent article. Thanks for some generous words. It is a good time to pull together the previous articles.
My position is this:
1. The Wallabies performance is so poor to be disrespectful and supporters are entitled to call it as they see it. The Wallabies need some tough love. Every parent giving some tough love to their teenager will be accused of overreacting. Nope. It is the consequence of their previous behaviour. “Dont want the tough love, then dont behave in that unacceptable way in the first place!!!!”
The Wallabies, by comparison to other national teams, (Cricket 1989-2006, netball, Swimming, Rugby 1984, 1991 and 1999, ARL Kangaroos and SOO teams) and even most AFL, NRL, NFL and Premier league teams, the Wallabies individual and collective efforts have been so poor as to not meet the minimum standards required of sports people representing their country. Wellington was the final straw and the worst example.
I cite the passionate play, character and commitment shown by Parramatta and Canterbury in last week’s Preliminary Final and they were just fighting over post codes. I enjoyed that game and the atmosphere very much but left the ground feeling cheated by the comparative performance displayed by the Wallabies six days prior.
Let me make it clear: This is not about the result of the contest. It is about the effort and character displayed for most of the game. Rugby is essentially series of contests. The Wallabies failed to respect possession of the football or contest:
a. the breakdown,
b. the much maligned AB lineout or
c. the AB defence, because the backs ran across field behind the advantage line.
So yes, if it comes across as an overreaction, then so be it. This is a very serious matter. The Wallabies and their performances determine the financial viability of the code in this country.
2. Supporters should not withdraw their financial support of the WALLABIES organisation.
Conversely, now is the time for everyone to be brave. Supporters keep supporting, Players be brave and break the losing cycle and if they cant raise their performances, the coaches working harder, will need to find players will give the commitment required and administrators support the coach fully.
43 players were selected by there was still no room for Tom Carter or Tim Davidson, two players with undoubted commitment and passion.
I don’t believe that supporters will ever really put themselves out to support those who support rugby. Would you drink Tooheys New instead of Crown Lager to thank Tooheys for their investment in Sydney Grade rugby?
Finally, that Deans is now giving the Wallabies some tough love, I believe that I have not over-reacted. Leopards don’t change their spots and these leopards have had enough time and chances to get with the Deans?JON programme of cultural change. If they won’t then I encourage Deans to find some who will. If the senior players were behind this possibles V probables debacle, then give others a chance to prove themselves. This is not an over reaction, just the laws of professional sport.
Finally, Brett, I congratulate you on this article and hope that the debate continues at its intensity. The Wallabies should be shown the recent articles and posts to give them some insight into the real world.
ebut They didnt contestbreach the have played with suchI have the luxury of being able to say things without any ramifications or backlashes. I also have the luxury of beginning to write my thoughts during the game as things occur and then publish immediately at the conclusion of the game.
Deans has correctly been more circumspect and gave more respect to the players by preferring to keep the tough words in house. He also has more important things to think about during the game than is post game statements. However, Deans has now clearly has changed his approach. I notice that he has become more direct and clear in his public comments. He is closer to the individuals and the team psyche and culture and more experienced in diagnosing issues.
I strongly suggest that the Wallabies need some hard love. I believe Deans that takes the same view as myself and many other Roarers. I say this to support my belief given that Deans is so much closer don’t suggest that anyone withdraw their support, tickets or merchandise etc, but the Wallabies need some hard love.
Pete said | September 29th 2009 @ 9:27pm | Report comment
I needed to vent after the ABs match. It was the final straw of continual disappointment after over hype. The passing of time has allowed me pick mysef up and get on with enjoying the game. If I didn’t vent I think I may have exploded.
But I agree that the players needed to hear everyone’s opinion. Primarily it tells them that there is a very passionate fan base out there. They have responsibility. Perhaps that will cross their mind and give them the extra effort they need in the dying seconds of a game. They definitely need tough love… but then again perhaps they need to know that they are loved… in a blokey platonic.. s*hit grab me another beer.. check out the legs on her… kinda way ( phew that was slightly uncomfortable for a moment…)
Brett McKay said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
Great stuff Roarers, I expected this kind of empassioned response, and you’ve delivered in spades, and I thank you all for your responses.
To address a select few (but easily applied to all):
Daniel J – again, thank you for your “rant”, and as a Reds supporter, you’re well entitled to it as you said. In fact everyone is well entiltled to say their piece, and fortunately in The Roar we have the medium to do this. As a Brumbies member, I’ve spent similar sums to you this year (including a Test), and I too have questioned the value for money at times. If your decision not to renew your membership is a financial one, then no-one will begrudge you that. In fact I wouldn’t even begrudge your decision if it’s based on performance (both on- and off-field) and I don’t imagine you’ll be the only Qlder considering this decision.
I wrote this column not as a demand to stand up as a supporter fo rugby, but more just to highlight that perhaps it’s time to move on. I didn’t for a minute expect to get universal agreement – in fact, I’m surpprised there’s been as many supporting comments as there has been. If you do end up going to a few Reds games next year still, becuase of this column or otherwise, then the Reds still benefit. If you stay involved with your local club, even better. We can still do our bit in our own ways.
Leftie – I’m very glad you’ve found your way to my column, and moreso, I’m glad you’ve taken my comments in regard to your articles as they were intended (and not as one of my proof-readers did, questioning why I was giving you a spray!). Again, your comment today should be forwarded onto the Wallabies directly as they are once again spot on.
I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts on tough love, and the way Robbie Deans seems to have changed his approach. Clearly he’s decided subtlty no longer gets the message through, and it’s time to be brutal. I’m thankful I’m not one of the 43 players, because I’d reckong they’re about to be flogged on the training track like they’ve never been flogged before. No doubt Deans has learned a lot about his players and methods in the last month, and with this in mind, the Spring Tour suddenly has an edge about it. I don’t believe we’ll see a repeat of Wellington under Robbie Deans again.
Knives, if you’re out there still, you’ll be pleased to know I’m yet to see Spiro and my head remains in place…
Finally, a couple of links for the referenced articles:
Grant Fox’s column from August: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/2815414/Time-to-stop-playing-rugby-blame-game
and Leftie’s from June: http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/06/22/ask-what-you-can-do-for-rugby/
Knives Out said | September 29th 2009 @ 9:25pm | Report comment
‘Knives, if you’re out there still, you’ll be pleased to know I’m yet to see Spiro and my head remains in place…’
That’s exactly what happened in ‘1984′ and ‘The Wire’.. Spiro’s waiting for you to incriminate yourself that little bit more and then BANG.. You’re outta here, you bleedin’ pea heart!
Who Needs Melon said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
Brett,
Like many above, I get your point too and I agree that “the longer [our criticism] goes on, the less productive it becomes”.
But what really irks me is what seems to continually happen which is this: All the criticism WILL eventually die down. We WILL all eventually put back on our jerseys, scarves, etc. and become dutiful ’supporters’ in every sense of the word. Then the Wallaby players, coaches and commentators will tell us they have all learned from past mistakes, they are better prepared now, they never want to feel that way again, they’ve been working to correct the areas that needed addressing, etc, etc, etc… BUT THEN THEY’LL DO THE SAME THING AGAIN!!!
I think we made the same mistakes in Bledisloe 3 as we did in Bledisloe 1… only worse! We didn’t learn that the breakdown was an area we needed to focus on – we actually went backwards in that area. And we all had to listen to all that c**p before the match about a ‘new Wallaby dawn’.
Confidence is all well and good but I’m sick of us continually papering over the cracks. Deans is seeing it like it is now and recognising the cracks. I’m sure he won’t be talking us up ahead of the next game against NZ. For me personally, I’m going to stop delivering the “Wallabies are all talk” message when I KNOW the players have got the message – i.e. when the Wallabies walk is bigger than their talk.
Brett McKay said | September 29th 2009 @ 1:53pm | Report comment
Melon, I do agree, all in all. In fact only on the weekend did I say to a couple of young punks at pre-season cricket training that “we don’t care if you make mistakes, but we’ll get bloody annoyed if you don’t learn and keep making them..”
As I said to Leftie above, I’m liking what we’re hearing from the coach this week. Clearly the period since Wellington has been one of relection. I thought this was particularly pointed:
“I think confidence is over-rated. I think toughness and resilience are more important.”
katzilla said | September 29th 2009 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
I think you guys need to be harder on your mob.
If they throw everything at the opposition and lose then fair enough, you know then that at least they didnt’ disgrace the jersey. But what happened in Wellington was terrible.
I’ve been thinking alot lately of the AB run in the 07 WC. When we played Portugal everyone expected a 70-80 point hiding, but no one told the Portos that. They tackled hard. ran like it was Georgia they were playing and not the Blacks, and generally showed the rugby world that they had a pair. It took us until something like 20 mins to cross their line, one of the best AB teams of all time against a bunch of semi pros and amateurs. And it had nothing to do with poor performance by the ABs. Sure we beat them comfortably, but by the end there had to be 4 Million Kiwis cheering for a Porto try, that rolling Maul they set up was the stuff of legend and not even the SA pack this year would have stopped em.
I guess the message is that the Portos played for their jersey and their fans and left nothing to chance. Superior fitness over rode them but they had nothing to be ashamed of.
When you have a team of highly skilled and professional players that show up in name only then a teams fans deserve at the very least an apology. And the promise of better showing.
In the world rankings you guys may be ranked 3, but in the ‘I’ve got a pair’ rugby rankings your running at a similar depth to ‘The Poos’ tennis ranking.
Keep the pressure on them imo.
At least then you know the fans have a winning attitude.
Nashi said | September 29th 2009 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Brett, nice article. Its about time all of us settled down and recovered our cool heads. I have to say after the game I was absolutely gutted, but now hopefully I am starting to think more clearly. We still have a chance to put a performance together in Tokyo, but lets not get carried away. As much as the Wallabies talked it up before the game several Roarers were guilty of the same mistake. These pages were filled with boasts fuelled by the Wallabies talk. So lets stop talking, as Deans says we need to let our actions do the talking. The sad thing is that the pre-match hype will be down a cog or two, but I’ll settle for a few days of quiet before the storm.
ohtani's jacket said | September 29th 2009 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
Speaking as someone who grew up on the Bledisloe Cup rivalry and ran around emulating John Kirwan and David Campese as a kid, if someone had told me after the Eales retirement game that the All Blacks would go on to hold the Bledisloe Cup for the better part of the decade, I would’ve thrown a rock at them.
If I were to put my finger on why the Wallabies have done so poorly against the All Blacks this year, I’d say it’s because the Wallabies thought the All Blacks were poor and there for the taking. There were far too many assumptions made after the June Tests and again after the Brisbane performance. If you ask me, the Wallabies do too much visualising and not enough hard work. I’ve mentioned this before, but in the week between Hamilton and Wellington, the All Blacks clearly did some work on their game. It appears highly unlikely that concerned themselves with what the Wallabies were up to. The Wallabies, by contrast, were talking about hoodoos and taking the next step instead of really honing in on how they were going to disrupt the All Blacks’ breakdown patterns, etc. South Africa spent a week fixing their game on the Gold Coast. Perhaps the Wallabies thought there was nothing to fix? More of the same, thanks.
The Wallabies don’t play again for a month or so, they don’t have a chance to show their mettle until then, but it’s an important tour and you’d hope they’d take it seriously and work on their week-to-week performances. And hopefully their fans take it one week at a time.
ThelmaWrites said | September 29th 2009 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
OJ
I beg to differ.
It’s not that “the Wallabies thought the All Blacks were poor and there for the taking… If you ask me, the Wallabies do too much visualising and not enough hard work.”
Maybe the Wallabies were not tough because they were not confident?
Deans appears to oppose the two in another article in the Roar, “The Wallabies Not Desperate Enough, Says Deans”: “Personally, I think confidence is over-rated. Personally, I think toughness and resilience is more important.”
(Sometimes I have problems with Deans-speak. It can get nebulous. Like when he talks about “living in the moment” ( which is legitimate mindfulness), “the violence of the ruck”, etc.
Confidence, as opposed to hubris, is the other side of the coin to toughness. Maybe the Wallabies are not tough because they are not confident? For a lot of reasons. Maybe they don’t understand the game-plan? I googled Richard Graham, and I couldn’t understand what he meant about their game-drills. Maybe they are short on fundamentals, as Bob Dwyer avers? They don’t have killer instincts because they don’t think they can kill?
Yes, us Aussies should give them tough love. But I would also like a problem-solving approach: co-opt some AIS sports psychologists to help out. I’ve been met with derision every time I’ve brought this up in The Roar. It’s not some “creative visualisation”, or relaxation techniques, or mantra recitation. It is a serious study.
I happened to mention this to my younger rugby daughter here in Kuala Lumpur. She pulled out Michael Lynagh’s biography by Andrew Slack and pointed out to me the pages where Michael Lynagh expresses sustenance from his father, who did graduate work in sports psychology at State University of Oregon in Corvallis. (I’ve been there.)
I wouldn’t airily dismiss sports pscyhology.
ohtani's jacket said | September 30th 2009 @ 1:07am | Report comment
The All Blacks weren’t that confident themselves. They played their way into the Test. It honestly took them a good thirty minutes to get the confidence flowing. Australia had plenty of time to jolt that confidence and build their own platform.
It wasn’t my intention to dismiss sports psychology. I simply think the Wallabies spend too much time thinking about beating the All Blacks and not enough time working on the problems that occur in every Bledisloe Cup Test. Six Tests is a long time to be making the same mistakes.
Ozrugbynut said | September 29th 2009 @ 5:26pm | Report comment
If there are any Wallabies (now or in the future) who ever think that any team pulling on a black jersy was ‘there for the taking” then demote them.
The ABs, to their eternal credit, never roll over and always play with passion. It’s hard to accept as a WBs supporter, but we’re just not made of the same stuff (at the moment). It’s hard to accept, but there’s a lot more to admire about some of the leagies going around than some of the Wallabies who have been given the honour of pulling on the gold jersey.
Pete said | September 29th 2009 @ 9:35pm | Report comment
“The ABs, to their eternal credit, never roll over and always play with passion”
I remember when that was the attitude of the Wallabies. In fact any sporting team in Australia, its suppose to be in our DNA. That why the capitulation during the ABs match was hard to stomach… but apparently I’m over that, so lets move on.
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:21pm | Report comment
OJ, I agree and disagree. so there. The Wallabies did visualise but they made the mistake of living in the future, a future that included a win over the Ab’s. the only problem was that the AB’s were focused on the next ruck and then the next lineout and then the next tackle etc….
But Thelma, is correct, they just didnt want it enough if at all, in comparative terms. just listen the Aussie Diamonds netballers. JEzzz, scares the bejesus out of me, their passion and determination. I’d put the house on them, any time, and this is after they have just lost Liz Ellis, the Eales equivalent.
Knives Out said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:27pm | Report comment
I agree with OJ. The missing ‘duplicated comment’ that I wrote focused upon the lack of skills in the Wallaby set up. I don’t think the Australian team is skilled enough to compete at the top level, nor do they seem to have a strong tactical direction. What is going on behind the scenes? Who has Robbie Deans improved as a player? Gatland, for example, in a short space of time helped develop Adam Jones, A.W. Jones, Phillips, Halfpenny, Roberts and Byrne into seriously good players.
ohtani's jacket said | September 30th 2009 @ 12:58am | Report comment
The Aussie netballers are tough women, granted, but they’re also highly skilled.
ThelmaWrites said | September 30th 2009 @ 1:33am | Report comment
KO and OJ
I have one more DVD to watch: last year’s Australia v Wales. Then I hope to reply, mindful that I haven’t seen the Wellington test, and perhaps in another thread.
Knives Out said | September 30th 2009 @ 2:06am | Report comment
The Springboks have been committed to the extent of being kamikaze for years. Their recent successes (including 04) coincided with the introduction of greater technical work. SA won the 3N because they could execute some very effective rugby very, very accurately. The Wallabies could have had all the passion in the world but until that passion is matched with skill, like you say, then the staus quo will remain. I am astonished that after all the time Burgess has spent in camp with Australia that he still struggles passing a ball. Something must be badly wrong in the Australian camp. 9/10 the more skill full team will absorb all the rage and commitment in the world and work around it with their skills. That logic applies to most sports.
ThelmaWrites said | September 30th 2009 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
KO
I watched last year’s Eden Park and Hongkong Bledisloes again last week. Burgess was okay. But this year he seemed to tune out under pressure. Watch his eyes. His passing became sloppy. Perhaps Deans thought he might turn the corner and kept him far longer than a less desperate coach would.
Knives Out said | September 30th 2009 @ 9:18pm | Report comment
Maybe it was pressure, Thelma, but passing should be the one thing that 9s can do without thinking. How can no coach have helped him improve his passing to the point where it is beyond reproach? I just don’t understand it. It’s such an isolated skill.
sheek said | September 29th 2009 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
Brett,
We have a saying in my line of work – “the floggings will continue until morale improves”.
In this case, the verbal flogging of the Wallabies will continue until their morale (win/loss record) improves dramatically!
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:22pm | Report comment
sheek, verbal floggings? from whom? Deans or the Roarers?
funmaster said | September 29th 2009 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
My advice, play guys with heart and balls rather then talents with hairstyles. Look at a guy like brussow, never was a legend at high school or at youth club rugby. Always seemed to have just made it. But as soon as he pulled that green jersey on, he played like braveheart! And thats guts more then talent
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:22pm | Report comment
Tommie carter and Davidson for two…………… not selected.
Knives Out said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:24pm | Report comment
Jamie Roberts, Jean de Villiers, Berrick Barnes, Matt Giteau, Damien Traille, Riki Flutey, Gordon D’Arcy, Gavin Henson and… Tim Davidson.
Knives Out said | September 30th 2009 @ 4:36am | Report comment
Excuse me.. I meant Tom Carter.
Ozrugbynut said | September 29th 2009 @ 5:21pm | Report comment
Brett,
I can only suspect an article like this has only been written to raise eyebrows.
Your comparison of the flak the Wallabies are getting with the heat the ABs were getting is defunct. That NZ criticism was from a rugby public demanding perfection. The ABs at that point had two wins on the board against Australia and were still in with a chance against SA to retain the TN.
By contrast, the flak the Wallabies have been getting is entirely justifiable. They gave up in Wellington to take just 1 win from the TN. It is an entirely different thing to criticise when your team is still at the top than it is when they are in a heap at the bottom of the table, and the manner of our loss in Wellington deserves the outpouring of anger it has.
LeftArmSpinner said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:25pm | Report comment
Oznut, I get what you are saying, but the AB’s were not even approaching perfection. the contrary was true. they were playing poorly and, despite the win in wellington, they have displayed character. I personally believe that this is the most important factor in any team and it is something that I am sure Deans would die for…………….
Brett McKay said | September 29th 2009 @ 7:16pm | Report comment
Yes and no, Ozrugbynut. I wrote it because I’d got to the point where I was almost getting sick of reading the same comments. That’s not to say the comments aren’t justified, becuase they quite obviously are. I just felt we’d gone past the point of it all being beneficial. Don’t get me wrong, I screamed at my telly as much as the next guy during the Brisbane and Wellington Tests – perhaps I reach the point of being circumspect earlier than others.
Sheek, I love your brutal honesty!!
Anyway, again, thanks everyone for your comments. There was a lot more agreement than I though I might have received, but it’s all healthy discussion in the end..
Knives Out said | September 29th 2009 @ 9:28pm | Report comment
I’ve heard it said that any rugby player that says he doesn’t read his own press is either a liar or can’t read. I’m sure it would be a nice treat for those boys in gold to see the fans say, “Right, let’s draw a line under the 3N and start a new day.” Of course, when England hit Australia with the pain train on 7th November you can all kick start the ‘Kill a Wallaby’ campaign, but until then why not support those poor, much maligned lads, eh.
allblackfan said | September 29th 2009 @ 9:55pm | Report comment
Well now Wallabies fans can start to understand what sort of bed the ABs make for themselves with their fans after a (comparitively) dismal season. The only difference is that the ABs are inspired to look for consistency. The Wallabies are not.
There’s a good analogy that springs to mind:
“Swim with piranhas long enough and you learn not to swim with them. Swim with goldfish and you could drown!!”
(I made that up. Good, no? No??)
Stash said | September 29th 2009 @ 10:07pm | Report comment
The Wallabies did give the boks a good thumping – the three losses against the ABs is the sticker.
The first 2 games this year against the ABs were pretty tight affairs – the last game was a shocker. But many considered the All Blacks pulled out their best performance this year (which was bad luck for the Wallabies).
A good end of the year tour will make a world of difference though stats suggest the Wallabies have developed an AB phobia.
Stash said | September 29th 2009 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
oops forgot the next game is in Tokyo against the ABs – errr the end of the year tour after the Tokyo game
funmaster said | September 29th 2009 @ 10:37pm | Report comment
Stash, yes the wallabies did give the boks ONE! thumping. (But not good enough to justify a whole season of mediocre performances againts them or the blacks.) This current bok team wont be easily beaten for the rest of the year. But i think australia could win the grand-slam this year, providing they remember their playing againts NH teams and not the boks or black.
ja sure ireland did win the SN and what not, but their still from the NH mate. And K.O too bad the boks arent playing the poms this year hey. I reckon you still remember the 40+ thumping we give you guys at good old twickenham……..(iam sad about the cricket thou)
Knives Out said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:10pm | Report comment
I do recall that funmaster, and I recall the 36-0 WC game, but I also recall the beating that England gave the Boks the last time they won the 3N and turned up to Europe full of hype. I also recall that Ireland has beaten SA the last two times that the Boks turned up to Dublin (and Paris) and I recall how so many Lions outplayed their Bok opposition. It should be a good series of games.
mcxd said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:46pm | Report comment
With the way the Wallabies are playing i would think it lucky that they win one out four in the NH let alone the Grand slam. Ireland and Wales seem particularly strong with some of the players they have. One thing going for the Wallabies is that the NH teams wont have an awful lot of time together. Realisticly the only game i see us winning is against the Scots and it will be close. Though, I hope they make me i eat my words.
Knives Out said | September 29th 2009 @ 11:52pm | Report comment
You’ve still got a game against NZ to get through first, mcxd. I noted today that Toeava is out of the NZ European tour, added to the mid-3N loss of Mealamu, Weepu, McAlister and Smith. Players are dropping like flies at the moment.
ohtani's jacket said | September 30th 2009 @ 12:55am | Report comment
The Toeava injury sucks.
Knives Out said | September 30th 2009 @ 1:02am | Report comment
It’s definitely poor timing. Nonu at 13 is not sexy.
ohtani's jacket said | September 30th 2009 @ 1:10am | Report comment
I think Smith may be returning for the end of year tour. Sadly, I think he’ll always be hampered by injuries.
Knives Out said | September 30th 2009 @ 2:01am | Report comment
It’s a shame that Laulau isn’t available. He could have done a job. If Smith is fit then that’s good news. He’s a clever operator and makes Nonu better, IMO.
ohtani's jacket said | September 30th 2009 @ 2:14am | Report comment
I actually think the Nonu/Smith pairing has been a bit of a disappointment at Test level. Nonu/Toeava looked somewhat promising.
PB said | September 30th 2009 @ 2:34am | Report comment
This is a difficult issue to come to grips with, because our view point is obviously subjective. From a global viewpoint, the Wallabies have consistently been a top 3 team over the last 10 years, with a record proud history-rich rugby nations like Wales, Ireland and Scotland would be envious of. So given our limited resources, the perception of rugby as an elitist sport still predominantly played by private schoolers within a small catchment of our vast land, and 3rd (or 4th?) in popularity behind a multitude of other ball games – one would think we would be fairly content with our station? Apparently not.
The difficulty is that we measure ourselves against the best, and by virtue of a history of achievement (some would call it over-achievement) and the high standards by which Australians draw comparison, the bar is set very high. . Throw in the challenge of a highly competitive domestic sporting cauldron which sees League, AFL and Soccer looking to attract the interest of the supporter base, and anything less than the absolute best is not simply not accepted. Is this fair? Undeniably not. However this is the challenge.
So my response would be this: what we ask for our National team is not to win every game on every tour, to win every Tri-nations, to win every world cup; (although admittedly that would be pretty good) but to show that, every time they run out on the field, that they show passion for the gold jersey, that they remember they have been chosen to represent a country with a proud sporting heritage, a country that thrives on proving itself to the world, to fighting, to giving their all and not giving an inch, to coming out on top when the odds are against them, and if they do fall short to commend the victor because there is nothing more that they could have given on the day.
I recall one of the first Tri-Nations test Vs the Boks in 2007 in Cape Town, a strong hold of South African rugby, where Frans Steyn came on to kick 2 drop goals late in the game to sink the Wallabies who had been holding on to a thin lead for most of the last quarter through a fiercesome defence effort. Camped on their goal line, a wall of gold jerseys lead by Phil Waugh and Dan Vickerman smashed back wave after wave of enormous Boer forwards and hard running Springbok backs, refusing to capitulate under the onslaught, even as they could barley lift themselves from the ground to repel the next attack.
Even though we lost that game, I turned off the set as proud to be an Australian and a Wallaby supporter as if they had won. There is nothing more the wallabies could have done to win that game, and they gave everything they had on that field. If that sort of commitment, passion and aggression was seen everytime the Wallabies entered the fray, I think there would be far less negativity surrounding our national team.
jools-usa said | September 30th 2009 @ 5:36am | Report comment
Brett,
I echoed your thoughts in a blog to Andy Logans column.
Think about third entry.
Regards
Jools-USA
LeftArmSpinner said | September 30th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
Brett, This morning I listened to the Waratahs radio adverts encouraging people to buy 2010 memberships: I thought to myself, why would any one do that? there is no prospect that the tahs will play entertaining rugby this year, no mea culpa from the coaches or players about last season, the wallabies have been very poor, there is nothing to sell this and it is not cheap either.
I do not suggest withdrawing financial support, but the large % of people make a decision regarding the Tahs on a year by year basis. I suspect that the 2010 will be just one of the many casualties of the above problems that remain unresolved.
Drew Mitchell is the best example. He has one attacking weapon and hardly a WMD (weapon of mass destruction). the up and under. There are two variations, first without the kick chase and second with kick chase that doesnt include any intent to either win the ball or tackle the catcher. Both have the degree of difficulty of 0.1.
Brett McKay said | September 30th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Leftie, if there’s an upside, at least they’re advertising for 2010?!? I think it was to Daniel J above that I said no-one would begrudge any decision not to renew, and I’m certainly not going to talk you into or out of it. We can still do our bit for the game in our own way, as you said yourself in June.
PB, thanks for your comments above, your “that they show passion for the gold jersey” comment seems to be the common theme coming through, and one I completely agree with.
Jools, saw your post on Loges’ column today. Loges has come up with a quality idea, it deserves plenty of consideration..
By the way, several of you questioned Tim Davison’s omission from the 86-man Wallaby squad – he mentioned post-match at the Shute Shield GF on Sunday that he’s more than likely played his last First Grade game. Does anyone know if he’s heading overseas, or just pulling the pin?? Big loss either way…
Blue Sue said | September 30th 2009 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
Leftie
There were big discussions in our house about renewing our Life memberships for next year. We decided we would be in for another year.
It’s a bit like dealing with your kids.
Passion and love is worth a lot!
Just because they frustrate the heck out of you, cost you a fortune, fail their exams, lose their phones, come home with blue hair, go through periods without showing any enthusiasm for anything that they do or any appreciation of what you have sacrificed for them, you don’t give up and walk away.
You might get angry, rant and rave and give ultimatums, but, you hang in there.
Does that sound like a mother talking? Am I talking about my kids or my rugby team?
That’s why we will be back in Bay 14 next year.
Invictus said | September 30th 2009 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
I vote we send Sue in to give the wallabies a good spanking…..
LeftArmSpinner said | October 1st 2009 @ 11:44am | Report comment
Blue sue, great. But, the reality is that some less committed wont renew and the reasons are all self inflicted. My point was that the Wallabies and Tahs should be both told the impact of their performances and carry some pain for the performances.
I include the tahs coaching staff. they were naive in their selection of playing tactics. I’m being polite. I too am locked in. My SCG/SFS membership subs are due, about $1000, for what, the roosters, the Tahs and the cricket……… at least the gym is great.
as for the kids, there comes a time, even with the kids. I have offered them everything and they have taken virtually nothing. I have a brand new $800 cricket bat sitting in the lounge, just purchased, only 250 of them in Aust, never used and son is now demonstrating his lack of interest in cricket, despite being in two Green Shield final selection trials. There comes a point…………. we are all human
Brett McKay said | September 30th 2009 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
Sue, I wish you’d made that comment a week ago, I would’ve loved to have quoted it!! Great analogy…
Blue Sue said | September 30th 2009 @ 7:28pm | Report comment
Brett
If I had posted it a week ago, all you would have got was the rant and the rave!