By Brett McKay
October 27th 2009 @ 1:11am
Related coverage
Five key questions for the Wallabies’ Spring Tour
Australian Adam Ashleigh Cooper (centre) is tackled by New Zealand's Jimmy Cowan (right) and Ali Williams (left) during the Tri Nations final between the Australian Wallabies and New Zealand All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. The All Blacks beat the Wallabies 28-24. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
With the Spring tour to Japan and Great Britain all set to kick off this Saturday in Tokyo, five important and obvious questions for the Wallabies came to me that I feel need to be addressed.
If this tour can return positive answers to these questions, then I’ll be comfortable in the knowing the Wallabies really do know what they’re doing as the 2011 Rugby Wold Cup edges closer. And that would be despite what they’ve shown us at times this year.
Is Rocky Elsom the next great Wallaby captain?
Probably not a question that can be answered after five Tests, admittedly, but I think we’ll know a lot about the captaincy style of Rocky Elsom before too long.
Elsom’s appointment was an interesting one, in my opinion.
George Smith was by his own admission a reluctant captain, and there’s a train of thought that the pressure of captaining the Wallabies took away from his natural game this year. The added responsibility looked to have Smith second-guessing himself, and he wasn’t as effective in this year’s Tri-Nations tournament.
Being benched with half an hour to go in Wellington was probably an indication of Smith’s game in 2009, and he now finds himself under pressure to hold his place in the team.
This, in itself, is a question I’ll get to.
Stirling Mortlock’s captaincy reign was brought to an end by injury, and his being overlooked when fit in favour of Elsom has raised some obvious questions about his future in an Australian jumper.
Yes, this is also a question I’ll get to.
Mortlock the captain was probably somewhere in between George Gregan, the man he followed, and Smith, the man who assumed the role when injury forced Mortlock out this year.
Having captained the Brumbies for several years first, Mortlock had developed a successful captaincy style already, and took to the Wallabies top job like the proverbial duck to water. He was the strong public figure, and voice of the team off the field, but also had the ability to motivate team-mates with his inspirational actions on the field.
The press-conference and subsequent interviews after the appointment of Elsom filled me with a lot of confidence that the Wallabies are onto a winner though.
It seems like Elsom has always been a senior player, despite the fact he’s still only 26. I like that he was (and maybe still is) reluctant to employ a manager to handle his personal dealings; this tells me he likes to be in control, and at the same time is fully aware of all aspects of his game, and the life it brings him.
Yet, we could see the captaincy bring out the very best of Rocky Elsom. The extra responsibility should eradicate the odd unforced error from his game, and as he rarely has a bad game, it’s hard to see him not setting a high benchmark for his players.
Can Matt Giteau regain his mojo?
Depending on what you’re reading, Matt Giteau has either had a rough few months but is looking forward, or he’s completely thrown his toys out of the cot and is kicking cans down the street, hating life.
Either way, he’s not entirely thrilled with his pending switch back to inside centre, with new vice-captain Berrick Barnes set to call the shots from flyhalf.
I don’t particularly care what the scribes are saying, because when it comes to Wallaby success, Giteau’s form is paramount.
When Giteau first burst onto the international scene, it was as a super-talented inside centre with the world at his left foot, and the world’s best flyhalf feeding him. Stephen Larkham provided the direction for the team, and Giteau turned on the glamour.
The result was some exceptional rugby, and apart from Wallaby fans (and the ARU’s bottom line), the winners were Stirling Mortlock and the three flyers at the back.
Swapping Barnes and Giteau in the 10 and 12 jumpers indicates a Back to the Future point for the Wallabies. They’ve got untapped potential in the outside backs that desperately needs to be …well, tapped. Let those guys loose into space and reap the rewards.
More tries like Adam Ashley-Cooper’s special in Brisbane, thanks.
Giteau has to rediscover his natural game, and let Barnes steer the ship. Unbridling him from the chief playmaking duties could see a rebirth of Matt Giteau, rugby superstar. I’m hoping so.
Is this a career-defining tour for George Smith?
Well, quite possibly. The Roar’s own David Pocock started the international season looking to learn from Smith and Phil Waugh, hoping for an occasional bench spot.
With Waugh now accounted for, and missing tour selection, and Pocock’s star rapidly rising, George Smith is well and truly in the crosshairs.
Smith didn’t handle the captaincy well, and his own form was a reflection of the Wallabies’. No longer coupled with the captaincy, Smith needs to refocus on his ferocious ball-winning at the breakdown again, because it’s dearly been missed.
His rivalry with Waugh has him well equipped to deal with the new challenge from Pocock, and how he comes through this challenge may well determine whether he is remembered as Australia’s definitive open-side flanker.
Where does Stirling Mortlock fit into future Wallaby plans?
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans clearly wants Mortlock fit for the 2011 RWC, but he’s also well aware that Mortlock will have to be nursed through until then, if the lure of the Yen doesn’t claim him beforehand.
I’ve suggested this before, but I think we might see Mortlock used in a different role on this tour. His days of smashing through gaps (and opposition centres where there is no gap) aren’t done just yet, but I wouldn’t mind betting that Deans uses Mortlock from the bench in an impact role.
A fresh and fit Stirling Mortlock running at tired backs in the last half an hour of games could be a very handy weapon.
Can the Wallabies win back the Australian public?
It is very obvious that the ARU is staking its future – foolishly, plenty say – on the Wallabies. Whatever we think about the merits of top-down planning (or even if there are any) the Wallabies winning again is a key to winning over a public in danger of losing interest.
Where once the Wallabies were “Australia’s team”, that probably can’t be said any more. The Socceroos’ qualifying for the last and next football World Cups has rightly grabbed a lot of attention, and backpackers will tell you that a Socceroos shirt takes up a lot less room than does a Wallabies jumper.
It just seems that when so much appears to be going wrong with rugby in Australia, the Wallabies have a massive opportunity to reset the course.
Robbie Deans’ own future rests with the success of the Wallabies, too, and so it’s in his own best interests to return them to their winning ways.
More than that though, Australian rugby supporters want to see progress. Just when things looked up in Brisbane this year, the Wellington result dealt a harsh reality.
That loss has to be the line in the sand.
Wallabies fans are generous in their support, but can also be cutting in their criticism, as this year’s results showed. This tour is the Wallabies’ last chance for the year to show their fans that all hope is not lost.
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Frank O'Keeffe said | October 27th 2009 @ 4:18am | Report comment
It’s the last question that’s the one I agree with the most. There’s a general apathy in Australia right now concerning the Wallabies. Rugby Union is the number four code and interest is declining. TV ratings went down this year too.
How dreadful would it be if this Wallaby side won the Grand Slam, which would make them only the second side to do so, and have most of Australia not caring about it? The 1984 Wallabies won the hearts of Australians with entertaining rugby. The 1987 All Blacks won back the New Zealand public by playing entertaining rugby. Right now, the Wallabies might have to do something special to spark some kind of interest in rugby. New Zealand won the Grand Slam last year and ratings just continued to slide in New Zealand.
I guess this begs the further question: is the Grand Slam worth enough these days to make enough people to care?
pothale said | October 27th 2009 @ 5:21am | Report comment
One might respond to that question saying that the opposition’s reputation is so regularly traduced in media and by rugby commentators that beating the Ireland and GB teams mightn’t amount to all that much. They’re all ranked lower than Australia and NH rugby is perceived to be of a lesser standard. Indeed, there might be more interest and commentary if they lose spectacularly to say England and Wales.
ohtani's jacket said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:21am | Report comment
The All Blacks’ Grand Slam tour in 2005 generated a lot more interest since it hadn’t been attempted since 1978 Last year’s Grand Slam tour and the one in the planning stages for next year seem like cash drives. If they can arrange more mid-week fixtures like the Munster match, I’d be all for it, since that was one of the best rugby occasions I’ve seen on our recent trips to Europe.
By and large, people no longer wanna get up and watch rugby in the early hours of the morning. I don’t know whether they still have a delayed broadcast on free-to-air in NZ, but the signal for that channel used to be crap unless you had a satellite and a lot of New Zealanders can no longer afford to have satellite TV. The TV ratings for the Tri-Nations have remained high, as well as the crowd attendances. Whether people watch the European tour or not is for the broadcasters to worry about. The unions are getting their revenue sharing paydays, which the NZRU desperately need to banroll the Rugby World Cup. I’ll be watching, because I’m a rugby tragic and I think the European Tests have amazing atmospheres, but it’s like any All Black tour. You won’t hear beep unless the All Blacks lose. The genuine excitement is when they’re not a particularly strong side like the ones that toured Europe in the earlier part of this decade.
Brett McKay said | October 27th 2009 @ 5:46am | Report comment
Frank I’ll reword your question, but it’s just as relevant: do people even know what the Grand Slam is any more?
Agree with you about the style though. Australia need to ge back to that running game, and quick smart. Giteau to 12 should help this in theory, but more competition at the breakdown will be needed too. So not only do we need them playing prettier, but smarter too..
ohtani's jacket said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:25am | Report comment
This is a disavantage of rugby not dominating the sports pages like it does in NZ. Unless you were living under a rock in 2005, you knew that the Lions were coming and the All Blacks were attempting a historic Grand Slam.
I can’t imagine that it will attract a huge live audience on Fox. If the Wallabies win, does it go down in Australian rugby folklore or do they need to play attractive rugby like the ‘84 side?
Brett McKay said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:34am | Report comment
OJ, let’s work that out when they win the Slam!! Your point is very valid though – if they happen to go through Britain and Ireland undefeated, will it get the same recognition, or be feted in the same way the 1984 squad was?
As for 2005, even if you were under a rock, there’s a fair chance there was someone else with you wearing a Lions jersey, because they were everywhere, even in Canberra for the midweek game against the Brumbies.
Build-up in the media has been a little slow, but will increase now that the Wallabies (and NZ, obviously) are in Japan. My fear for this first game though is minimal FTA advertising, because Ch7 have it. I think (and would love confirmation from someone?!?) Ch10 have the Grand Slam component of the tour, so I’m hopeful for better coverage..
Hammer said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Brett – what would the questions be then if this lot fail and fail miserably …. the Wallabies aren’t great travellers and have struggled in Europe and been especially poor over the last couple of seasons up there …. what if they lose to Wales, Ireland and England and also drop a mid week fixture plus going 7-1 down this weekend in Tokyo ?
Will we see the ramping up of a campaign against Deans ? … some sections of the press have already started it, granted it’s a bit league based – but will the wheels start to come off the dream appointment … and what pressure will O’Neill be under
Brett McKay said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
Hammer, there isn’t enough column space on the internet, let alone The Roar, to list all the questions should the Wallabies come back winless. I’d imagine the calls for heads (which definitely do exist, as you say) will almost certainly get louder, and it may even start with O’Neill himself.
To be honest, I don’t want to think about it!! But you do raise an alternate perspective worth considering.
The SH teams did pretty well this time last year – none better than NZ’s Grand Slam, obviously – and I’m hopeful/confident that will be the case again..
ohtani's jacket said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
I imagine if a Grand Slam win is the catalyst for winning the Bledisloe back or the Tri-Nations then the Grand Slam will go down as historic.
I read today that they’ve sold half the tickets to the Tokyo Test. Apparently, they’ve sold out the most expensive tickets, but I ought to have rocked up on the day and gotten in for free.
Arky said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
The questions are all relevant and important – but the bottom line is playing rugby that supporters want to watch. A Grand Slam may actually spark some recovery for next year but after what was served up this year I dont expect early tour sucess will do much for the interest factor. The players should be encouraged to build a game and style that they can bring home for the 2010 season and beyond. They should do what they like while they are away on the assumption that few will really be watching.
The sooner the game at every level (Management, administrators, coaches and players) wakes up to where the revenues come from and what is expected in return, the better off they (and we) will all be…
Give us a reason to watch on TV or pay at the gate and only then will we return…
Brett McKay said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Absolutely agree Arky, they have to give us something to watch, and I’d argue that starts with the Super 14 sides too. I was very heartened earlier this month to hear Andy Friend say he has evey intention of returning the Brumbies back to their traditional running game, and the Reds played some cracking rugby at times duing this year’s S14 too.
Less than two years to the RWC, and if the progress in definitely there, and the Kiwis stay away like some NZ scribes fear theay will, then we could see seas of Gold following the Wallabies over the Ditch. But the winning habit has to start in the next six weeks..
Rickety Knees said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:04am | Report comment
On the money Brett – good article. My fear is that any major steps by the Wallabies in winning us back (by playing running rugby) may well be undone by returning to S14 coaches hell bent on playing low risk one dimensional ugly rugby ….
Brett McKay said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:20am | Report comment
Rickety, it’s a reasonable fear too. Notwithstanding my comment above re Andy Friend returning to the Brumbies “traditional” game, it’ll be interesting to see how Chris Hickey steers the Tahs next season for eg (Eastwood from a few years ago, or more “win ugly”?). Will Mackenzie keep the Reds throwing the ball around, or will he enforce a Tahs 04-08 style? Will John Mitchell enforce a style at all, or will he let Andre Pretorious dictate a 10-man game??
You’d like to hope if the Wallabies start playing ball-in-hand that that also flows down, but we’ve seen how these things don’t always flow previously…
reds fan said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:31am | Report comment
Link has said that he can’t throw out the Reds style from last year, and that he needs to work to the teams’ strength which at the moment is its backs. so fingers crossed he continues to unleash our backs whilst working furiously to get our pack up to standard.
Wally James said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Brett
Thanks for an another well thought article.
There are myriad of other questions to be asked of the Wallabies but I wonder whether one equally as important as yours is whether our tight five will stand up. We really have only one specialist second row in Horwill. Apart from him we have Chisholm 197cm, Dennis 192cm, Elsom 197 cm and Mumm 196cm varioulsy described as second row come breakaways.
Our lesson should be taken from 1984. Jones then wanted big men in the lineout and a big scrum. He got it and we won well.
I fear for our lineout with such a comparably short set of jumpers. Add this to Tatafu who, while a fabulous scrummager, can’t throw straight to save himself some of the time. It does not augur well at lineout time.
It also all very well to have a good front 3 but if they are not backed up by two good men immediately behind them, the scrum fails. If Horwill gets injured we are not looking good.
After all, as the old adage goes, the forwards win the game and the backs determine by how many.
Cheers
Wally
mudskipper said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
Brett I enjoyed your article. A fair minded analysis of the Wallabies recent form and possible rewards fro changes in players roles. I would have like two more questions: one about Robbie Deans and the ARU management effecting team morale…
And one about Will Genia’s possible tour success as scrum half as it will define whether or not Barnes or Giteau are successful at flyhalf on this tour…
Sam Taulelei said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
Good article Brett.
In a forgettable year for Australian rugby starting with the Super 14, I’m of the opinion that the style of rugby played by the Wallabies and hopefully imitated by the Super 14 sides will go further to winning the public back than just wins on the board.
If we can assume that people on the Roar are your hardcore rugby tragics, very knowledgeable of the game, of strong opinions and very demanding of their teams then the general public are more the fair weather supporters and quite the opposite.
Even if the Slam is achieved reading it in the print media isn’t going to excite and stir the passions of the people who for most parts wouldn’t have seen the game or even know that it was on.
Pictures say more than a thousand words and if the Wallabies are bold and brave in how they want to play the game, break with current conventions of what’s regarded as winning rugby and demonstrate flair then that is what will grab the general public’s attention, even if they weren’t ultimately successful. A 30 second soundbite on the 6pm news that the Wallabies recorded a narrow victory and all you see is shots of penalties kicked and a try scored off a forward drive where you can’t see the ball will be quickly forgotten.
The ARU should have made a deal with a FTA network to not only broadcast the game live but also a replay the following day in a more civilised timeslot to reach more of the general public. It’s not as if there’s a lot of competing sports on the tube this time of year.
Yes it’s importatnt to all stakeholders of the game in Australia that the Wallabies start winning again consistently but to expand the game beyond it’s core supporters, they also need to offer something more.
Brett McKay said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
Wally, Mitch Chapman is another one – predominantly a 6 but spent time in the second row for the Brumbies this year. And your fears about scrum and lineout are all very valid, though at least there will be plenty of jumping options, which hasn’t always been the case.
Mudskip, the ARU management effect is worth exploring, for sure, but of late, I’ve noticed that the players appear to be back “on message” with Aussie Rob. Whereas straight after Wellington there was a bit of he said-we said, they all now seem alligned. Of course, the change of leadership probably has a lot to do with that.
I’m also looking forward to watching Genia, but I’ll also be very interested to see how and if Luke Burgess fights back. There’s no doubting Burgess went slightly awry this domestic season (if I can be polite), but I still think he’s too good a player to be lost forever. I nearly fell off my stool at Mark Ella’s suggestion that it was time to try Giteau at 9 again, surely one of the dumbest experiments in recent years.
Anyway, glad you guys enjoyed the read. There’s obviously heaps of other questions to be addressed on this tour, some probably even more important than what I’ve come up with here. These seemed the most obvious to me, for the moment anyway…
mudskipper said | October 27th 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
Does Mark Ella wish Gits to move elsewhere so Beale could get a chance by any chance? Is he still Beale’s manager?
Brett McKay said | October 27th 2009 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
To follow up on an earlier question, Ch10 do have the Grand Slam Tests live, and will also be replaying them them on ONE HD.
Ch7 have the Tokyo Bledisloe, but according to this schedule, it will be only Ch7 in Sydney that show it (which seems unbelievably stupid). Fox Sports 3 otherwise. Note, for those in regional areas, I know Prime are showing it in Canberra, so presume that also be th case for other Prime regions.
Full tour schedule at: http://www.rugby.com.au/qantas_wallabies/broadcast_details/2009_broadcast_details,130423.html
Sam, this might answer your questions too…
reds fan said | October 27th 2009 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Just had a look on http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/tv/static/BrisbaneNight.html
They have Seven showing this weeks game live at 6.30pm.
I’ve got this weird feeling that Fox is going to televise everything live to those with daylights savings and QLD will get all matches on a one hour delay….
Brett McKay said | October 27th 2009 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
admittedly Reds, I was looking on the ARU website, so between them an Channel 7, a cock-up of some description was almost guaranteed. At least it’s on in Brisbane, that’s something. Nevermind the existing fans in Perth though, or the ones we’re trying to win Melbourne…
AndyS said | October 27th 2009 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
Perth will get it live on Fox and sometime after midnight on Seven (no doubt with an understandably minor viewership, to be used as evidence that Rugby doesn’t rate).
The Other Reds Fan. said | October 27th 2009 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
I have been avidly watching rugby since the 70s. I didn’t even bother watching the last test against NZ. I knew we’d play badly and lose. I won’t watch this week-end for the same reason. Why should I torture myself again? I should change my blog name because I refuse to spend my hard earned on the Reds. My son attends a rugby playing high school in Brisbane and is not the least bit interested in the game despite being very sporty and having a go at it. I suspect that rugby is losing many boys to other sports as we speak. Rugby is now VERY BORING!!!!!
Brett McKay said | October 27th 2009 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
bit hard to answer these questions without watching, TORF!!
Hoy said | October 27th 2009 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
For those of you worried about our second row stocks, do you think we are suffering from the Eddie Jones era (in more ways than one, that bastard has done a good job killing Aus rugby) where there seemed a push to make a one size fits all backrow/2nd row forward?
Australia seems to have a real dearth of proper second rowers, yet we have no end of these imposter prototypes who fill in at both spots if needed.
Those that play both, will never be great at either unfortunately. My opinion anyway.
Does anyone find it odd that we are going on a very important tour with only 1 true Lock specialist? Horwill is the only player listed whose position states: “Lock”. Apart from him, we have 4 whose position states “Lock/Flanker” or “Flanker/Lock” (not sure of the difference there).
Think about our usual suspects that sometimes filled both spots in the last few years: McMeniman, Chisolm, Mumm, etc. The list goes on. What the hell Mumm is even doing is beyond me. I have not noticed him do anything special once yet. I hear he is pretty quick. I haven’t noticed yet. I haven’t noticed him stealing lineouts, or smashing into rucks or doing anything. He must hang out with Lachie Turner, because both automatically become invisible when they step onto the field.
There must be some specialist rowers in Aus we can pick? Surely?
reds fan said | October 27th 2009 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
Team announced. Adam Ashley-Cooper; Peter Hynes,Ryan Cross, Berrick Barnes,Digby Ioane;Matt Giteau, Will Genia; Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Stephen Moore, Matt Dunning, Dean Mumm, George Smith, Luke Burgess, Drew Mitchell, James O’Connor.
Hammer said | October 27th 2009 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
Well he needed to make changes – O’Connor was a given – seeing he’s one of the many over hyped not to live up to anything near what’s written about him … and Ioane makes sense coming in – but surely you’d play him in the position where he looked the most dangerous for Qld instead of the journeyman plodder Cross …. and Deans obviously can’t admit he’s wrong or has bowed to the player dynamic by still going with the wrong 1st 5 / 2nd 5 combo …
but in the end it’s all starts up front and the packs really no different to the one that got handed theirs in Wellington – with the exception of Mr Invisible at #8 …. not a team that’ll have Henry too worried
TommyM said | October 27th 2009 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Giteua at 10?! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…Surely not!
Pocock got the nod ahead of Smith I see… very interesting.
And Turner- out of the 22!
Carn the Force
Chris said | October 27th 2009 @ 6:41pm | Report comment
I’m guessing Deans is giving giteau one final chance to redeem himself and outplay Carter. can’t wait to see how this turns out
The Other Reds Fan. said | October 27th 2009 @ 5:21pm | Report comment
Dump Burgess and Mitchell. Add Sheahan (is he in the squad?) and Turner.
TommyM said | October 27th 2009 @ 5:23pm | Report comment
No, he’s in Perth training with the Force. Hopefully they’ll do for him what they did for Valentine and get him back in the Wallabies (albeit briefly in Valentine’s case)
Chop said | October 30th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment
Unfortunately Barnes is out with a dud ankle Adam two dads (Ashley Cooper) to 13, O’Connor to 15
Trouble because they will smash O’Connor again at the back like they did in NZ
Cutter said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:19pm | Report comment
Hoy – there are specialist locks in Australia. Nathan Sharpe (although he is a lock/centre), Will Caldwell, Peter Kimlin, Van Humphries, Sam Wykes to name a few. They are all injured at the moment. The Australian S14 sides play Mumm and Chisolm as locks meaning there are less genuine locks at provincial level. The lack of a 2nd tier comp means there are no locks showing their credentials at that level. This leaves club rugby to throw up options and, in the case of the Dennis, that is what happened. Unfortunately, clubs are playing hobbit locks as well.
Had Sharpe, Humphries, Caldwell, Kimlin or Wykes been fit, they would have toured. Had any genuine locks shone at club level, they would have been given an opportunity as well.
There are others coming through. The massive Sitakeli (sp?) at the Brumbies and Kane Douglas at the Tahs as well as the likes of Dylan Sigg (198cm) playing club rugby.
Guy Smiley said | October 27th 2009 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
TommyM I thought the same! Maybe they’ll make a last minute swap. Glad to see Pocock starting but not sure Cross can really make an impact – he seems to have lost his nous on the pitch and no longer runs at the right angles.
Hammer don’t worry about O’Connor – he had a bad 3N but when you’ve seen him playing in the flesh you know you’ve seen something special. He’s quite incredible considering his youth and size.
Flying out on Thursday night for the game in Tokyo, hopefully will post a report next week. Go the Wallabies (and Force)!
Regarding the state of the game even in the UK there is talk of how ugly the game has gotten, with only London Irish playing expansive, attacking rugby. The 2007 World Cup seems to have ushered in this dreadful style of play. There were some great games but nothing worth watching after the QFs. Winning rugby is ugly these days and I’m not sure what the fix is. Where are the French when you need them?
TommyM said | October 27th 2009 @ 5:21pm | Report comment
Even the NPC seems to have descended into a succession of up and unders in the last few weeks
hammer said | October 27th 2009 @ 7:03pm | Report comment
Guy – not worried at all – sure he may have talent and potential – but he shouldn’t be within a country mile of international football at the moment … from what I’ve seen there are about 10 kids playing NPC at the moment his equal if not better – but because he’s cracked it already and continues to be selected (and draw a new improved bumper salary) despite his flaws there is zero incentive to correct anything – another Drew Mitchell or Burgess in the making
reds fan said | October 27th 2009 @ 6:23pm | Report comment
I wonder which team will show up… the brisbane wallabies or the wellington wallabies….
Ben J said | October 27th 2009 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
As a somewhat neutral South African observer I am perplexed by the general state of rugby union in Australia. I remember the 80’s when,as a schoolboy, the whole family got up at 4:40 am to watch Bledisloe cup games, it was fascinating, probably more because SA saw so little international games back then. In 95 I was at Newlands to watch the Wallabies vs England and again the team was brimming with stars. The Wallabies were confident, full of “go to” men, Campese, Eals,Willie O etc(I hope I remember correctly!)
Australian rugby union lost momentum in a spectacular way, too many league players, too much talk of “product”. That is a word you never hear in South Africa, rugby is, too it’s grassroots supporters, a passion, tribal and very much alive. Yes, the competition is different than in the Australian sports market but the SA administrators know exactly that a strong domestic competition like the Currie Cup is the lifeblood of the game. 50 000 people at the semifinals between teams almost a hundred years old is where the answer is.
From where I sit there are more people in the ARU worried about getting the Japanese into a competition than getting Mrs Jones and her kids from Wooloobolong (completely fictional) to attend the local club game.
Guy Smiley said | October 27th 2009 @ 8:14pm | Report comment
And far too often the term franchise is bandied around willingly by those at the heart of the game. You’d expect it from marketing men but not ex-players and commentators. No one can love a franchise.
Ben J said | October 27th 2009 @ 8:25pm | Report comment
Yeah, whenever I hear the term Super rugby franchise I think of McDonalds, not the kind of connection the marketing guys had in mind! It’s cheap, there’s plenty and you wouldn’t know the diference if it was Tokyo or Sydney. Give me tribalism any day of the week.
Brett McKay said | October 27th 2009 @ 8:56pm | Report comment
Hi all – Reds, thanks for posting the team for Sat night, I hadn’t seen or heard it as yet. Glad to see Ioane and Hynes on the flanks, but I’ll echo Hammer’s thoughts on Cross. Guy, not only does Cross not run the right angle any more, his defence in my opinion has regressed back to his days at the Roosters, where he and Newcastle’s Matt Gidley were both known as “Turnstiles” (The irony now being that Gidley is one of the best defensive backs in the Super League, where he plays for St.Helens).
I am surprised that the Barnes-Giteau numbering hasn’t swapped though. That said Chris may be right, and this is Giteau’s last crack at proving himself as a flyhalf. Of course they will almost certainly interchange spots during the game anyway. I’ll be looking for big games from Smith and Burgess off the bench..
reds fan said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:06pm | Report comment
My pleasure. If Cross doesnt deliver I fully expect either Digby or AAC to move to 13 and either Mitchell or O’Connor to come on. We are really bereft of decent 15’s. I know Cam Shep has his supporters but even he isn’t the answer. We were spoilt by having Burke and Latham.
The pack… still rotating underperformers in the hope they have found that extra 10%… here’s hoping Palu can get it together. This pack can do it. But mentally they are very inconsistent.
reds fan said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:28pm | Report comment
Poor Rob Horne has done his hammy again. Tyrone Smith will join the squad tomorrow.
jools-usa said | October 28th 2009 @ 12:22am | Report comment
I need some help.
I know Smith has gone off the boil, but can anyone tell me of a game where Pocock stood out?
Thanks
Jools-USA
Brett McKay said | October 28th 2009 @ 7:11am | Report comment
Jools, it’s certainly a big test for The Roar’s own – there’s no better benchmark than R.McCaw as far as OPensides go…
Reds, I heard about Rob Horne this morning – did he spend the pre-tour camp walking under ladders with black cats?!? Happy to hear Tyrone Smith has got the call up, but will be interested to see where he gets a run. He’s another who I think would make a better 13 than 12, but perhaps that’s just me..
sheek said | October 28th 2009 @ 3:15pm | Report comment
Brett,
Forgive me for I might be delirious (not really) & know not what I say (not really), but I really don’t care at the moment about these Wallabies (I really don’t!)…..!
Brett McKay said | October 28th 2009 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
yeah I know Sheek, and I hate watching sub-standard performances too, but it’s the Wallabies, and rugby is my preferred code, and they’re the national team, and they represent the country, and if I’m going to pay top dollar to sit in -4C temps to watch them in the middle of a Canberra winter, then THEY BLOODY OWE ME!!!
So I’ll watch them, waiting for repayment. Except that this year, it’s been in 20c installments
Rickety Knees said | October 28th 2009 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
Brett – I am in with Sheek on this one. I too am totally over this bunch a metro could-have-beens. In the past I would have said bring on the cricket season but with Hiccup Hilditch and Ponderless Ponting running the show – there is not a lot to look forward to there either.
I feel (and probably look like) either Statler and/or Waldorf – you know those two old hecklers sitting up in the balcony, pouring scorn on the Muppet Stage ….. it seems to me that we have a bunch of muppets running rugby at the national and state levels in Australia at the moment.
Chop said | October 30th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
Is Rocky Elsom the next great Wallaby captain?
No, he hasn’t got a great team around him so he will never be regarded as a great Wallaby Capt, I do think he has the potential to be a very good captain.
Can Matt Giteau regain his mojo?
If he doesn’t, with Barnes out the Wallabies are really stuffed ! Next it’s Beale or Cooper, that’s desperation!!!!!!
Where does Stirling Mortlock fit into future Wallaby plans?
Unfortunately for Stirling, I don’t think he does, if he plays this tour it will be a farewell tour. He’s been a great servant to the Wallabies, but I think his time is done. Ioane will be the next long term outside centre I think.
Is this a career-defining tour for George Smith?
It could be career ending, being benched for the Tokyo game is a big slap in the face. Hopefully he’ll take up the challange and get that spot back because I think he’s going to be needed in form at the RWC 2011
Can the Wallabies win back the Australian public?
No, not until the game of Rugby itself becomes a more attractive proposition and with the Northern Hemisphere blocking every attempt at improving the rules of the game I think Rugby will stagnate and, especially in Australia move further down the food chain.
Brett McKay said | October 30th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
welcome back to the world Choppo. I’m glad you weren’t around when I first started scribling notes for this piece – you wouldn’t have left me with much!!
Things just don’t look so kocher without Barnes now, and I really hope the scans reveal no major damage…