Wallabies hit a new low with loss to Scotland
By AAP, 22 Nov 2009 AAP is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Matt Giteau, murrayfield, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Scotland, wallabies
Australia’s rugby season reached a shocking new low with an humiliating 9-8 loss to Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Five-eighth Matt Giteau missed a conversion attempt two minutes into injury time that would have saved Australia’s blushes after Ryan Cross had scored the game’s only try in the 81st minute.
The stunning victory was Scotland’s first over Australia since 1982, ending a painful run of 16 successive losses to the Wallabies.
Compounding Australia’s woes were worrying injuries to key forwards Wycliff Palu and Benn Robinson.
The game had to be stopped for several minutes midway through the second half as Palu was transported from the field with his neck in a brace after he collided heavily with Scotland forward Nick de Luca.
Robinson lasted just 17 minutes before he was forced off with a shoulder injury.
Despite the set back, plus the withdrawal on match eve of explosive centre Digby Ioane, Australia should have had more than enough class to put lowly-ranked Scotland to the sword.
But the writing was on the wall with the score 3-3 at halftime after Giteau missed a routine penalty goal in the 37th minute and also pushed a drop goal attempt wide seconds from the break.
Scotland’s points came from two penalty goals from Phil Godman and a Chris Paterson drop goal.
The Australians play Wales next weekend.
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sportym said | November 22nd 2009 @ 6:51am | Report comment
So is it now people are finally going to question the coach or will this all fall on Gits shoulders?
pothale said | November 22nd 2009 @ 6:56am | Report comment
Just keep going. People underestimate Scotland all the time. Clearly the players did this time, despite Deans warning them publicly – and no doubt privately.
They’ve learned a harsh lesson.
Roll on Wales, and avoid the endless analysis and post-mortems on this match.
sportym said | November 22nd 2009 @ 7:17am | Report comment
The thing is, the Scots never looked like scoring. With the possesion and terriority we had, how…how can you loose? I even think the scots were shocked, the only think they did well was defend, its the only thing they could do, we farked up the rest. Disgrace.
fred said | November 22nd 2009 @ 11:14am | Report comment
COACHING THEREFORE MUST BE MORE THAN WORDS POT
Matt said | November 22nd 2009 @ 7:02am | Report comment
Can anyone else name an international halfback who puts more pressure on his players with poor passes, than Burgess?
Bleh, think I’ll start watching table tennis.
sportym said | November 22nd 2009 @ 7:17am | Report comment
Nope 100% with you there. Even worse is how long Deans choose him as our starting 9.
tropmalk said | November 22nd 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Yes Matt, Burges is hopeless. Why does Deans keep him on the bench, he cannot make an Impact (in fact none of the bench players ever do) He should be blooding young Kingi
MickeyB said | November 22nd 2009 @ 7:22am | Report comment
Too much for too long has rested on the shoulders of Matt Giteau.
Not having Barnes on tour has meant our kicking game has suffered. While that’s not the panacea to all our problems I believe field goals would have at least pulled us clear of Ireland and Scotland.
Lastly, we need someone who is a leader by more than name and strategically dictates the game – when to attack, when to defend and when to take field goal options when it’s close.
Just a few thoughts…..
Stash said | November 22nd 2009 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Bizzare use of the bench again for Deans – costing yet another game.
Deans can’t manage his bench well at all – and he’s been caught out more than once.
I thought Australia played well against Ireland – and Deans saved face then – but the same team fielded displayed this effort?
Current form I could understand a loss to England, France or Ireland…but Scotland!!!!
Deans is an excellent provincial coach – but there is something seriously amiss here and it is costing the Wallabies their reputation (as an AB supporter I have for many years dreaded playing Australia – but not anymore).
Surely a loss to Wales will find Deans falling on his sword.
Stash said | November 22nd 2009 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
Then again, no calls for PDV’s head after his exceedingly embarrassing losses to Leicester and Sacarens (France defeat was…i suppose a worthy defeat).
Though it did highlight the 2009 myth of the springbok “greatness” tag.
So – Henry, after a horror start to the season, has been the only coach able to manage and incubate his team’s mojo.
What has Deans done to the Wallabies mojo? At the moment its on the endangered species list….
van der Merwe said | November 22nd 2009 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
Why would de Villiers’ head be at risk for dropping a few (ultimately) meaningless “mid week” matches with his dirt-trackers and, for that matter, how does Ralepelle and co’s ineptitude diminish the earlier achievements of the full strength side?
Stash said | November 23rd 2009 @ 1:29am | Report comment
Well if the All Blacks B team had lost to Leicester and Sacarens then Henry and Co would be shot at dawn after being tarred and feathered and paraded through the streets. The free press of the world would have a field day belittling them. And it would be a dark day in the history books for years to come.
Pulling on the jumper is a profound responsibility regardless of who your playing. Never is it meaningless.
Beats the heck out of me why Bok supporters don’t mind losing 2 games in a row to provincial sides.
Oh well, if your happy about that and don’t mind, then who am I to say it matters….
van der Merwe said | November 23rd 2009 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
It’s about perspective, Stash. Only someone who doesn’t watch much of the Currie Cup would consider the teams selected for those games (particularly the first one against Leicester) as genuinely “second choice”. If anything, their composition probably earned de Villiers some much needed brownie points.
What you say about pulling on the jumper rings true, these were “the Springboks”, which is, I suppose what gets to some people. Personally, a bunch of substandard players dropping a few games doesn’t worry me too much.
As for the free press of the world, Peter most likely couldn’t give two hoots being belittled by them as they already do so anyway.
Rusty said | November 23rd 2009 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
no one likes to lose – ‘B’ players or supporters for that matter. The fact remains though these were non-capped games and therefore throw aways. Just like some of the selections for those matches. In the end despite losing – its better to figure these things out in a non test arena
Stash said | November 24th 2009 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
Fair comment by Rusty – the Bok had very good, and deserved, 2009.
Granted also that non-tests are a good place to find a teams depth (obviously quite shallow based on the results, which should be a bit of a concern).
Sorry – provincial games don’t count when compered to internationals (Currie Cup or NPC) – its a different beast.
The Boks have been accused of taking the foot of the pedal in the second halves – and dropping games when they “supposedly” don’t count for much. That’s a bad trend. It also shows a soft underbelly.
A champion mentality should show no mercy for provincial sides or lesser opponents – it will add to the teams mojo and instill a fear factor (look how teams like Ireland and Wales react when they play NZ).
Dropping those games had the opposite effect – those in the SH had a good old snigger at your expense (it would have been the laughing stock of the month if Scotland hadn’t trumped Aussie)
Rusty said | November 23rd 2009 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
The loss to France has taken the gloss off a fine year for the Boks. A win against the Irish should restore some of the healthy glow to what will remain one of the greatest periods of rugby in the republics history. Either way the trophy cabinets are full …. at least till next year
adam said | November 22nd 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
to be honest your wallabie scrum half is useless