Wallabies focused on winning when it counts

Roar Rookie

By David Pocock, 17 Jul 2010 David Pocock is a Roar Rookie

Tagged:: allblack, David Pocock, Rugby Union, Springboks, Test rugby, Tri Nations, wallabies

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England celebrate their win over Australia in their 2nd Rugby Union test match at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, June 19, 2010. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins

We’re a week away from the start of our Tri-Nations campaign and under no illusions about the step up in terms of level of intensity that is required when compared to what we experienced against Fiji, England and Ireland. After the Ireland Test in Brisbane, we had two weeks of pretty tough training in our home states and club rugby for most of the guys in the team.

There was a big focus on strength and conditioning and I think this will help lay the platform for what will be a very tough Tri-Nations.

Reflecting on the inbound series, I think we have continued to move in the right direction.

A lot of younger guys got their first taste of rugby at that level – guys like Rob Horne, Ben Daly, Salesi Ma’afu, Saia Faingaa, Matt Hodgson and James Slipper.

It’s a huge honour to wear the Wallaby jumper, and earning your first cap is a special moment.

One that you won’t forget.

There are many challenges adjusting to the intensity of Test football, and as we saw in the first game against England with the scrum, it’s a steep learning curve and one that we have to climb quickly.

I’m confident we will.

The loss to England in Sydney was hugely disappointing, and a poor game. Yet it was a game that I think would be fair to say we probably just did enough to win – but let it slip away.

Champion teams like the Crusaders, the Bulls or the Melbourne Storm (even though they might have lost their trophies), in the years that they won their respective competitions, often just scraped through games where things don’t go to plan to take the points on offer.

In games where they didn’t play as well as they usually did, they still managed to find a way to win.

I think that is the next step as a team: to find the way to win when playing poorly. And I’m sure it comes with much pain, reflection and improvement after losses.

We understand that the Australian rugby public are frustrated, as we are, and expect results sooner rather than later. So it’s exciting to have eleven more opportunities this year to repay the faith of supporters and offer up performances they are proud of.

The first game between the Springboks and the All Blacks looked pretty brutal.

New Zealand stuck to very simple tactics and simply focused on getting over the advantage line and generating quick ball – making the South Africans chase rucks, which didn’t allow them to get into their rhythm. It will be interesting to see what changes in the second game.

The squad has been in camp in Sydney this week and we have a day off over the weekend (with a number of guys also playing club rugby) and then meet up as a squad on Sunday in Brisbane to prepare for our first Tri-Nations game at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

David Pocock is a current Wallaby and columnist for The Roar. The ex-Zimbabwean plays for the Western Force in the Super 14 competition. He is the founder of the charity Eightytwenty Vision.

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The Crowd Says (20) | Page 1 of Comments

kovana said | July 17th 2010 @ 6:14am | Report comment

Good luck for the upcoming 3N tests.

Go wallabies!

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darwin stubby said | July 17th 2010 @ 6:52am | Report comment

“to find the way to win when playing poorly” .. well they’ve certainly mastered the art of playing poorly.

If they don’t win next weekend I can see the Wallabies going 0-6 … which will make Deans’ position very interesting indeed

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Matt said | July 17th 2010 @ 7:58am | Report comment

Wow! What an insight into the camp Wallaby mentality. ‘Poor play’ is the new black.
Supporters can handle losses, even floggings if there is a goal, or we are building towards something. But the last 5-8 years have been like Groundhog Day.
In saying this, I acknowledge the efforts of some players like David, AAC, Robinson, Genia and Cooper who have stood tall.

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- Dan said | July 17th 2010 @ 10:17pm | Report comment
  
  Think you missed the point… he’s basically saying the wallabies need to remain resilient and resourceful at all times, even when they’re having an off night.
  
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Rockin Rod said | July 17th 2010 @ 8:36am | Report comment

Thanks David for taking time to write to us roarers. Its great hearing from a current wallaby and thanks for acknowledging our frustration. We have been put through alot supporting you guys. We have to win next weekend to keep the faith.

Great work with your charity too

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GT75 said | July 17th 2010 @ 8:47am | Report comment

First of all when the wallabies do play poorly, i wouldn’t expect them to win against the all blacks or the springboks, and yes Matt I don’t think he meant a new wallaby mentality is to play poorly and win.

I have faith, they’ll be back may not be this year, but they’ll be back!

We are also not a rugby union nation yet look how well the wallabies have performed.

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chrisa said | July 17th 2010 @ 8:54am | Report comment

Agree with you RR great to have the insight but on the other hand what an horrific insight to have. If we had managed to win the game in Sydney, which I was at, would that have meant all was well. As Spiro said at the time we were up against darts players who the All Blacks or Boks would have beaten mercilessly, not have struggled to win a tight one. There will have to have been a miraculous turnaround in attitude, commitment, intensity and let’s not forget ability in the space of 4 weeks to be in with any chance over the next 3 .
All that said, good luck to you and may Robbie pick the best team in the right positions. AAC has to be full back and as I have said before Rocky in the second row playing tight and hard.

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- Ben S said | July 17th 2010 @ 9:39am | Report comment
  
  ‘As Spiro said at the time we were up against darts players who the All Blacks or Boks would have beaten mercilessly’
  
  ‘The loss to England in Sydney was hugely disappointing, and a poor game. Yet it was a game that I think would be fair to say we probably just did enough to win – but let it slip away.’
  
  These comments are the perfect illustration of why Australia lost that Test. If that attitude is prevalent in the squad, as Elsom’s post match comments versus England indicate it is, then this coming 3N should be a real awakening.
  
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stillmissit said | July 17th 2010 @ 9:15am | Report comment

David, the first game against the Springboks is going to be the litmus test of where the team is as a team. I am convinced that our problem is basically commitment to the breakdown and poor handling skills at critical times. Went out to St Mary’s Leagues club to watch you guys train yesterday and was surprised at the number of dropped balls under little pressure I think that proves one of my concerns.

If we can overcome these two basic issues the first is about the ‘head space’ and the second is about training under pressure. Maybe it is also relevant to accept who the team are and accepting your weaknesses, guts and determination both at training and during the games will get you there.

I have great hopes for the team as there are some excellent footballers in there. Maybe you guys need to understand the apprenticeship is over and it is time to take your place in this Tri Nations to prove you are ready for the World Cup next year.

I would wish you luck personally but you don’t need it I have never seen you play a poor game.

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- Rockin Rod said | July 17th 2010 @ 9:59am | Report comment
  
  R u serious, they were dropping high balls, this is bread and butter stuff.
  I remember Mark Ella saying in reply to someone stating how good his hands were. He said its not hard , i do this every day so i should be able to catch the ball. AND THAT WAS WHEN THEY WERENT GETTING PAID.
  
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sixo_clock said | July 17th 2010 @ 9:36am | Report comment

Cheers David,

I have been arguing in this forum that the essential ingredient missing seems to be the sense of ‘team’. The forwards should be feeling a collective menace, the backs… (well I only played wing once so I don’t know). Are all the players part of the decision making, do they all feel they have a voice within the squad?

Good Luck, and more noise from Bam Bam, ok!

Ps: has Rocky worked on his timing at the scrum ‘Hit’? He is almost always a smidgin too slow!

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allblackfan said | July 17th 2010 @ 11:59am | Report comment

I was also at the St Marys training session.
It was also noticeable that the forwards weren’t practising how to defend the ball at the breakdown from aggressive counterrucking although I must concede that Friday’s session was probably more promotional than a decent workout.

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Just Play said | July 17th 2010 @ 10:46pm | Report comment

I am a firm believer that players play and should not comment. The wallaby product is just not not worth watching at the moment. Too much back slapping and high fives when scoring a try only to see the team lose at the end, heads down. Stay focussed to the end would be a good start, try looking professinal. Of course you have pride in the jersey. That should be enough for team members so donate your match payments to grass roots teams, bring back ARC which is more entertaining then some of the wallabies games and benefits more players then the elite overrated few. Your base payments should be enough to live on. If your good enough to be selected then dont talk about age. Other than that I look forward to a good competitive game, each game, dont care about future world cup or games just the game at hand.

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