Long live the Wallabies, I say. I have read a lot of banter from South Africa and New Zealand supporters suggesting the two nations are each other’s only true foes, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Australia was the first nation to win the Web Ellis trophy twice. New Zealand have only won it on home soil. South Africa’s second win in Paris was so boring that I left with my New Zealand mate to grab a beer at the bar outside the ground with 20 minutes to play.
So, with just 12 months to go to the World Cup, I have seen the Wallabies in the same dire situation before. Presently, New Zealand and South Africa are deserving of their world rankings.
To be honest, I only want to see us win the Bledisloe Cup back. However, to experiment with players as Ewen McKenzie did in the drawn Sydney Test, it defies logic. Months later I am still shaking my head. So much so, that I would prefer to clean out my shed or watch a rugby league replay from a decade ago than sit through that again.
Michael Hooper will be a great captain some day, but right now he does not have the poise to set up to win as he should have done in Sydney with a field goal.
Ewen will be successful in the end. He has the right coaching qualities and now that the Bedisloe has been lost for another year, he can concentrate on the World Cup, starting with the Brisbane Test in two weeks. In this Test, we have a chance to level the Bledisloe at 1-1 for 2014, which is not bad considering we gave ourselves every chance of defeat in Sydney and still managed to pull off a draw.
I have seen some journalists calling for Will Genia and Quade Cooper to come back into the team, like they are going to make a difference. Genia yes, but the only time I have ever seen Cooper play well for the Wallabies was the Spring tour of 2013. He was fantastic. The rest of the time he’s been a liability. So, we need to stop with the call for axing of players and get on with coaching the current crop.
You will see from the win in Perth against South Africa that we have what it takes despite playing badly. Rob Horne’s try to win the match was down to his skill, but McKenzie went on to drop him. How can we expect the players to play cohesively when they are dropped for stupid reasons? I don’t get it.
Yes, we lost to the Pumas, but they are growing in their ability and deserved the win. They showed calm and skill that a top five nation shows to come from behind as they did. The lasers and the referee has been done to death, but while we probably would have won, the loss will serve us well for the World Cup.
Finally, good luck to the Wallabies on the upcoming Spring tour. I trust you will find the cohesion needed and that clever Ewen will appear from nowhere to guide you to success over the next 12 months.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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