I have played rugby and watched rugby my whole life. For my fourth birthday I was given a Woodies jumper and I honestly do not think I have missed a single Wallabies match in 20 years.
I have thrown my laptop away, screamed countless times at the TV, and enough is enough.
Maybe this generation of Wallabies cannot provide what we are looking for, maybe the 2015 World Cup is gone but rugby doesn’t have to suffer.
We must keep one eye on the prize.
Take a look at previous teams that have won world cups, they have all been together for numerous years, the nucleus of the team consistent bar a few retirements and injuries.
To win the Cup after three coach changes since 2013 is an unrealistic.
I think we have potential, but this team needs to be together for a least three seasons to really understand the game.
Three tours of the northern hemisphere, to learn the roots of how rugby was meant to be played; before you can walk you have to crawl.
We need to employ a scrum coach, who knows how to scrummage. God knows where they are but we need to do it, irrespective of their nationality.
I do believe the Wallabies missed that mongrel touch ever since the 2007 Rugby World Cup, when once again it was England in the quarter final who destroyed us a rugby nation, yet here we are in 2014 and we are still having the same discussion!
I think Michael Cheika will and has brought that mongrel and hard edge to the Wallabies.
His idea of brutality in the forwards before flinging it wide is a joy when it takes full flight, but often we turn the ball over after a few phases.
I do believe we are not ‘fit’ enough to play this game, they all need to work on their fitness levels. Our play is so easily read!
Look at our movement from our 22m line. Teams put a kick in, one forward hits up, Foley fails to clear the line.
This is where an excellent attacking coach could conjure up variations of escape. They also need to be able to finish off scoring opportunities, they really need to put a team to the sword to get their confidence back.
I just hope we can get this game sorted before we all start to loose and interest.
My squad for the 2015 World Cup (can only take 31 players):
1) James Slipper. What a season by this guy, in my eyes should have won the John Eales Medal. I would love for someone to tweak his game in terms of scrummaging, if he masters that than he will be the best best loose head prop in the world.
2) Stephen Moore (c). Easily one of the best hookers in the world – old school, loves the hard stuff.
3) Sekope Kepu Just look at his game against Wales last year on the spring tour. He is a beast, maybe he needs to carry less, so that his fitness isn’t so hindered in the scrum time because his fitness is his weak link, also needs consistency, his best game is so far from his worst.
4) Sam Carter. He had great game against England, shame the scrum got dismantled and overshadowed that. Just really needs to man up sometimes, when he carries the ball, it looks like he is just bracing himself to being tackled instead of running over the top of them, will have learnt a lot from this tour and what is expected from a hard-working second-rower.
5) Rob Simmons. Unless we find a 125kg donk who plays like Brodie Retallick, he should be in the side. He has 50 of the worst Wallabies caps on record and still doesn’t get it, maybe he is just an idiot who needs 60 caps to understand it – but at least he’s better than James Horwill.
6) Scott Fardy. Absolute beast, Fardy carries well, pilfers like a hawk, and provides that third lineout option. The problem? He gives away a lot of penalties, Michael Cheika will rip his eyes out if this continues.
7) David Pocock. Hooper is great but does not have the same presence as what Pocock can offer, I hope head adds a running game to his dimension, can’t wait for the Pocock versus Hooper dual.
8) Wycliff Palu or Ben McCalman. I really think this comes down to Super Rugby form and this was the hardest decision for me.
McCalman was the find of the spring tour for me. He really muscled up, carried the ball so well. Watch the French and Ireland games – I am so proud of this boy.
Palu had the potential to be the best number 8 in the world, but how many chances can he have, let alone his injuries but Michael Cheika did something to him this season – I hope he can reinstate that again.
9) Will Genia I just think he provides more than Phipps. Genia’s kicking game provides more options.
10) Bernard Foley Bernard seriously needs to learn to kick the ball out in our own 22, but holds the line, a silent general in the trenches, plus his goal kicking has improved immensely.
Needs to challenge the line, throw those inside balls to Henry Speight and Israel Folau as oppositions are flanking our middle half. Plus, he can tackle.
11) Henry Speight. Speight will be the best winger in the world by the end of the World Cup if the Wallabies get themselves together.
12) Matt Toomua. He has the potential to be the next Nathan Grey but a better reader and attacker of the game. Just look at his hit on Billy Twelvetrees on Saturday – it was like a freight train stopping a cow in its tracks.
13) Tevita Kurandrani. Enough said.
14) Israel Folau. Folau is not a fullback, can’t kick, pass, runs across field, but can inject himself well and penetrate the advantage line.
15) Kurt Beale Let him spend his days off with the Sydney Swans learning aerial skills, but by far has the best rugby mind in the Wallabies team outside of Michael Cheika.
16) Tatafu Polota-Nau. Huge heart and carries so well, just needs to not knock himself out every game.
17) Scott Sio. Has potential and carries really well, the experience will put him in good stead for future Wallaby props, train him to play tighthead as well.
18) Toby Smith. I like this guy, just wait until the next Super season – he will be the toast of the town.
19) Will Skelton. Set piece needs a of work, but can potentially be the best second rower in the game.
I hope Cheika runs him ragged in the off season, needs to lose the puppy fat and get his fitness levels up,
20) Sean McMahon. I highly rate this kid, shame he isn’t big enough to play #8.
21) Nick Phipps. He has an attacking game and his defence is solid, just isn’t a Test match rugby player. I feel sorry for him because he has a big heart, just doesn’t look like a natural footballer.
22) Quade Cooper. His unpredictability and defence is why I don’t have him in the run on.
23) James O’Connor or Karmichael Hunt or Adam Ashley Cooper. Tough one here. I love Adam Ashley-Cooper but he has cost us more tries than he has scored. Also you don’t see teams picking a player out of position because he’s a good bloke and can play semi ok in another position.
He is clearly not a winger and is not our best outside centre.
As for O’Connor, let’s just wait and see how he has ‘grown’. He could be completely full of crap.
As for Hunt, I love how he played league, doesn’t even know what a sidestep is, just run a million miles at the them and use them a speed bump.
24) Michael Hooper. If only he could pilfer, and put on 10Kg in weight and get taller; too late for a growth spurt?
25) Laurie Weeks Only tighthead I could think of that could be ok as he gets older.
26) Josh Holmes. Proven before, really think he deserves another go.
27) Saia Faingaa. I actually had a pretty awesome northern tour, usually don’t rate him, but lifted and deserves that third hooker place.
28) Luke Jones. He could be ok, but just needs to fine tune his game, maybe a season in northern hemisphere will help but has a lot of mongrel and passion which I love to see.
29) James O’Connor or Karmichael Hunt or Adam Ashley Cooper
30) James O’Connor or Karmichael Hunt or Adam Ashley Cooper
31) Joe Tomane. He was unlucky in my mind to missed out over Adam Ashley-Cooper. If only this boy could kick and string a few games together.
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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