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It’s easy to be negative.
The Roar is guilty of it at times. Fans can be guilty of it at times. People, in general, not only find it easy to be negative, but also take note of the negative more than they do the positive.
How many footballers have you heard say they proved the doubters wrong, rather than proving the supporters right?
More in our ‘Get behind the Wallabies’ series:
>> PART 2: Time to believe in the Wallabies’ selections
>> PART 3: How the Wallabies can win the Rugby World Cup
And much of the content on The Roar‘s rugby opinion pages is focussed on criticism of the sport, which doesn’t necessarily have to be negative, but can certainly stray into that territory too often.
So to go along with our usual mix of criticism, subjective reporting and calling-it-like-it-is, I’ve asked some of our experts this week to focus on something positive, specifically Wallaby-related.
I’m looking for real reasons for Aussie fans, Wallabies fans, to get behind their national team for this Rugby World Cup.
Reasons beyond the fact we’re from ‘Straya, mate. A reason to believe in our national team. To have a bit of love for that jersey. To jump off the couch when our winger, whoever it might be, crosses for a try in the corner in the quarter-final. To have a little cry if we get knocked out.
It’s going to be parochial, yes, but it’s also going to be informed. I’m not asking Brett and company to forfeit their ideals, but just lend them to this cause.
To that end, I hope it doesn’t isolate too many of our overseas readers, who come for the rugby. Obviously we’re based in Australia, so you’ll either just have to put up with this for a week, or enjoy the arguments, the banter, and maybe even start your own series with Roarers pumping up your own team. If you write it, we’ll publish it.
The plan for ‘Get Behind the Wallabies Week’ is I will indulge a little here, Brett will have a say on Tuesday, Elisha on Wednesday, Chris Roche (a former Wallaby, so he should know!) on Thursday, and a very special guest on Friday.
That will be a day to put into your diary…
So, to a brief sermon on why Aussies should get behind their team for the World Cup.
It’s been a tumultuous eight months.
From the debacle of a plane trip over 12 months ago, to the departure of Ewen McKenzie as coach, the end of last season was not a time that Wallabies fans were particularly proud of or happy about.
Since that time, when Michael Cheika took over as Wallabies coach, the ARU and the team have been working very hard to put all of that squarely behind them, and keen to press on with the job of winning football games.
The end of year tour was not a good start.
The Super Rugby season was good, but not great. People questioned whether two jobs were too many for Cheika, who had taken on the mammoth task of defending the Super Rugby championship and coaching the Wallabies.
It was fodder for those who love to divide things across state lines, each and every time. The ability to write things off as Reds bias, Waratahs bias, Force bias, Melbourne Rebels bias and Brumbies bias in Australian rugby is virtually unparalleled in this country, bar State of Origin.
The question Australian fans must answer, then, is who they like more: the Wallabies or their Super Rugby team?
And if you can’t set aside your Super Rugby team’s priorities when the national team squad is announced, then what do you follow international rugby for? Just to snipe at the coach, or at players?
Nick Phipps happily passes to Quade Cooper, who happily throws a cut ball to Tevita Kuridrani. They come together for the national cause. If you consider yourself an Australian fan, it’s clear you should do the same.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the John Eales Medal and chat with a few of the Wallabies lads, a couple of days before they flew out to the US to play the Eagles, and have their super secret training camp.
A couple of things stood out.
The first was that they were ready to start playing.
Their energy was up, the expectations were clear, and they were buzzing to get out on the field.
The second was that they were tired.
On an evening of celebration for the game’s best in this country, there were very few celebratory beverages being consumed. None in fact.
All the players had a glass of bubbly… water, while the rest of us popped a cork.
Word was they’d had a particularly difficult fitness session that morning, followed by media and social commitments, with another the next morning. Michael Cheika joined them in all of their fitness work.
They will be fit. The energy will be high. They will be prepared.
If you don’t think they’ll try, think again.
And get ready for Get Behind the Wallabies Week!
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.