While it was a bit before my time, from watching The Rise and Rise of the Wallabies, I understand the Wallabies from 1982 were expected to sweep all before them.
They had a plethora of talent coming through from age groups, and also old experienced heads. The mixture of experience was touted as just right. Until they went on the Grand Slam Tour that year.
The team didn’t quite live up to expectations, and by all accounts bombed the best chance in years of completing a clean sweep of the much vaunted line up of all four home nations.
At the start of this year, there was a lot of optimism about the state of the Wallabies and the fact that they would be building and hitting their straps after their first season under Robbie Deans last year, plus attempting their first Grand Slam in years.
Fast forward through the stuttering June Internationals and now three Tri Nation’s losses, things aren’t so rosy.
Now I am not so sure we will win half of those games in the UK.
Is Robbie Deans looking to clean dead wood before the end of season and have a go at a Grand Slam with a young vibrant team? You would have to say no, as he is keeping players for the Tri Nations who many on The Roar consider below par (and we are all rugby experts, surely).
Conversely, could the losses this season put them in good stead coming into the World Cup in two years, ala the ’84 Wallabies, possibly the best Wallabies team to play in the last 30 years.
I am wondering if a Grand Slam is indeed the best thing for a team that is very low on both wins and confidence?
There is no doubt when the Grand Slam was announced, the Wallabies were looking to build on some promise, and after possibly taking the Bledisloe off New Zealand this year, head off to Europe to conquer the four nations.
JON could not have predicted the results coming through the Tri Nations, but he sure would have hoped for some better ones after announcing that we would be playing for a Grand Slam for the first time in 25 years.
Now losing three from three, with probably more pain to come the way the Wallabies are playing, a Grand Slam Tour maybe isn’t the greatest thing to trumpet.
Could irreparable damage be done to the confidence of the team if they were to lose more games of this Tri Nations (definitely on the cards) and then fail dismally at the Grand Slam?
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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