Australian Wallabies Coach Robbie Deans, center, talks to players Matt Giteau, left, and Stirling Mortlock during the captain’s run at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008. Australia will play against New Zealand on Saturday. AP Photo/NZPA, Wayne Drought
Many posts have dealt with the way Australia dogged it last Saturday. I won’t repeat them. Suffice to say that, since 2001, we have been consistently beaten by New Zealand.
For the last few days, my sense of betrayal has turned to thoughts of why this is happening and I have a theory. It may not be a popular one.
And I don’t think it is a sole determining cause of our problem, but it is a contributing one in my view.
My theory is that too many people involved with the Wallabies believe the Kiwis are better than us. The New Zealand influence within our team is too great.
Look at our jersey. The Canterbury Clothing Company makes it. Its emblem is a combination of CCC and three Kiwi heads.
What on earth have we got a New Zealand emblem on our national jersey for?
Look at our coach. He is a New Zealander.
He strikes me as a particularly decent bloke – intelligent, articulate and knowledgeable. But he was an All Black. As a player, he believed in the invincibility of the All Blacks.
He was passionate about them.
It is a simple matter of human nature that he is not going to have the passion for the Wallabies that the likes of Connolly, Dwyer and McQueen had, or that Deans had for New Zealand.
Look at our players.
Pek Cowan lived in New Zealand until he was 13. He was entitled, because of his Maori heritage, to perform the Haka in response to it.
Dean Munn’s grandfather was an All Black. Quade Cooper was born and raised in the Waikato, until his teens.
James O’Connor readily admits he wanted to be an All Black when he was a kid.
James Pocock is a Zimbabwean who wanted to be a Bok and, of course, he was raised in the tradition that the real rugby powers in the world were New Zealand and South Africa.
For all of those blokes I have little doubt that they are proud to be Australian and represent their country.
I also have little doubt that, deep inside, they think the All Blacks are superior to us.
It would seem obvious from this season’s performance that the rest of the team suffer from the same inferiority complex.
By all of this I mean no disrespect to Deans, or the players I have mentioned. Nor do I suggest that all things Kiwi should be shunned by us.
Far from it.
I have great respect for the way New Zealand play the game, their history and heritage. But at the moment, they have us beaten before we step on to the paddock.
Something needs to be done to change the Wallaby mindset. For all his strengths, I don’t see Deans as the man to do it.
Perhaps the first thing we do is get rid of the Kiwis on the jersey.
MR
Guest
Johnno - that's a Rob Muldoon quote from when he was asked about the effect of the 'brain drain', the ex-PM who made another comment after some Ocker forgot to bowl correctly 'that's why their National colours are yellow". He was a charming sod, not exactly a highlight for NZs political history. Jerry - you expect the Ozzies to stop ? There's only one way to stop them & it's the same as on the field, harder & faster. My boss always makes comment about Kiwis, when I got a very short haircut he commented "I didn't think we hired criminals", I told him "better fire all the Aussies then". Funny thing was he didn't find it very funny but my Kiwi mates loved it !
Westy
Guest
. If not the Wallabies then always the Blacks or any New Zealand team if Australia does not play.. Hate them the most but also love them . You will never ever get similiar affection for any South African team from Australia.
Cattledog
Roar Guru
Come on QC, remember there's Kiwis reading these...they'll need to be able to follow the thread... lol
Jerry
Guest
I've got all three. I'm curious though - I can see why you reckon I've not got a sense of humour or a life - I mean, if someone thinks a joke isn't funny it MUST be cause they don't have a sense of humour - right? Rather than, say, the joke being an old lame joke that is used all round the world with a different ethnicity substituted in. And of course, someone commenting on something on a message board MUST mean they don't have a life. Er, wait - what are you doing again? But why do you think I've not got a vocabulary? Cause I called you a dumbarse? Sorry - should I have said "Ignoramus" or some other pompous insult?
johnno42
Guest
yeah qc thats what my dad said when i moved here
QC
Guest
What happens when a New Zealander moves to Australia??? It raises the IQ of both countrys :-)
johnno42
Guest
cattledog they got pritty well owned bro... as you can see from the score
Campbell Watts
Guest
There's also the one about the similarities between an Italian tank and the Wallaby forward pack..... Both go a whole lot faster backwards!! Boom, boom!
Cattledog
Roar Guru
Pity they didn't have the 'skates' under them in Wellington! lol
Cattledog
Roar Guru
Get a sense of humour, a vocabulary and a life!
johnno42
Guest
amen jerry ... its the old complex waving its ugly heas again ohh the shame... and they got walloped at footy too ... looks grim foh th okks bro
Jerry
Guest
We're not the ones descended from convicts, dumbarse.
Jerry
Guest
My mistake, I thought it was England instead of Ireland in the Aussie pool.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
All of those things were evident from his work with the All Blacks. Many of us warned Aussies about Deans' track record, but people wouldn't listen and thought it was because we were stunned that the NRFU let him go. The point I wanna make is that Deans doesn't need to be Australian to do a good coaching job. If the Wallabies need reminding that they're Australian let the players do the talking. As far as I can tell, that sort of pride in your jersey etc. will only get you over the line every now and again, but it seems to be important to the supporters.
johnno42
Guest
ohh cattledog ya ckackin me yup... hey waddaya call 8 fat blokes on roller skates? aussie forwards
Cattledog
Roar Guru
What do you call a New Zealander wearing a suit...the Defendant! lol
Republican
Guest
That's some oxymoron Tumekeheke. A New Zealander is in reality a South Sea Pom which we uncouth Ozzies most certainly are not, as Viscount Crouchback will attest. I am bemused to read that the Union expat factor is again raising its ugly profile in chunderous back slapping affirming proportions. I rest my case in respect of the culture of the game in this country.
Tumekeheke
Guest
What do you call a classy Australian??????.................. A New Zealander.
Spencer
Guest
Thats a good point Rusty... climate change. We can add that to the list of reasons/excuses.
reds fan
Guest
Spencer, grab one in medium and forward it on thanks.