South Africa’s Victor Matfield tackles Australia Will Genia during Tri Nations rugby. app images
I’ve had this topic in my mind for a couple of months now. What really got me scribbling notes was that tragic period back in August, where the Ashes and the Bledisloe Cup were lost on the same weekend. The reaction in the week that followed was astounding.
For every person that was willing to give England and New Zealand respective credit for being too good on the day (or days), there was another who wanted Ricky Ponting and George Smith presented for a public hanging.
But even that reaction has had nothing on what the Wallabies have been copping in the last week-and-a-bit.
After Wallaby coach Robbie Deans very politely declared that some of his players “departed the contest” in the closing ten minutes of the final Tri-Nations game in Wellington, the scrutiny and subsequent reaction toward the Wallabies has been unending.
Further, the Wallabies won themselves no favours with last Monday’s revelation that their Association has requested player payments for what was going to be a Possibles v Probables trial match ahead of the November Spring Tour to Japan and Europe.
Whether the payment request was made or not, or even who did or didn’t make it, is immaterial. Based on the Wallabies’ last performance, the timing of such a story could not have been worse.
Anyway, around when I started scribbling notes, legendary All Black flyhalf Grant Fox wrote a very interesting and timely column at the end of August in the Sunday Star Times in New Zealand.
At the time, the All Blacks were copping similar abuse and scrutiny after a less-than-successful home series against France, and then a similarly bad run against South Africa during the Tri-Nations.
Fox’s column came a few weeks after the worst of this, but it’s still relevant even now, two months later. He wrote:
“I don’t know whether I’m getting more sensitive or if the emotion around rugby is changing. I love the passion that surrounds our rugby, particularly the All Blacks, but sometimes that emotion overflows to the point where the debate around All Blacks’ performances lacks a bit of intelligence and becomes irrational.”
Substitute ‘Wallabies’ for ‘All Blacks’ here, and you’ve pretty much summed up what I’ve been feeling in this last week or so.
Some of the articles and comments I’ve read over the last week attacking the Wallabies have been very well thought, but unfortunately, there were just as many that bordered on hysteria.
Yes, the Wallabies were disappointing against South Africa in Perth, and even more so against New Zealand in Wellington. But what does an irrational soapbox rant prove, apart from possibly making yourself feel better?
What good can possibly come out of mass sackings and the wholesale changes that have been suggested?
Even worse, it occurred to me that some of the “they’re not getting my money again” comments that have been made this week completely miss the point that the author is attempting to make.
If any – let alone all – of the veiled threats to cancel season tickets, pay-tv subscriptions, no longer attend Wallaby Tests, or buy a jersey from some other code are actually carried through, the impact on rugby in this country could be dire.
It’s when our teams are going through a rough trot that they need our support the most. Of course everyone loves a winner, that’s human nature, but being there week in week out despite the results is the mark of true supporters.
One of The Roar’s regular contributors, LeftArmSpinner, happens to be a very astute rugby analyst. Some of his work in recent times has been so on the money you just wish you could find a way to get his message to the Wallabies directly.
But even he wrote an interesting article last week in which he curiously “officially rested” several key players including George Smith, Steven Moore and Matt Giteau from a theoretical squad for the Spring Tour.
I bring this up not as a criticism of Leftie’s article, or even the reasoning he used, but just to point out that even the most astute can be guilty of occasional over-reaction.
Leftie himself wrote an article back in June, entitled “Ask What You Can Do For Rugby”, which also called on supporters to do their bit in the down times.
While he spoke specifically of supporting rugby sponsors from the grass root to national level in these tougher economic times, Leftie also made a point that I’ll use to highlight the futility of making vague threats in times of underperformance:
“The simple things can bring significantly more money into the game and hence improve the scope, growth and performance of the game at all levels.”
In short, before you cancel your season ticket or buy a different jersey, think about what impact your decision might have on the game you’re so obviously passionate about. Imagine if we found in time that some junior development program was scrapped because five more people didn’t attend a Test next year?
By all means, express your disappointment. I’m guilty of this myself.
But then once we’ve said our piece – or even before, ideally – let’s all just calm down a bit and think about what good can possibly come from such threats and vitriol.
If it’s not going to help, then let’s just not.
And then let’s get back behind our team, because they need our support now more than ever.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Blue sue, great. But, the reality is that some less committed wont renew and the reasons are all self inflicted. My point was that the Wallabies and Tahs should be both told the impact of their performances and carry some pain for the performances. I include the tahs coaching staff. they were naive in their selection of playing tactics. I'm being polite. I too am locked in. My SCG/SFS membership subs are due, about $1000, for what, the roosters, the Tahs and the cricket......... at least the gym is great. as for the kids, there comes a time, even with the kids. I have offered them everything and they have taken virtually nothing. I have a brand new $800 cricket bat sitting in the lounge, just purchased, only 250 of them in Aust, never used and son is now demonstrating his lack of interest in cricket, despite being in two Green Shield final selection trials. There comes a point............. we are all human
Knives Out
Guest
Maybe it was pressure, Thelma, but passing should be the one thing that 9s can do without thinking. How can no coach have helped him improve his passing to the point where it is beyond reproach? I just don't understand it. It's such an isolated skill.
Blue Sue
Guest
Brett If I had posted it a week ago, all you would have got was the rant and the rave!
Invictus
Guest
I vote we send Sue in to give the wallabies a good spanking.....
Brett McKay
Guest
Sue, I wish you'd made that comment a week ago, I would've loved to have quoted it!! Great analogy...
Blue Sue
Guest
Leftie There were big discussions in our house about renewing our Life memberships for next year. We decided we would be in for another year. It's a bit like dealing with your kids. Passion and love is worth a lot! Just because they frustrate the heck out of you, cost you a fortune, fail their exams, lose their phones, come home with blue hair, go through periods without showing any enthusiasm for anything that they do or any appreciation of what you have sacrificed for them, you don't give up and walk away. You might get angry, rant and rave and give ultimatums, but, you hang in there. Does that sound like a mother talking? Am I talking about my kids or my rugby team? That's why we will be back in Bay 14 next year.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
KO I watched last year's Eden Park and Hongkong Bledisloes again last week. Burgess was okay. But this year he seemed to tune out under pressure. Watch his eyes. His passing became sloppy. Perhaps Deans thought he might turn the corner and kept him far longer than a less desperate coach would.
Brett McKay
Guest
Leftie, if there's an upside, at least they're advertising for 2010?!? I think it was to Daniel J above that I said no-one would begrudge any decision not to renew, and I'm certainly not going to talk you into or out of it. We can still do our bit for the game in our own way, as you said yourself in June. PB, thanks for your comments above, your "that they show passion for the gold jersey" comment seems to be the common theme coming through, and one I completely agree with. Jools, saw your post on Loges' column today. Loges has come up with a quality idea, it deserves plenty of consideration.. By the way, several of you questioned Tim Davison's omission from the 86-man Wallaby squad - he mentioned post-match at the Shute Shield GF on Sunday that he's more than likely played his last First Grade game. Does anyone know if he's heading overseas, or just pulling the pin?? Big loss either way...
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Brett, This morning I listened to the Waratahs radio adverts encouraging people to buy 2010 memberships: I thought to myself, why would any one do that? there is no prospect that the tahs will play entertaining rugby this year, no mea culpa from the coaches or players about last season, the wallabies have been very poor, there is nothing to sell this and it is not cheap either. I do not suggest withdrawing financial support, but the large % of people make a decision regarding the Tahs on a year by year basis. I suspect that the 2010 will be just one of the many casualties of the above problems that remain unresolved. Drew Mitchell is the best example. He has one attacking weapon and hardly a WMD (weapon of mass destruction). the up and under. There are two variations, first without the kick chase and second with kick chase that doesnt include any intent to either win the ball or tackle the catcher. Both have the degree of difficulty of 0.1.
jools-usa
Guest
Brett, I echoed your thoughts in a blog to Andy Logans column. Think about third entry. Regards Jools-USA
Knives Out
Guest
Excuse me.. I meant Tom Carter.
Justin
Guest
Cmon hammer stop being lazy and throwing cheap shots at the kid ;) What are these inherent flaws you talk of and please don't rattle off each mistake in Wellington as your proof. Give us somethings you have noticed about him throughout the season that say this kid is nowhere near ready for Test football.
Justin
Guest
The old you are only as good as your last game theory coming into play me thinks. Yep had a shocker but to say he has inherent flaws and no incentive to fix them is wildly inaccurate. The kid is bloody good and playing out of position. I think he would be well aware of his failures in Wellington and dying to get out and prove the critics wrong, which he will.
PB
Guest
This is a difficult issue to come to grips with, because our view point is obviously subjective. From a global viewpoint, the Wallabies have consistently been a top 3 team over the last 10 years, with a record proud history-rich rugby nations like Wales, Ireland and Scotland would be envious of. So given our limited resources, the perception of rugby as an elitist sport still predominantly played by private schoolers within a small catchment of our vast land, and 3rd (or 4th?) in popularity behind a multitude of other ball games – one would think we would be fairly content with our station? Apparently not. The difficulty is that we measure ourselves against the best, and by virtue of a history of achievement (some would call it over-achievement) and the high standards by which Australians draw comparison, the bar is set very high. . Throw in the challenge of a highly competitive domestic sporting cauldron which sees League, AFL and Soccer looking to attract the interest of the supporter base, and anything less than the absolute best is not simply not accepted. Is this fair? Undeniably not. However this is the challenge. So my response would be this: what we ask for our National team is not to win every game on every tour, to win every Tri-nations, to win every world cup; (although admittedly that would be pretty good) but to show that, every time they run out on the field, that they show passion for the gold jersey, that they remember they have been chosen to represent a country with a proud sporting heritage, a country that thrives on proving itself to the world, to fighting, to giving their all and not giving an inch, to coming out on top when the odds are against them, and if they do fall short to commend the victor because there is nothing more that they could have given on the day. I recall one of the first Tri-Nations test Vs the Boks in 2007 in Cape Town, a strong hold of South African rugby, where Frans Steyn came on to kick 2 drop goals late in the game to sink the Wallabies who had been holding on to a thin lead for most of the last quarter through a fiercesome defence effort. Camped on their goal line, a wall of gold jerseys lead by Phil Waugh and Dan Vickerman smashed back wave after wave of enormous Boer forwards and hard running Springbok backs, refusing to capitulate under the onslaught, even as they could barley lift themselves from the ground to repel the next attack. Even though we lost that game, I turned off the set as proud to be an Australian and a Wallaby supporter as if they had won. There is nothing more the wallabies could have done to win that game, and they gave everything they had on that field. If that sort of commitment, passion and aggression was seen everytime the Wallabies entered the fray, I think there would be far less negativity surrounding our national team.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I actually think the Nonu/Smith pairing has been a bit of a disappointment at Test level. Nonu/Toeava looked somewhat promising.
Knives Out
Guest
The Springboks have been committed to the extent of being kamikaze for years. Their recent successes (including 04) coincided with the introduction of greater technical work. SA won the 3N because they could execute some very effective rugby very, very accurately. The Wallabies could have had all the passion in the world but until that passion is matched with skill, like you say, then the staus quo will remain. I am astonished that after all the time Burgess has spent in camp with Australia that he still struggles passing a ball. Something must be badly wrong in the Australian camp. 9/10 the more skill full team will absorb all the rage and commitment in the world and work around it with their skills. That logic applies to most sports.
Knives Out
Guest
It's a shame that Laulau isn't available. He could have done a job. If Smith is fit then that's good news. He's a clever operator and makes Nonu better, IMO.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
KO and OJ I have one more DVD to watch: last year's Australia v Wales. Then I hope to reply, mindful that I haven't seen the Wellington test, and perhaps in another thread.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I think Smith may be returning for the end of year tour. Sadly, I think he'll always be hampered by injuries.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The All Blacks weren't that confident themselves. They played their way into the Test. It honestly took them a good thirty minutes to get the confidence flowing. Australia had plenty of time to jolt that confidence and build their own platform. It wasn't my intention to dismiss sports psychology. I simply think the Wallabies spend too much time thinking about beating the All Blacks and not enough time working on the problems that occur in every Bledisloe Cup Test. Six Tests is a long time to be making the same mistakes.