Australia’s Digby Ioane, right, scores the first try against Wales during their international rugby union match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009. AP Photo/Tom Hevezi
It was great to finish the tour on that note. We set the tempo early and brought intensity at the carry, tackle and breakdown. And possibly one of the most pleasing aspects was our defence: keeping them try-less at Millennium Stadium was a great effort.
A lot has been said about the missed opportunities of the tour and the disappointment.
It is disappointing to have missed the opportunity of the Grand Slam, but that’s not how it went. And as a group, we have learned a lot on the trip.
The mid-week games gave a lot of guys opportunities and they stepped up and set the tone for the weeks leading into the England and Wales games. Possibly more midweek games will be scheduled for next year?
The game against Cardiff on Tuesday night was a fantastic defensive effort, and a lot of promise was shown in attack, too.
Kurtley Beale had a great game and was rewarded with his first test cap against Wales – a special moment for him. Dean Mumm led the midweek team well and was rewarded with a start.
It’s exciting to be part of a team where coaches pick teams based on performance and are willing to give guys a crack. The Cardiff Blues were talking up the fact that they had beaten the Wallabies the last six times they had played us and were very keen to make it seven.
I was on the bench for the game and the build-up was superb. The detail and intensity were right up there.
But back to the weekend’s game.
We had a lot of people come up to us and say that, despite their team losing, they loved watching the game and really enjoyed the running and the tries. There was some great interplay between backs and forwards and Genia, Giteau and Cooper really controlled the game well.
I think that’s the best I’ve seen Quade kick.
It’s an area that he has put a lot of hard work into with Robbie, and it’s great to see him reap the benefits of it. It’s also a delight as a forward to see the ball fly 40 metres upfield and bounce out.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half.
It was a great ball from Steve Moore that gave me the chance to get my first Test try, and get winded in the process, which put a dampener on any celebration.
And then, just before half time, I dislocated my thumb. I probably could have kept playing, but I’d lost a lot of grip strength so the doctor pulled me at half time – with someone like George Smith as your replacement, you’re only letting the team down if you keep playing, even if you’re at 90 percent.
He came on and had a huge impact. He just did what you expect from George, I guess.
Once again the front row did well at scrum time, which always helps get the referee on side, and the backs are happier getting clean ball.
It was immensely satisfying to walk off the field having won like that in Wales.
The Welsh are rugby mad but also hospitable and knowledgeable and it was great to have some banter with the locals walking up the road to get a coffee this morning.
So that brings the years’ rugby to an end.
A few of the team stayed to play for the Barbarians against the All Blacks, but the rest of us are here at Heathrow, waiting for our flights to Sydney, Brisbane or Perth.
I am really looking forward to having a break.
I think I’ve been in Perth for about three weeks all up since the end of Super 14, so it’ll be great to be back there for a decent amount of time and be able to hang out with mates and get the training done in my own time before we join our Super 14 teams in early January.
Amband
Guest
congratulations David. You played well. Your efforts were noticed by the TV commentary team too.
conrad Rines
Guest
2011 world cup wallabies a little different but will go very well i think! 1. alexander 2. polota nau 3 robinson 4 hand 5 vickerman 6 elsom 7 smith 8 palu 9 holmes 10 barnes 11 turner 12 mortlock/horne 13 ioane 14 morahan 15 shepard * would consider cooper or oconner for a utility bench spot along with either horne or mortlock * hand is a late bloomer with a wealth of experience and and is considered by micheal foley as a top lineout general. thoughts?
Conrad Rines
Guest
rockin rod you really enjoy talking about the talent available to melbourne dont you!
Houdini
Guest
Great tour Bam awesome article, a true perspective of the tour from the players point of view
Emily
Guest
Well done David. You played really well and used the opportunity given to you!! Really enjoyed watching you play mate. Happy Holidays
Rockin Rod
Guest
Rin, bring on that first super 14 game at members equity, i cant wait. They play Brums and Mr Giteau. I think we are in good shape but nervous about Melbourne stealing Pocock and others. We have a heap off contract
Rin
Guest
Great tour tour David, yourself, Genia, AAC and Benn R being the best of the bunch. Cant wait to go down and see you turn out for the Force at Members Equity.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
Great to see us getting these emotional mood swings, one week we are doomed and Deans cannot coach us to a World Cup, the next week we have the best youngsters and individuals in the world. At the moment the consistency is not there and we would really struggle against South Africa and New Zealand in 2011. I hope the Aussies win, but at the recent (and not so recent) form, we are not there yet.
GIGS20
Guest
DON'T LOOK AT IT DAVID!!!!!!! We want you to continue being effective at the breakdown WITHOUT cheating!
GIGS20
Guest
What can I say, the Bamness will make a guy do strange things! I read a bit, but tend not to comment, I save most of that for TWF on the account that I need to pretend I have a life sometimes.
Rockin Rod
Guest
Ill send Richie Pococks highlights. He probably already has them. Cogrates on getting IRB player of the year AGAIN, superfreak. Hes just minding that for Pocock 2011. Look good next to the RWC
rugbyfanatic
Guest
I did say 'peak' Kiwi boy and I can assure you Pocock would have got the Richie McCaw highlight video for his 15th birthday.That's why he's already so good at such a young age. He wouldn't of looked out of place in a Barbarians jersey either. I do love Richie though. Very impressive win against France too. At least all your players kept their gonads this time in France. We don't want to mention what happened to old Wayne ' One Ball Buck' Shelford in France years ago. Poor fella.
katzilla
Roar Guru
David, I put a Richie McCaw highlights video in your stocking for you :D Merry Christmas
katzilla
Roar Guru
Thats assuming its a peak where your heading rugbyfanatic and not a valley.
MattyP
Guest
Well played David, a heart-warming performance. Keep up the good work, writing and playing.
rugbyfanatic
Guest
Well David, Firstly, thanks for the articles through the tour and I completely agree with the other readers that you are way too modest, but then again, that's why we like you. As I predicted before the Irish game, you will be no doubt, the future wallaby captain, assuming and with no doubt again, you'll be a great role model on and off the field. Please let's not forget. We just missed out on an historic grand slam BY 3 POINTS! The media is so incredibly bad. They're asking for Robbie's head and all this rubbish about how bad we are. I can't read it anymore. 3 huge highlights of the tour. 1. Giteau and Cooper combo. Could even work the other way around. Let's not forget Gits was no.1 no.12 in the world for 3 years. Let's hope the selectors listen to Robbie and have the right players playing in their Wallaby positions in Super 14. The states need to work together a little for the Wallaby cause and isn't that why we support rugby through thick and thin - for the Wallabies. 2. The scrum. Never been better in 10 years 3. You. Keep going. You've started brilliantly. Keep going. Just be happy you don't have to have a knife by your bedside at night anymore. When you have a bad game, at least you can smile in the shower later and smile because you don't have to protect your mother every night from death. You are now a fully blown Wallaby. Suck it up and be proud. We love you as a player and a person. Welcome. Don't read the papers about the so-called terrible tour. They're all show bags - full of crap. p.s Robbie Deans is a genius. He has us just where he wants us. I don't need to remind people and especially kiwis, that you don't want to peak too early for a world cup. Go Robbie son!
Colin Reavy
Guest
Mate congrads on the win and a spectacular first half performance especially your first test try, the first of many im assuming. The team played the best I have seen since Deans took over and I hope that future performances are on par with this test. Enjoy your rest Bambam and the Nandos back in Perth, im sure you missed it!
Rockin Rod
Guest
Bambam It shows your character that you find time to write to us roar readers and give us an insight to what we believe to be the wallabies best performance of the year. Your only as good as your last game and you killed it. enjoy your month off and see you bigger and better next year ( if thats possible) Rod
The Cougar
Guest
David, You were as immovable as an anvil over the ball in the Tests over the last month. Massive respect. Well done. You're a super-freak... super-freak!!!
Working Class Rugger
Guest
GIGS20 First time I ever seen Pieter, TQ1 and yourself of The Roar.