The result in Melbourne was not a great moment for Australian Rugby. But was it as catastrophic as some other Roarers would have us believe? I think the players will be able to draw plenty from it.
We almost won the second half with 14 players. Of course, it could be argued that the All Blacks dropped the intensity and that allowed our blokes to turn it up a bit.
Debatable. Perhaps they needed to back off a touch.
Positives for the Wallabies? Their fitness was tested and proved adequate. They demonstrated to themselves they can retain and recycle possession against a very good rucking side.
Their tackling technique was coming up to speed. Also, they proved to themselves that running is safer and more effective than kicking.
In short, the Wallabies can play winning rugby, and more importantly, the All Blacks are beatable and we are more than capable of being the first to deflate this new dynasty.
Had Pocock’s try and Beale’s break both not been denied, we at least could have made two bonus points. If not won altogether.
The only conditioning aspect I would be working on is ‘core strength’. Too many times, the Wallabies were going to ground instead of fighting to complete the tackle or support the runner and maintain their balance.
This requires strengthening of the trunk, aka ‘the core’.
I imagine the most work this week will be on kick-off retention. In fact, anything to do with recoverable ball will be worked. Also emphasising the mantra of who scores the try is not important, the team gets the points, so prepare always to take the tackle.
The best training is the game itself, and when the dust settles, I think they will be making steps forward.
Hopefully, most of those who were there on Saturday will be available for Christchurch, so they can reinforce the lessons of Etihad. This game got away, but we can rely on the Australian spirit tidy up the loose edges.
So I am hopeful.
Ben S
Roar Guru
You made the bold claim, you support it.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Exactly, Taking a flying leap at yourselves, boofheads!
Damo
Guest
Sixa "This is from a background largely based on the optimism and spirit of the people who call Australia home. It may be hard for you to fathom but there is something in the water here, enough to play 4 versions of football and still excel internationally. We take your put downs ......"etc Yes -what possesses certain Kiwi trolls to enter and critically comment on our own soul searching is beyond me. We have many faults but our tolerance for others may be one of them. Expat Kiwi to my toddler son dressed in a Wallaby jersey "Isn't that child abuse?" At a bottle shop in Sydney! MATE, our country our rugby team. I wouldn't say things like that in your country. Abuse thinly masked as constructive criticism by certain trolls above says more about their need to be triumphant than the faults of the Wallabies. You know who you are. As I said to my Kiwi mate in 2000, when he was depressed about the McQueen/Eales era - Every dog has his day.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
No idea, you tell us.
darwin stubby
Guest
but also went 1-5 in the tri-nations, drew with the Irish in Dublin and were fortunate to beat the Irish at home in the previous June
Ben S
Roar Guru
'Old son, have you ever wondered what is the impetus behind our major victories. We do not have the advantages of anything like your NPC nor the Heineken or Currie Cup' I wonder how many NPC games Brad Thorn has played, or how many CC games Frans Steyn has played?
Mixa
Guest
I dont know what was up with the forwards ignoring JOC and not passin to him. He was right there a few times ready to go and they would pass the opposite direction. If you watch it back, you can see JOC getting frustrated and shrug his shoulders as if to say WTF?..... He wasnt great as winger coz the wallies all snubbed him and wouldn't pass to him. At one point, he was in a great position to get a try, or close to it, then they passed the other way and played it through the left side again. And can I just say Will Genia is S**T, its painful to watch him. He has no idea when it comes to retreiving and passing... He takes bout 5 seconds to figure out what way hes goin and when he finally decides, he leans his body so obvious and lets the AB's know exactly where he's gonna pass. He needs to watch some George Gregan replays to see how its done properly. Man, and those pissy tackles, he really needs to play netball instead (no wonder they call him a girl).... JUST BENCH THE DOUCHE!..... Or at least make him play in a skirt so that the big boy's know princess Genie's on the field... I love the wallabies, but in my opinion, they are way out of their league when it comes to the AB's.... Sorry.....
warrenexpatinnz
Guest
DS is it the same squad that also flogged Wales?
warrenexpatinnz
Guest
Sixo-clock couldn't have put it better, of course all Wallaby supporters want those wins against the ABs and suffering defeat after defeat can be demoralising but we are punching well above our weight and will always continue to do so. Rugby is not our No1 sport, nor will it ever be but what we do have is the money and the need to excel on the world stage as through all our generations sport is perhaps the defining part of our culture, sport is our religion with family and national pride comprising a package of what it means to be an Australian. The knockers out there like doomsday Growden, a guy who I have no time for as a journalist, can continue to try and chip away however Aussie supporters like me will continue to wear my national colours. Every loss hurts but every good win is savoured just that much more when we beat someone we shouldn't, when we shouldn't and come 2011 when Rocky and Robbie lead the Wallaby squad into the 2011 RWC I am sure the pressure on them will be nowhere what is on the ABs and those one off, do or die matches can be a real leveller.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Tui, Old son, have you ever wondered what is the impetus behind our major victories. We do not have the advantages of anything like your NPC nor the Heineken or Currie Cup. As Ricketty points out our subbies and schools programmes are largely neglected and yet when the final whistle blows there we are. We have won the Bledisloe Cup, the Mandela Cup, and the Web Ellis against all comers. This is from a background largely based on the optimism and spirit of the people who call Australia home. It may be hard for you to fathom but there is something in the water here, enough to play 4 versions of football and still excel internationally. We take your put downs and lack of faith as proof that you are not now nor ever will be good enough to call yourself Australian. We have a chance, thats all we need to know. Save your breath sunshine.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Sorry it's just the Test Engineer coming out in me...
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Not saying who either, and he used to be a computer programmer in C and Assembler!!
RedsNut
Guest
"now legs first" That's so right. Our coach used to say "It doesn't matter how big or fast they are, without their legs they are going nowhere. And it has been good to see so many low down tackles from the Wallabies.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Hmmm looks like some tags weren't closed....
Tui
Guest
This is a ridiculous article. The wallabies cant draw anything positive about a 7 try to 3 hiding. And saying the AB's are beatable is obvious as any side is beatable but when you have lost your last 8 on the trot to them????
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Considering many early test tackles were League style Ball-and-all to the majority now legs first then we have made progress.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Fair point!
Nick_KIA
Guest
"Their tackling technique was coming up to speed." Hmmm. I think you might need to watch Richard Brown/Drew Mitchell again. "Also, they proved to themselves that running is safer and more effective than kicking." I'm not sure how you can say this as they hardly kicked and got smashed. Maybe they should have kicked more? "In short, the Wallabies can play winning rugby, and more importantly, the All Blacks are beatable" Not on the basis of the weekends performance.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
We can handle it OJ, We re big boys now, nothing wrong with our version of the Haka. Thanks for the concern all the same. Your countrymen would walk away from a winning game satisfied, we would be over the moon!
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The Wallabies have no chance of winning whatsoever. Please don't do this to yourselves!