“Beale! He has a man on the inside but he doesn’t give it. Now he gives it. TRY TO AUSTRALIA! No, he’s been pulled down from behind meters out!” That’s what Fox Sports Greg Clarke said as Beale broke the Springbok defence and sent the pass to Elsom, who was stopped just short.
Paints a picture of the Wallabies night, really.
Many people have said that the Wallabies tripped over their own shoelaces and fell short, an observation, I believe, is wrong. They did not lose the match, they were beaten.
If the Wallabies are ever to be at the same level of the current day All Blacks and Springboks, they need to admit that they pretty much suck.
Elsom is not an international quality player, let alone captain; Matt “where is he?” Giteau has been an absent figure for at least eighteen months; Mumm needs to learn to become dad if he is ever gonna be “mongrel” enough to play the likes of the Boks and All Black’s and Cooper needs to do some work on the tackling bag.
Richard Brown, why is he there? Seriously why?
Did you know that if Robbie Deans loses this game, and the following Sydney Test, his Wallaby career stands at 50 percent. Maybe he is not the all powerful rugby guru that many suspected he was. After all, he had a lot of the best players of our generation in his Crusaders side that won those Super Rugby tournaments.
Who wouldn’t look like an amazing coach?
The Wallabies beat the Boks in Brisbane. That is the only success they have had this year in the Tri Nations, as in last year’s. Hardly something to be proud of, seeing South Africans hate Suncorp.
The Bulls, Stormers and Sharks all lose there. (I should know, I’m there and disappointed each time.)
It is to be noted that the Wallabies have a few players to come back from injury, but are these guys much better? Was the Wallabies season last season a noteworthy one with those guys in the side?
What about the opposition for this weekend?
The Boks are feeling much better after ending their four game losing streak and have taken off some of the heat on the older players and the coaching staff.
They have also retained the starting side from last week, with the only change being Dannie Roussow promoted to the starting side ahead of Flip Van Der Merwe.
The Wallabies don’t have the forwards nor the backs to match it with a more confident Boks side. On paper, the Boks are stronger and you would be hard-pressed to find a single position in which the Wallabies have the better player.
I would bet my house on the Boks tightening up the defence and choking the Wallabies like the All Blacks on the eve of a quarter final.
Boks by plenty.
Colin N
Guest
"who really deserved the win?" Australia. "Who showed the guts of a reald world champion side?" Australia. "Who dug deep when things got tough, and who dropped their balls when the oppo came back at them?" Australia.
Ben S
Roar Guru
I meant SA, Jerry. Way to bring my zephyr crashing and burning.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Indeed, that win was a nice touch, as was the Chiefs getting off to a winning start (and captained by the brother of John Hayes) in the AP. In hindsight I should have had a bet on Treviso. Just as the Azzurri defeated Scotland all those years ago in the first game of the 6N surely they were destined to win? I saw the2nd half of the Munster game,and after all these years I'm still in awe of Perugini's belly, the stuff propping dreams are made of.
Jerry
Guest
"France have also beaten France in France" Well that's all well and good but how much wood would a woodchuck chuck? Did you mean Aus or SA there?
Peter K
Guest
hahahahahah. How can it be a real world champion side that ONLY wins one game out of 6 and that one at home at altitude. Boks are very weak currently.
Bokkie
Roar Rookie
So I was wrong (and not for the first time this year). I am first to accept the Bokke did not play to the standard we have seen them in the past. To lose like that is heart breaking... John Smith and Victor Matfield, well done.. You guys sure shut your critics up. Guys, it just would not be me without the following comment: That ball did not travel 5m and Well done Barns (the english one). Thats all I will say, the Wallabies played hard and the Springboks played badly (especially in the first half) but who really deserved the win? Who showed the guts of a reald world champion side? Who dug deep when things got tough, and who dropped their balls when the oppo came back at them? To say that win is lucky is an understatement. Barns could not wait to give away that penalty. I'll let you decide. But if the Springboks won a game against the All Blacks like that, I would not be happy. The world cup should be a very intresting tournament.
Derm
Roar Guru
Great game, Ben. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Was reminded of the 6 Nations finale with that last Beale kick - amazed at his aplomb as if he was just kicking on the back fields at training. Watched three of the Magners and saw highlights of the Italian job - good old Treviso.
Derm
Roar Guru
Scotty - relax. No need to be so defensive. :) I understand the reasoning behind your comment, it's been said many times before on here and in other fora. And I don't dispute it. The standard of SH rugby is well ahead of NH rugby generally. And the increased pace of the game this season is likely to widen the gap further. In an article I've just submitted on this week's opening round of the Magners I commented that having looked at three of the matches, despite 15/16 tries being racked up in them, the pace of the game is at least 25% of what I've seen over the last few tests. I know I'm not comparing like with like, but certainly the Celtic and Italian unions have a lot of work to do. and on that topic, Aironi were a pleasant surprise with their vibrancy and willingness to run in their match against Munster.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Just before I go to bed, Scotty: NH teams do rarely win away, but it is only NZ who have regularly gone unbeaten during their Autumn tours. Also, the last time NZ didn't send their best side to Europe was in 2002, when they were last beaten at Twickenham. France have had a comparatively good away record, winning away in NZ in 2009, and away in SA in 2006 and 2001. Incidentally, France have also beaten France in France in 2001, 2002, 2005 & 2009. France also drew with the Boks, in SA, in 2005. I think that SA have only gone unbeaten on their end of year internationals during 2008, and the last time Australia went unbeaten was prior to 2000.
Scotty
Guest
Pothale I live in one of the 6 Nations and very much enjoy the tournament, usually cheering for Scotland and then whoever plays the most interesting rugby after that. Its the best annual tournament in the world for passion for sure. However...the reason I said "The 6 Nations level of rugby" was that realistically how often to teams go down under, or to South Africa, from the 6 Nations and win a game. I cant remember when anyone but England and France have done it - however I have only been following rugby since 1982 or so, so there could have been more. England beat the Wallabies in 2010 and 2003 and maybe once or twice before that. France have troubled NZ a couple of times. Wins in the Republic are pretty rare for 6N teams. And then certainly NZ regularly travel up to the NH with "junior" teams due to the older players being a bit knackered and they generally wallop all comers. The Wallabies had a poor tour last time, they lost 1 and drew one won 4 (I think) and that counts as a semi-disaster! SA..well they have Puff-Divvy in charge yet they accounted for a few teams (bar an excellent Ireland on the day) pretty well. Generally the 3N standard is higher than the 6N standard, and it has been since its inception. Thats just the reality. If we had lost today we might be in danger of slipping back into the pre-1984 phase where a few wins against the 6N teams were acceptable, with a few losses on the way. However with this rare win at altitude, I think we have avoided that.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Good game today wasn't it, pothale? Caught any of the Magners games yet?
Derm
Roar Guru
Cracking game today - and congrats to the Aussies. The last two games have been a pleasure to watch. VC and Ben were quite correct in their assessment. "A loss would have consigned us to the 6 Nations level of Rugby, but now we can say we are a decent 3 Nations team." Scotty, this is my favourite sentence of the week, if not the season. It's so wonderfully condescending. I'd like to use it during the 6 Nations for different teams, if you don't mind.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Well... Winning three games in a row (either in Europe or the 3N) would be a start. I think two consecutive implosions of such magnitude are basically unnaceptable. In both cases the rugby in the first half was excellent, but all things considered this is a very poor defensive SA side which has also been pretty limited in attacking terms, so conceding so many points isn't too cool either. Look, Scott... the way I see it is that Australia are as psychologically weak as they were this time last season. They got a last minute penalty because SA were playing lazy and stupid 'wind the clock down' rugby. If I were an Australian I'd be ecstatic, but I'm not, so I don't think the win has much value unless the team builds on it and puts in a good performance next week. Likewise, as an England fan I enjoyed their win over Australia in the 2nd Test, but unless they perform in the coming end of year internationals then that win is worthless and history. Anyway, it's a big win that breaks an old record, so don't worry about next week until it comes. Enjoy it, I certainly enjoyed the game. I can't wait until next week now.
Scotty
Guest
Fair enough Ben, but what do they have to do to BE consistant? Win the Tri Nations and beat the All Blacks in all games in a season? Fair enough - I think they might do that by about 2013. However Small steps are still steps in the right direction. They could have rolled over and died at 36-31 but they didn't, and they would of in the last 3 years. Quite clearly the last 3 games in South Africa have shown that its possible to cut through the SA defence - and ours, and importantly New Zealands! NZ didn't take the lead until the 77th minute against SA but are they ordinary? Of course not. This team does not have a surfeit of "World Class" players (I hate the term btw - its almost meaningless); but they do have plenty who have a great deal of potential. Lets see if they can bring some of it out. We test ourselves regularly against the top 2 teams (historically) in world rugby time and time again. No other team does this. Its a school of hard knocks for sure, but it surely helped us be the outstanding team at the 1999 RWC. And its true we have little depth, and I think compared to SA and NZ never will with our 3 codes. But our record in the RWC is second only to SA.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Anyway, before you try to find arguments that aren't there, I thought it was a very enjoyable game, with a scintillating ending and it was pleasing to see the underdog get a result. The Wallabies played some wonderful rugby in the 1st half.
bayboy
Guest
How must you feel this morning............. What a poorly written article and even poorer responses to posters. I find it funny how you use all the excuses in the book yet you were the type of fan who flatly refused to allow the All Blacks to use the excuse that they had injuries last year.
Ben S
Roar Guru
I'm confused? I haven't been posting on the Roar since 1991, so how could you know if I have never been impressed? I'll reiterate what I said: this win does not indicate that Australia has any more world class players than it did two weeks ago. I imagine that's why you're talking about 'the team'. Btw, if you had followed the thread then you might have noticed the words 'Go Wallabies!' typed by none other than my good self during the 1st half. I think you're getting ahead of yourself. Australia has always been able to play good rugby, the point is that they have never done it consistently under Deans. The game was decided on a last minute kick. There's nothing to suggest that such inconsistencies won't arise in the future, and this win against a poor SA side doesn't render the past two seasons undone or this Australian side 'a decent 3 Nations team'. I'm not playing the party pooper, I'm being realistic. It was a good win today, and I hope you enjoy it, but I don't see what's changed?
Scotty
Guest
But ben have you ever been impressed by the Wallabies despite them winning the World Cup twice, and reaching the final a further time (1 more time than NZ for instance?). Its actually not about individuals, its about the team. And yes it was a flawed performance; theres a lot of improving to do. But its a start. It means that they can look to next week with hope rather than despair, and to the NH tour for a clean sweep. A loss would have consigned us to the 6 Nations level of Rugby, but now we can say we are a decent 3 Nations team.
Ben S
Roar Guru
I don't think this win proves that Australia has an abundance of world class players. It was yet another very good 40 minute performance. Sharpe & Pocock had a good game, IMO, as did Burgess when he came on. Beyond those two I wasn't overwhelmed by any specific Wallaby.
Scotty
Guest
Yes where is the original poster? He may be out of his mind on Castle drowning his sorrows? Some of the stuff in the original artical was classic stuff...."no world class players" being the funniest one! Not forgetting the old "the Wallabies disn't lose that game they had it taken from them" hahaha!!! True mate very true!!! Just like this week eh? The Boks didn't lose this game - they had it taken from them. Suck it up mate. We have to.