In two weeks on the High Veldt, Robbie Deans and his young Wallabies have shown their plan for the future of Australian rugby. Be prepared Wallaby fans for a rollercoaster ride.
In fact, it really only took ten minutes at Loftus when, after expecting a South African onslaught charged on Matfield emotion, the Wallabies had scored three tries in the most blistering start to a Wallabies Test in recent history.
Coupled with victory in Bloemfontein, the public’s growing frustration has instantly subsided and an air of excitement surrounds the Wallabies as they finally give hope to our World Cup chances.
Since Deans’ appointment as Wallaby coach in 2008, he has seemingly blindly followed an aggressive youth policy pushing aside Wallaby stalwarts such as Baxter, Dunning, Waugh, and Tuqiri. Questions regarding the incapability of the new players as well as selecting a number of players out of position saw a rapid loss of confidence in the Wallabies throughout 2008 and 2009, exemplified by the record 53-8 loss to the Boks in Johannesburg.
With the World Cup looming it seemed the greatest problem was a lack of direction, a lack of leadership, and a complete lack of a game plan. Could these young’ens fulfill their potential?
Could Robbie Deans save the day? What is the plan?
Suddenly, in just two Tests, the plan for the future was on show; the good, the bad, and of course the head-buttingly ugly. Rain, hail or shine the plan is to attack.
The unbelievable talent running within the veins of Genia, Cooper, O’Conner and Beale is unarguably the future of Australian rugby but it may also be the future of rugby full stop. These young men have the potential to change the way rugby is played.
The legendary 1984 Wallabies, who won our first Grand Slam led by the incredible Mark Ella, shocked the British rugby public with an attacking, intuitive, running-based style of rugby, and it seems the young Wallabies will be embracing this exciting and nerve-racking style. The past decade of rugby is personified by an English fly-half who dropped a last minute field goal in 2003.
This safety first style of rugby has coincided with a decline in interest and has threatened the financial viability of rugby in Australia. As we begin a new decade the new generation of Wallabies seem prepared excite the crowd and have fun doing it.
At the same time they may just change the way rugby is played around the world.
This decade will be full of the highest highs as well as the lowest lows. The youthful exuberance, coupled with high-risk strategy, will also bring unbelievable inconsistency exemplified in the Bloemfontein Test which saw an incredible start, an incredible demise, and an unbelievable escape proving that rugby will always be “a game of two halves.”
The new Wallabies will win and exhilarate, unfortunately they will also lose and disappoint.
Whether Deans’ strategy can win the 2011 World Cup only time will tell, but it will be a whole lot of fun to watch.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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