“And what about the one we had on over in Pretoria? That was going to be a corker, and we’ve never landed one there before. Slippery sucker wriggled off just as we got it to the surface.
“But we held on the get the glory shot in Bloemfontein, didn’t we? Yeah, that was a good one; we’ll be able to dine out on that tale for years. We had him in the boat and then he nearly slipped out but Kurtley pulled off the save of the year. That was a good fish, that one, just desserts I’d reckon.”
“Yeah, we deserved that one.”
“And then just as we get back into local waters, we let the really big one slip away in Sydney. We had him on toast. Dead set filleted up and ready to slap in the pan. He was so big he barely put up a fight; we had him covered from the outset. How come we never got him in the end?”
“I really don’t know. Maybe we should have left Kurtley on the net?”
“Yeah, maybe. Good season, all up, though. I reckon we proved we’re a bloody good fishing club.”
“Damn right we did.”
So another domestic fishing season finishes with a not unreasonable return, but with Australia still not convincing the armchair angling experts that they’re capable of landing that big one.
Yes, they’ve come agonisingly close, and yes, they’re still more than capable of landing the entree-sized offerings that swim down from northern waters in June, but the truth is, they’re still only pulling up seaweed and old boots whenever a line is dropped into the Tasman.
There’s no doubting the Wallabies are better anglers than this time next year. There’s not even any question that they’re fishing better now than they were in June. And they’re holding a decent return whenever trawling for the big South African tuna now too, which can’t and shouldn’t be easily discounted.
But it’s just that wily Tasman trout that continues to elude. So what are the lessons from Sydney?
Well, for starters, I’d suggest to Rocky Elsom especially, but also to a potential future leader in David Pocock, that speaking at, rather than to, the charter captain isn’t advantageous.
There’s probably not much argument that Captain Mark Lawrence had an off night at the helm on Saturday night, but at the end of the day, he’s in control of the boat, and telling him you think you know of better spots to fish is not going to get you where you want. If anything, he’ll only march you back closer to shore.
That said, I still don’t believe Elsom needs to be replaced as fishing club president. He led from the front superbly in Sydney, as he did in South Africa, and was a constant figure in reeling the All Blacks in as close to the boat as the Wallabies did.
In fact, the Wallabies backrow of Elsom, Pocock, and young Ben McCalman were outstanding again, and had the measure of their opposites for the best part of the game.
Of course, All Black captain Richie McCaw, the wiliest of all the wily Tasman trout, still played a key role in getting his school off the Wallabies hook in the end.
I was pleased McCalman played another belter at No.8 too, plenty of young Wallaby anglers have floundered (ha!) under comments like “the Wallabies may just have found their next long term No.8” which I made about him last week.
Is it time to hand the goal-kicking net to Kurtley Beale fulltime? Has he done enough to earn it, and does Matt Giteau really have the yips? It would seem, judging by the comments on The Roar, that while Beale will be remembered forever for his kick in Bloemfontein, Giteau is only being remembered for his misses in Edinburgh. And Perth. And now Sydney.
So, with the biggest event in the fishing world set to be held in New Zealand this time next year, can the Wallabies put the rods in the rack for a few months knowing they’re heading in the direction of a big catch?
Well, they probably can, yes, but they can’t just assume that the November journey into European waters will be easy pickings. The Spring Tour needs to be the fishing trip where the Wallabies can tough out wins if need be, and more so, where they become relentless when they snare a big lead and really start putting teams to the sword.
At the moment, the Wallabies are probably deserving of their no.2 ranking on the world rugby charts, but their northern encounters have to be when they convince us that they’re the … well, the ‘reel’ deal. There can be no more big ones getting away in the 79th minute.
The time for the Wallabies’ fishing stories is rapidly ending. We love that they’ve had some big ones hooked this year, and even that they’ve gone so close to getting some big catches in the boat.
But ‘so close’ isn’t going to cut it this time next year. The tales have to be replaced by actual fish well before then.
Wal The Hooker
Guest
Err tackling a player without the ball is illegal, O'Connor came from behind cleared Smith out from behind Mills as he was going to ground and then Turner clearly played the ball on the ground. Both Jane and Smith were there in support.
Mike
Guest
Also bear this is mind: If the All Blacks had conceded a 17 point lead in the final 20 minutes to end up losing by one point - they'd be labelled for what that performence truthfully is - disgraceful. But wait, in this case the Wallabies are courageous fighters who were robbed? Please... THAT is the difference in standards between these two teams. It was a come-from behind 19-18 loss last year as well right? Again against an understrength, poorly performing AB side - so tell me WHERE is the improvement? Until they actually beat the AB's - or put two wins in a row against anybody- these Wallabies aren't improving, they're just finding creative new ways to flounder. You have to win 3 games in a row against serious competition to win the RWC remember, assuming you make it out of the pool stage of course.
Mike
Guest
Then I guess they'll only win the RWC final by one point :)
Gregon
Guest
Ashley cooper's try was fair..the ball did not bounce off the refree but it bounced off owen franks...The ref robbed Aus of victory wen he awarded mc caw the try...and thats a fact...NZ is very much vincible without carter....what if he gets injured prior to the world cup...all black fans...think about it....
Ben S
Roar Guru
Good grief, CD. Not in this lifetime, buddy.
Cattledog
Roar Guru
Ben, so you're the 'Walter Mitty' of the Roar, are you?
Seiran
Guest
Hi Parisien Thanks for positive comments and couldn't agree more with your comments about sour grapes. My point all along is that by not getting flogged in three of the four losses, the wallabies have managed to skip over the Boks. This is how the IRB point ranking systems operates. Teams are rewarded more points for winning by over 15 and lose more points by losing by more than 15. Based on the IRB points, the Wallabies are only marginally better than the four teams below them (as OJ points out) and it's clear there is no clear air between the four teams unlike 1st and 2nd, but the facts don't change with that point. The Wallabies are ranked above these four teams whether they like it or not, and they didn't get there by playing badly. The coming Honkers and NH tour will be a good litmus test to see if they manage to hold onto it. For anyone interested below is a link to an IRB ranking calculator I found on the web http://www.aaatos.net/rankings.py#
Seiran
Guest
Aahhhh the penny drops. If I'd known you were KO I would never have even bothered with the first post. I would have known better.
johnno42
Guest
I think the abs have nearly nailed it... they just need to work on getting that one point lead in xtra time, now.
Brett McKay
Guest
Mick, lovers of The Simpsons would still be rolling on the floor at my use of 'cromulent', but you should fear not - it's a completely made-up word, from anparticular episode where it was discovered that the Springfield motto, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" also contains a fictional word. When people starting debating the use of the word 'embiggens', Miss Hoover is heard to say "..it’s a perfectly cromulent word." So there you go Mick, The Roar provides robust sporting debate AND an expansion of your vocabulary ;-)
bayboy
Guest
I'd like to know why Elsom wasn't penalised for breaking away from the scrum and standing up before Mccaw scored his try? Funnily every single Australia fan is choosing to ignore this fact it's all quite clear to see. have a look at the 48 to 49 second mark http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlxceeIiiEw&feature=related Clearly illegal and I'd say Lawrence seen that hence why he let play continue.
Cattledog
Roar Guru
And he did. Good call CR.
Parisien
Guest
OJ, I'm curious as to why you and others feel the need to point it out, but I think most Wallaby supporters will actually agree with you. The various threads show this for the most part. There is not much margin between 2 and 6. The record over the last 12 games is not great, but it is what it is, and Australia are number 2 in the world whether you like it or not, whether it has been achieved with style or not. Given some of the poor Wallaby performances, and they get plenty of verbal bashing for it, I think it is natural that supporters will seek solace and look for signs of improvement where they can, and there is no need to deny them this. Give credit when credit is due. I'm always bemused by various Kiwi, Saffa, English, Irish supporters looking to tear a few strips off the Wallabies when their own supporters do this quite amply. Hopefully the Wallabies will win comfortably and stylishly in Hong Kong and that will be the first step in improving their record!
Cattledog
Roar Guru
I think that's a very fair statement, OJ. And we'll see how fair over the next couple of months. However, the Wallabies are still number 2. Not sure what your trying to provoke with 'legitimate', unless inferring they shouldn't be there?? However, that would defy logic and that generally isn't part of your game. I said on another thread that any of the top 5 or 6 teams are capable of beating the other if circumstances permit. This becomes more apparent at WC time. Anyway, the team at the top has only one way to go but the rest are in a two way street ;) Next couple of months will be a watershed.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Whinging Matilda!!! That's a new one!!! :-) OJ, dunno if I will send out for publication the "long and involved answer" I promised you. It's no longer timely.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Then it's fair to say that Australia are only marginally better than South Africa, France, Ireland and England. Indeed, they've lost to South Africa and England and drawn with Ireland in the past twelve months. I'd say that practically every side in the top 10 (with the exception of Fiji) are capable of beating the Wallabies at present. Their 6-6 record over their past 12 games isn't the type of record you'd expect from a legitimate number two.
Parisien
Guest
My sentiments exactly....as long as we eventually beat them!!
Parisien
Guest
Well spoken. 40 - 60 - 80 here we come!
Parisien
Guest
Thats a bit rich OJ! I certainly care how the Aussies score or win a turnover and that is why I even enjoyed our losses this 3N.
Ben S
Roar Guru
I do have history, a history of names, of which I have often referred to with numerous posters, even going so far as to make public if I was going to make a name change, so... I'm not worked up at all, hence my non-hostile tone. I have been calm and polite, unlike Seiran, who has been churlish: 'As for your other trolling comment'; 'I guess if you’re from one of those countries you would take any glimmer of hope to try to give your team some credibility.'; 'if it’s a serious comment then you can’t be taken seriously.'; 'I’m not a troll; I’ll leave that to you.' ... Yes? Now, please show me my comments that need toning down. Anyhow, the point remains: one last minute victory over SA does not illustrate equality with NZ. Further, the end-of-year results and recent pre-3N Tests lend substance to that sentiment. I have persistently asked for rugby debate in the form of specifics and have received none bar childish comments from Seiran.