To soldier on in the face of denial seems now to have become the trademark of Australian Rugby and its first-born child, the Wallabies. Wise after the event, sure. But how many events does it take to wise up?
I wrote last week of the shaky linkages drawn between what is about to happen and ‘history’.
In exactly the same way, optimism about ‘young wonders’ and ‘motivation’ just doesn’t gel. In fact, too many (administrators, coaches, players and the assembly of paid commentators) are forever pushing ability beyond capability.
I suppose that they all mean well by showing their support and loyalty – and, of course, expertise.
But in the process, they are all saying nothing new and certainly not adding anything to inspire anyone.
Try these for size:
“O’Connor made his debut as an 18-year-old”
”Elsom is applying some pressure”
“The game is not absolutely gone” (at 20:0)
“They didn’t fall for it”
“It’s a psychological thing now”
“Pride is on the line”
”We just didn’t come away with the points”
“We put ourselves under pressure”
“..,Need a bit of magic”
“It was one of those nights”
“We gotta learn from this and build”
“That will be a big learning curve”
“We’ve got to move on quickly”
“Big moments can change the game”
“I still got belief”
… and there are many many more!
In my humble opinion, development of the Wallabies as a team is continually being weighed down by the unquestioning adherence to old ways that are reinforced by old words.
Lazy points of view only reinforce lazy play, ‘lazy’ judgments are those that bring about reactionary decisions and selections, poor tactical planning, glib sloganeering about an opposition, leadership (particularly on-field) that goes missing, and the absence of clever thinking that has the potential to make a difference.
Players, (and indeed, a waiting-to-be-thrilled audience), very soon become habituated to endless streams of repetitive instructions (and commentary), hours of boring drills, and conventional tactics.
To argue that players are (always) competing for selection is a nonsense when limited numbers available and well-paid contracts, are the reality.
To bring out the best in a team requires an adventurous approach for every game, changes that challenge players with something new. This is so important for ‘experienced’ players, whose style and thinking can often be ingrained.
Tactical planning must be able to change as the game flows; and significantly, to precisely take into account the capabilities of an opposition.
Sorry, “standing up to the opposition” and “having belief” just doesn’t cut it anymore, and “magic” should be left to stage performers at the opening ceremony of the World Cup.
George Shirling is the author of Exploding Sports Myths – a book that exposes the nonsense in some of our fondest notions about sport
ThelmaWrites
Guest
84% I agree about the league-style defense. Add All Black leg drive and acceleration...
Harry
Guest
It was Montreal 1976 Olympics actually that led to the birth of the AIS, but agree with the general thrust of the comments.
George Shirling
Roar Rookie
Tissot Time You've got it. "What can we do about it? That's the question that seems to be never seriously thought through ... perhaps too much influenced by the prediction of ARU boss, John O'Neill, that the WC will see an All Blacks v Wallabies final. How do you come to that? "I just like what I see" was O'Niell's response in mid-April this year. And again, can anyone 'translate' Adam Ashley-Copper's after-match 'what-we-tried-to-do' comment last weekend?: "We had the focus of going through them" ... could well set the pattern for another purposeless discussion at the next team meeting! George Shirling
peterlala
Guest
Dear George, you say you are sure they mean well. They used to say, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." As you point out so intelligently, again and again, reality has to be factored in.
84%
Guest
George the ONLY truism in your article is the following " Tactical planning must be able to change as the game flows; and significantly, to precisely take into account the capabilities of an opposition." The real reason the Wallabies lost so badly on Saturday was the fact that they have rapidly slipped back into their old style of "League type" defense ie. waiting for the opposition to run into you instead of moving forward to "cut down time and space" . they learnt a great lesson from the Samoans two weeks ago with their in yer face defense with rugby union style of tackles and got soundly beaten for their troubles .... they then applied that newly learnt defense against the SA's and won comfortably only to revert last Saturday to what they have been doing for the past eight or nine years ... unsuccessfully I might add. Coupled with that fact the Wallabies continue to distribute the ball to standing players in attack !! I believe that the ARU are at fault constantly demanding they play rugby in the "Australian Style" ie. running the ball from inside their own 22M, having only one chaser of the kick ahead (or more usually none), League style defense, kicking the ball too far in attack and lastly playing players out of their natural position to appease some contractual obligations !! No-one gives a blind "F" how you play the game as long as you win fairly.
Tissot Time
Guest
Matthew the grieving process in Australian Rugby nevers seems to reach the accepance stage where true healing can take place. It always seem to get stuck in the bargaining and hope stage. If the acceptance that we were not good enough were reached then maybe...maybe something could be done about it. It is ok to say that we were not up to it because the corollary is what can we do about it? There is precedence in Australia for this following the unsuccessful Olympics in Los Angeles the highly influential Institute of Sport was born.
Stephen Tunley
Guest
Decisions, damn decisions and decisions. Elsom out replaced by Higginbottom. Genia Captain. Simmonds out, Samo in. If it's not working-change it- yes more decisions. Aggression at breakdown and tackle to replace tentativeness. Deans no contract till after World Cup. My decision, how much longer do I waste my time believing until I realize I am wasting my time as much as they are wasting mine. Decisions. No more excuses- tear into them. Clinical decisions Deans no contract till after Wo
matthew Skellett
Guest
"On the Button" Mr Shirling!!!! Haha you could add phrases WE'D ALL LIKE TO HEAR like " we played crap and we won't do it again", " we are donating our weekly salary to charity every time we lose ", "we will not lose or fumble the ball on opposition kick-offs", "we will play with pride every time we turn out in the national team uniform" and "we will make Australia proud WHENEVER we play " :-)