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The Wallabies’ eleven try demolition of the second string USA team was never going to be the ideal time to measure the heart of the side, but nor was it a waste of time.
Las week we witnessed the Wallabies appearing to be cool and calm for the first 50 minutes, despite the evolving circumstances and tightening Irish choker hold.
The reality was that they did not appreciate the dangers of the Ireland team nor the subtlety of their tactics. The Irish are famous for ambushing higher ranked teams. The Wallabies had no answer.
A week later, rather than come out self assured and confident against the US Eagles and play a back to basics game that would build their confidence and calm the nerves, the Wallabies’ first ten minutes were scatty.
They disobeyed several rugby mantra; that you need to go forward before you can go wide, and that you need to build phases early in such games to both build confidence and test and tire the opposition.
Against the US Eagles dirt trackers, the Wallabies came out as nervous as they have ever been.
I conclude that the 2011 Wallabies team are really struggling for self belief.
This apparent confidence issue, after many of the players had won both Super Rugby and Tri Nations this year is very surprising. The question is “How deep seated is it?” Are we seeing this young team’s apparent self confidence unravelling out of control?
The Wallabies are a very young team. Youngsters such as those in this team, appear to have ice like reactions to the big occasion.
The likes of Cooper, O’Connor, Genia and Beale do some sublime things on a rugby field as if it was just the norm.
As in any sport, the question arises: Are they flashes in the pan or are we witnessing the arrival of once in a generation players?
Except on rare occasions, a cool reaction is not due to an innate calm under pressure but a fundamental lack of understanding or full appreciation of the situation.
When the veneer of coolness is removed from the youngster, they often over react to the situation as if surprised.
Here is another example.
While I consider the Cooper-McCaw “interactions” to have been blown out of all proportion by the NZ press, Ritchie McCaw is a deity in New Zealand and a very experienced sportsman. Cooper’s actions are unlikely to rattle McCaw.
I am sure that Robbie Deans, knowing McCaw as he does, would not have recommended it. It created Cooper as the focus for New Zealand’s outbursts of nerves and general ire and some “love to hate” fun for the non partisan spectator.
Cooper says that he doesn’t care about it and that it doesn’t and won’t affect the way he plays. The facts, be they balls dropped cold, goals missed, and random, risky passes attempted, say otherwise.
So, what is the answer? They have seven full days before the next game. The older, more experienced players need to take a stronger leadership role.
The likes of Sharpe, Elsom, Vickerman, Burgess, Moore and even Adam Ashley-Cooper or Drew Mitchell must interpret the bigger picture and mentor the youngsters through these situations. I am not sure if anyone of these has this ability.
Rather than huffing and puffing on the field, a quiet word here and there and a detached view of the flow of the game is the answer.
Take them back to Lansdowne Road and Noddy’s clarity of thought.
As an aside, I would also reconsider the selection decision to only take one specialist open side flanker. If Pocock is not fit, McCalman is not the answer.
PatMcCutcheon has just played the game of his life in the grand final of the Shute Shield for Sydney University. He was awesome and was everywhere. He racked up multiple pilfers but was also very calculating at the breakdown.
A better breakdown performance is critical to the confidence and self belief of this team. They need good ball to feel good.
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.