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.
WQ
Guest
Dexter William, you are delirious mate, go and lie down!
Dexter William
Roar Guru
"The other point I would mention is that the only person it seems to be effecting at the present is Cooper." AND YOU BUNCH OF KIWIS. I LOVE IT.
WQ
Guest
It's all very clever Dexter, in fact it's proving to be a master stroke..... Yeh right! Just quietly I don't ever remember any All Black fans telling anybody that they can't man up and have a go at the All Blacks, in fact as an All Black fan I love watching other Teams take it to them in the physicality stakes. The problem with Coopers actions are that it is Cheap Shot girly rubbish! No front on hits, no big run and palming anybody off, just running in late and attacking a player lying on the ground looking the other way, or kneeing him in the face, again whilst laying on the ground. Ask yourself Dexter does that type of behaviour suggest taking anybody on in the physicality stakes or just a cheap shot merchant? The other point I would mention is that the only person it seems to be effecting at the present is Cooper. He is having a woeful tournament and that is because the Kiwi fans are giving it to him and it is getting under his skin. McCaw does not seem to be effected by it at all!
Dexter William
Roar Guru
Many teams lose to the All Blacks because even before they start playing, they are in awe of the All Black Aura. Before any team can be successful in beating the All Blacks, they need to treat them just like another team of 15 players who are human, not supermen or God. Only the Kiwis think that MaCaw shiet don't stink. Quade is doing the right thing by treating McCaw as a player who plays on the fringe of the law and very often cross the line of what many would call professional foul (or cheating). Bowing to the AB is a big mistake for any team who has the aspiration of beating the All Blacks. Needling the captain of the All Blacks is classic. Keep up the good work Quade.
AndyS
Guest
or maybe this kid...(Flash, a-ah) http://www.tasteofawesome.com/images/content/9688.jpg
Moaman
Guest
Andy --I know we all refer to Bieber ..well..as "Bieber"...but my daughter showed me pics of Jesse McCartney I think it was.....absolute dead ringer! "Little Jesse" has a certain cache,don't you think? http://www.google.co.nz/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=800&bih=517&q=jesse+mccartney&gbv=2&oq=jesse&aq=1&aqi=g10&aql=1&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=49l1383l0l4440l4l4l0l0l0l0l624l1470l2-2.1.0.1l4l0
Ralph
Guest
This is a very young and inexperienced Wallaby side. Aside from their serious depth problems, which was always a gamble going into the tournament, they don't have a plan B yet. So when their plan A gets badly impeded they look a bit clueless. I fearlessly predict a B plan will emerge from this side within the next two years.
AndyS
Guest
I won't speak for Jameswm, but personally I could care less what Cooper cops - I've no doubt that he knew what he was in for when he started and is probably quite entertained by it all. God knows I am - all these journalists and ex-players obsessing about the doings of some twenty-something year old boys and their naughty, naughty ways. Reading the press, I was trying to place what it reminded me of for some time before realising that it was that same note of deadly dark seriousness my nieces get when discussing massively important things, like Bieber's haircut or the state of Miley Cyrus' cherry. I can't wait to see which ex-All Black it is ends up posting a tearful emo rant on Youtube asking why everyone can't just leave Richie alone. Mind you, I've no doubt Richie is hugely flattered by everyone's concern for his frail mental and physical health and the threat posed by that big rough flyhalf.
WQ
Guest
Pleased to hear you say that jameswm, you will not be one of the people calling for everybody in New Zealand to stop giving Cooper a "bit of niggle" then.
jameswm
Guest
Thanks cyclops.
WQ
Guest
You see, that's just the issue Sage, the naughty little school boy has got away with things he should'nt have and now the other school kids a dishing up retribution. Typically the naughty little school boy drops his bundle as a result. Regardless of anything you or any other Wallaby supporter would like to think, or say about who did this and who did that, the one person that stands out here as a cheap shot merchant is Cooper. This persona will never leave him regardless of how long or short his career may be. I can rest my case Sage because once again here is a Wallaby supporter telling everybody his actions were "very soft" I think your words were, but in the same blog telling every body to stop having a go back at Cooper. I suspect that your wish to "move on" is not going to happen in the short term and I will tell you why: - The New Zealand Rugby public have got a sniff that it is not only under Cooper's skin but also the rest of the Wallabies as well! I wonder if all those that thought this was clever at the time, still think it was clever now?
WQ
Guest
Why would I add ice to a cup of Tea Wazza? And by the way, that's Roswell. Is Rosewell a town somewhere or something?
AndyS
Guest
Had to smile at equating the rugby and cricket there. The "wanker" call has been around for a long time, right back to the days of Hadlee. As crass as it is, it is almost traditional and tends to be taken in good grace because it is actually an accolade directed at someone whose primary crime is to be born in the wrong country.
Sage
Guest
I don't think there is a case to rest WQ. I resist commenting on this topic often as it has taken up too much time already. Way too much. It really has taken on a life of its own and it doesn't deserve to. So much has been written about who started what but there can be no doubt it has gone both ways. We even have video to that effect. This is about 2 players, not one. I agree the knee looked ordinary but it was very soft. If true mallice was intended the result would have been far different. It was telegraphed. How many other things have happened between these two we haven't been privy too ? We all know how Richie is regarded back home. He's actually thought pretty highly of over this side too but the reaction over there really has become ridiculous. He is not untouchable. You have said before how much you admire him and his actions on & off the field so why don't you emulate him ? Along with the bulk of the population who have allowed themselves to be whipped into an anti-quade frenzy mostly by the press. Dingo is also highly regarded both sides of the ditch and his friendship with McCaw is well known, yet he didn't see anything wrong with it. And now the latest is taine Randall coming out with yet more richeous outrage. Can we just all move on please. The hate simply isn't justified and is an unflattering look for an otherwise well respected rugby nation.
WQ
Guest
I rest my case! DW have you thought about why Cooper is having such a poor tournament so far?
jameswm
Guest
Pat McCutcheon Puuhleeease. He was nothing short of useless for the Waratahs this year. Alcock leaves him for dead and even Perrett is better. Beau Robinson is the man anyway - he's earnt the next cab off the rank status. All we're finding out is exactly what we all knew before this tournament, but have forgotten - that this tournament has come about 2 years too early. Too many of them have come in only in the last 2 years, and they don't have a consistent record of winning together yet. You need a year or two of winning the tough ones, and being able to rely on each other. As for Cooper's "antics" - mountain out of a molehill. What's wrong with a bit of niggle? As Dexter said, McCaw's not god, so he can cop it like anyone else. He certainly has no issue dishing it out.
warrenexpatinnz
Roar Guru
Rosewell??? Mate add some ice with the drinks
WQ
Guest
Sorry I just yawned, was that another soccer fan trying to invade a discussion about a real game?
WQ
Guest
Damo you are a long way off the mark. Cooper's antics coupled with the entire Wallaby set-up providing support for his actions, has created the current level of dislike for the Wallabies from across the ditch. Only a one-eyed Wallaby supporter would see it any differently! Coopers pathetic behaviour was supported by the Wallaby Coaching set-up, the Australian Media and the Wallaby supporters. In fact it was deemed by Robbie Deans to be "healthy for the game"! The number of Wallaby supporters that made comments on the Roar like, "suck it up it's only a bit of niggle" probably need to listen to a bit of their own advice through out this period of NZ supporters pushing back with "a bit of niggle"!
WQ
Guest
You are on the money VC, I said the same thing a few weeks ago! A few questions sneaking around in the backs of a few minds, such as: - Horwill's selection as Captain may have made the QLD's happy but what about the rest of the Team - Robbie Deans is a Kiwi, and a bloody ex All Black at the end of the day. It must cause some sneaky thoughts when the Anthems are played and Robbie sings the Australian anthem - Vickerman comes straight into the Team at the expense of long serving Lock Nathan Sharpe after leaving the country for the big bucks - The little punch-up between the so called best mates - The axeing of Giteau - The reporting of healthy niggle at training The list goes on and on.