Wallabies can do it with TH Lawrence in hearts

When I think of the name ‘Lawrence,’ my immediate thought is that of a young Peter O’Toole awkwardly placed on a camel, trotting across the Arabian desert, plotting the downfall of the Ottoman Empire.

When I think ‘Lawrence and rugby’, my thoughts go to the equally-awkward New Zealander Bryce Lawrence, who will be officiating the sudden death quarter-final between the Wallabies and Springboks in Wellington this Sunday afternoon.

Conversely, I do not think Bryce Lawrence, a former Bay of Plenty School Master, is plotting the downfall of Wallaby World Cup dreams.

However, rightfully so, Australians should anticipate a penalty-fest come Sunday.

Lawrence has form to prove it.

Lets be fair though. BJ Lawrence has been present when Australia has tasted some of its sweeter successes of recent times.

Three games immediately come to mind against opposition with renowned scrumaging skills; those being the English, French and South Africans.

Twickenham, which has been the graveyard for many Australian scrums, was the venue where Australia defeated England 18-9 in 2009, with Lawrence on the whistle.

On that day, Australia gave away 11 penalties, and only two from scrum infringements. England, conversely, were penalised six times, also committing two scrum infringements.

The record shows Australia still won because they were committed!

Arguably, Australia’s best win in Robbie Deans’ tenure was the 59-16 drubbing of the French in Paris in 2010. Again BJ Lawrence was on the whistle and again he found 12 Australian infringements, three from the scrum.

The French conceded nine with two from the men up front.

The record shows Australia still won becuase they were committed!

August 2011, Australia go to Durban, Rocky Elsom was under extreame pressure to hold his position in the team.

Australia wins 14-9. Again Australia conceeds 12 penalties, four coming from the scrum. South Africa concede six with two coming from the scrum.

The record shows Australia still won because they were committed!

Now, Australia has also had some monumental losses when BJ Lawrence was officiating.

Perth 2009, Australia lost to South Africa 32-25, however the penalty count showed Australia conceded only four penalties, one from the scrum. South Africa conceded a massive 18, with five from the scrum but still won the game.

Johannesburg 2008, Australia were thumped 53-8 and yet again Lawrence found that South Africa had infringed 10 times, two from the scrum. Australia conceded seven with 0 from the scrum but still got drilled.

Auckland 2011, Ireland down Australia 15-6, with Australia conceding 12 penalties in total, with five coming from the scrum. Ireland conceded eight with one scrum infringement.

Australia’s commitment was questioned in all these performances.

I think from these facts, two things can be interpreted.

BJ Lawrence likes to blow the whistle. Australia should expect nothing less, come Sunday.

Importantly, the times Australia has won with BJ Lawrence in charge, the Wallabies have applied themselves and taken their destiny into their own hands. The times we have lost under BJ Lawrence, our mental application has been woeful.

The moral of the Lawrence story and Australia is that if the Wallabies apply themselves to the task at hand and understand Lawrence’s style, do not whinge and fall in heap, Australia can move into a semi-final againt New Zealand if they are committed.

Australia must be willing to take on the big physical South Africans and take their destiny into their own hands.

In considering Peter O’Toole again as TH Lawrence, Australia would be well advised to take a page out of TH Lawrence’s book, when he rallied his men for the fight by decreeing ‘No prisoners. NO PRISONERS!’ and went on to massacre his enemy.

Australia must be this ruthless come Sunday and forget about the referee BJ Lawrence as history has shown Australia can win and win well with BJ Lawrence on the whistle if they are committed.