Wallabies captain James Horwill reaffirmed his side’s goal to become the world’s best team next year after they ended 2011 with a 24-18 win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
The win gave Australia, the reigning Tri Nations champions, a Test record for the calendar year of played 13, won nine and lost four.
But the Wallabies remain second in the global rankings behind world champions New Zealand, having been beaten 20-6 by the All Blacks in the semi-finals of the World Cup in October.
“There have been ups and the low points throughout the year,” said Horwill. “Obviously, the Tri Nations was a big step for us and working our way out of games we previously wouldn’t have got through.
“But on the other side of that are the games we did let slip and where we should have put in a better result.
“We need to develop that over the next 12 months to become the number one team in the world and that’s our goal.
“New Zealand have that mantle at the moment, and rightly so, because they are very good and very consistent across the board.
“We need to become more consistent with a couple of things, but I’m happy with the year we’ve had and the boys thoroughly deserve the six weeks they are about to get off.”
Australia coach Robbie Deans, whose team beat Wales 21-18 to finish third at the World Cup, said: “Obviously, the World Cup was the focal point and we, like Wales, left there frustrated — we hadn’t achieved what we’d aspired to.
“But within that, there’s been some good work done.
“We picked up the Tri Nations (title) which we haven’t had for a decade and I think we are starting to produce some consistency. We picked up a couple of results under adversity and tonight (Saturday) was another one in a context that was challenging.
“The boys got up and got the job done.”
Australia, in what was Wales wing Shane Williams’s final international before his Test retirement, were 6-3 down at half-time.
But they silenced a crowd of more than 61,000 with three converted tries after Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny was sent to the sin-bin in the 49th minute by South African referee Jonathan Kaplan for tackling James O’Connor, impressive in his first Test start at fly-half, without the ball.
“I am delighted with the effort, we were made to work for it,” said Deans.
“We were a bit impatient in the first half but we adapted better in the second and we were able to bring some pressure to bear and score some points,” said Deans after backs Will Genia, Lachie Turner and Berrick Barnes scored tries which were all converted by O’Connor.
But it was Williams, in extra-time, who had the last word when, after a trademark jinking run and sidestep, he extended his Welsh record haul to 58 tries in 87 Tests.
“He is a once-in-a-generation player,” said Deans.
“He deserves every acknowledgement going. ”
Kina Kiwi Karter
Guest
The Wallabies and their faithful supporters can beat their chests and pump their fists till their wee-little hearts content. And, all the talk about wanting to be No1 and what they will do to become No1, is just the way Australians are... its just in their make-up to be like this - in any sport, let alone the Rugby. These commonly bold statements used by Australian rugby fans/media/players/coaches are still nevertheless acceptable but what many are obviously failing to see here is France and South Africa are breathing heavily down the chest-beating Wallabies necks, oops! On 2 separate occasions throughout 2011 Australia slipped back down to No3 in the world rankings while the All Blacks remained on top as they have for the past 25 months not to mention they have claimed the No1 status for 80% of the time the rankings system has been in place. In fact since 2003 when the rankings system was implemented Australia have never held the No1 position with 2nd been their best result and 5th their worst. South Africa have spent more time at No2 and No1 than Australia throughout this time also. It seems to me that Australian hopes of toppling the All Blacks in 2012 are almost impossible but as one particular leader of the green and gold toilers made in a recent Christmas letter to his army of supporters - " On each occasion, when we were under pressure and the outcome looked like going against us, the guys bound together tightly and found a way to get the job done(did he forget the Samoa test even happened and their first loss to the Irish outside of Ireland ever existed)... This is experience that will serve us well, both individually and as a group, during coming seasons as we continue towards our goal of taking the number one world ranking away from New Zealand" - James Horwill At least Horwill has scaled down the initial statements made by past and present for now, and the chest-beating has been reduced to fist-pumping bravado instead. For it is now officially the 'coming seasons' that the Wallabies have set their goals to and not the coming 2012 season as first sounded out. In my opinion the Australians should be setting more realistic goals like performing consistently enough to beat Wales(3), South Africa(2), Argentina(2) and France before making any rash comments about being at the top of the world rankings. To be No1 they must retain the No2 ranking and we all know without a scrum how difficult this will be in the eyes of non-Australians. Australian rugby is made up and full of contradictory historians and one-eyed mouthpieces like old mate Marto' when he almost swallowed the microphone in Hong Kong when the Wallabies broke the all time losing streak to the All Blacks and with all the chest-beating and fist pumping that goes hand in hand with being Australian, Marto' said - "BRING ON THE WORLD CUP" Well in all fairness Marto' kind of got it right with that comment, didnt he... "FOUR MORE YEARS"
mfree
Guest
sorry willie it was hard to understand what you wrote but anyway the samoa game was a discrace, it was our tier two team but it taught deans a lesson to show some respect to lesser ranked teams. and i honestly believe if the referee let the french slow the game down like lawrence let the irish did against the wallabies with fake injuries i really believe the french could have taken the ab in that second half in the final.
Mike
Guest
Hey Wilie, the way we played this world cup, I doubt we could have given the ABs as hard a run in the final as France gave you (leaving aside Rougerie's bit of nastiness). But it was a great match to watch, very tough and very close. Richie as coach? Hmmm, maybe. For some reason, great players usually don't make great coaches, but who knows what might happen.
WQ
Guest
I thought it was very polite Sage. Thank you for pointing out the obvious to the New Zealand Cricket Team, I hope they were listening. The sooner they shut up and start walking the walk the better!
wilie
Guest
aussie ask why we treated them like that cause they were our or sorry supposedly wc finalist we didnt want use there we didbt want france either but we all know wat happened history now but 2 the wb fans take it as a compliment of your standin in rugby we know wat the wb can do and we r weary of that but we know wat ab can do so it give us bragin rights what i mean is this wb lose 2 samoa dont know why but they shouldnt and then ireland plz use crack me up go on tour beat wales again plz ps wouldnt worry 2 much about hansen its only till maccaw retires and he takes ova lol yyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaa win wc player/coach hahahahahahahahhaa then knighted hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa how use like that
Sage
Guest
'Merely indicated' sounds so polite WQ....... Anyway, I maintain what Horwill said in no way should have ellicited the Kiwi comments it did and not just from you WQ. That was my point. Interesting - before the recent Gabba test I remember very clearly the Kiwi's talking up their chances due to a depleted Aussie side. And not just once. Did we give a stuff? Nup. It's to be expected. We assume they want to win and are saying so. Read todays Australian sport section for this headline - "NZ vows to show a lot more fight against Australia in Hobart". Sound familiar ??? Using yours and many of your countrymans logic shouldn't we be saying "perhaps they should stop telling everybody what they are going to do and just do it". But we don't and I would suggest your cricket team has a weeee bit less reason than the WB's who hold number 2 spot. Get it ???
Quakezone...
Guest
What are you talking about have you read my post I know I am not an All Black mate, I am a fan just like you are, my belief in my team and what I think are my opinions as fans do we teand to believe in our team so much that we actually believe how they are going to play and what may motivate them thats just how dedicated All Black fans are something you know nothing about... I do not for one second know what they are thinking if I came across as a mind reader then mate I apologise... I just support them and with their results the All Blacks support their fan base as well...you confuse dellusional with with pride and dedication....your'e starting to lose it MIke Horwill is allowed to motivate his team any way he sees fit if that means stating your goals in public then good luck to him but then Aussies fans have to expect NZ fans to comment on this as we are currently number 1 and thats what Horwills team aspire to be, as supporters thats we are are doing we don't want the Wallabies to be #1 AB fans would also not be accoustomed to a national team stating their goals in public or letting everyone know what they will or won't do in the coming year as the ABs simply let their play speak for them and their fans.. as i have said before these comments would be the perfect motivation for NZ to work hard and retain the # 1 ranking for as long as they can...if they choose to use Horwill's comments to motivate them. Well done MIke a true Wallaby supporter keep it coming Mike...
WQ
Guest
We will have to agree to disagree here Sage, however I am as you are, sick of the Quade thing so lets move on.
Sage
Guest
I didn't mention Quade, you did. It's not about me not being able to let go. Like most, I'm sick of hearing about all that now but it was raised again by ABFan and then hillariously commented on by you. The watershed was here WQ, not over there....and it related to crowd behaviour and it was a wake up call to many in Australia. And no I don't get your drift. It is the same self righteous BS we've been hearing for too long to justify what was appalling behaviour. Cut it any way you want and dismiss it out of hand but there is a reality that can't be taken back now. First hand comments from lots of fans who went there regarding themselves and Quade. And no, there is no way I could see this happening with any other country. It is very specific to Quade and to NZ. Surely you're sick of this Quade thing, I am. It's history now so lets move on.
WQ
Guest
Thanks for setting me straight Mike, on the All Black thing I mean. Not sure how I started thinking I was an All Black, must of been the Coffee or something! It is not hard to have fantasies about being an All Black though, I mean imagine being part of the greatest Rugby Culture in the history of the game.
Mike
Guest
Its the insecure ones who keep bringing it up 2many1ndians. Thanks for proving the point yet again.
2many1ndians
Roar Rookie
Far out you Wannabe supporters are an edgy bunch. Still, a few decent runs on the board over the next few years and I'm certain alot of those insecurities you all seem to have should subside somewhat.
WQ
Guest
Sage, can I just correct you, I did not talk the Wallabies down, I merely indicated that perhaps they should stop telling everybody what they are going to do and just do it.
WQ
Guest
Thanks Sage, your right that was a bit ordinary, I'm sorry mfree
WQ
Guest
Sage I think I am on topic with my comment re Cooper. Quade Cooper copped it from the NZ crowds because he chose to take them on. He chose to play the villain and he then chose to claim to enjoy being NZ public enemy number 1. Sounds a bit like Richard Hadlee and the Aussie Cricket fans don't you think! There is no watershed here, quite simply nobody cares now other than a few Aussie fans that can't let go. Hopefully Quade will pull his head in and let his skills do the talking in future. If he does not then this will happen again, next time it might be with the French, or the English, or the Irish, or the Welsh, do you get my drift?
Mike
Guest
"I think you both need to take a good hard look at yourselves and seek some help re your complete disgust of all things All Black and your inability to move on post World Cup." Nice try WQ. You know perfectly well that neither I nor Sage have "complete disgust of all things All Black" - quite the opposite. The very fact that you see the need to misrepresent others betrays you. But what we have pointed out (and what you can't cope with) is that you and posters like Quakezone are not All Blacks. You are fans, nothing more. You don't speak for the ABs. As for "inability to move on post World Cup", this is so wide of the mark that it just reinforces your utter lack of objectivity. It is you and other All Black fans who keep trying to bring this back to the World Cup. "You make these short comings so obvious with your rant over a simple statement that I made indicating that perhaps the current crop of Wallabies should stop telling everybody what they are going to do and just start doing it. I would have thought this was pretty good advice." No WQ, it is *your* shortcomings that are so obvious from *your* rants, because you cannot cope with the Wallaby captain making a simple statement 'we intend to be number one'. It doesn't bother the All Blacks; it just bothers you! "As previously mentioned of course the Wallabies want to be number one, as do Wales, England, South Africa, Scotland, Ireland, France and every other Test playing nation out there. The difference between all of these other Teams and the Wallabies is they are not out there telling everybody, they are quietly planning how they go about it." I doubt that. With the possible exception of France, I don't think any of these nations are planning how to achieve number 1, because it is not achievable for them in the near future. They will work on improving their position to the next stage up, and then work on it from there. "A good question to ask would be, why are these current crop of Wallabies so hell bent on telling everybody what they are going to do?" They aren't "hell bent" – once again your gift for exaggeration is apparent. Horwill is allowed to talk about the aspirations of his side, and the All Blacks don't have a problem with it, but you clearly do.
Mike
Guest
You can "feel you are part of the team", but you cross the line into self-delusion when you start believing you ARE part of the team. ;) A further sign of self-delusion is when you start speaking for the team, as though you know what they think or care about. Getting back to the topic, Horwill made a public statement that the Wallabies are going to try for No 1 next year. There is no indication that the All Blacks have any problem with that. The only people who do have a problem with it are some very insecure (and in some cases self-deluded) All Black fans who have lost sight of the fact that they are not the All Blacks.
WQ
Guest
Dear Mike and Sage, I think you both need to take a good hard look at yourselves and seek some help re your complete disgust of all things All Black and your inability to move on post World Cup. You make these short comings so obvious with your rant over a simple statement that I made indicating that perhaps the current crop of Wallabies should stop telling everybody what they are going to do and just start doing it. I would have thought this was pretty good advice. As previously mentioned of course the Wallabies want to be number one, as do Wales, England, South Africa, Scotland, Ireland, France and every other Test playing nation out there. The difference between all of these other Teams and the Wallabies is they are not out there telling everybody, they are quietly planning how they go about it. A good question to ask would be, why are these current crop of Wallabies so hell bent on telling everybody what they are going to do? They are obviously being given the freedom to express themselves by the senior members of their set-up. Surely this only applies pressure to them on the playing field that then builds and builds with each failure to do what they said they would do. I can't remember the likes of John Eales, Nick Farr-Jones, Michael Lynagh or Tim Horan having that cocky attitude. Interestingly enough thats when the Wallabies used to dominate World Rugby! Just a bit of food for thought.
Quakezone...
Guest
Reality check Mike - I know I am not an All Black but I am an All Black supporter and I am supporting them Mike.... Duh The All Blacks back up my talk with their results Duh therefore i can talk them up...its difficult to talk up a team with a 50% win rate which I guess makes you feel insecure. Petty Jealousies and arguements what are you tallking about.....All Black fans have an relationship with their team that fans of other teams only dream of they are the NZ team the team every NZ boy (An a few Australian kids that I Coach) grows up dreaming of being in...and a few Wallabies I might add. Every All Black supporter although not IN the actual team and although not actually knowing what they are thinking...believe they are and support there team so strongly that feel like part of the team its call supporting, its called being a fan thats how fans talk ....especially All Black fans Any other twists on things I have written any other spins on what I have said ...keep them coming your INSECIRITIES are really coming out...hahahaha Mike don't kid yourself that you know what that feels like ... keep it coming buddy I'm loving this
Quakezone...
Guest
There we go again Mike with your insecurities .... get over yourself mate, as most fans who follow successful teams I feel as though I am part of the All Blacks and their success, the All Black fan base contribute to there success and in response to that the All Blacks respond with whole hearted efforts every time they take the field thats part of All Black Legacy their fan base - I may not be an All Black and may not know what they are thinking but like other All Black fans we are entitled to believe that we do as they are our team, thats part of the All Black legacy and the dream that all young NZ boys have to be an All Black...you would not know what that feels like... Just like you I am a supporter of my team as you are of yours ...your attempt at trying to spin what i have written is excellent and I enjoy this battle with true wallaby fans good luck to the wallabies in their goal...but being an AB supporter I am sure my team will not sit back and let it just happen....