Hopefully coach Robbie Deans has instilled a rigid 3D policy into his Wallabies for the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup opener with the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night.
Without desire, discipline, and defence, there’s only one possible result: defeat.
There have been far too many times on Deans’ 60-international-watch that the Wallabies have shown precious little to no desire to win.
* The record-setting 10 successive losses to the All Blacks between July 2008 and September 2010
* Two games against Scotland – the 9-8 loss at Murrayfield in November 2009, and the 9-6 loss in appalling conditions at Newcastle this season
* The 32-23 loss to Samoa at the SFS in July 2011
* And the Rugby World Cup 15-6 loss to Ireland at Eden Park last season, to name a few.
Against those forgettable performances:
* The memorable 59-16 drubbing of Six-Nations champions France in November 2010, turning a 16-13 half time deficit into a magnificent victory with six tries that were right off the top shelf, plundering 46 unanswered points in just 30 minutes.
* The come from behind 26-24 win over the All Blacks in Hong Kong with James O’Connor scoring in the corner and converting after the final hooter.
* And the last minute long-range penalty slotted by Kurtley Beale against the Boks at Bloemfontein for a 41-39 win after the hooter that ended a 47-year drought for the Wallabies at altitude.
Those were the desires Wallaby teams have been renowned for and remembered by fans in the past.
Discipline will also be paramount, especially against the men-in-black when Dan Carter is on duty. The world’s greatest points-scorer with 1284 of the best makes ill-discipline pay, and pay heavily.
Carter averages 14.76 points a game among his 87 caps, a stand-up start for the world champions.
The closest to him in history are compatriots Grant Fox, averaging 14, and Andrew Mehrtens, with 13.8.
The best of the Wallabies over the years has been Michael Lynagh, averaging 12.7, and Matt Burke, 10.8.
But this is one department where the current Wallabies are dragging the chain with Berrick Barnes averaging only 3.15 points a Test, and Beale 2.13.
Wallaby defence in Deans’ 60 Tests has been in credit, scoring 160 tries to 104, averaging 3 tries to 2 a Test. But it’s a very different story against the All Blacks, scoring only 25 tries to 40, and winning just three of those 15 meetings.
On all those stats, it’s the All Blacks tomorrow night.
But if the Wallaby’s desire, discipline, and defence are on song, we are in for a cracking 80 minutes.
Despite winning two of the last four clashes with their arch rivals, there are four areas of Wallaby doubt:
* The selection of Berrick Barnes at fly-half suggests the Wallabies will kick a lot, meaning two things – handing possession back to the All Blacks (bad call) and denying winger Digby Ioane the chance to show his undoubted wares. A ball-in-hand Ioane would be a lot more effective than a chasing Ioane.
* Lock Sitaleki Timani can be lazy. He must stand up and be counted, using all of his massive 120kg, 203cm (6ft 6) frame to advantage. He has two Rebel tyros, in Cadeyrn Neville and Hugh Pyle, breathing down his neck, and well as Waratah, Kane Douglas.
* Anthony Fainga’a is an honest stop-gap inside centre. But the Wallabies will sorely miss the injured Pat McCabe, who would have been far better equipped to combat the super talents of Sonny Bill Williams.
* And potential match-winning full-back Kurtley Beale won’t be match-fit after an injury and surgery plagued season. But if he clicks, watch out All Blacks.
Wipe out those negatives or the All Blacks win by 10 in front of an expected sell-out crowd at ANZ Stadium of 80,000-plus.
bennalong
Guest
Sad Uncle ! Sad sad ol' man!
bennalong
Guest
Irrelevant Try backing your national team It's bloody game day!
bennalong
Guest
Perhaps Harry you could try looking at the positives and backing your team As it is, like so many on the Roar, you're so busy anticipating defeat you can't even generate enthusiasm If the Roar typifies OZ sporting mentality now we've lost the character that made us a great sporting nation. Man up Harry! You haven't always been so meek. Say it with me now..................... GO the WALLABIEEESSS!!!
Skills & Techniques
Guest
Discipline desire defense dodge duck dive decisions donut drive determination deception derring-do. All silly "d" words unless the Wallabies pull their fingers out and enforce their will. I added "derring-do" for the leather patch brigade who have destroyed the Waratahs. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Tand
Guest
Go Wallabies go.Sing us to the Champions Trophy with Waltzing Matilda go hard my team go hard.
Chop
Guest
How about neither Cooper or Lealifano can actually tackle?
Harry
Guest
The rugby Show was interesting eh. Basically the panel first nodded symathetically to Quade who made it fairly clear he was well hacked off and Deans had cut him, then Deans was less than convincing on his reasons for no Quade and why Drew Mitchell was in there, then Kafe dismantled Horne's capabilities. Horan's comments on "big selection calls" made it clear what he thought.
Larry
Guest
which, in fairness, would be true for them in most test matches
stillmatic1
Guest
gene hackman to clint eastwood in unforgiven: gene "i dont deserve to die like this" clint "deserves, got nothing to do with it" bang
Red Kev
Guest
The key to Cooper in my opinion is ensuring that he doesn't feel he has to do it all himself - it is when he does that he over plays his hand, starts to think about how to spark something and makes mistakes. Put Barnes, or Harris or Lealiifano outside him as well as Genia to take some of that pressure off and his brilliance shines through. He still has a 2 from 5 record as playmaker against the All Blacks - how many Wallabies in the past 10 years have a 40% winning record against the darkness? On The Rugby Club last night it was interesting to see Kafer's Fox Field continually show up Rob Horne and his unwillingness to pass the ball - always trying for the outside line break (that he just isn't fast enough to make happen) and getting easily contained by the defense time and time again - I can see that happening a lot tomorrow night. It was also interesting to see Barnes and Horne (two of Deans's defensive midfield) tackle SBW and see him still pass the ball and create a try - I can see that happening a lot tomorrow night too. PS I like your backline - I would select Tomane (or preferably Speight once he's eligible) at 14 and put JOC as super-sub on a 5-2 bench though. I would also like to see Tapuai (12) and Tomane (13) turned into a centre combination (perhaps on the Spring Tour if Tomane recovers quickly enough) as I believe they could be something special.
Adam-15
Roar Pro
i agree 100%, i just posted that above without even seeing your comment haha. I've seen that combo now several times from roarers, and i cant see much wrong with it.
Adam-15
Roar Pro
it really does defy belief that tapuai and cummins were cut. I'm a massive reds fan like you red kev but i dont think cooper is the man for the AB's, the pressure would be too much him. Barnes has a cool-head and seems to rise to the occasion in test matches where he isn't succumbed to a ridiculous game plan. I'm looking forward to fainga'a back at 12 i think he will shut down SBW quite well but Horne vs Nonu will be an absolute nightmare. Injuries have been terrible for us this year and if we dont win we cant be too disappointed. I just cant wait until this backline runs out one today. 9 - Genia 10- Cooper 11- Ioane 12- Lealli'ifano 13- Tapuai 14 - O'Connor 15- Beale 21- McCabe 22 - Tomane (count the waratahs there?)
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
If the Wallabies are going to win- they have to beat NZ at the breakdown. There attack may be good enough to match the All blacks but their defence is the key to their success tomorrow night. All Blacks in a close one.
mania
Guest
dave, the wallabies trying to tackle him at training...miss him...cos he's not there. its friday i'm tired
Dave
Guest
'The Wallabies will sorely miss Pat McCabe'. Really, which ones?
mania
Guest
BEAVER IS KING!! lmao
Jerry
Guest
The All Blacks had 3 D's that won them the RWC - Defence, Determination....and Donald.
rich1612
Guest
If the Wallabies play the way they have in the recent past (say the last 5 years) they will compete but they will use up all their energy tackling, have nothing in the tank for any attack and end up losing by 10-15 points. If they change the way they have been playing by, 1) reducing the "attacking" kicking (code for giving the ball to the Blacks); 2) recycle the ball quickly, Genia really has to release the ball quickly; 3) attack Nonu's defense (he tends to lose confidence quickly if he misses a tackle or two); 4) effectively compete at the kick-offs; 5) tackle in an offensive manner.
Kane
Guest
Why exactly does he deserve a 70% win rate?
Snobby Deans
Guest
David, why does Robbie "deserve" a 70%+ win rate?