Australian rugby fans are going through one hell of an identity crisis at the moment. Stung by twin defeats to the All Blacks in Sydney and Auckland, Wallabies’ supporters are suddenly racked with as much self-doubt as the Wallabies themselves.
Some commentators, like The Roar’s very own Brett McKay, have argued that Australia simply lacks the talent to compete with New Zealand at the moment.
By their reckoning, Aussie rugby is currently in a trough, and it is unfair to weigh down today’s players with unrealistically high expectations.
In other words, Australian fans should be perfectly satisfied with a very distant second place.
That attitude is a certain recipe for unending mediocrity. No team ever became the best in the world by deciding to settle for something less.
Yes, the All Blacks are a particularly daunting side these days. If rugby were played on paper, New Zealand would win by a country mile every time.
So what? If another team is clearly better than you, the correct response is not to throw up your hands and say you’re at peace with the situation.
Instead, you should be measuring yourself against that higher standard, and working ceaselessly to match it.
Australia won five consecutive Bledisloe Cup series between 1998 and 2002.
During that period, do you think the All Blacks or their fans ever considered settling for second place? Even for a moment?
Of course not. Those Kiwi teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s were obviously not the best in the world, but expectations across the Tasman never dropped.
Anything less than first place is considered a failure in New Zealand. If another team ever rises to the top of world rugby, like the Springboks did in 2009, the All Blacks find a way to surpass them.
Their pride demands it.
Even resounding victories are assessed with a critical eye by the public, and indeed by the players themselves.
While the Australian commentators were waxing lyrical about New Zealand’s performance in the aftermath of that 22-0 drubbing at Eden Park, the All Blacks were already highlighting areas of their game that needed improvement.
That attitude may seem overly harsh to some. But it is the driving force behind a team that enjoys virtually unrivalled success on the international stage.
New Zealand will never settle for second, and that is why the All Blacks nearly always come first.
Now Australian fans must choose a course for the Wallabies.
Is it enough to remain a distant second to New Zealand, forever beaten by a team that is just too good, or is the goal to overthrow the All Blacks and become the best in the world?
Of course it’s the latter. Which means that the Wallabies must be held to the highest available standard.
Mediocrity should not become acceptable merely because the current Australian team is decidedly mediocre.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
'Settling for second is the MOST UN-AUSTRALIAN THING I HAVE EVER HEARD -no National Team in the history of this nation has ever thought that -the Australian Public expect their National Teams of ANY sport to win whether they be #1 or #100 in the World - and invariably those teams rise to the challenge -We accept a loss every now and then but as long as the team gave of their best we didn't mind so much -however WE ALL KNOW the Wallabies haven't being 'giving of their best ' consistently for at least 10 years now -it's time we had our own third -tier national competition (and not for the private schools), it's time Mr O'Neill, Mr Nucifora and Mr Deans fell on their swords and we hire people who want what's in the best interests of the game
Dan
Guest
Couple of brand new shiny stirling mortlocks please ; )
Louis
Guest
How strange and dissapointing is it that the French and the All Blacks won't be going toe to toe this year.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Playing the long game: As long as daft and myopic politics are a centrepiece of Rugby administration we will continue to be struggling at the sharp end of International competitiveness. We need to have a continuous relationship with all coaches and their charges in developing talent in order to ensure we have the players coming through, most especially forwards. Not having a Elsom type no. 8 is our biggest weaknesses at the moment, the type who can barge and fend and break the line to create a fast ruck moment drawing a penalty or more line breaks. Rebels' Caderyn Neville or the Brumbies' Power should be getting close by now. There should be a stream of hopefuls for all positions. Game tactics: Our front row must be capable at the scrum but their major role is to attack rucks to win or slow opposition ball. We still play mostly schoolboy Rugby where the ruck is a platform to start another line movement which invariably means getting isolated which in turn leads to turnovers or slow ball. That is also possibly the error of making a back the captain. Rugby is meant to quick and quicker and teams which collectively out-thinks the 15 dodos with the wrong guernsey should win the contest. Quite frankly I wonder if our boys are fit enough to play the game fast and furiously. There is a lot of seagulling and getting up slowly to indicate they are preserving energy. Breaks occur when the ref blows the whistle, these should be enough. KIcking away good possession is dumb, dumber and dumbest. Hook these fools, stupidity is trying the exact same thing expecting a different result and our 10's so far have all exhibited the same goldfish attention span. Harris should be given a shot. One more observation: many knock-ons have an element of 'chicken little' about them. Taking the pass is sometimes hard but only those who see their primary role at that moment to secure the ball despite their safety are actually playing Rugby, where the ball is the most important thing on the paddock.
Are you just making that statement in order to incite a response, or can you show proof of that statement?
krisl of Utah
Guest
good and honest article......
strupper2003
Guest
I could not have put it better.
bennalong
Guest
Thank you tragic! I thought it was stating the bleedin' obvious ! But a lot of these blokes like dramatising defeat . I lost a lot of games playing rugby but I was taught to get up of the deck and go hard. I always felt better. The win rate wasn't everything. GO the WALLABIEEEES! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
glacier
Guest
Three months ago all we heard from SA was that they had the greatest rugby talent of any nation and witn PDV, a Coloured coach gone, they would sweep this year's Southern Hemisphere Championship. Now HM, the Afrikaaner coach is all at fault for their predicament. Maybe SA rugby players aren't so good after all.
Well when being ranked number two goes with a record of 20% win ratio against the top team and the third team has had a 40% win rate against the to team, then surely it isn't good enough, is it?
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Maybe it was the pressure exerted by the AB's - even though far from perfect performances, I think they had the undermanned Wallabies on the back foot for the majority of both matches played - ie they were not allowed to play an atrtractive style of rugby.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
I would suggest that all Silver Medalist at the Olympic Games would prefer the Gold Medal but at the end of the day, there was someone better. What has this to do with being number 2 in Rugby rankings? ... actually absolutely nothing. I just think it is a cop out at this point trying to justify losses to incomplete performances of the All Blacks, but having stated that, the tall poppy syndrome is alive and well. The Wallabies have an injury toll like no other at the moment. Not suggesting this as an excuse but even the most ardent Australian rugby fan would, if they were honest to themselves I feel would acknowledge that depth is a major issue.
liam
Guest
yeah its crazy to see how quickly things spill over into rubbish. some foolish gloating kiwi will comment on some aussies post about how the ABs cheat or something... will rub it in. then next minute, there will be comments about what a shitty little country nz is, how if the dole is shut off kiwis would all die, comments on the economy, how rubbish nz did at the olympics (they actually did really well).... how nz is only good at one thing so get over it, if aussie had the leagies playing they'd thrash nz, even talk of how nz chicks are uglier than aussie chicks! it's absolutely ridiculous and very depressing, but i think it's obvious that there's some deep-seated psychological scar here thats being prodded by having the ABs win for what probably just seems too long. similarly to NZs recent world cup record... it got to a point where it was such a sore point people didnt think rationally anymore. is that where aussie rugby is headed?
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Yeah I agree, they need to get over the forwards fast and into Genia and Cooper's face. They really don't like being rushed. You'd expect Coetzee and Pienaar to be charged with watching that inside channel. Either way it will be an entertaining match... or like watching Under 12 D rugby... who knows.
The Boks have also only had 2 grandslam challenges in the Pro era. 2004 when they lost to Ireland and England and 2010 when they lost to Scotland. The Boks didn't play the scots in 2006.
Lorry
Guest
I guess that means that, according to the author, everyone but the All Blacks is 'mediocre' My problem is not so much that the Wallabies are not beating the ABs, but rather the boring style they're playing...
Blue to the Bone
Guest
completely agree about the training. A friend went to watch them train on Monday in perth. He says they kept dropping the ball and had NO handling skills, which reflects in their playing over the last few matches. If they drop the ball in training with no pressure, imagine what they'll do on Saturday in a match?! I hope they win, i'll be there dressed in gold from head to toe, but i know there will be at least 40% of the crowd dressed in green from head to toe giving them hell and cheering for the Boks.
Bakkies
Guest
The Boks lost to the Scots heavily in 2006 and the Irish at least three times (2004, 2006, 2009). That's why they haven't won a Grand Slam in the pro era.
Cruise
Guest
I wont be losing any sleep over it. I know I will get enough when I watch the Boks play.
Soon my friend, soon. ;)