- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
After the injury carnage of the first Test and the cloud that hung for so long over skipper James Horwill, who’d have thought it would come down to this?
The Wallabies, boasting by far the more settled side, are solid favourites to complete a remarkable series victory against the pride of British and Irish rugby.
That’s not to say, of course, we won’t have to suffer yet another nerve-jangling cliffhanger. But if this Sydney decider represents a bridge too far for one or other team, you’d be inclined to suggest it’s the Brits.
Not only is it a massive assignment for a group of northern hemisphere players who have been ‘up’ for almost 12 months, you also have to wonder about a side top heavy with Welshmen carrying so many mental scars from losing battles against Australia in recent years.
For the Wallabies’ part, as much as the Melbourne Test failed to scale anything like the heights of that Brisbane epic, it was a case of mission accomplished – the series alive and with that all-important momentum to take to Sydney.
If Robbie Deans’ calculated gambles pay off – notably, in persisting with James O’Connor at 10 and bringing George Smith into the loose-forward mix – he may yet survive for a while longer.
Mind you, with that Brisbane backline injuries debacle still fresh in the mind, that’s assuming, too, his decision to go for a six/two forwards/backs split on the bench doesn’t come back to bite him.
Win, lose or – dare we suggest it – draw, I’d sincerely hope Wallaby supporters will be able to show their true colours when they kick on at their favourite Sydney watering holes after the match.
As odd as that might sound, I’ve been left wondering after a bizarre post-match experience in Melbourne last Saturday night.
Having arranged to hook up with a few mates at a pub in one of Melbourne’s more salubrious suburbs, we were staggered to learn, on arrival, they’d been required to “take off your colours” (Wallaby beanies, jackets etc) before being allowed entry.
No matter there were already dozens of red-shirted Lions supporters firmly ensconced in the bar.
Go figure.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.