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Set aside entertainment killing referee George Clancy and his two inept touchies at Twickenham last Saturday night.
Look instead at why the Wallabies keep losing when the talent is there, as they showed against the Pumas in Rosario and the All Blacks at Dunedin.
Try mindset: what’s between their ears.
This is what Ben Mowen, former captain of the Australian under 19 and under 21 teams, captain of the Brumbies for the last two seasons, and now Wallaby captain – a highly intelligent, well-educated, footballer – had to say after the loss to England:
“It’s a learning process.”
What the … I nearly threw up. Learning what, how to lose?
Previous skipper James Horwill has been guilty of saying exactly the same words many times, so too former coach Robbie Deans.
Thankfully, at this stage, Ewen McKenzie hasn’t fallen into that same trap.
Yet.
Where does it come from? Is there a player’s manual on how to deal with media questions when there’s no genuine answer?
Mindset.
Adam Ashley-Cooper, another highly intelligent, well-educated footballer, and the most capped Wallaby in the side, had this to say after the match:
“We didn’t see that coming in the second half.”
Didn’t see what coming? That England would raise their performance when down 13-6 at the break and start earning their world number 3 ranking?
The truth is that the Wallabies led at oranges, even though they had very little possession and territory, and were then slack in the second half, which is normally their better section.
Which begs another question: it’s an 80-minute game, so why do the Wallabies play for 40?
Mindset.
Said Michael Hooper, John Eales Medal winner and a highly intelligent, well-educated footballer.
“We get along well as a group, but we need that feeling to come out on the field.”
Of the three quotes, Hooper’s is closest to reality. But it still begs the question: why isn’t that feeling automatically translated to the paddock?
Mindset.
Any Australian who pulls on the coveted gold jersey should be well-versed in passion, being able to compete, and able to pass, handle, support, tackle, and stay on-side.
Basics.
But only in fits and starts.
For example, if Matt Toomua has to take the penalties for touch, then find touch every time, for heavens sake.
It’s a cardinal sin to miss. And he did it twice, the first resulting in a 90 metre England breakout and a converted try for 13-all, albeit from a touchie’s poor call.
But the touchie should never have been put in that position.
Toomua should have found touch. No ifs, no buts.
And why is Hooper seagulling among the backs so often? Why isn’t he getting dirty in the tight stuff like a David Pocock, a George Smith, or a seemingly forgotten Liam Gill?
Why are Horwill and Sitaleki Timani, two big blokes with plenty of height and weight to throw around, just going through the motions?
And why is Ben Alexander always in the starting lineup, with Benn Robinson on the bench?
Out the back, why has Israel Folau, the most destructive Wallaby of them all, forgotten how to pass when it was automatic not long ago, destroying his own excellent work?
And the biggest question of all: when will the real Will Genia stand up? Even at his current low point, he’s a far better proposition than Nic White.
But the Wallabies desperately need Genia back to his best,
What is so hard to fathom is there’s genuine talent in this side, and even though the Slam was stuffed at the earliest opportunity, there are still four internationals to go and an 80 per cent win tour record awaits.
Get the mindset right, can the quotes, get the basics under control, and raise the pride and the passion for the jersey, and we who believe in the Wallabies will get our just rewards.
We deserve nothing less, starting with Turin on Saturday.