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.
banana
Guest
There is always the Netball. What a team of CHAMPIONS !!
banana
Guest
David Not since the 70's have we needed someone with the experience and passion to broker a break away Wallaby team. To make it happen I have included only three starters from the England game and the remainder as soon as they are recovered and available. Backs Folau, O'Connor, Ioane, Kurindrani, Godwin, Beale, Genia (in a better mental space there is no other option) ForwardsHiggenbotham, Pocock, Gill, Jones, Kimlin, Sio, Robinson and Ta ta 4 now. BenchMoore (needs rest) Slipper and Kepu (no one else) Fardy, Hooper (needs rest) White, Cooper, Speight, AAC.
lex
Guest
So a ball placed just short of the try line should be a try, because if the player could place it just short he could probably have placed it on the line.
matthew rhys
Guest
I had to smile at the irony - David is beefing about the namby pamby "learning process" rubbish - yet contributors to this site caned Elsom because he showed his displeasure about how we played when interviewed and refused to buy into sprouting the party line because they wanted him to be more thoughtful, more expressive etc in his responses. You can't please everyone.
DR
Guest
Yes Chan Wee! I see it now. No more mention about Hooper from me.
chann wee
Guest
@ DR : Do u not realize that Hooper is the best openside and his weight has increased with all the awards he has received and the medals he has won? (including a non-existing award for IRB Junior player of the year :P) Bet it is not so hard to graasp DR. I mean who is Mccaw when Hooper is on the park :D
DR
Guest
Tongue in cheek Tane. Do you not grasp that others have opinions!and are entitled to them? Do you not see any validitity to my points made above?
Cozz
Guest
The Rocky Elsom curse continues..... Here's my 2 cents 1) Give Hooper a rest. Even if this means putting him on the bench. Gill lacks size and mongrel but he makes up for it with flawless technique. He didn't lead the SR pilfer countby fluke 2) Drop Alexander completely. Being an ex scrum half myself I'm no expert on scrummaging but all of our props are being found out at scrum time right now. It's Alexander though that seems to be making the least impact as a ball runner. Having a player lacking any real impact game after game it makes bringing in a rookie much easier, just don't ask me who that rookie would be. SOS to Rodzilla? (Obviously that's a joke). 3) Stick with Genia. No one will feel the pain of that box kick more than him. On his day (and behind a forward pack going forward) he is head and shoulders above White in general play and lets face it, White's kicking isn't as great as Link thinks it is. 4) TPN needs to be on the bench. Faiinga is mediocre at best but TPN can really hurt the opposition. He's one guy you definitely don't want to run at with the ball in hand. How many thighs has he corked over the years? Is there a stat for that? 5) If Palu is fit he needs to be there. Our back row just aren't carrying us over the advantage line. With Higgers unavailable he's our best option at 8. Mowen isn't making any impact but he obviously won't be dropped, so the back row for the Azzuri match should read Gill, Palu, Mowen. If Fardy recovers then put Mowen on the bench. 6) Keep the same backs as were used against England, let the combinations develop (even though AAC is not a winger, he's a victim of his own versatility). I agree Folau should be given a roaming role but he's already been found out of position many times at fullback. Perhaps he can share the fullback role? Without Diggers we lack a good roaming back who can pop up anywhere and create chances, that man has to be Izzy. Keep Lialifano on the bench as a backup to Cooper and Toomua. TK is still improving and if he can iron out the errors he will be one of our most dangerous attackers. 7) If all this fails we can all just blame the referees and injuries/unavailables. That's worked well over the last 2 years. Pocock, Higgers, Palu, Simmons, TPN, Diggers, JOC, Beale, Mcmeniman, the list goes on. Throw in Speight and you have a pretty good amount of depth across the park. And lets not forget Rocky was decent in his prime. Matt Gitteau you say? Who's that? DREAM XV - 1. No idea, 2. Moore, 3. No idea, 4. Simmons, 5. Horwill (at his best), 6. Fardy, 7. Pocock, 8. Higgers, 9. Genia, 10. QC, 11. Speight, 12. Kuridrani (risky at 12 but could pay off if QC is on top of his passing game), 13. AAC, 14. JOC/Beale, 15. Folau
Flynn
Guest
Bring back on Liam Gill!! Someone needs to fill that 7 spot until the great Pocock returns..
chann wee
Guest
FROM PLANET RUGBY: "" James O'Connor: We were ready to put rugby's Bieber in the hot section at full time of his debut for Exiles but he then proceeded to walk around waving to fans with a fat grin on his face, even though his team lost. Then he was spotted at a popular London watering hole putting away Jäger bombs. Then he was spotted in France chatting to Toulon's recruitment chief...living the dream man, living the dream. ""
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Sorry and Douglas for Horwill, TPN for Faingaa, Robinson for Slipper and Phipps or White for Genia.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Oh really Scott Allen is just as valid an opinion as anyone, no more. 2nd Genia was dropped and then reinstated and had the worst game of his career against Eng imo. 3rd Horwill was dropped and it was only injury that got him reinstated against Eng. 4th Robinson is the better scrumager and whats happening to the Wallaby scrum? Scott Allen gave Genia a 2/10, Faingaa a 5/10, Slipper a 4/10. So why would his (HIS) opinion change my mind? I dont mind Scott Allen but he is no authority. After he said something about Hooper everyone was saying "but Scott Allen said" as if what Scott Allen said outweighs all else. Who gives a flying f@#@# what Scott Allen said? A lot of what he says contradicts people who hold higher positions in the rugby world than he does. This is not a shot at Scott Allen, although it made sound like it, this is just reminding you that Scott Allen is just a blogger, a guy who looks at the game and comes to his own conclusions and mixes it with his own preferrences, likes and dislikes to give us his spin.
Pete
Guest
I dont get all this doom and gloom... I agree we are missing some good players in key positions but the talent is available they just need to get some form. Genia has had a drop in form since he got married... Alexander is a liability, some of his tackle attempts were woeful and his scrummaging is ineffective. But what if we had Higgers, pocock and simmonds back, we would be in much better shape! Some comments from journalists are astonishing, nothing like a feel bad story to get people reading. Why not just be analytical like Scott Allen?? I read in the Australian that Cooper kicked well in the first half but "when the pressure was on in the second he missed some kicks". Did this journalist not see that O'Farrell missed three from that end as well, so an astute comment would be that its harder to kick from that end of the field. Give them the rest of the tour!!
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Or the 2 touch judges. Maybe Ben Alexander shouldnt have stood up or dealt with it like good players do.
Pete
Guest
Oh really, and put who in their place?? Read Scott Allens player report...
Tane Mahuta
Guest
The talent isnt there. Of the present team how many Wallabies would make the ABs 15? Imo only Moore. How many would make the 23? Maybe 2 or 3. How many Australian forwards would make the Scottish forward pack? 3, Hooper, Fardy and Moore. They have good players but they are poorly coached and are not a strong team in a relative sense. That will change when Speight, Pocock, Palu, Godwin, Higginbotham and a couple of others return but the tighthead will continue to be a problem.
Westie
Guest
Still with the mumm joke? And now folau to five eight? The bloke struggles to pass.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Well no the ball wasnt called out because it was able to be caught by a player that was thought to be in. It wasnt the perfect kick and Australia were ahead by 7 with no need not to play percentage rugby.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Yup, JOC was excellent for London Irish in his first game and he was seen meeting with Toulon.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Genia, Horwill and Slipper all have to be on the verge of being dropped or benched. Cooper is the only "Qlder" thats pulling his weight.