The days of big-noting and cheap talk are over for a Wallabies side finally focused on walking the walk.
Even though it’s been 12 years since they last held up the Bledisloe Cup, Australia’s Test team has regularly dug a deep hole for themselves by boasting about their form, skill and prospects against the All Blacks.
But coach Ewen McKenzie and vice-captain James Slipper have both stressed actions will speak louder than words in 2014.
With their opening Bledisloe clash three weeks away, the Wallabies aren’t into the foot-in-mouth trap.
Neither McKenzie nor Slipper were prepared to bite in reaction to former All Blacks prop Richard Loe’s shot at Australia’s tight-five forwards – saying they weren’t combative enough to cope with New Zealand or South African packs.
Although the Wallabies forwards could feel aggrieved after seven straight wins, including a 3-0 clean sweep of France last month, Slipper said “weak” perceptions won’t change until they win the Bledisloe and Rugby Championship.
“We don’t expect them to,” the 52-Test prop told AAP. “And, to be honest, I don’t really care what they think.
“I don’t care if they like me or not. I just want to win. If they think I’m a terrible player, then so be it. At the end of the day, I want that trophy.
“Every year we always seem to talk a lot about what we can do and potential outcomes of the game but this group we have at the moment is very focused on the job at hand.”
There have been too many bold, grand statements from Australian players to name but they’ve regularly paid the price for overconfidence.
The most memorable was Kurtley Beale’s pre-Bledisloe boast in 2011 that the Wallabies backline could “tear any team apart”.
A week later they were smashed 30-14 by the All Blacks in Auckland.
Slipper, himself, said they would “light a match” under Springboks hooker Bismarck du Plessis last year only for the tough talk to backfire in a record 38-12 loss at Suncorp Stadium.
Even New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has noted he’s most wary about the Wallabies when they are quiet.
With the second Bledisloe scheduled for Eden Park, where Australia haven’t won in 28 years, Slipper promised lips would be kept tight.
“If you are going to talk yourselves up and them down going into Eden Park, then you are really setting yourself up for a belting or a real fall in confidence,” he said.
“The vibe this year is all about performance and let all our actions on the field control what’s said in the media.”
Jerry
Guest
Yeah, but I'd argue that when you've had 20+ opportunities to cut loose and haven't been able to do so the evidence suggests you don't have the ability. He may have thought they did, but the evidence before and after that statement suggests he was wrong. I get it, he's backing himself and his team-mates and isn't gonna always be objective and measured. But the end result was his mouth writing a cheque that his @rse couldn't cash.
Buzzard
Guest
I still think the Wallabies are behind NZ by quite a lot. I'm picking an ABs series 3-0 whitewash. But the Wallabies are building just nicely for RWC 2015 where I think they will be the dark horse.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen NSW
Guest
Dally M - I think it's time to give-up on expecting people to actually read & understand. And that's people interested in the game of Rugby that we're talking about here. :( I think our guys need to understand that 'the enemy' will always be looking at ways of taking advantage by misleading or misquoting. Our blokes need to understand that and bloody well shut their traps. How can players & coaches help generate interest in the game of Rugby in Australia while at the same time watching every word that comes out of their gob? Now that IS a tough one!!!!
Harry
Guest
Wait till SR is out of the way, and also check to see how many tickets have been sold for Sydney and Brisbane (they are very pricey). If tickets are still available, expect the usual "we think we can win" stuff from Camp Wallaby no matter how much Link tries to keep the lid on it ... the reality is that the Wallabies are in the most competitive market in the world for football fans attention and support, and hyperbole is inevitable. Dally M has it spot on in the posts above. At least this year all the signs are the Walls are fair dinkum and focused in the leadup to Bled 1 in Sydney. 2012 and 2013 were frankly shambolic and we were so far behind NZ there was not the hint of a serious contest in either match. Then the Boks finally won on the east coast of Australia - first time in 20 years. Very much hoping there are no more injuries in the final SR matches to Wallaby players. Depth not there in some positions.
ben
Guest
I remember last year polata_nau after coming back from injury saying "the arms good cant wait..im gona smash some all blacks"....injured himself again and didnt even play...kinda summed it all up.
Dally M
Guest
Try reading it again. He said "...we know we have the ability..." That's different to saying they had shown the ability, aside from you just mentioning 2 instances where they had in fact done so. Maybe it's splitting hairs, but that's exactly what has been occurring. Quotes taken out of context & then further misinterpreted.
Jerry
Guest
Beale's statement was stupid - the Wallabies hadn't shown the ability to 'tear any team apart', the only major nations they'd been able to cut loose against were Wales & France who're both known for capitulating when they're behind.
Qldfan
Roar Rookie
" McKenzie, in his first year as National Coach, predicted what they would do to the ABs that year?!" I'm pretty sure he didn't say in that year John W, just that they were beatable
Dally M
Guest
On past performances agreed, but Kefu was not the only one to offer up an opinion along the lines of the AB's being on the decline and that they would succumb to the pressure. It's easy to sit back and say in hindsight he was an idiot, but based on prior RWC performances the speculation about succumbing to the pressure was probably a justifiable thought too.
Winston
Guest
I'll believe it when I see it or rather don't see it. Richard Lowe is not "they".
Jeff
Guest
Loe's opinions are probably slightly more justified though.
Dally M
Guest
Don't let a headline get in the way of reading the full quote in context. You've just shown us another example of what Beale said being used to generate headlines and interest in the game. As for Kefu, he's been retired a long time. He's not the first ex-player to pop off about opposition. Richard Loe was doing it this week as well.
atlas
Guest
the same week as the Beale quote (which was from the Official Website of The Qantas Wallabies - headline 'Wallabies Can Tear Rivals Apart: Beale), 2 days later Toutai Kefu wanted a headline too, and he got one: Kefu: All Black stars are on the wane: Toutai Kefu has rated New Zealand vulnerable and a fading force . . . "felt the All Blacks had once again peaked well before the World Cup with "stars on the wane" . . .believes senior players like captain McCaw are past their best and they will succumb to the pressure of hosting the World Cup. So it's not entirely the media to blame; much as they like to hype up the headlines just as we see here on the roar, at times I wish players would 'play' and let the manager/media spokesperson do the talking.
Old Bugger
Guest
Fair enuff....
Dally M
Guest
Unfortunately with Rugby's position in the Australian marketplace, the Wallabies HAVE to do a heap of press before games to generate interest in the match. The All Blacks & Springboks do not have to. Take the Beale quote above for example - The full quote was "There's certainly a lot of confidence with the boys, not too much cockiness but just confidence there that we know we have the ability to actually go out there and tear any team apart.It's just a matter of getting our minds right and not being carried away with ourselves." This was never meant to say they were better than the All Blacks or that they WOULD tear them apart, but that's how it was portrayed and the NZ press jump on it. Hopefully interest in Rugby will again push the game to a higher spot in the pecking order & there will be no need to be constantly talking up the game just to get people there.
Dally M
Guest
What did he predict, or are you basing it on what those same media outlets were saying at the time?
John Wagner
Roar Rookie
The various MEDIA outlets are also to blame for talking up the Wallabies' chances in the past. And do we remember how McKenzie, in his first year as National Coach, predicted what they would do to the ABs that year?! EVERYONE should take a cold shower, and not talk up the Wallabies -- until AFTER they have achieved something more significant than defeating a weary France. It is a fact that, being the 4th code in Aust., we do not have the DEPTH to match it with the ABs and the Boks -- especially if injuries strike
Daz
Guest
The Wallabies are the only Australian team that talks themselves up like that. It makes them look ridiculous when they lose and arrogant and ungracious if they did win. Take a leaf out of Jake's book who is pouring the honey on thick for the Crusaders. Entice the complacency out not the anger.
Riccardo
Guest
Smart. Good for them. Even Hansen has come out and applauded the development and culture under Link . Tight-head is an issue for a few teams (the All Blacks and Boks have their own issues in this area too) and it is the same for the Wallabies. I'm not sure what Weeks did wrong against the French. I also see the All Blacks and Springboks testing that halves channel. But this is a good Wallabies team. They will be a handful by the time they reach London and I expect them to run the All Blacks close in Sydney.
Old Bugger
Guest
Redsfan And that is the key - match it with the opposition forwards and you give your team a chance. It doesn't matter if you have the most brilliant backline on the paddock, if they are starved of any ball, then they will find themselves defending more than attacking and that just saps the energies faster than running to score tries. If the Wallabies pack puts their hand up in Sydney, then I give them a chance also. There will be no better opportunity to catch the AB's off their game then this BC game because whatever happens, I don't think the AB's will let their fortress down in Auckland. This is the chance and the Wallabies need to be not just on their game but more and more again.....