The opening match of the Rugby Championship, the first of three Bledisloe Cup matches, is being greeted with more than a glimmer of hope or blind faith from the Wallaby faithful this year, and rightly so.
We are in the fantastic position of hosting two out of the three Bledisloes on home soil, and in particular the final encounter at Suncorp in Brisbane, where we have easily the best record of all venues in Australia.
It’s been a year since Ewen McKenzie took the helm, and it’s a big compliment that it seems much longer than that.
The changes that he has introduced have been significant. There has been a shift in the culture of the team, typified by a line in the sand moment on the spring tour last year.
Players are working hard for each other and you get a real sense that every player knows exactly what the game plan is and what their role is in executing it. A very simple concept, however one that isn’t easy to achieve!
Then there is the form of the Australian conference over this year’s Super Rugby tournament. Obviously the Waratahs and the Brumbies were standouts, the Force was the surprise packet of the season, with only the Reds and Rebels disappointing.
Let’s focus on the positives though. Both the physicality and set piece of the Brumbies and Waratahs have shown significant improvement over the past two seasons, to the point where this year the Waratahs were actually intimidating their opposition by their physical dominance, combined with their ability to play expansive, up-tempo rugby. I am looking forward to this mentality and confidence being brought into the Wallaby ranks.
The Wallaby team was announced on Tuesday and there were a couple of interesting selections, the biggest being Kurtley Beale at 10.
My first thought was wow, that’s a massive call. Bernard Foley was the incumbent 10 after starting in all three of the French Tests in June, and he had a very impressive Super Rugby season, culminating in nailing the penalty to win the final for the Tahs at the death.
It wasn’t just the fact that Foley stepped up when it counted, his game management has improved significantly with time in the saddle over the last two seasons.
KB on the other hand has had a renaissance under Michael Cheika’s guidance, and playing at 12 where he had more freedom to rove and not always having to steer the team around.
This is where I will draw my focus back to Ewen. He is now 12 months in his role and part of this selection is to unsettle the All Blacks. Also Ewen has had plenty of experience with KB, both from when he was the Waratahs coach and his recent time with the Wallabies.
One of Link’s strongest attributes is his ability to connect and get the best out of his players. This selection is one of those moments where faith will be repaid, and KB’s x-factor at 10 is now a headache for the All Blacks’ preparation. On the flipside, the Wallabies will know everything they will be looking to execute on Saturday night.
Pat McCabe is another interesting selection. I’m very happy for Paddy. He is a great team man who works tirelessly and obviously has had a couple of injury scares. For him to have made his way back into the starting line-up says a lot about his character and resilience. I am sure he will do the job asked of him this weekend – he always has – and will be solid as a rock defensively.
Finally, the forward pack. The big question again will be on our front row and their ability to lay a solid platform at set-piece time. It is fantastic to see Nathan Charles get his first start for the Wallabies, however debuts don’t get much tougher than this!
The battle of the backrow is going to be the highlight of the game. Michael Hooper versus Richie McCaw and Wycliff Palu v Kieran Read will be sensational!
I really like the look and balance of the Wallaby backrow; they all complement each other nicely. I can’t wait to see big Cliffy Palu continue his role as the enforcer of the Wallaby pack!
Bledisloe coverage on Saturday August 16 kicks off at 7.30pm live on TEN
Gasparin
Guest
Couldn't agree with you more, Redsback. In fact - here's a controversial one - why the hell do we give them a home ground-like advantage on our turf? And we can't even confront it the way we seem fit. It's like some sacred wank session that we're forced to tolerate so we don't upset the Holy All Blacks. The Haka should only be allowed in New Zealand, or we should be able to stand up to them to show them that their little dance doesn't intimidate us anymore.
Gasparin
Guest
Let's not tiptoe around Madness' own gutless infringements. Like the off the ball smashing of former team mate Ben Lucas in the Super 15 this year.I am a big fan of his aggressive game, but he has a pretty long wrap sheet and shouldn't be drawing any tears of sympathy.
Ozzierad
Guest
Great to have you on board the roar, Stirling, but I have to be honest...Clyde Rathbone writes more entertaining and interesting articles. You have an invaluable perspective on the game and the players, please bring them out in your next article.
wazza perth nz ex pat
Guest
Dunedin moment ??- been there but toooo cold... They should watch him - cos they missed him intentionally screwing Madness head off in a ruck, and as a result madness was out of rugby for 2/3 months this season. I don't like cowards who masquerade as tough guys by attacking people from behind - or if they are in a defenseless position ala quadey boy cooper - and yes richard loe too. And i note he is stated below as being the top pilferer !! so a thug and a tealeaf.....
Mike
Guest
I don't know about a "cultural shift" Daz - for starters, shift implies permanent change. What do you think would happen if Cheika left tomorrow? I think after at least another season there is more chance of things becoming ingrained. And "cultural"? I think the change in the Tahs is fundamentally tactical, but this has had cultural side effects. Cheika has shown them a way to play which has rarely been seen in Australian rugby since the early 90s. He had to take their game apart from the ground up to do it. And they have found that they really like it, and it works. "Tell that to the darkness who have a full-time culture minder." Meh. All Blacks were the best team in the world before any of that.
Wal the Hooker
Guest
Agreed MM not seeing Messam and TKB there is freakish for me!! I can live with BS at 15 but geez no Dagg on the bench? Overconfidence ??
Huh?
Guest
Wallabioes fans LOVE the haka. We just hate losing all the time. So let;'s do them over boys!
Huh?
Guest
wazza: i think you are having a dunedin moment. it is completely obvious that fardy is ok with refs. none has gone after him and my recall is zilch on player angst. madness might have an issue, but he has some possible self-inflicted consideration.
Short-Blind
Guest
WQ read the links below and tell me who is full of BS. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/9453840/Romanos-Has-the-All-Blacks-haka-had-its-day http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/all-blacks-may-drop-disrespected-haka-1330721.html I wasn't talking about the IRB (although you don't imagine that the NZRU didn't strongly advocate their position?), protocols or 10 m rules, just the Clear evidence that if teams disrespect this cultural piece then kiwi PC drives significant blow back. I mean look at the stream of reaction below for starters. I hope we belt you guys tomorrow as some kiwi supporters (not the AB themselves) need a dose of humility.
Bakkies
Guest
A couple of games against touring teams from memory.
wazza perth nz ex pat
Guest
Bugger !!
Wal
Roar Guru
Australia have a similar predicament if one of their locks go down early do they send Skelton for 70+ minutes or go with McCalman
Wal
Roar Guru
This going on 20 year old High School history class memory so I apologize if I offend any of my Maori cousins. But I think the Quote is based on females having a lower standing in Society and for him to be in a pit under one was shameful. Very happy to be corrected on that one
Harrys
Guest
I Am a through and though All blacks supporter but am over all this respect to Haka shit I think the idea that teams have to stand at a certain distance is just bullshit . I would stand up in their faces like the french 2007 and bring it on , cultural rubbish about respecting haka sounds precious to me teams can do what they like
JB
Guest
Agreed it's gonna take something special to beat the AB's gun outfit. We need an up tempo game though.
JB
Guest
Mar to has a habit of putting his foot in his mouth
JB
Guest
No
bennalong
Guest
Thanks for that Great analysis!
Xenomorph
Guest
Fredi, nearly all of the Aboriginal dialects share vocabulary and it would not be impossible to add some common phrases to the anthem in the form of the most widely spoken language groups much the same as SA has done.
wazza perth nz ex pat
Guest
oi oi oi ????