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Like all Wallaby fanatics, I long for the day when the Wallabies are ranked number one in the world, have regained the Bledisloe Cup, and become the first country to win a third Rugby World Cup.
Those are the basic necessities to break the Wallabies current image of “ho-hum”.
The guidelines are there for all to see, starting with the Alan Jones coaching era capturing the only Grand Slam in 1984, and the Bledisloe in 1986.
Bobby Dwyer winning the Bledisloe in 1992, and the Rugby World Cup in 1991.
And Rod Macqueen’s golden era, the best of the lot, with the Bledisloe from 1998 to 2001, Rugby World Cup in 1999, Tri-Nations 2000 and 2001, and beating the British and Irish Lions 2-1 for the first and only time in 2001.
A full house.
The media is a litmus test of how the Wallabies are rated, and viewed.
Over the years the Sydney Daily Telegraph has been very supportive of rugby, but even now after seven Test wins and last weeks 12-all draw with the All Blacks, today’s paper is a case in point.
There are 19 pages of sport in the “Tele”, rugby is on the 18th and 19th, last card in the sporting pack.
And tomorrow is a do-or-die Bledisloe Cup clash at hoodoo Eden Park.
If the Wallabies enjoyed a better image you would expect coverage of Eden Park in the first three sporting pages, at worst.
Television coverage hasn’t been much better, the main stories in the last two days have been riveting quotes saying forwards will win the Test, hardly news, and the standard of refereeing which has been appalling for yonks, but SANZAR and the IRB won’t budge on their favourites.
So how are the Wallabies going to improve their image?
Since Ewen McKenzie was elevated to Wallaby coach last year, there have been many exhilarating moments of pure magic rugby – in patches.
But it’s a start.
Until the Wallabies match the Waratahs consistency that won them their first Super title at their 19th attempt to give the Wallabies the blueprint, the men-in-gold will have to put up with being treated as the poor cousins of the NRL, AFL, and football.
That image can change overnight when the Wallabies beat the All Blacks, especially at Eden Park.
The Daily Telegraph, no doubt, will donate the front and back pages to the historic 80 minutes, television will lead news coverage and spill over to the sporting section for the ultimate image turnaround.
All because the Wallabies will have raised the bar to an expected level, rather than just talking about it.
And Ewen McKenzie will be elevated to the eras of Alan Jones, Bobby Dwyer, and Rod Macqueen.
Then we’ll be talking turkey.
For the moment we’re just waiting.