Like everyone else, I have watched the Wallaby Tests with great interest and I have read a few articles which talk a lot about player changes. I would caution against this for in my experience, teams need stability and consistency to secure and maintain success.
It might be worth remembering that Michael Cheika was thrown in the deep end a few days before the Wallabies were due to leave Australian shores and to my knowledge had no input into the selection of the squad when it was first chosen.
So, we have a situation where a new coach did not select the squad, and had no time to prepare that squad.
Make no mistake. Michael’s task has not been an easy one but in my humble opinion there are signs of real promise.
The Wallabies only narrowly lost to France on French soil and anyone who has played France at home knows just how onerous a task that is – irrespective of how poorly or otherwise the French may have played in Australia or elsewhere.
The French also engaged in less than savoury tactics in an attempt to upset the Wallabies, which comes as no surprise, but is somewhat regrettable in this day and age.
I was not surprised that Ireland defeated the Wallabies, albeit once again, by a very narrow margin.
The upside was that the Wallabies put up a hell of a fight. From my point of view, the tight five also played the best I have seen them play for some time and that is encouraging.
Approximately a month ago I teamed up with Tony Melrose to coach a team of players from rural Queensland on a tour to Ireland. We all went to Aviva Stadium to watch Munster play Leinster. The standard of the play was superb and every bit as good as (if not better than) any Super Rugby Rugby match I have seen in the last 12 months.
The Irish lock Paul O’Connell was magnificent and his command of the game personally and in his role as Munster captain was very evident.
This carried through in the game against the Wallabies where he justifiably won man of the match, as well as leading Ireland superbly as captain. We also need to remember that Paul O’Connell first played for Ireland in 2002 and first captained the Irish team in 2004 and the British and Irish Lions in 2009.
My point is that he has a wealth of knowledge and experience that the young Wallabies captain Michael Hooper does not as yet have.
Having said this, that is not to say that Michael Hooper cannot obtain this over time – but it is going to take precisely that – some time.
We need also to remember that Ritchie McCaw became All Black Captain at 23 years of age, and nearly quit in 2007 after New Zealand lost to France in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Look at him now.
Irrespective of what happens against England – and yes it will extremely tough and there is every chance that we may not succeed, my advice to Michael Cheika for what it is worth, is to work out your best starting XV, hold your nerve and stick to your guns.
To the Wallabies on tour I say, keep your heads up and have faith. Things are getting better – and if you have time, read this Man in the Arena excerpt from Teddy Roosevelt’s Citizen in the Republic speech he gave at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1910.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Go the Wallabies!
Zero Gain
Guest
Chris Roche: "His aggression and complete concentration on the ball would have to make him no.1 in the world, Templeton said". Take note Michael Hooper as to what makes a world class no7.
bennalong
Guest
Read my comment below John You can't even grasp the difference between 'thought of quitting' and a safe captaincy. How dare you assume the responsibility doesn't weigh heavily on Michael Hooper. Give me the stats of the many games in which Hooper under performed . You are a small minded critic and have no place responding to this high minded ode to international rugby players.
bennalong
Guest
Thanks Chris! Thanks especially for that wonderful quote which sums up the nature of rugby even played by kids. It requires courage. Your piece stands out like a gem amid the dross of twittering, carping, smug and arrogant criticism that characterises rugby blogs now that the mean spirited have found a voice on social media. I note the Michael Hooper deriders (I can't imagine not admiring this young Wallaby with a heart as big as a truck) have been silenced, incapable of creating even their thoughtless criticisms after reading. "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better." Go the Wallabies, indeed!
JamestheElder
Guest
John, Hooper should be worrying about being selected. Time to play not pose.
John
Guest
"We need also to remember that Ritchie McCaw became All Black Captain at 23 years of age, and nearly quit in 2007 after New Zealand lost to France in the 2007 Rugby World Cup." Richie and his team underperformed in one game and he was on the cusp of quitting. Hooper has underperformed in many games this year and yet his captaincy is as safe as houses. To me that speaks volumes about the difference in standards and expectations.
Justin3
Guest
I found that a bizarre comment really. Its called a Test for a reason isnt it...
Wardad
Guest
No ,Crusoe had more friends ......he got to party on Friday !
Tissot Time
Guest
:)
Wardad
Guest
Is there an app that Wallabies fans can use to tell them the correct time to panic ?
handles
Guest
No, we should shorten the game clock time to 70 minutes - 2 by 35 minute halves, but stop the clock for scrum sets, lineouts and penalty kicks.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Haha! Love it ... but umm you think you are Robinson Crusoe?
Wardad
Guest
Mate the older I get the more things I lose ! Although I have now gained more of myself than is apparently healthy .
Wardad
Guest
No ! therein lies the path to damnation ,otherwise known as ''American 4 hour football complete with hot dog and beer breaks '' Then comes ''special teams '' and my poor wee ANZAC mates cant even field an '' ordinary team '' !
Carvin
Guest
Do you actually know pulver is "sitting back navel gazing"? Read the quote at the end of the article again.
grapeseed
Guest
Yes.
DaniE
Guest
The French no 5 certainly was particularly physical and in your face. To be honest I enjoyed that about the game - if they're going to dish it out then players better know how to take it.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Should we not extend the game to 90 minutes like soccer and have more time off for scrums and penalties as it is now a 23 man game not a 15 man game.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Nice piece Chris, good to have some measured articles on the Roar, particularly coming from a bloke who has been at the coal face as both player and coach. I read a great article ( written a few years ago ) recently regarding your resurrection of Norths, well done. How did the Club go this year ?
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Chris. Ahhh, you're a level 3 coach. Saved Norths Rugby. You're a Wallaby flanker with two wins against the ABs. If I get it right, you captained a couple of games. Im just wondering why have editors put you in as a rookie. In any case, thanks for the beaut article. Do you think its clear who the starting 15 is? And the bench?
Harry
Guest
Chris putting aside my distaste of many aspects of the Link resignation affair, I agree with you that Cheika and the Wallabies look to be on the right track and improving, and lets hope they can put it together against the Poms at Twickenham. I would love to have your thoughts on how the excellent Michael Hooper is playing as his style reminds me of you and other great Australian opensides - although I believe he is playing too wide at the moment and needs to be closer to the ball and breakdown in the middle of the field - something Liam Gill does better IMO (I'm NOT saying Gill should be in ahead of Hooper Tah fans). I'm not saying he's ineffectual as his excellent defence and setting up Folau's first try against Wales demonstrated but on the European fields in particular it should all hands on deck around the ball.