Player selections are always important, but nothing can change the fact that the All Blacks outplayed the Wallabies on Saturday night in Auckland. Now let me go out on a limb.
I think it is typical of the Australian rugby media and to a lesser extent it’s public to immediately criticise the Wallaby coach and a player such as Quade Cooper. We need someone to blame, someone must be accountable.
In Geoff Toovey’s famous words, “there has got to be an investigation into this!”
For the record I was not a fan of Cooper’s starting selection and I think Michael Cheika really will heed a lot of the chat that has come out about his performance. Cheika is adamant to maintain the culture in the team. He will not be drawn out to criticise his players because he knows the damage it will do. That’s what a team is about, it’s a collective.
That aside, it’s very easy with hindsight to quickly lay blame, and I acknowledge the right of all people to have their say on it. However, I think we were mentally defeated. We didn’t understand enough what happens when you injure a huge wild bear. Most often it will come after you and get you. New Zealand did that to the Wallabies at Eden Park.
The speed of the attack on Cheika is exactly what is wrong with rugby in Australia. Persistent and singular focus on the Wallabies clouds our judgment on how we assess them. We have all lost touch with the game of rugby itself if we think they are all that matters.
The ARU has clearly launched this strategy operating a top down approach to funding and support. If the Wallabies are doing well then all of Australian rugby is doing well.
We can’t walk away from this notion completely, and to an extent I agree with it. The Wallabies do gather a lot of airtime when it comes to television and news. So positive stories about their success will likely encourage people to get involved, to play the game and to watch it.
We must also look at the way New Zealand approaches its funding and support of the game. They employ a much more bottom up approach. This works over there for a number of reasons including the market place being smaller and without the same competition of NRL and AFL.
However, I think we can learn some lessons from our New Zealand bros on this one. Supporting rugby at various levels through varying means is how they succeed. Their primary care every year is about participation at schools, about clubs and community.
We found out on Saturday night that it’s very hard to win rugby matches if there is one or two weak links in your physical structure and your mindset. Player selections and mental breakdown went hand in hand there.
Australian rugby is kind of like this. If all the levels of the game are not firing and receiving support financially and culturally, then eventually the overall game suffers.
I have obviously broken that down very simplistically but the point itself is simple.
Let’s look quickly at some other small facts. The Wallabies have lost that one Test so far this year. A negative end to the Bledisloe campaign, yes, but is it really the end of the Wallabies’ World Cup hopes? No, it’s not.
We dealt with South Africa. We have worked through some problematic areas of our game, such as the scrum, which I dare say is going OK. We need to work on others, particularly the lineout. These elements will always be on the plate of coaching staff and players in a professional environment.
We managed to win in Mendoza against Argentina where we suffered arguably our most embarrassing loss for some years bar the 2012 Hunter Stadium Scotland situation and the 2011 loss to Samoa. The Samoa loss came in the lead-up to a World Cup where we won the Tri-Nations, beat New Zealand and then placed third overall in that World Cup. Interesting.
I think we have to be careful with our Cheika bashing. Let’s remember that a rugby team will lose sometimes, even the All Blacks know that. From what I have read most people are happy with Cheika’s style, they like his no rubbish approach. Are we seriously getting into him after one loss?
I am not calling for every article and comment to be positive and be titled ‘We love the Cheik’, but let’s stand off for a moment and smell the roses. We happen to have the best prepared Australian players for a World Cup, physically and mentally, for the first time in a number of years.
Let’s remember Michael Cheika planted many of those roses too?
Rouaan
Guest
In my view Cheika is the future of the WBs. Australian rugby often shoots itself in the foot by making very weird decisions ranging from coach dumping to the over exhaustion of their top players. Genia, Horwiill, Cooper, Pocock, and others were played into the ground over the last 5 years, no wonder they all suffer from body breakdown. Getting back to Cheika, I think the ARU must appoint him for the next 4 years until the 2019 RWC. All the coaches who has won significant trophies have been appointed on long term contracts. Clive Woodward, Rod Macqueen, Graham Henry, Steve Hansen, Jake White etc. Even if the WBs don't make the semi final in this year's RWC, Cheika should have the backing of the ARU and he can therefore plan and coach properly. Look at all the coaches of the top tier nations for this years' RWC, they have been there for years, even with mixed success.
cashead
Roar Rookie
I get your argument, Andrew, but the fact remains - Cheika unnecessarily tinkered with a team and made some bizarre selection. I guess you're right in that the Wallabies (and by extension, the fans) knew what was in store for them, but selecting players that have been long-term non-performers like Wycliff Palu or Quade Cooper should open him up for criticism. He picked the team, right?
The Twins
Roar Rookie
you are a Muppet if you think like that....what scientific evidence do you have to base your baseless opinion...? the ABs do have a 'switch' did you not see the LIFT in their performance during the game...Australia just could not match it...too much for them to handle...and so NO 2015 is not finished yet and the ABs will continue to match their effort against the WBs at Eden Park with all the remaining tests this year....what will Australia do?
Shane D
Roar Rookie
So did the Wallabies play their final in Sydney then?
Old Bugger
Guest
Now that's the spirit toad and I mean no disrespect....supporting the new competition is a really great start, to raising the recognition levels of rugby, in Oz-land.
sheek
Roar Guru
Zero Gain, The problem with your bravado statement is that the ABs play almost every test like it's a final to them. The Wallabies on the other hand, play one great game & think they've changed the world. I have no doubt the ABs will play just as well again in the world cup, & probably better. And watching the ABs for 45 years, I've often wondered where that switch is hidden.....
taylorman
Roar Guru
Final? Geez, that was nothing. This side hasn't got started. They're way below where they want to be.
toadflax
Roar Rookie
Good article. One thing we should all do is support the NRC. Yes it has a few warts but it's a good afternoon/night out, a great way to see some good rugby without spending too much and has already led to some younger guys getting a showing who we would otherwise never have heard of. Go the Rays!!
Zero Gain
Guest
Yes, The New Zealand team did lift and the Wallabies dropped. That is what normally causes a result to be reversed. And it can be reversed again. You write as if the Kiwis have a switch and they can flick it whenever they like. That isn't how it works. I think the New Zealanders played their 2015 final last Saturday. Time will tell.
jaysper
Roar Guru
I'm no fan of Cheika, but I agree that Australia too often wants to string their coaches up from the nearest tree whenever they lose. Here in NZ, we might get pissy with our coach, but we at least understand that losing is occasionally the result of playing the game. So, it is nice to see a more balanced opinion coming out of Roar rather than the assassination pieces we've had. Incidentally, I'm no fan of Steve Hansen and believe he has not done enough to clear out the older players in time for the World Cup and for this reason among others I don't think the ABs will win the cup.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Very good write up, agree with that. Part of the problem is in over rating the performance of the Wallabies. Part of Sydney was about the ABs not performing themselves in that match, probably the most contributing factor to the loss. But that wasn't how it was received. There was a conviction that Aus rugby had just about settled on a higher plateau, and to some extent it had. But the difference between the two matches was the lifting of the AB levels, nothing else. Oz simply weren't allowed to dictate as they were in Sydney. And to just turn on the side like that. The ups and downs of following the game must be stressful at the least if you keep declaring the value of your wins and loses as 'controllables' when they actually aren't to the extent that they are made out to be.
mania
Guest
the trick to rugby success in NZ is we're so small that rugby is considered a family community. we have volunteers from grass roots to ITM helping out just so that anyone who wants to play is given every opportunity and talent is identified and encouraged from an early age. thats NZ's secret, its not a religion its a family i havent been a fan of a few AB's coaches. but while they were in charge i kept my criticism to myself and supported the team. i didnt b!tch and complain about the coaches until they stepped down and then i could say i told you so with out affecting the team