True love never runs smooth. Nor does a Rugby World Cup campaign.
Gene Pitney’s hit song from the 1960s has been bouncing around in my head ever since the early hours of Monday morning.
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So many incidents have been flooding into my brain that prove the course to a Rugby World Cup final is filled with obstacles and unexpected troubles.
The Wallabies had achieved their initial, ridiculously tough goal of finishing on top of the ‘pool of death’ and claiming the ‘easy’ route to the final.
That meant facing Scotland in the quarter-finals, and I will put my hand up and say that I thought it would be a formality. I am sure that many fans were feeling the same way.
The Wallabies in the first half were below the high standards they had set through their pool games. Is there a chance that they had subconsciously relaxed a little?
We’ll never know, but we do know that Scotland gave us one big shock and went very close to sending Michael Cheika’s men home.
Their task this weekend against Argentina is a tough one. The Argentinians have been the quiet achievers of this World Cup, as they had been when they made the semi-finals of the 2007 tournament.
In contrast to Australia’s stumbling start to the match against Scotland, Argentina started with an all-out attacking assault against Ireland that could well have proved the difference between the two teams despite Ireland’s brave effort in getting themselves back into the match.
Australia will need to be ready for that, as well as yet another tough battle up front. Can the Wallabies scrum coach, Mario Ledesma, outsmart his countrymen and give the Wallabies the inspiration to dominate the set pieces?
Talking of scrums, how good was Scotland’s tight-head prop, the former South African, WP Nel? For years, former Wallaby Jake Howard told me that tight-head prop was the most important position on the rugby field. Every now and then I see what he means and Nel gave a display of pure strength to enforce his argument.
What a sense of déjà vu when Mark Bennett raced across for his intercept try in the 73rd minute! I am sure that I was one of millions whose mind instantly went back to Lansdowne Road in 1991.
Ireland scored a converted try with only five minutes to go in the 1991 match to take a three-point lead and all seemed lost for the Wallabies, as it did with Bennett’s try for Scotland.
But a calm stand-in skipper, Michael Lynagh, kept his cool and the Australians worked their way back downfield for Lynagh himself to score the winning try with moments left.
Of course that team went on to be the first Wallabies side to win the World Cup. Yet it almost slipped away in that dramatic finish in Dublin.
Eight years later, as Australia prepared to play Ireland in a pool match at the same ground in the 1999 World Cup, Lynagh was being interviewed before the match on the spot where he scored that try.
In the match that followed, Totai Kefu became involved in a punch-up with Trevor Brennan and was subsequently suspended, robbing the Australians of his presence for the key quarter-final against Wales.
He returned for the semi-final against South Africa at Twickenham, where a brave effort by the Australian forward pack saw the Wallabies match the Springboks up front.
With minutes left, they looked like they would advance to the final, however a late penalty saw Jannie de Beer level the scores and force extra time.
And what a dramatic extra time it was, highlighted by Stephen Larkham’s extraordinary field goal from 48 metres out to get the Wallabies into the final, where they claimed their second Webb Ellis trophy.
And that’s just the rocky road to the World Cup finals that the Wallabies have won! Other World Cups have shown just how tough it can be to get there and win, none more so than England’s dramatic 2003 win in extra time.
If they had forgotten, Scotland gave the Wallabies the perfect reminder that there is absolutely no easy road to the World Cup final.
vic rugby
Guest
What was the link between jouberts mistake and the abs pool games?
the french
Roar Rookie
To me it is the second time this world cup the WBs are having a deja vu situation although what happened on monday morning was at the same level of the comp as the 91 rwc. The other situation is the clip of the ball by David Campese had against England in the final in what was going to be a sure try which is similar to a clip by Foley also against England but in the pool matches.
Puma
Guest
"I expect the Wallabies will beat the Pumas largely because the Scottish game scared the bejesus out of them." You'll see
BetterRedThanDead
Roar Rookie
I agree. He had already given up 3 penalties for collapsing. I was screaming at the TV for MC to take him off. The next scrum he went down again and was injured. MC bench management this game not up to its usual high standard. Perhaps the absence of Pocock and Folau flustered him.
stripes
Guest
Mate what planet are you living on where Aussies are sitting around boasting favouritism?? I'm guessing its one in your head movie where the Aussies are bond villains reciting a monologue about world domination being theirs! Get a grip.
REAPER
Guest
Every one of the big 3 rugby nations (SANZAR) have a gripe about a referee that did us wrong...truth is, NZ should have put the game beyond doubt long before THAT pass; SA should have went for a drop goal when that cheating bastard Bryce Lawrence showed his hand...things happen, and you have to endure it when it happens to you, and make it count when it goes your way (a la 2011 NZ team)
tvwatcherIntheweehours
Guest
The perfect reminder and certainly the best that could occur to this group. As super Mario said, one scrum you are a god the next you are crushed bug. Humility is key. Respect of the opponent too. This should prepare us well for the confrontation with the highly motivated Pumas. The revenge of the RC game... but the Pumas seem really sharp this time. It will be another thriller... my pace maker needs new batteries... Look forward to it. Rugby is the winner so far in the RWC. (except the attitude of the French in their last game, all teams have been trying to do their best).
tvwatcherIntheweehours
Guest
Yeh.. history is meant to become a broken line.. In 2015 for the first time ever a team having lost a game Won. That very year!... Argentina or Australia?
natelle roberts
Guest
did we win aganst scotland the othet morning if so what was the score
Toppy91
Guest
I'm sorry... what about the wallabies try that was not given but the replay clearly showed no knock on by Genia. Yes that may have been an incorrect decision but that is rubgy and that game was a terrible display by the refs so you can't over analyse one mistake.
Utah
Guest
I agree Lostintokyo. I prefer the way league deal with it. If you're good enough to prevent a team with an overlap from scoring by marking two men and knocking down a pass then good luck to you. Simple knock on. And on the flip side, if you can't catch and pass efficiently when you have an overlap, then bad luck.
Utah
Guest
There was clear footage on 2 scrums of the Scottish number 6 sliding his bind up the body of his tight head until he was inline with the tight head and playing like a 4th front rower. He then angled in to drive Sio to the ground. This happened at least twice. What was the linesman doing? It was not only illegal play but quite dangerous. On another occasion Nel doesn't take the hit from Sio, then hinges, causing Sio to over-extend and lose his footing. Penalty goes to Scotland. Smart play from Nel, but illegal nonetheless.
wardad
Guest
Saving him for the final ?
wardad
Guest
I thought "Town without pity" would be more appropiate for poor wee Joubert .
wardad
Guest
Like that nonsense about Lawrence at the last cup .Anyone who buys into that Farcebook nonsense is a bloody squeazer .. I had a 100 $ on Scotland to win by less than 3 so have the right to feel a wee bit agrieved but be damned if that would make me think less of a decent bloke like Joubert .
wardad
Guest
Garces is ,barnes the other .
Ropes
Guest
Jourbert reffed that game Well. No doubt about It. The calls went to and fro. The scrums the wallabies were arguably hard done by. The maitland yellow maybe. After all Of this the game was still in the balance. No big deal. Now the game comes Down to the last 5 minutes scotland need to maintain possesion For the last 5 minutes and they win the match,But they didnt. But still with 2 minutes to go they have a lineout On their own throw and destiny is still in there hands. All they have to do is win It and again maintain possesion they dont and in that moment they make a play that looks as thou their man is off side leaving It up to the referee to decide their fate. Now thats rugby, dont blame the ref when You had múltiple chances to secure your own destiny. This is the biggest lesson the all blacks learnt from 07 and i believe its rubbed Off On the Other rugby championship teams, hence Why we are seeing this Southern hemisphere dominance at this world cup....
Akari
Roar Rookie
Me too, J, and I didn't even think that they'd need Pocock at all.
Lostintokyo
Guest
You could be right Jaysper regarding the French mindset. The opening spell by the abs would have blown any team away. It was one of the most complete performances by a team I have seen. Very depressing for Wallaby fans, or me at least. They looked unbeatable. The Argies backline is the big improver sine the Rugby Championship. A much more imposing challenge for the men in Gold compared to three months back but I predict the Wallabies to be a different team this weekend to the Scotland game. They had better be or its end of the road this campaign. I agree with your 60/40.
Colin Kennedy
Roar Guru
choke–tackle, weren't we going to chat further on Monday about how the Irish and Welsh were going to win at a trot?