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How can the Wallabies be mentally stronger?

Wallabies' outside centre, Tevita Kuridrani is ridden to the ground by All Blacks' lock Luke Remano (Pic: Tim Anger).
Roar Rookie
27th August, 2016
11

Here we go again. The Bledisloe locked up for another year in New Zealand’s trophy cabinet with no apparent salvation in sight for the Wallabies.

The second Bledisloe Test was a rather sad affair to watch as an Australian. Yes, the Wallabies didn’t concede as many points as they did in Sydney but the focus of the game plan in Wellington seemed to be one of damage limitation rather than looking for the win.

More of the wash-up from Bledisloe 2:
» Match report
» LORD: Sack Cheika? No way
» Seven talking points
» What changes should the Wallabies make?
» DIY Player Ratings
» WATCH: Highlights from the match

Australia looked defensive and offered nothing in attack, only making two forays into the All Black 22′. It is particularly worrying to see Michael Cheika admitting post game that all he could tell his players was to increase their aggression and niggle.

This leads me to the point of this article – the mental strength of the Wallabies. I would define mental strength in this context as to how well Australia’s players are able to keep their heads in the game.

New Zealand, as they always seem to be, are the shining examples of mental strength. Their ability to stay calm under pressure has seen them through to win on many occasions. Could we really expect Australia to make comeback victory like New Zealand against Ireland three years ago at this moment of time?

No. Not right now. By comparison the Wallabies seem to go missing too often when things get tough, as was seen in Sydney and are repeatedly too frantic in attack, leading to knock ons and penalties.

My belief is that Australian rugby needs to take an important step and promote sports psychology within the group, hiring specialists to help the Wallabies on their mental game. New Zealand, again, have already beaten Australia to this.

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After their exit from the 2007 World Cup, psychological work was done with the All Blacks to remedy their repeated ‘chokes’ come the event.

Since then they have won two on the bounce. It is up to the coaching staff and the ARU to promote a similar approach with the Wallabies.

There are obstacles to this approach. First it must be adopted by an ARU that is falling behind its competitors. Team culture is second.

If Michael Cheika can only recommend more aggression and niggle as a game plan then he must go. A team cannot appear feeble yet Adam Coleman’s repeated scuffles and yellow card is not the solution to that.

In addition, the captain’s duty is to make the smart decisions, rally his players when things aren’t going their way and get them back in line when they’re out of it. The Wallabies’ mental strength is undermined by the weak leadership of Stephen Moore, who is not suitable for the captaincy.

Clyde Rathbone was right in his assessment that the Wallabies are delusional in their belief that they could win this weekend. It’s time for them them to wake up to reality and start toughening up because, quite frankly, they are pathetic to watch right now.

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