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.
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.
HLF Khanell
Guest
Concentration and focus, too many times the forwards went missing. A ball pops up and we are not expecting it. We just are not focused to expect the unexpected, where the ABs are aware. It's an oblong oval shaped ball ...its gonna deliver the unexpected. The first inkling of a turnover, they are ready and staggered and lined out whereas when it happens for us, we were congested and flat, lacking passing options. It's almost as though we have got our minds on other things. When countering the ABs rolling maul, i'm sure at one stage our guys were pushing towards our try line, before they became aware. Lack of awareness, heads down, preprogrammed to not think, just bind and push..like the Foley kick technique....head down over the ball, unaware of a Kaino/Kane chargedown, no perception of how close the enemy is. Speaking of which my US friend says we need to bundle the whole squad off to SAS camp in WA for 10days to learn focus and develop perception. How many times do our kicks not go out ? Who is the kockermannie who decreed the torpedo be banished. I can only assume we regressed to the current nancy kick because of the occasional miskick off the side of the boot. This pales in significance compared to the number of kicks that don't go out. Any of you old enough to remember Lloyd Graham. 60m kicks up both touch lines, and out. Let's please see a resurgence in the torpedo to get us out of our kicking woes. And sadly, I agree with many roarers, Moore has got to go and be replaced with Gill. If the ABs can have their running hooker in Coles, we must have our national champion pilferer and reds line out maestro in there somewhere. His non selection is a travesty and Cheika needs an uppercut for this. in summary focus/awareness is the key and for the full 80mins
Robbo
Guest
Sheriff, as long as you and similarly the Wallaby players, believe that this style of rugby cheap shots might win a Test,, the longer you will get your arses whipped. For a start you guys just don't have the cattle and why no-one else is seeing this is or saying this is truly remarkable. Cheika and his team are trying to make up for this yawining gap of team ability by playing thugby and shouting obscenities from the coaches box.
taylorman
Guest
Yes Hong Kong ended a 15 match run, the 18-18 draw in 2012 a 16 run, and the draw in Sydney in 2014 a 17 run.
sandstorm210
Guest
Umm we found the culprit who planted the bug....maybe it was you that bugged the Chair in the AB's backpackers hostel in Sydaknee ha ha ha - Truth is your spot on and that is the All Blacks way to a T - so the question is, why are they going through this fantastic purple patch, quite simply because all unions throughout the country have bought into a singular development system, and mindset introduced by Steve Hansen and his fellow coaches. From Super 18 all the way down to grass roots, they have adapted to the single pathway leading straight to the AB's lunch room full of Adidas clobber and then some. Look at young Anton introduced this week in Wellington, he didn't just walk in and strap his boots on - no way, he was introduced some time back and learnt to refine his craft alongside Kaino,Read, Ratallic, Kane and company - thats whats so great about the culture you mentioned, the leadership group and Foss will collectively recommend when this player is ready to step up......can you imagine what will happen when they cut Mckenzie and Iaone loose in the Black Jersey the country will go nuts.They'll get their opportunity before the end of the season don't worry about that. As for the Wallabies, there is too much emphasis on how things can be fixed for next week trouble is next week never comes.Oh well, I am of the opinion that Michael Cheka will be on his way out the door if South Africa and then Argentina slap them around. I can tell you one thing the way they both played, even with a loss each under there belt, was far superior to the Wallabies, I imagine now they both have there tails up they can smell Wallaby blood. The AB's will find a hugely different opposition when they play these two teams....thats me I'm off to the beach to get my Brazilian Tan Bro ha ha ha
Pinetree
Guest
Tman, were the last 2 matches where Aus ended the AB winning streaks drawn, or was last years win one of those ending streaks? Interesting that Aus have will have the opportunity to end the streak at 17 wins again if the ABs manage to win their other games, but as you say, a win (or a draw) at Eden park would be a tall ask. But winning streaks can put teams under unusual pressure to perform, and can add extra motivation for the opposition for a 1 off match.
taylorman
Guest
Oz get to play some winnable matches for a change so could be stronger side by the third match at Eden park, where, fittingly I suppose, the ABs get to go for their 18th straight and from memory a record breaking win amongst the top tier countries if they continue to win. With 13 now they'll be on 17 going into Eden park, Ozzie generally the side to end these runs. Still, a win at Eden park would be significant, with no side in the pro era winning there yet.
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
Simply put -- Australian Rugby Union have headed in a direction of failure and a complete shambles for near to 7 years. Forget the RWC as the Wallabies played above themselves - but the ARU Structure is damaging to Rugby in this country. Psychological inputs are necessary but not now. The TEAM needs a good old fashion clean out - starting with Cheika. My predictions on Chieka are coming home to roost and that is "Cheika is not an International Coach, he is not even a good Coach - average and he has had success". But the problem with Rugby in Australia starts at the ARU - the "old boys hierarchy". They are everywhere and not one of them is doing anything for Rugby in this country. WE cannot clean them out as they are entrenched. So forget it - the ARU will finally go ROCKBOTTOM - BE FULLY BROKE - FINANCIALLY INEPT. And the game I found at University and came to play and enjoy - will be lost to Australian sport. The game needs a complete clean out and REAL BUSINESS PEOPLE BOUGHT IN - with vision and building from the grassroots. Get rid of the many ex Wallabies. For example Eales a great Wallaby, great Captain, great Ambassador has since his retirement and entering to the fold of the ARU - done absolute nothing for Rugby. He has not once spoken out about the problems of Rugby and how to fix them. Ans as for the TEAM - a very full clean out. The majority are not worthy of a Wallabies Jersey - they have lost their fight, their spirit and their complete lack of Rugby capability. It is not the losing - it is how they lose.
Mike
Guest
Anyone find it ironic that it was only Phipps who found the line..
The Sheriff
Guest
Darth, Not to put too finer point on it: CRAP
Darth Vader
Guest
Please. Better men make better All Blacks. Cheika is going in the opposite direction "Better thugs make better Wallabies". Cheika's chool yard bullying tactics were embarrassing to watch with the Tahs and now with the Wallabies.
Marius Ciliers
Roar Guru
Structure. Any random person,in any situation. Knowing very little or even just enough,that are introduced into a well thought out,effectively organized structure. With feasable realistic routines and mindsets,attitudes,goals,training and infrastructure. That both challenges and encourages,builds up and sustains. Can flourish in that enviroment and the support it harbors. It changes from the person wanting to do something for themselves to a comoraderie of fellow likeminded individuals working for each other as a whole. As one. To a unified goal. The structute allows them to not only reach their individual peaks,but through that structure that joins and works as one whole. It breaks through that ceiling of possibility. It brings success. It builds confidence. And everyone individual plays above himself in what he does because everyone around are doing the same. Structure.