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I had never been so ashamed to be a Wallabies supporter as I was after the first Bledisloe Test. I felt sick to my stomach, and it wasn’t the fact that we lost. It was the lack of passion, interest and heart displayed by the Wallabies.
Then we go to Bledisloe 2.
For a few minutes, things seemed to be going better. We were making more tackles, the score was closer and we even had a few attacking opportunities.
However, something felt wrong. Our play still felt aimless, and by the second half the match once again resembled an All Blacks training session.
We weren’t playing to win, we weren’t even playing not to lose. We were playing to minimise how badly we were going to lose by.
However, there was something worse. The entire atmosphere of the match was wrong. Bledisloe matches are meant to be played in a respectful and even a happy atmosphere, against our fiercest rivals and closest friends.
But the behaviour of the Australian players was disgraceful. The ridiculous shoving matches that broke out a couple of times in the first half, Sekope Kepu’s penalty on Aaron Smith off the ball when we had the ball and were on the attack, and of course Adam Coleman’s yellow card.
This got yet worse with Michael Cheika’s awful comments about the referee and Steve Hansen.
I’m sure we have all heard the saying: ‘football is a gentleman’s game played by hooligans, rugby is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen.’ Can we really say this applies to the behaviour of the Wallabies and their coaching staff?
There is too much shared history between our two countries – both in rugby and in general – and too many citizens of both countries living in the other for our rivalry not to be based on mutual respect and love for one another. Even when losing, it is a joy to see the All Blacks play, and most Australians would agree that it is preferable to see an All Blacks victory against almost any other team that isn’t Australia.
Can you imagine what will happen in a few years should this trend continue? Will there still be the great, friendly rivalry between New Zealand and Australia? Will both countries still look forward to the Tests, win or lose? Will both countries still be interested in showing and paying respect to each other when they deserve it?
I suspect not.
We don’t watch and support the Wallabies just to win, but for the pride we see in them. In that vein, despite the fact we lost the match, the first 2000 Blesidloe Test in Sydney will probably go down in history as the greatest match of rugby for either team.
Most Australians would prefer to see the Wallabies lose while trying their hardest, playing a good brand of rugby, and serving themselves and their team with distinction and honour than win with their current attitude.
I suggest the following:
Axe the Giteau law
We should reward the players playing in Australia, especially the young up-and-comers, and allow them to develop as opposed to bringing back has-beens who are past their prime.
Build for the future
Thank the senior players on the team, then gently cut the vast majority of them. The senior players have had their chance and have proven they are not up to the task. Most probably won’t be around by the next World Cup, and by continuing to play them we are prolonging our period of slump. We should ignore our win-loss ratio for the next couple of years and focus on developing fundamental skills and building in time to peak for the next World Cup.
Have a zero tolerance policy for any sort of bad behaviour
If you muck up, you lose your spot for an indefinite period of time.
Apologies
Coleman should issue a public apology for his shoulder charge on the weekend, and Cheika should issue one for his comments about Hansen and the referees.
Perhaps this will go some of the way towards restoring the Wallabies’ pride, and our international standing.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.