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.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Thank you very much, Hohepa. This is the first article that I have written (while I hope to do more), and while I know the structure isn't perfect, I appreciate the positive feedback—and it is excellent to see that we have similar views on sportsmanship and good behaviour! I definitely don't think that my opinion is the only one, or necessarily the objectively 'correct' one, I appreciate I may be wrong about some, many or all the things I have said, but as I said, it is nice to see that we have similar views.
lassitude
Guest
er no. England v Oz is a dilemma - how can they both lose ??
lassitude
Guest
Really ? I travel to all sorts of out of the way countries and I certainly don't support Oz unless it benefits NZ - I prefer France or Scotland.
ClarkeG
Guest
No I was not citing an article as proof of anything actually. I was merely providing some balance/ context regards the author of those articles you had referred to. As I said, it may be of interest to you, and apparently was. It is fact however that Mark Reason - and his late father before him - has often written articles that are less than flattering, shall we say, of aspects of NZ Rugby. It seems that you have use of a good search engine so no doubt you could find many of them if you so desire. His article regards Kieran Read does not change that fact, and nor does what you think happened, or did not happen, in the RWC final of 2011 so excuse me if I miss the relevance of that point.
Lara
Guest
Foul play is used to upset the opposition, it is a good tactic if the opposition is not disciplined. Cheika seems to assign certain players to carry out certain roles in a game eg Kepu and now Coleman, and let's not forget Skelton cheap shots. It is not necessary, it just doesn't work especially against the ABs. Someone will get hurt and you will get the customary apology, but it is a poor tactic that good teams do not need to employ. Cheika's Wallabies will get a bad name and in rugby if you dish it out to often the ref will ping you or worse someone may just give it back with interest.......and that is no way to win a test match, against 14 men.
ols
Roar Pro
I'm sorry. As a fairly one-eyed Oz fan for 50 years. I certainly could not say that of the All Blacks (Sorry Cheik to use the forbidden words) I think the AB's any OZ or other side will generally acknowledge the opposition as being better on the day when they lose. Then most teams go on to say how proud of their team, coaches , support sponsors crowd etc etc
ols
Roar Pro
Here's a straw mate If you don't grasp at it you might drown.
ols
Roar Pro
Good on you shop :D As an Argie (especially) As an Australian (probably especially too) As an Irishman (Probably even more especially too) As a Scotsman (same as Irish) As a Welshman ( Not far behind Ireland & Scotland) As a South African (ever heard of the Boer war guys) England is the common enemy They have have always been the enemy They will always be the enemy
Jjmac5
Guest
Spot on. As bad if not worse than Loe's pathetic act.
ols
Roar Pro
In the first of those Tests in 1968 he suffered a career-ending injury when Colin "Pinetree" Meads grabbed and wrenched Catchpole's leg while he was pinned under other players in a ruck, tearing his hamstring off the bone, and severely rupturing his groin muscles. He was aged twenty-eight and his rugby career was finished.
Brian
Guest
Well said Fion. As an All Black Fan and proud Kiwi it's always nice to see the All Blacks win and keep the cup for another year but if we go back to the 80s and early 90s. A week or two our from a test match it was all jitters , nail biting and oly crap are we going to win. The All blacks were in the same boat but. The match was always close and I could remember drinking a heap of beers before the game just to get rid of the jitters. Them were the days. Now that was Test Matches.
JMAC5
Guest
Couldn't agree more. People are up in arms about the lack of respect we are currently showing the AB's on the paddock, what a load of bollocks. The Wallabies of the 90's and 2000's stuck it right up them when it came to game time, Kearns giving it to Fitzy, Gregan to the whole team, Sam Scott-Young blowing a kiss. In 96 we didn't even face the Haka. Kiwis are the first to cry foul over any infringement but never admit to their own wrong doing (Loe, Tana, Meads etc). Whilst Coleman's hit was stupid he played with the right attitude, smash them, not giving an inch. It's rugby not ballet, during the game anything with a black jersey should be destroyed. Have a beer and laugh with them once the whistle is blown.
Just Sayin
Guest
Wonderful irony to cite that article as proof Reason is unjust given it was a "NZ cheats" slanging match prior to the 2011 RWC and we all know what happened in the final. Might have been an interesting reply article if it had dealt with the central point in Reason's article which was being criticising which was: "Yes, I know other teams cheat, although none of them are as accomplished at it as New Zealand."
Bryan Murray
Guest
Correct.
Ngati Tumutumu
Roar Rookie
Hi Daly just re watched Moore intently for the first 20 minutes.
AndyS
Guest
I hadn't seen it before, but caught it last night. Looked to me like he just wanted it off the field of play, or at least specifically not behind them as they went backward. Probably would have been better served dropping it or sending it back up the field though, see if one of the opposition could trip over it.
soapit
Guest
is only an attempted gouge really that much better?
soapit
Guest
oops wrong spot
soapit
Guest
is only an attempted gouge really that much better?
soapit
Guest
doesnt stop him being right sometimes tho. not exactly an unbiased judge tho i spose is the point.