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The Roar

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What would I know, Australian rugby? I am just a rookie

Roar Rookie
23rd August, 2018
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(AAP Image/Daniel Munoz)
Roar Rookie
23rd August, 2018
41

I have read many articles, blogs, comments, posts – you name it. Yes, I am a Kiwi, but what would that matter? I live in Australia.

So, let’s get to it; Bledisloe 1 – quite simple in my eyes.

Australia. Stop spending money on rugby league players.

Invest in grassroots rugby from the very early grades in schools to high school. Invent in an NPC competition – duplicate New Zealand’s System. It can’t be rocket science.

Let’s talk about management, the skills coaches and, of course, the coach.

In the first game, Australia were clearly the team upsetting the All Blacks for the first 30 minutes. Then, fatigue set in around the 35th minute and you could see it unfolding.

Lack of points – two conversions for six points, bad decisions being made, and phases not completing.

You can go on all you like about the tackle on Folau, even if Waisake Faholo got 10 minutes, the All Blacks were on fire.

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I’m just a bit taken aback at the criticism thrown at the All Blacks for their first-half performance. Yes, they lacked clinical execution on attack but the formidable defence they put up against the Aussies was also exceptional.

A lot of talk about the Aussies was that they were spent after 30 minutes, but there were no comments to reflect the defence that wore the Australians down.

By the same token, a lot of talk put down the Aussies for their fitness but, in reality, it’s more on the superior fitness shown by the men in black.

There’s no way Cheika would’ve thrown those boys in the Lion’s den without giving them a base of fitness and stamina to execute their plans.

Just before the All Blacks scored their first try, there were a lot of Aussie forwards with hands on hips and breathing hard.

More so Michael Hooper and David Pocock, who didn’t do their stamina and fitness any favours by constantly being in the referee’s ear – the equivalent of doing compound exercises with free heavyweights and singing at the same time.

The Aussies had fantastic line speed for the first 30, it literally choked the All Blacks set pieces.

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I made a comment during the game just before halftime that the team that scores before and after halftime usually comes out on top. That was more evident with Jack Goodhue’s try.

Right back from inside their own 22, as Barrett saw numbers out wide with a double miss pass to the centres and the rest was majestic to watch.

The point is, the Wallabies couldn’t scramble in time, they had just thrown their kitchen sink to get upfield only to see the likes of Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown and Rieko Ioane make a mockery of their efforts.

With stamina fading, that kind of mental imagery only adds to the drawn-out fatigue.

It’s time to acknowledge the coaching staff not just from fans but from the ‘naive’ wannabe sports journos who wouldn’t be able to grasp this vital element of rugby.

It’s much easier for them to dream up rubbish from their couches then to think about the quality conditioning that the All Blacks displayed.

So, Australian rugby, it’s time to invest. Acknowledge your opponents and invest in your future.

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The time to start is now.

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