I’ve been annoyed, frustrated and have lost it more often than not with the Wallabies, but never have I been on the verge of giving up all hope.
In all honesty I feel I’m writing this article to myself. God knows I need all the motivation I can get. And I’m guessing there maybe a few more out there like me.
Those of you who have had the time to read my previous articles know that I have been a long standing fan of coach Michael Cheika and have supported him throughout his tenure as Wallaby coach – even in perilous times.
In a way I still do, but nothing short of a World Cup win or a hard fought loss in the finals will be acceptable after what has transpired since the last World Cup final.
I understand that it takes time to build a winning team and Cheika has been given more than a World Cup cycle to do so.
My concern however is that even if the Wallabies do go to win the World Cup next year, what happens after that?
Will they lose to the very next team they play? Slip down the rankings within a year of being number one?
Start making basic errors again? Lose tight games which should be won? Or will they maintain their ranking of the number one team in the world by continuing the standard of play which got them the world cup?
Winning the World Cup is the ultimate gift to a Wallabies supporter, but we don’t want the Wallabies to be just a World Cup team.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika (Photo by Jason O’Brien/Getty Images)
The All Blacks are the number one team not only because they have won the last two World Cups but because they play like the number one team in almost every game.
That is what we want the Wallabies to be, not just peak during the World cup every once in four years and then be awful in between.
Most Wallaby fans myself included will be happy even if they don’t win the World Cup providing that they play their potential and maintain and continue to improve consistently post World Cup.
I do honestly believe that if they do that World Cup success will follow. But as things stand currently, I do not see that happening.
Since the last World Cup final, this is how the ledger looks against the current top ten-ranked teams in the world. The brackets indicate the results since Michael Cheika has taken over.
| Ranking | Team | Won | Lost |
| 1 | New Zealand | 1 (2) | 7 (9) |
| 2 | Ireland | 1 (1) | 3 (4) |
| 3 | Wales | 2 (4) | 0 (0) |
| 4 | England | 0 (1) | 5 (6) |
| 5 | South Africa | 2 (3) | 1 (1) |
| 6 | Scotland | 1 (2) | 2 (2) |
| 7 | Australia | ||
| 8 | France | 1 (1) | 0 (1) |
| 9 | Argentina | 4 (6) | 1 (1) |
| 10 | Fiji | 1 (2) | 0 (0) |
The readings are not pretty, specially for a team who started as number two in the world in 2016.
The results mean that after the World cup final in 2015, New Zealand, Ireland, England and Scotland all have had the wood on the Wallabies. Whereas the Wallabies have managed to get the upper hand on Wales, South Africa, France, Argentina and Fiji.
I suppose we should be thankful for that considering all things. The alarming factor of these stats are that, prior to Cheika taking over in 2014, the Wallabies were beating most of these teams mainly, Scotland, Ireland and England in that specific order.
It is true that the Six Nations teams have all improved, but surely that is not an excuse. Going by this, what we should be worried about is not how the Wallabies will fare in the World Cup but how they will after the event finishes.
Michael Hooper of the Wallabies (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
I’m not having a crack at Cheika personally but since 2016, the Wallabies have lost four times to England in a single year. There have been record losses to New Zealand, they’ve lost a home series to Ireland for the first time, lost to Argentina at home after 35 years and have now dropped to seventh in the World Rankings for the very first time.
If someone told me this a five years ago I would call him crazy. This is not how you follow up being runners up in a World Cup.
I am willing to forgive and forget the last four years leading to the 2019 Rugby World Cup if – and only if – the Wallabies perform well during the tournament and consistently maintain their standard in the top three leading into 2023. But if they have another cycle like they are currently having, I think it’s time for administrators, the players, and fans to accept the fact that the Wallabies are not a top three team in the world anymore and are not what they once were.
So we need to lower our expectations on wanting to win every game and be happy with the occasional close win, which is most likely what is going to happen give the current state.
Bernard Foley of the Wallabies (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
There is not one or two things which can be pointed out as areas to be fixed. It seems everything from basic skills to team selection is a problem area. Not long ago I wrote an article about the few areas which needed improvement. So clearly I was wrong – or the Wallabies have regressed to the bottom since then.
I will continue to trust and believe with everything I’ve got until I have nothing left to give. Mainly because they have shown us in glimpses that they are capable of living up to all our expectations and my heart tells me that they will. They owe it to us and more importantly they owe it to themselves.
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
— Michael Jordan
piru
Roar Rookie
Would the Wallies even be ranked #1 if they won the RWC?
Andy
Guest
I think you should already be considering that the Wallabies are not a top 3 team. I think all our shared disappointment is mainly due to our expectations. If you look at it over the last 15 years, Australian rugby has been in gradual decline at all levels. Take for instance, our men’s under 21 programme. We’ve gone from being regular finalists with NZ and SA to a complete shammozle and rarely gets past the pool stage. We have not broken into the top 4 in nearly 10 years..... so naturally, this will flow into the senior teams at some point. I hear a lot of people talking about how we are underperforming based on the players available. As in, our player base has so much potential that we should be ranking in the top 3 consistently. I disagree with this. I do think we are underperforming but I don’t agree our player base is top 3 material. It’s simply not and although it’s partly due to more good players heading to foreign markets (hence can’t be picked) than in the past, I.e Fardy, McMahon, Mowen, white ect. It’s fair to say we just are not producing enough world class talent to keep up with the Kiwi’s and the rising powers in the north. If you look at England, Ireland, SA as an example, their starting 23 and wider squads are far more talented and far more balanced than ours, especially in some of the key positions.
taylorman
Roar Guru
They did did they? Mitchell and Jones, two cowboys riding into dodge city, geez, England... who’d have thought...
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yep gotta be henry. Everytime he touches auckland rugby stuff happens. ‘Advised’ blues in 2003 as well, look what happened. Harty has joined a think tank to look at the Blues again. Dont know why hes never put his hand up to coach them. Id back him any day. He could settle some old scores as well.
Buk
Guest
Thanks Kane. I guess someone there is humble enough to listen to Henry then. Surely someone in the Blues setup should be seeking his input.
DaveR
Guest
What will the Wallabies be like after the World Cup? Gone.
ThoroughsTouws
Roar Rookie
Pete Dossinger you paint a bleak picture. If you are right there will be a knew low- we won't make the quarters in Japan
Kane
Roar Guru
Short answers a) Graham Henry as an advisor b) no
Lara
Guest
Accountability is just not there. RA support for Cheika is just weak management, based on poor decisions in the past. Cheika seems untouchable n there lies the real problem.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
RA needs to reset its compass but their hands are tied. Cheika has put himself above the game ( I appreciate unknowingly so). The only way he will leave is if he realises his failings as RA will not/can not fire him. If RA were of a mind for root and branch change then with him in play they are helpless. England just hired John Mitchell, there are options out there. Part of the $5m spent on Hooper would have been a decent carrot for a new coach.
FastEddy
Roar Rookie
Ralph I agree - the fan thing is more than slightly odd, it's just poor. We need to support teams/people in trouble, not kick them when they're down. Accountability yes. Vindictive douchbaggery (as was on show by the fan after the loss to ARG) is just unacceptable. If I were Tui, I would stop also. Who needs that sort of abuse from people wearing your own jersey ? Crazy Idea: Let's show the Wallabies that we support them, through thick and thin. That might just be helpful ...
Hoy
Roar Guru
This is what gets me... We keep setting all the wrong records, and it is like water off a ducks back. When he was asked if he had doubts that he was the right person for the job, and he bit back and told the journo to take his pills... Honestly, it just blows my mind how out of touch Cheika is. Look at the above... Aside from all the other records, but two home series losses... One series loss at home used to be enough to crack off a coach. Knives have come out for MUCH less before.
WB Supporter
Guest
@Ralph - it's due to League. Union and League are such similar sports, but League is vastly more popular, with more players, consistent coverage on free-to-air TV and a big media presence. Due to the similarities in sports, League will always be threatened by Union and use its sway to influence public opinion with regards to Union. Notice how the Footy Show on Channel 9 will often invite soccer personalities such as Tim Cahill on the program. I've never seen them even comment on Union unless it is in a negative light. Of course it doesn't help that Rugby Australia continues to marginalise the majority of the country with their tunnel vision. It's tough to be positive about rugby in this country. But I've made a concerted effort to try and remain as upbeat as possible about the game. Purely for the reasons you outlined regarding the consistent negative press.
Boggles the Mind
Guest
Michael Cheika sure has racked up the records. Here is a few he holds now. 1 . Most points ever scored against the Wallabies by Scotland 52-24 Nov 2017 2 . First time Wallabies ever beaten by England on home soil in a series 2016 . 3/0 3. First time Wallabies ever beaten by Ireland on home soil in a series 2018. 2/1 4. First time Wallabies ever beaten by Scotland in Sydney 2017. 5. First since Wallabies 1983 ( 35 years ) we have lost to Argentina on home soil 2018. 6 . First time Wallabies have ever been ranked 7th in the world 2018 . 7. Wallabies have the record for most points conceded in a first half by the AB`s 40 in Sydney 2017. 8. Wallabies have the record the most points conceded in a second half by the AB`s 33 in Sydney 2018.
Buk
Guest
Tman, off the subject a bit, but I see the Auckland provincial team enjoying a resurgence - any idea what is behind it? and is it a possible pointer to a turnaround for your Super side?
Buk
Guest
Good article Gishan, thanks for the contribution. Personally I am waiting until after (note after) RWC 2019 for a turn around in fortunes. 'My concern however is that even if the Wallabies do go to win the World Cup next year, what happens after that? ' - I admire your optimism in that statement, but I would think an appearance in the semifinals would be a big achievement given current form. I think Cheika should be kept until after that is finished, as too late to get a replacement, but re RWC 2015, I rate the two best teams as NZ and SA, with us 3rd; Scotland almost scuttled us, but we did beat England, Wales and Argentina (& Fiji). My personal expectation is that our position should consistently float around 2-4, once a decade temporarily being no.1, as well as once a decade temporarily slipping out of the top 4. Concern for me is not sure how temporary the current slide is, given the 3-0 loss at home and the 2-1 loss at home, plus this year possible last in the RC.
Buk
Guest
'One man selection panel' - unfortunately a very telling comment.
Jockstrap
Roar Rookie
We will be saying how great Cheika was as a coach as our ranking plummet to 12-13. Nostalgia.
Pete Dossinger
Guest
Managing expectations is sadly spot on. Who among the seasoned Wallabies is a better player in 2018 than prior years? It says it all about the state of our rugby when we get more excited about a 22 year old prop than any other player. What has happened to skills coaching? Our bench scrum half is still woeful at clearance kicking, making life hell for the 10 or whoever else takes the pass. Why has this weakness not been corrected? There’s no basis for believing that the 2019 Super rugby season will be any better for our teams than 2018. So by extension why should we expect the Wallabies to be competitive in Japan next September. Sadly these are the facts.
Jockstrap
Roar Rookie
After the World Cup we will drop below the top 10. Rugby will slowly die unless billionaires produce club sides like in the uk. GET RID OF THE RA