There’s one ingredient that should be a given when playing for your country.
The fans demand it. Teammates call for it. The coach expects it and works to bring it to a crescendo.
Enthusiasm.
If many of us knew a long time ago we lacked the skill, size and speed – and many other attributes needed to cut it as a Wallaby – we also believed that we would bring enthusiasm in bucket loads if ever given the chance to pull on the green and gold jersey.
We’d be bursting with pride, passion, energy. Right?
So it came as a shock when in the post-mortem of Australia’s Rugby Championship loss to Argentina last Saturday night, coach Michael Cheika and halfback Will Genia so bluntly questioned the Wallabies’ attitude?
“We lacked enthusiasm at the key moments often and that let us down,” Cheika said.
“They out-enthused us,” said Genia.
It was a frank assessment of the Wallabies’ stinging defeat – their first loss to Argentina on home soil since 1983.
Their deficit of exuberance was noted even earlier by the fan who confronted Lukhan Tui in the grandstands not long after the fulltime siren. His zest was easily apparent; his discretion not so evident.
How could the Wallabies, who have won two of their last nine Tests, be out-enthused?
It’s a stunning admission given their woeful record over the last year and a bit. How can they not get up for it?
The Pumas had knocked off the Springboks a few weeks earlier and pushed the All Blacks for 70 minutes. A spluttering side low on confidence and currently low on public appeal, the Wallabies surely couldn’t have been expecting an easy night.
Girt by support staff and naturally driven as elite professional athletes, they shouldn’t have needed any extra motivation to rev themselves up.
A dismal Gold Coast crowd of 16,000 isn’t an excuse. There’s a World Cup a year away.
Australian rugby’s overall health is so heavily dependent on Wallabies success.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika (Photo by Jason O’Brien/Getty Images)
The Wallabies’ shortage of spirit came against a side, Argentina, whose fervour can rarely be faulted. They’re the ones whose biggest, beefiest bruisers often shed a tear during the national anthem. Cheika himself is well known for showing a wide range of emotions in the coaches’ box.
But it was a strange call from Cheika and Genia to doubt the Wallabies’ level of enthusiasm.
It makes any solution to the Wallabies’ woes feel a bit simplistic if it’s only about attitude. Australia’s issues run a lot deeper. Failure to make a simple left to right pass to score the match-winning try was an obvious blemish.
Infuriating errors such as wobbly lineout throws continue to hurt.
The inability to control the ball and consistently create gaps in the defensive line is perplexing. There’s hardly a glut of ingenuity and enterprise in attack.
But it also reflects poorly on Cheika. He knows professional sport is a results-based business.
When all is said and done, as head coach, he’s the one that takes responsibility for every facet of their preparation and performance; from strategy to mindset.
If he’s not hitting the right buttons to get his players enthused at the levels he demands, then it falls on him.
Cheika hasn’t been scared to shame his side in the past. Last year, he had a crack at the squad’s fitness levels entering Wallabies camp.
Michael Cheika and his team are under fire again. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
It at least means that over the next two Tests against South Africa in Port Elizabeth and Argentina in Salta – both of which are critical to Cheika’s job security – the Wallabies should be noticeably raring to go as they try to arrest their slide.
The Wallabies have effectively been accused of lacking pride by their coach and a teammate.
Boks coach Rassie Erasmus was very honest and open about the significance of their clash with the All Blacks last weekend following a similarly dispiriting loss to the Argies. It was a stark attempt to extract every bit of fire out of his team. And it worked.
Have the Wallabies hit rock bottom? Are they chastened by Cheika’s words? He expects enthusiasm. Wallabies fans demand it. It’s one ingredient that should be a given.
Ex force fan
Guest
Clearly their pay structure is problem if players are overpaid and underperforming. Performance based pay may get them more enthusiastic as it is clear that they are playing for $$ and not pride.
Ex force fan
Guest
In 2015 the players were not earning as much and still hungry for success.
RumBoi
Roar Rookie
Enthusiasm playing for your country is a big call when around half the Wallaby squad weren’t born in Australia. The ongoing recruitment of anyone who’s pulled on the boots for any Pacific Island game doesn’t work for supporters and although the words of our national anthem are probably on their kit locker, lip syncing out on the paddock before kick-off gives it away. There’s no connection with players who don’t seem to be at club games or get involved with the rugby community, the grassroots community that is, not the corporates who fill up most of the seating at Super Rugby or Test games. The game is on a downward spiral in this country and the controlling body has lost control. The same lack of enthusiasm on the paddock is reflected in the interest and support shown by crowd attendance, press coverage other than issued media reports, and television viewing numbers. We’ve all lost interest.
Jez
Guest
I think a big part of the problem is that Cheika wants the team to play a running game and selects the players he feels can execute that style then leaves Gray with blokes who can't defend, Larkham with blokes who can't kick or pass and Byrne trying to up skill players to execute 2/3 different game plans depending which coach they listen to. This ends up with confused players not knowing who to listen to. Folau thinking "Larkham would want me to pass, Cheika would want me to back myself and run, Cheika is the selector. Run." So we lose a game (we deserved to lose) on the death. The coaches need to get on the same page, Cheika needs to either pick an attack coach who shares his philosophy on how to attack or give Larkham the players he needs to execute his game plan. All of these coaches are decent in their own right (except Gray) but when all of them are bopping to different bass lines we have the Wallabies. Confused, lacking morale and playing as individuals because half of them are playing Cheika attack and half are playing Larkhams. Half are defending how Cheika wants and half are listening to Gray.
OzKiwi
Guest
A perfect example of that is the constant provocation of Nicolas Sanchez by the WB's in their last game. It looked like a bunch of little boys playing up in the school yard.
GusTee
Roar Pro
I agree, but we do not have enough SR teams into which the OS players may be enticed!
waxhead
Guest
Yes Phil - I agree 100% :)
Markie362
Guest
Mario ledesma was part of the wallabies coaching set up for years.he seems to be able to get the argies up ok.
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
Great idea, rest them and build depth, mix it up, fill the bench with the experienced players and let the novices start. Realistically, what is the point of the incumbents playing 75 minutes of rugby every game? Does Cheika have no faith in the reserves?
waxhead
Guest
short memory Will - very short memory. It was the same story last season.... and the season before ....and the season before that. Wallabies have been on repeat non play for the past 10 years. Different players, different coaching staff - same lack of enthusiasm, passion and will to win. They routinely get beaten cos the opposition often wants it more .... same old same old
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Pablo I would suggest that decision making is the Captains call and execution is the players responsibility. PPP makes for PPP
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Fionn: The coach owns the scheme and tactics to win, the players and their captain own the first half and the last qtr of the onfield performance ie once the coaches wind up at halftime is wearing out. The bottom line is emotion is never enough to keep success happening, there needs to be smart planning and top training. I suggest both of these are missing and therefore the players are not confident the plans will work in the field. Basically it the whole bloody lot of them!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Part of the problem JP. The highest paid Kiwi (K.Reid) is 6th compared to Aussie rugby players with Folau at the top...
Jockstrap
Roar Rookie
Their is no cattle ????. No cattle due to a failure of developing a strong comp. clubs are the places you get combinations such as, Daly, Kearns & Link, & Horan + Little, Ella bros. Why Roarers cannot see this. Why do you think Scotland has developed soo quickly . Their clubs are going great.
Baz
Guest
Sadly we have not yet hit bottom. Attitude is an issue for sure, as fitness as is a game plan as is skills. We are in denial sadly. There are no excuses for poor attitude, game plan or fitness. Ok skills take time to develop, the other three are just about people earning their money.
Kane
Roar Guru
World rugby contradict themselves everyday of the week.
Pablo
Roar Rookie
Good comment and suggestion Wizard, probably add Gill to that list also
Pablo
Roar Rookie
Agreed., spot on, the players are confused by the coach and that breeds discontent and fustration plus doubt on the coaches method. This wallaby team looks more of a team down on self belief and motivation than enthusiasm. Are they losing on energy level? No. They are losing due to poor poor tactics, decision making and execution, which the coach 90% controls.
Margaret Freemantle
Roar Rookie
This is at the heart of the matter- what does it mean to wear the green and gold??
Margaret Freemantle
Roar Rookie
Yes!