An ongoing issues with current Australian sides is that they seem to live for the present and not the future.
This year has been, to say the least, very disappointing for all Australian national teams.
The Women’s FIFA World Cup was a failure. The men’s Cricket World Cup was an even bigger failure. And the biggest failure of them all was the heavily favoured netball team, who coincidentally lost against New Zealand – huge underdogs.
The constant factor has been the Australian media hyping teams up for their current form, not knowing how the coverage could affect their possible futures.
Two out of those three World Cup teams were hyped as heavy favourites prior to the tournament beginning. Both teams fell short, maybe due to a better opposition.
But my guess is the media and heavy pressure.
Back to the topic at hand.
The Wallabies absolutely dominated the All Blacks last week. They were all over them in every facet of the game. The media believed this was the revival. They all believed this was the year to end the Bledisloe hoodoo.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
All this hype signed the Wallabies death warrant.
Going into the match at Eden Park tonight, all the Australian media went off last week’s performance, believing it could happen again. They all wanted to believe lightning would strike twice.
Lightning struck alright, but it was in the wrong form – definitely not the form the Wallabies wanted!
They were outmuscled, outplayed, outsmarted and outwitted in an epic clash. The All Blacks were back to their dominant best, coming off a terrible loss last week.
This performance was always coming. Coach Michael Cheika and co. didn’t think for some second that it would be a walk in the park.
What doesn’t help? Every media outlet portraying you as on top of the world and believing you’re unstoppable after one big win.
It happens a lot within the Australian sports media. They like to get carried away and believe their current teams are the best in their given sport, not knowing their pressure and hype is affecting the future.
The Wallabies can definitely compete for the World Cup, we saw that last week. They were epic.
If only the Australian media could keep a tight lid on their buzz, maybe the lads wouldn’t feel as much pressure leading up to big games.
I love the Trans-Tasman rivalry as much as anyone, so let’s keep getting better, Wallabies.
It is much needed – but the media made your bed at the 80th minute last weekend.
Unfortunately for you, and the rest of Australia.
Offside
Roar Rookie
Love your monkier Alan. Perhaps Rik's greatest character :thumbup:
RaroAuz
Roar Rookie
The Wallabies won the same fixture in a World Cup year in 07, 11, and 15. You'd think everyone would have learned that it doesn't tend to mean anything other than a one-off win. The Wallabies were up at halftime in Bledisloe #1 last year too, and frankly, until the red-card you probably would have still backed the All Blacks to win it, simple because no team can flick a switch and go from 0 to 100 quite like they can (again, see last year). You should put 20 points on a 14 man side, if you don't, then you really have problems.
alanbstardmp
Roar Rookie
Oceania U20s: Junior Wallabies vs New Zealand 24-0 to Junior Wallabies. So the Senior side could learn something https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yScSONbGrIg
Frank
Guest
As much as I dislike the media I thing your off target. Professional sportspeople representing their country should perform every time, and if the honor doesn't motivate then the money certainly should.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Protected by the ref. Shown up for real last Saturday
White Coconut
Roar Rookie
I agree, I have been saying that for years, and it's true, as soon as the Wallabies have a win, suddenly they can beat any team, the media are fully to blame. Look at last week, after the Perth game, headlines like "The Old Blacks", "or the ABs are in panic mode", or "They are running scared". History repeats for the Wallabies, thanks to the Aussie media, by now, they should have learnt, don't poke the Bear, the Wallabies should ban the media from the players, much like the NZRU do for the ABs.
Graeme
Roar Rookie
They're not totally to blame but they were so OTT after the win in Perth that they set unrealistic expectations. Good article.
Raewyn Small
Guest
Hahahaha. You should have thrown him through the window!
Raewyn Small
Guest
Well, I think the Australian media is scurrilous. They make people hate each other by the way in which they report matters. Don't build up your teams too soon because there is a winner around the corner. That applies to everyone. :thumbdown:
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Jibba: I played a season in Christchurch for Linwood, we played in a NZ club championship final against Wellington that year. The plane bounced all over the place with the wind and the rain so strong we struggled across the tarmac. Got done by a couple of points and thought we were lucky in those conditions. We had 4 AB’s in our team and most of the Canterbury team as well and thought we would do them easily until we saw the weather!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Love it, there are many here who think this is never going to enter any countries minds.
winston
Roar Rookie
Possibly, It would have made a massive difference.
Cigar Field Sobers
Roar Rookie
Played for Australia, yet freely admitted he didn't know the laws of the game. Sigh...
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Agree with Beale view .. but DHP is also not flash at tackling so keep looking :) ... i was normally a flanker but did end up playing full back one season (U/21s for Ories, Saveas club actually b4 migrating to the mighty Axemen, aka Wellington Club) and managed to catch the ball every time especially in the driving wellington rain and wind, however did not like the bit about having to run the ball back into the sleet and wind so headed back to the forwards.. in my dotage i ended up in the front row (2) and loved it..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
I was standing up the top of the Hyatt one night in Perth about 10 years ago with an Indonesian billionaire, a lovely bloke, and whilst looking over the Perth skyline he made a quiet comment "This will be all ours one day". I had a sudden urge to throw him out the window but couldn't figure out how to open it...
Vman2
Roar Rookie
Then again, does anyone recall any time in the last 5 years that Peter FitzSimons had an opinion on any topic and he turned out to be correct? I don't think there has been a single incidence yet the media keep giving the clown air time.
Vman2
Roar Rookie
The media expose their bubble and total lack of comprehension by quoting anything that Peter Fitz says. If Peter FitzSimons gained a brain cell it could play tennis with the existing one in that cavernous space.
alanbstardmp
Roar Rookie
i wouldn't call our front row powder puffs. They went well against Argies and NZ in first game I think Slipper is a waste of space
alanbstardmp
Roar Rookie
hi mate. Yes i noticed Beale up in the backline and he failed to return to fullback position. Not good. You may be correct re rest too
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Already have..