- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Opinion
Will the Wallabies ever be capable of beating the All Blacks and bring that oversized cup back to Australian soil? Possibly.
Unfortunately, a lot of the most dedicated Wallabies supporters are aged, white Australian men, talking about the good ol’ days from 20 years ago! No current player has ever experienced the taste of victory in the Bledisloe series.
How can this current generation believe in something that just hasn’t seemed possible for decades? A 20-year-old TikTok dancer can only find proof on old YouTube footage that appears grainy with age.
The era that held the Bledisloe trophy are now aged and weathered and these veterans’ ideas that would have been effective 30 years ago –smash their way to victory, dominating with physical intimidation and violent measures up front, opening up territory for the backs – would be illegal today.
So why is it so difficult to beat the All Blacks? This is New Zealand, with a population smaller than Sydney! How is this even conceivable?
It’s not the coaches. That route has been thrashed and then thrashed again but no matter how many times you replace the main voice or tactician of this team does it change the outcome of the Bledisloe.
Is it the quality of the Australian rugby player? Is a lack of quality at the grassroots leaving Australia poorly equipped in both tactics and vision, with bad habits reinforced by bad habits?
Do the players have poor initiative, being almost blind to the basic principles of the game?
Is the entire Australian rugby identity in crisis?
Is it physical or psychological? I’m pretty sure the players are of similar size.
Is the burden of repetitive failure become so ingrained that it’s now not possible to even comprehend a series win?
Is it the colour of the jersey? I know some actually believe this will help. Different shades of gold or green. Is it the black jersey that’s intimidating?
Black is slimming. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Are the Kiwis feeding New Zealand children a special tonic to make them awesome players? Or are they just allowed to flourish in a rugby culture that encourages individual initiatives and hard work, combined with the All Black coaching influence top to bottom.
Or is it one big conspiracy that the coaches and some of the players are in on? Never allowing the Wallabies to ever win the Bledisloe Cup?
Soon, for the first time this year, the trans-Tasman sides will face off. Unfortunately, no matter how well the Super Rugby sides do, it has no impact on the All Blacks vs Wallabies outcome.
Is there a silver bullet to win the Bledisloe Cup? Can the tide be turned?
If someone can solve this question a statue of said individual will be placed in most Australian cities.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.