One day, and it was a few years ago now, I was at Bonville Golf Resort just south of Coffs Harbour where the Wallabies were hosting their annual golf day with local business folk.
At the post-round function a journo mate and I were at a table with a claque of Wallabies, a couple of whom were a few beers deep and chatting unselfconsciously in that bitchy, in-club sort of way about a team-mate who had elected not to tour the UK on the end-of-season “Spring” internationals.
“He’s going to look after his knee,” said one. “Get it right.”
“He could still play,” said the other. “He’s had the same thing all year.”
“Yeah, but he’s funny like that. He’s one of those ‘pride in performance’ sort of blokes.”
“Ha – who cares? You still get paid.”
Another Wallaby at the table sort of caught the eye of the pair who remembered that myself and said journo mate were at the table, soup spoons paused at mouths, bug-eyed and curious, a couple of snakes on the plane. And there followed uncomfortable silence.
And here we are.
Where are we? On the road to those same Spring tour internationals, sports fans, and nobody in Wallabies gold, one would suggest, would choose not to be on that plane.
And Wallabies fans, who’ve traditionally half-ignored the Tests given early AM kick-offs, are like Katrina Leskanich from Katrina and the Waves singing “I used to think maybe you loved me now baby I’m sure / And I just cant wait till the day when you knock on my door / Now every time I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down / Cos I just wait till you write me your coming around / I’m walking on sunshine.”
Trade “mailbox” for The Roar’s listing of the Spring tour kick-off times and you’ll find that this one begins in Japan (on Saturday 23 October and you’ll glean some idea of the success of Wallabies’ season 2021.
Because, as they say, how good? A 2-1 series win over France and four Test wins on the trot including two over World Champion and, as of Saturday night, world number one South Africa. And aside from the traditional bollocking by New Zealand (which it’s like we just sort of cop and move on), there’s been plenty to like.
I liked Matt Philip, five minutes from the end of the second Argentina Test match that Australia was definitely going to win, exhorting his scrum-mates to “Come on!” He was a big body in the middle, throwing it about, pressure game on point.
I liked Len Ikitau, whether he was going to the line, feeding supports or grass-cutting runners. Looks a beaut, young Lenny.
(Photo by Getty Images)
I liked the use of Tate McDermott and Nic White in tandem. Different players, different men. I don’t mind who wants to be Aaron Smith and who TJ Perenara, just keep on truckin’, cobbers.
I liked the bustling, all-action backrow – Rob Valetini, Lachie Swinton, Pete Samu – big bodies, high pressure, hard charges. Simple, brutal. Top stuff.
I liked Noah Lolesio and Hunter Paisami. Yes, those intercept passes. But, sports fans, know this: under instruction they were being themselves. Expressing themselves and “playing” rugby. Best of all they were having a go. And if nothing else, the Kiwi Dave Rennie has tapped into one key part of our Aussie psyche: Have a go, you mug!
I liked that Rennie picked pretty much whoever he liked. And back they came – Quade Cooper (Quade Cooper!), Sean McMahon, Samu Kerevi, Izack Rodda, Pete Samu – the so-called Giteau Law despatched like so much red tape. Top stuff, extraordinary times. They even brought back Greg Holmes (Greg Holmes!) who debuted for Queensland when Lolesio was five.
Most of all, though, I liked the following, the standouts for the green-and-gold, the men who represent, potentially, those half-dozen or so world class players that Bob Dwyer once opined every Rugby World Cup-winning nation needs.
Top of the list, Taniela Tupou. How about him. Ben Alexander played 72 Tests for Australia and says our man Tongan Thor is everything he wanted to be. Quick enough, agile, skilful, and a tremendous force at breakdown and scrum. And he can play big minutes.
From the middle to the outer rim and Andrew Kellaway debuted for Australia aged 25 after several years in the wilderness. Yet it’s been the making of him. He was a kid who bitched he wanted play fullback, now he’s a man who worked out he can play anywhere and enjoy it mightily. And he’s smokin’ it up.
Quade Cooper was everything you want in a No.10: Calm, skilful, a communicator, a distributor. Deft kicks. Slick ball work. Top options. And subtle. So subtle. Ball in hand, he’s shelved the pogo stick manoeuvres of a young Benji Marshall or Carlos Spencer for a more measured and yet perhaps more potent approach.
It’s not all about him in the No.10, it’s about the men around him. The team. If he stays fit – and stays over at Sonny Bill Williams’ place a bit more – who wouldn’t want 35-year-old Quade Cooper in the World Cup squad? Answer: All Blacks; Springboks; Poms.
Samu Kerevi came back from Japan better than when he left. The No.12 carved up in the middle. Low centre of gravity, a hip-bump like a fat little dodgem car, the big dogs of world rugby will need to double-team him with aggressive forwards to help out out-gunned backs. Absolute weapon. Maybe get him over for a stay at SBW’s place, too.
Marika Koroibete has almost re-invented wing play in that he does what he does, at high speed, all across the park. More incisive than Leigh Sales.
And of course, perhaps best to last, was the skipper: Michael Hooper, who like Serevi has perhaps returned a better player from his “sabbatical” in Japan.
Hooper was everywhere. And he was there at speed. And he ran and he ran and he ran. And he tackled. And worked in dark places. And he still, somehow, managed to talk with referees like the head prefect at Shore showing visitors through a dormitory.
And good luck to him. The man’s been world class a long time. And seems he may have some mates along for the ride.
And you wouldn’t miss it for quids.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Good luck with the haircuts. And the Wallabies are way better than the ABs who must have a lot of money on who finishes the season with the rudest cut.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Why is this guy writing here? Why are they PAYING him? Get rid of this nonsense.
Buk
Roar Rookie
Great article, liked your 'Samu Kerevi ... Low centre of gravity, a hip-bump like a fat little dodgem car,' analogy :happy:
quagmire
Guest
Yep, it's sad there has been a lot of wasted talent through player mismanagement, poor selections, players out of position, failure to improve skill-sets etc. Joe Schmidt in Ireland showed what can be done with the shallowest of player resources. Australia could never claim to have a shallow pool of talent especially when factoring in disenfranchised players o/s. Did Rennie have to do many things right? Or just not so many things wrong?
Marlin
Roar Rookie
Reckons. And they all need to wear the same length. Long. Its called a uniform for a reason. Next let's address the crook haircuts. They are not flashy individuals (or they shouldn't be) they are in a team. Time to get fair dinkum
Pogo
Roar Rookie
Great article. And I like that Rennie backs young and old. Gives each a shot and figures out who is best and bringing the better combinations. Perhaps more significantly your article points to a change in culture - pride in the jumper, playing for the team, but still respecting life outside the game like returning home for the birth of your child. That speaks to a coach whose knows humanity and seeks perfection in some sort of balance that is only possible in a team sport where strengths and weaknesses, injuries and fitness, youth and experience can be balanced. Getting a little philosophical there :-).
Chester B
Roar Rookie
Great article but also a sad reflection of the Wallaby culture (hopefully of years gone by). What Dave Rennie has managed to do is get players to treasure wearing that gold jersey again. The humility and gratitude of returning players Quade, Samu K, McMahon and Holmes to the Wallaby set up is sending a message to the younger guys not to take their spots for granted.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Thanks MC, that was joyful.
Rhino11
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the article Matt. Watching the excitement and genuine camraderie at the selection meetings each week shows that pride in the WB Jersey is there. I remember watching some of our great cricketers getting picked as youngsters , getting dropped and fighting back into the team & they were better for it. The Waugh brothers, Hayden & Slats all came back better the second time around. I'm hopeful that the same can happen to Noah & Harry W next season as we are going to need all of them come France '23. I think it will be a great Spring Tour and I'll be staying up watching the tv to, 'Dream that impossible dream!'
JC
Roar Rookie
We’re walking on sunshine right now, Matt, but the Wallabies are definitely a ‘four seasons in one day’ kind of team. We should pack an umbrella for the Spring Tour just in case. BTW, how can you leave us all with the same questions? Who were the two Wallabies speaking out of turn at the golf day? And who was the one who eyeballed the mouthy pair until they shut up?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Nice work Matt. “ Quade Cooper was everything you want in a No.10: Calm, skilful, a communicator, a distributor. Deft kicks. Slick ball work. Top options. And subtle. So subtle. Ball in hand, he’s shelved the pogo stick manoeuvres” I follow rugby, I’ve realised, partly because of an unresolved belief in fairytales. The trajectory of Kellaway, Quade, Holmes are cases in point.
Solomon Waqa
Guest
Wallabies all the way!!!
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Matt From the middle to the outer rim and Andrew Kellaway debuted for Australia aged 25 after several years in the wilderness. Yet it’s been the making of him. There’s a lot of what Wallabies could have been, if this was more typical path for youngstar youngsters. Whole generation promoted to test level, before fully mastering their gameship. Our ‘if you’re good enough’ approach tends to ignore ‘how good you might one day become’. Cheers KP
Birthday Suit
Roar Rookie
Love this article. Sure, it’s probably a slightly overly optimistic view but really, who cares? When is the last time us Wallabies fans have had a chance to think like this with any sort of claim to realism. For the first time in at least a decade it feels like the fundamental building blocks are there for us to be a genuine top 2-3 team for the rest of this World Cup cycle and until it’s proven otherwise, this is a hill I will absolutely die on. How good is rugby!
Jimbob
Roar Rookie
Great article – sums up my much more positive feelings about the wallabies perfectly. The team has balance now and are so much better for it. For a good while now we have had good young athletes that could get into games but couldn’t stay there. Now with the return of the old heads we have a much more complete team. The value of experience at test level is so important – this rugby championship has really proven this. Cooper looks genuinely world class – his maturity as a player and a man really shines through – as a 10 he seems to literally and spiritually guide this team – instead of trying to force things all of a sudden we are riding the difficult moments, making the right choices to get out of difficult positions and pouncing on our chances when they come. For the first time in a very long team it feels like we actually have our ‘best’ 15 on the field. It feels like this team has enough rugby (and life) experience to be able to be understand and execute a game plan that is based around the knowledge that you win tests with hard work, patience and most importantly by making a series of small ‘right’ choices compound into opportunities and winning positions. No more trying to win it all at once by gambling big on every play. Instead mature patient and composed ‘test’ rugby. Add to this an all blacks team that is back to playing it’s own brand of high speed, high skill rugby and a boks team that has seemingly worked its way back to being its best version of itself and this has been a great rugby championship. I would add that for me the reffing in the aussie games has been excellent – reffing is bloody hard but it felt like the games the English refs covered while not perfect seemed to put the teams performance at the centre of winning rather than refs. Overall lots to feel good about for a change.
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
Ok I love this article and particularly about dispatching the Giteau as red tape! It was always BS protectionist policy. It’s it all about the fine details when you want to be the best in a super competitive environment? The Wallabies need to fix the sock top yellow to be turned into gold to match the jersey. Who is in charge of this stuff? It just goes to show that there is still work to be done with personnel changes at Wallaby management. Sloppy!
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Rennie has done a great job of coaching the wallabies. What a difference kerevi and QC make to the team. We'd be speaking very differently without those 2 players right now. With the addition of Arnold, this Wallabies team really is deserved of top 3 position in the world. To’omua won't play for the wallabies again so id draw attention to that and thank him for his service to wallaby rugby. Oh hang on, he was the perfect foil to QC going back 4 or 5 seasons ago on the northern hemisphere tour. Who knows, he could be a feature if his form is consistent and he stays fit. Is he injured? Thinking he is.
Lr6050
Guest
Definitely the year of the calm, experienced veteran to return. First Quade then Frans Steyn with his kicking display against the AB’s. Lots to feel good about this Rugby Championship.
Cheika_Mate
Roar Rookie
Who says rugby is a young man’s game. Yep Ikitau, Swain, Kellaway have been revaluations but it’s the old heads that has given us a platform or should I say evened up the playing field. Can’t buy experience.