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Opinion
I remember back in the 1980s being nervous every time the All Blacks played Australia, as the Wallabies had a great team built on belief and real intensity.
Watching Enrique Rodriguez and co winning the Bledisloe Cup and drinking from it in wild celebrations gave me nothing but respect for those great players.
During the national anthem they would have their hands on the badge while singing loud and proud. You could see firsthand that they had no fear. They relished every challenge.
Every Wallabies player trusted and understood the player next to him. They also completely trusted the game plan imparted to them by the coach.
When a player put on that famous gold jersey they understood that it was not a right but an honour bestowed on them. They represented a nation that understood the identity of the iconic brand.
Nick Farr-Jones said it best when he stated that they were not just friends but brothers, and they represented all brothers and sisters of Australia.
He was a fantastic player on the field and a great person off it, and he wore his heart on his Wallabies jersey.
The great Wallabies teams all had equally great Australian coaches who understood the history of the jersey and just as importantly got the supporters onboard by understanding and respecting the vision of their team.
Fast-forward to the current Wallabies and it is hard to see the players and coaches implementing the history and putting the jersey first – and realising what an honour it is to represent a nation of 26 million people.
The players
There are certain players – for example Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper and Marika Koroibete – for whom putting on the gold jersey brings out the best of them. Nic White is another. He’s mouthy like many players at No. 9, but his passion cannot be doubted, and he provides great service to those outside him while commanding the forwards.
Then you have players who struggle to take the step up with consistency. Bernard Foley has come back in but has struggled to control his game and lacks the all-round game required of a world-class No. 10.
Foley also puts pressure on the defensive line by being weak in tackles, which means others have to cover him, which in turn can lead to them being fatigued.
Skelton is going to be given his chance against France. He has played limited Tests in the past mainly by coming off the bench. But that is understandable, as he has struggled to be a dominant factor. This could be his last chance to prove himself worthy.
Skelton will know the French more than anyone by playing in France, but they also know him well, so he needs to stand up for the Wallabies to have a realistic chance of victory.
Many players appear to be concentrating on themselves rather than the good of the jersey. Do they really understand the history and meaning of the gold and green?
The coach
Being a coach from another country brought into a team such as the Wallabies is a tough ask, especially trying to get them back to being a genuine force again.
Having not coached a Super Rugby team in Australia makes it even tougher to understand the culture and expectations of the players and supporters.
Dave Rennie rotating certain positions regularly is not having a positive effect on the players or team. Positions 6, 2, 10 and 15 are just some examples of where he still does not know the players he wants, as he does at Nos. 1 and 2.
Australia is struggling with a coach of the quality required to lead the Wallabies, so this has to be a priority. Surely only an Australian can understand the history of the jersey and the culture required to wear it.
The coaches need to instil the meaning of the jersey and what is expected of every player in every player when wearing the iconic colours.
The players need to have the attitude that they wear the gold jersey for only a limited time frame, so they must play with passion while understanding that the supporters are behind them – but they also have expectations.
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.