I stand before you…no…sit before you??? No.
Type before you?
Yes, I type before you a man who has had to serve myself a big old slice of humble pie. Call this my search of absolution if you will. I have sat in a room of mirrors and taken a good long look at myself. I’ve made mistakes and said some wrongs. I allowed parochial passion to get in the way unerring support. And it’s time to man up and right the wrongs.
I don’t want this to sound like me jumping back on the band wagon, because I’ve always supported the Wallabies and always will, but mistakes have been made and it’s time to rectify them.
So here we go. My five biggest failings as an Australian rugby fan this past twelve months.
Coach Cheika
When Michael Cheika took over the Wallaby role a little over 12 months ago I was bitter. I admit, being a Queenslander I drank at the altar of Ewen McKenzie and I was pissed off when he quit the Wallabies. I was frustrated because I thought he was the man who would right the sinking ship of Australian Rugby having previously done it for my beloved Queensland Reds. I was positive things were on the right direction despite the off-field issues. And then, following a brilliant game against the All Blacks, he was gone. And I was angry.
The initial focus was on the ‘selfish players’ who I thought put themselves before their country. I felt they forced Link’s hand and when Cheika was appointed he became the next target. In reality you could never argue that Cheika was not the man for the job considering his success with the Tahs. But I hated the way it happened and my perception was that the Tah players got their way. I was also pissed off that he would remain coach of NSW whilst also being Wallaby coach. To me that undermined the position and I feared one of the teams would suffer for it, most likely the Wallabies
In reality Cheika has been amazing in what he has done in the time he has. There can be absolutely no question as to his commitment to the Wallabies, their success, their culture and their history. His influence on the team is equal parts easy to see but also difficult to put your finger on. Perhaps in the end it comes down to accountability? That seems to be the defining factor in this Wallaby team. Cheika has them accountable for their performance and attitude. Even more impressive is that he holds himself accountable for his own performance.
Regardless of what this Wallaby team achieves in this weekend’s Rugby World Cup final against the All Blacks, Cheika has already succeeded in getting the Wallaby train back on the right tracks and heading in the right direction. Long may it continue.
Personal Turning Point – The photos of the early morning hill sprint session the day after the John Eales Medal ceremony and the day the Wallabies would fly out to commence their RWC campaign, with Cheika leading the charge right alongside the team.
So Michael – I’m sorry for taking my frustration around the circumstances of your appointment out on you and your reputation as a coach. You’ve lead the charge in bringing pride back into the Wallaby jersey. A pride that is seemingly shared by both fans and players alike.
Foley at flyhalf
I was dead-set adamant that Bernard Foley was not a flyhalf that could lead his country to victory at the Rugby World Cup. He’d obviously done a good job for the Tahs and helped deliver a maiden Super Rugby trophy, but I felt he still relied on those around him to make things happen. I felt he went missing at key times in games, as his team looked for the likes of Beale and Folau to make something happen.
Even when he played for the Wallabies I still couldn’t see anything that would convince me that this man would be the quarterback for our national rugby team. The Lynagh type that would dictate the game and control the play exactly how his team needed. The Larkham type who could break a tight match open with a raking kick, pinpoint pass or magical run.
I saw none of that in Foley. Resignation, however, reigned as I watched Quade Cooper struggle to reclaim his form of 2011. I’m one of the biggest QC devotees out there and I think he is probably the most naturally skilful player in Australian Rugby. However for all his skill I had to begrudgingly admit that his moments of magic were being overshadowed by mistakes or misjudgements and he was probably too much of a risk. I wanted to see Giteau and Toomua given a go, either at 10 or just as a combination, but as the season progressed it was clear that Foley was going to be our flyhalf and I just had to prepare myself for that.
But this tournament has been an awakening or sorts. I’d hesitate to say it was the awakening of Foley himself, rather just a greater appreciation of what he can do. He’s proven himself the man to wear the 10 jersey for the Wallabies for years to come (injuries permitting). Let’s just start with his goal kicking, which has been critical for us this tournament. His passing game has been superb, general play kicking? First class. Running game? Smart and sniping. General play kicking – at times brilliant. Even in defence he’s made some critical plays that have saved certain tries.
At the moment he is playing as well as any flyhalf in world rugby and standing up and doing it himself, front and centre. No hiding and relying on his outside men to make things happen. He’s been the Wallaby go to person this tournament and hasn’t shirked the opportunity provided him.
Personal Turning Point – The England game naturally. It was without doubt the finest Wallaby flyhalf performance I have seen for many a year. Perhaps going back as far as 2001. It was just the perfect combination of everything you look for in a flyhalf performance. From there he’s been able to back up and produce again and again, perhaps not as consistently through a match, but when his team needs him, he’s been there.
So Bernard, to you I apologise. For doubting your abilities at the highest level and, let’s be open here, secretly death riding you on more than a couple of occasions. I enjoy the fact I can now watch again with complete confidence with our key playmaker.
The foreign legion
When I heard that Cheika was considering picking Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau for the Wallabies, from their base in Toulon, I was pretty angry. To me it was a slap in the face of the players that had committed to Australian rugby and chosen to remain here to play Super Rugby. Their reward should have been the Wallaby jersey, not a couple of ‘mercenaries’ in Europe.
Throw in the ‘rule changes’ that freed up Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas’s selection and things were beginning to stink for me. It just all seemed so wrong. Surely the players who play the domestic competition should remain the preference? The guys playing against each other every week? The guys matching up to key players from the Springboks and All Blacks? Plus I hated the whole ‘cake and eat it’ feel about these ex-pats coming straight back into the Wallaby squad. Particularly when they hadn’t proved themselves. To me Gits and Drew were just playing for some dodgy French retirement village team whilst Douglas was struggling to find form wherever he was. Mumm I just never really rated as much of a player anyway.
But I have to admit, whilst it still grates on me a little, I can’t deny it has all come up Millhouse. Gits has been a perfect fit for the 12 jersey and you can see his experience come into effect regularly throughout the recent run of key games. Douglas has been nothing short of incredible of late and has provided the physical impact on games we’ve needed to match with the likes of England and Wales. Mitchell, like Giteau, has provided a level-headedness at the back whilst his strength and clever lines have been a real asset for the Wallabies. Even Mumm has demonstrated his worth off the bench in providing high impact involvements. I’d also suggest all four have been training the house down mid-week and setting the right example to the entire squad.
Personal Turning Point – Drew’s run in the lead up to AAC’s third try against Argentina. Douglas has been wonderful, and Giteau valuable but this was the moment where one of them produced a piece of magic that sets them apart and would be talked about for ages.
So to Drew and Gits, again, sorry for doubting your commitment to the Wallaby cause. I somehow thought your passion for the jersey would have been somewhat reduced given your time living the life in France. To you both as well as Kane and Dean, it’s been a thrill to watch the passion and enthusiasm you all bring to the green and gold. Let’s do it again this weekend!
The real Beale
When Kurtley Beale took the field as a replacement for the Wallabies in their test against Ireland on last year’s UK tour, I was pretty fed up with Australian Rugby. Without rehashing all the drama around his role in the demise of McKenzie, I was pretty pissed off that Beale could seemingly just waltz back into the Wallaby team with seemingly everything forgotten.
Move forward to this year and there was umming and ahhing about contract renewals and how Cheika wanted to have him remain in Australian rugby. I struggled to support the calls and couldn’t see why we would back someone who was so ‘flakey’ and not really done anything for Australian rugby for a number of years.
Now I am going to put aside any of his off-field discretions because it all honesty I am in no position to judge him on his past actions and nor do I know his current state of mind. What I will say is that he has been fantastic this RWC.
I’m not talking about his run at fullback against Uruguay (where he was decent enough), but rather his impact from the bench in all subsequent games. Against England he came on in the 11th minute for Rob Horne and played the house down the rest of the match on the wing. Against Wales he wasn’t needed until the 67th minute, this time for Drew Mitchell also on the wing. Against Scotland he played fullback for the entire game with Folau ruled out through injury. Finally against Argentina he came on in the 47th minute for Giteau, played inside centre for a while before Folau was replaced by Matty Toomu and Beale slipped back to fullback.
On each occasion Beale has come into the game and looked completely comfortable and, quite often, the most likely player to make a break. In fact if a Team of the World Cup was selected Beale would be the first player picked on the bench, such has his contributions as a finisher has been. He looks as fit as he’s ever been which points to the attitude being right and the commitment being there.
Personal Turning Point – The match against Argentina proved one thing – that we can cope without Israel Folau. Folau was a late confirmation for this test and whilst he played, he was below his usual standard and left the field early. Previously many of us had been of the belief that a half fit Izzy was better than any alternative we have. Given recent performances however, Beale has proved that he is quite legitimately a strong option to play fullback this weekend given Folau’s recent form.
So Kurtley, I apologise for just wanting Australian Rugby to disregard you completely and cast you aside. I can only (and should only) comment on what I see firsthand and you are playing the house down and look completely committed and focussed on the task at hand.
Wallaby chances
As we closed in on the RWC I didn’t rate the Wallabies’ chances of getting out of our pool. It’s pretty clear given the above points that I had a number of concerns (issues?) with the Wallaby team, and when you put them together with the end of year tour last year; I just couldn’t see us getting over England and Wales to advance to the Quarter Finals.
All the above pretty much sums it up, but I didn’t think Cheika could turn the attitude of the team around. I didn’t think we had the quality of players in the right positions. From my perspective their attitude was astray and at times it looked like they didn’t care. I didn’t think some of our key players were in form and I thought England and Wales were way more advanced in their preparation than we were.
I was wrong. In every facet I was wrong. Australia has already achieved so much in this World Cup. Defeating England so comprehensively at Twickenham, and knocking them out of their own World Cup, was huge. Backing it up a week later and defeating Wales, whilst down to 13 men, was massive. Keeping their composure to defeat Scotland and then defeating Argentina, arguably the form team of the tournament, are all massive accomplishments. None of this I would have backed us to achieve pre-tournament.
How wrong I was.
Personal Turning Point – The England game was significant, but for mine it was the Welsh win that convinced me. How we still won that game when we didn’t play to the same level as the previous week and then had to hold on with only 13 men, still amazes me. That magical seven or so minutes camped on our line, two men down, demonstrated the belief this team has. In themselves, in each other. It was a level of belief that I just didn’t have myself.
So to the entire Wallaby team and support staff – a final ‘sorry’. You’ve been awesome this World Cup. You’ve made the middle of the night and early morning wake-ups worthwhile. In fact they’ve been something to look forward to. I am looking forward to doing it again this Saturday night, and I’ll be waking up the family to sit there with me and cheer you on because, regardless of the result this weekend, you are a team who has earnt our respect and made supporting the Wallabies something we can all 100% get behind again.
Good luck team.
