This isn’t a preview of the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, Brian Smith has already done a very good job of that.
This is a call to arms.
There was a time of despair, after the last-gasp win over Scotland, when I thought there was no way the Wallabies could possibly beat Los Pumas this week. The Argies had just played like demons to steamroll the Irish. We’d played like drains against Scotland.
It was a long, dark tea-time of the soul, except the tea was breakfast tea, due to the game being played in distant Mordor.
But I came to my senses. I remembered July in Mendoza, where the Wallabies ran out convincing winners against this Argentine team, 34-9. I remembered that we won the Rugby Championship. I remembered that we’re 9-1 up this year in internationals. I remembered the rambunctious win against New Zealand. I remembered England, and Wales. These Wallabies aren’t suddenly a bad team. I’d be shocked if we gave up an intercept try, and a charge down try, and an undefended ruck pillar try, two games in a row.
If we do, then we’ll lose. But we won’t. Mistake-ridden play hasn’t been a feature of this year’s Wallaby performances. It’s been the exception. We’ve had two bad games out of ten. I expect it to stop there.
There’s a lingering sense of pessimism about this Wallaby team, as though we’re imposters. Some people seem reluctant to ever predict a win, in case we should lose. Well, get your hands off it, and back onto the trophy that we’re playing for!
I mean, what’s the point of following sports, if all it does is make you feel bad?
Whatever happens from this point onwards, it’s been a very good year for the Wallabies. We should all feel good (and proud) about that. The players and coaches – the people who actually matter in this sport – have done it for us.
There are so many good things about where we are now. For the first time ever, we have two teams of more-or-less equal strength to choose from. We have some great players, and plenty of good ones. Right now our front row and our back row forwards are all at least in the conversation for World XV selection. When has that ever happened before?
We’re justifiably talking up our scrum as a weapon against good scrummaging teams. When has that ever happened before?
We’re yet to find full form. The backline hasn’t clicked so far. We certainly haven’t peaked.
And we’re still in this tournament. All things being equal, we should beat a good Argentinean team tomorrow night, and then beat the Saffers in the final of the Rugby World Cup next week.
Do you see what I did there?
Go Wallabies!
