If you say that the Tri Nations was devalued by our opponents and thus means f all then by the same token you could say we devalued the Samoa game and thus the loss there means f all.
Wallabies Year in Review - John O'Neill
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waratahjesus
Greg Davis (50)
No u can't, cos our beloved coach spent four years creating "depth" that the somoan team ripped apart and exposed for the world to see. It was also the moment he panicked and changed the four years of planning to what we saw at the world cup. The Tri-nations 2011 means as much as the big win over France a couple of years back and nothing more.
Swat
Chilla Wilson (44)
It has been a long time since we've had consistant selections... 10 years ago your average punter could pick most of the team before the official team announcement and even if you didn't you had a fair idea who the options were for each position. With the 'pick a player in his position' method chucked out the window you've got as much chance as a blind man in a dark room looking for a black hat that isn't even there...
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
The players who played the samoa game were all quallity players. They took the opposition lightly and got their arses kicked for it. Can't really blame the coach for that one. Some very senior player were amongst that group might I add.
If I was to blame JON/Deans for one thing it would be the change of captain. The change was good but why didn't it happen at the beginning of the international season rather than half way through? The justifacation was there from the start with Rocky's injuries and severe lack of game time.
If I was to blame JON/Deans for one thing it would be the change of captain. The change was good but why didn't it happen at the beginning of the international season rather than half way through? The justifacation was there from the start with Rocky's injuries and severe lack of game time.
EVERYFWDTHINKTHEYREA6OR7
Syd Malcolm (24)
Screw the haters. We have beaten one of the best teams of all time twice in our last 4 outings. I'm proud of them all. Everyone one of them. Except higgers. Youre paid to catch the damn ball kid.
W
What2040
Guest
Hey swat enjoy the half headie- take her to dinner - get married and thats the end of them
waratahjesus
Greg Davis (50)
I don't feel likeim filled with rage, yet I find myself shocked that anyone would consider 2011 a positive one for the wallabies.
Brumbies Guy
John Solomon (38)
So to put this year into perspective, when would you say was the last positive year for the Wallabies WJ?
D
daz
Guest
waratahjesus
Greg Davis (50)
Would you say this year was better when compared to the world cup years of 2007 or 2003?
Set piece magic
John Solomon (38)
20x better than 2007, 2007 was an abysmal year.
Not as good as 2003. That was a huge year, we hosted, huge amount of publicity and lost in extra time in the final.
Some memorable quotes 03'
Tuqiri!!!!!!!!! HOW GOOD WAS THAT?? - Gordon Bray after Lote Tuqiri makes a linebreak by running, jumping over the defense and taking a bomb in the process in the semi final
Heartbreaker for the Wallabies
Rogers.... Rogers!!!! and Sailor
Larkham. Charging!!! Straight through, fullback to beat!
Referee Chris White blows his whistle, that's full time! And the Wallabies; become the first team ever to qualify for three rugby world cup finals.
Flatley hammered!
The balls loose and waughs pounced on it like a seagull onto a hot chip!
And look at George Gregan... Four more years boys, four more years.
Not as good as 2003. That was a huge year, we hosted, huge amount of publicity and lost in extra time in the final.
Some memorable quotes 03'
Tuqiri!!!!!!!!! HOW GOOD WAS THAT?? - Gordon Bray after Lote Tuqiri makes a linebreak by running, jumping over the defense and taking a bomb in the process in the semi final
Heartbreaker for the Wallabies
Rogers.... Rogers!!!! and Sailor
Larkham. Charging!!! Straight through, fullback to beat!
Referee Chris White blows his whistle, that's full time! And the Wallabies; become the first team ever to qualify for three rugby world cup finals.
Flatley hammered!
The balls loose and waughs pounced on it like a seagull onto a hot chip!
And look at George Gregan... Four more years boys, four more years.
Garry Owen
Chris McKivat (8)
wooaaah there big fella!
Our collective supporter souls have all taken a pounding over the past four years, and, admittedly, there seems a mirage-like glow at the end of the tunnel. But one of the consequences of the WB's lack of consistency is that our hearts have become hardened, and our levels of expectations have dropped to rock bottom. It is understandable, it's less painful that way, and we ease the pain by telling our selves that we did our best, we just weren't good enough.
Luckily, before I read your posts, this week I had just watched a series of clips on the Telegraph (I think, don't quote me) highlighting past Wallaby champions, and their motivations/ experiences. It was a good shot in the arm, and I recommend it to all WB supporters who need a fix. They recalled not only times when the WB's were not expected to beat the Blacks (hell, not even lesser opponents), but also rosier times, when we as supporters has loftier expectations for our team.
From your reference to the seventies, I can tall that you have known good times, as well as bad? Let me take you back for a sec to the TV campaign for the green movement (I think it was) when it was all getting a roll on in the early eighties. Their catch phrase was 'what if near enough was good enough?'. What if near enough was good enough for Captain Cook? Recall it? I think at this point it is a poignant question that needs to asked of our expectations, and to be asked to keep our 2011 results in perspective.
What if close enough had been good enough for our '91 side against Ireland? It would have been an excusable loss after the Gordon Hamilton try for Australia to have been beaten, and the occasion to be written off as 'Irish destiny'.
What if close enough had been good enough for our '99 side against the Boks in the finals. It was a close one, and we supporters would have probably accepted a close loss to a quality side like them. We would have welcomed our boys home with open arms and pats on the back as we have this year. But those players and management were not content with that out come.
Fortunately for us supporters, we have become accustomed to our teams striving and achieving that extra bit. And this not only refers to our players. That extra bit that is the difference between winning the tight games, between bringing home the Cup and not, includes the coaches and support staff. Ask Mcqueen and Dwyer and I'm sure they will tell you what a complete group task is involved in it.
This time around it feels like we were lacking something to go all the way. And from the high and low quality of our sporadic hot &c old performances over the last four years, I'm not so sure it was the player potential. Hell, if you're old enough to remember, you must be honest with yourself and admit that we've had less quality sides that have achieved more. Look at other sides around the world that have to aspire with less than what we have. They would kill to have a Kurtley Beale in their ranks, and he'd be placed on a podium, and their entire backline plays based around him.
From our past four years' performances, it just seems obvious that we have lacked the coaching staff to get the best from our individuals, and to provide a structured platform that would allow their individual brilliance's to combine into something greater. You just couldn't imagine a Macqueen or a Dwyer, or for that matter a Knuckles, letting this opportunity slide.
I guess my point is yes, we WB supporters have high expectations, but they are hard earned. It may come off as 'hard to please', but I prefer to call it 'easy to disappoint'.
Anyhow, too much of the christmas cheer, ....let's have a winfield.
Iluvmyfooty
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Can I just ask everyone given the year the Wallabies have had and their problems with playing at a consistent level every test (which i believe is their major problem) do you consider the state of rugby in this country and the quality of player we see at all levels (Schools, club state and national) higher now in 2011 than in the days of Jones and Connelly and the early 2000's. I know we had some true champions in this time (Larkham, Gregan, Giteau) but is the depth of quality player deeper than in those days.
I believe it is and for this reason I think that it has been a year of promise and positives. If only we can get the national team playing every test at the same level of skill imagination and intensity that they have shown in wins against the AB's, Saffers and French in recent years
I believe it is and for this reason I think that it has been a year of promise and positives. If only we can get the national team playing every test at the same level of skill imagination and intensity that they have shown in wins against the AB's, Saffers and French in recent years
Garry Owen
Chris McKivat (8)
Is that condition a result of adapting to having little conceivable structured game plan at a national level?
Garry Owen
Chris McKivat (8)
It's a great question, and a difficult one to compare.
my 2 cents.
These days we have another one or two additional franchises filled with potential, to market locally and scout for new talent. Coincidentally we are seeing a new group of rising champions with the nucleus based in one club (Reds), just like the players you've mentioned that were in the Brumbies. That familiarity and cohesion between players has obvious advantages when they come together at a national level. And we are seeing quality coaching at a franchise level, particularly at those two teams mentioned, as it has been in the past.
What is missing is a higher standard of coaching at a national level. The ability to take players from different style franchise playing environments, and train them to suit another (maybe) different game plan that considers all the strengths and weaknesses of the group.
T
Train Without a Station
Guest
Exactly. In 07 we had a great win in Melbourne, and a record win over the Boks in Bris. Plus as far as I can remember we were competitive against the AB's in the other too outings... No Eden Park performances anyway... Just because some fucked ranking system lands us at 2nd despite finishing 3rd in the tournament the past 4 years have been sacrificed to win, how exactly have we come so far from then. Sure we lasted 1 more week in a comp we were never there to win, but what else? As mentioned, the supposed depth was shown to be a fallacy... Forwards have possibly gone backwards... 4 years well spent...
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