What you thought vs Scotland - Part 3

Many of those who wrote in believe the Wallabies can bounce back tonight.

In our final instalment from the Men of Gold Mailbox after Scotland we look at some of the more positive emails we received in the hope that they might inspire our Wallabies shortly before they run out to face the mighty red army in Cardiff tonight (Sunday morning 4.15AM AEDT).

First up this email from Matthew Craze:

“I think it is easy to forget just how young the Wallabies team is and the lack of experience that most have at international level. The Wallabies are rebuilding under Robbie Deans, and look to be setting themselves for a Rugby World Cup tilt in 2011.

Australian Rugby is on the back foot against all the other football codes currently which means greater pressure on the Wallabies to get wins, get the public interested and also help to fill the ARU treasure chest in the process.

The team is rebuilding from a squad that had lost most of its big name leaders 1-2 years ago and currently you could say nearly the entire squad will be young enough to compete at the next 2 RWCs. With youth you have the highs and lows but it will harden this team, they show great potential, if they can get the killer instinct they will be hard to beat in years to come.

Yes we want a winning Wallabies team but it has showed just how this young side has handled the pressure in tight contests in the last 2 weeks even in the Bledisloe results, they just need more time to gel together and get confidence in their ability.

To win against Wales all the team needs to do is be more patient in offence, too often against Ireland and Scotland they rushed the offence when they were 5 metres out and trying to get quick ball turning it over, they almost looked nervous every time they saw the try line.

The team just needs a small mental adjustment and play like the hunter and not the hunted. They need to stand up as a unit and get physical and intimidate the opposition, we just look a little soft, so our opposition is not nervous enough when we take it to them.

The Wallabies have been “unlucky” in their last 2 encounters to come away winless, but as the cliché says you need to make your own luck, that comes with confidence.”

Thanks Matthew, Men of Gold is “crazy” about that email.

Also this very interesting email from Christopher Chynoweth, illustrating that in such a competitive sporting market-place, why the Wallabies winning is so important to the health of our code in Australia:

“AS much as I want to be an optimist, losing to Scotland with the side that we have and the side the Scots had is unforgivable, and demonstrates we will not win the Rugby World Cup in 2011. (Not sure about that – MOG) Deans is a good coach, and the Wallabies are actually quite gifted, but as a team we do not gel and we're just not good enough collectively to be a world beater or what the Australian public expects.

This year we failed to beat Italy heavily at home, lost 6 out of  7 against South Africa and New Zealand, and our only international win on tour was a relatively close one against an English 2nd XV. Hate to say it, but next week we'll go down again to Wales by about 10 points, if we're lucky.

It is probably time for us as supporters to be content with less, because in effect, we're probably only 6th best in the world behind New Zealand, South Africa, France, Ireland, Wales. It’s disappointing, but maybe we should focus on Super 14 and our domestic sides, because, although still slim, states sides have more chances of winning substantial awards (i.e. Brumbies or Waratahs).

Crowds are dropping, players are leaving, TV ratings are slumping, and our national team has been on the wane since 2004. However the reverse is happening in South Africa and Europe, magnifying the effect of the decline. The game may well be dying here, which is quite sad.”

The other way to look at it is the Wallabies losing to Scotland just shows how strong Rugby is now internationally – but that of course doesn’t ease the pain of the loss.

Mark Condon thinks we are on the right track: “at some point the Deans' Factor WILL kick in.

I believe it is not far away that the Wallabies will click and we will see a vastly improved and penetrative side. I agree with Bob Dwyer we need World Class Locks, but that will happen. As in tough times there will be a turnaround, it's a matter for belief and time.”

Roy Chan was tipping Quade Cooper for a big one against Wales: “I see Quade Cooper growing both physically and mentally throughout the tour.

He is so much more mature now. He created a lot of chances in the match especially when he uses the forwards. Also his determination whether to kick or pass improved so much compared to the Ireland test.

I thought his little chips and grubbers was quite effective. He was very unlucky on the possible try towards the end where he was penalized for the forward pass to Drew Mitchell (it was a bit of a harsh call).

He was always criticized for his defensive game but i thought it really lifted. I think this is probably his first test where he didn’t miss a tackle at all. (He had a good hit on Scot's fullback too). His superb footwork nearly broke the line on couple of occasion.”

Jeremy from Melbourne had some simple solutions: “What the Wallabies need to do now is go out against Wales and destroy them. Take them to pieces, score 50 unanswered points, and leave Warren Gatland remembering the bitter taste of losing to a superb Rugby side, reminiscent of the Super 14. No quarter given, and if anyone has enough energy left to even stagger off the field at full time, then they didn't work hard enough and should lose their match fees. Give Dingo Deans something to smile about for once this year, poor bugger.”

John Drysdale (a fan since 1948) gave some bullet points:

“1. Giteau...move to inside centre

2. Stop midless midfield kicking

3. Forwards concentrate for 80 mins; no bludging on the ground at the breakdown.

4. No wasteful crossfield passes when fielding kicks; run, run, run.”

John Morton from Grafton in NSW “would not have been so disappointed had the Wallabies played poorly. Clearly they played well and dominated the game, which makes the loss so much harder to accept. Regardless, we lost because of failings and therefore necessary to identify them and accept responsibility.

It will be hard for the run-on side next week (against Wales) not to carry onto the field the burden of the Scotland game and that should be a key focus in this week's build-up, simply the best foot forward stuff. The whole squad have obviously made significant gains since the last All Black Test, don't undo all those good, hard gained skills. Good luck guys.”

Susan Taylor showed some common sense: “It was good Rugby. For the first time I saw all of the Wallabies on the same page. We actually crossed the line 3 times, albeit didn’t reap the benefits but a concerted team effort went into those tries. 

Being held up over the line is more of a credit to the defensive team than a critique of our attack. Our lineout functioned much better and the work rate around the park by the forwards was fantastic. 

Despite the loss of Ben Robinson early, the scrum held up well against what is traditionally a strong scrummaging nation. Discipline was quite good.

Is this, such a terrible loss because of the Wallabies on-field performance or because the media built this game up to be an easy win?

Like it or not, we were out-played by a team, underestimated by many, (not the Wallabies or their coaching team) who played for the whole 80 minutes and who, in the true spirit of Rugby, played with their hearts and their heads.

As a proud Wallaby fan I am very proud of our boy’s efforts, with full credit to Scotland and congratulations on their win.”

Well said Susan.

But our Men of Gold Email of the Week goes to Laurie Dicker who is taking a page out of the Monty Python’s “Always look on the bright side of life” song book:

“To Robbie Deans and the team,

Keep up with the good work. I have complete faith that we are on track. Yes. I know there are a few knockers but don't take any notice of them. I am totally confident that you will win the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

Let's look to the positives.

1. We have the best coach in the world.

2. We now have the best scrum.

3. We have a top support training team

4. We have potentially the best set of backs in the world.

5. Our team is still developing and is heading in the right direction

6. We have equally the best captain.

7. The line out is improving

8 The rucks and mauls are still improving.

9 We have the best thinking team with key players having 180 to 360 vision

10 We are willing to experiment and break out of the predictable patterns of the recent past.

11 We have so many players who can play in a number of positions.

12 Fitness and hardness are improving.

Twelve out of ten is pretty good to me. And you done a fantastic job with so many injuries.

OK. You will be disappointed that you did not get the Grand Slam. So what. Tough Titty. Have a few beers and get on with it.

So where to now. So now that I've praised you I will give some advice.

Stick to Robbie like glue.

Stick to Rocky like glue. He's as good as Richie McCaw. The rest of the forwards now have to follow Rocky everywhere. You have to be so close to him when he hits the rucks and maul that when he farts going in you will be able to determine whether it is F flat or B sharp.

Do a lot more raw toughing up exercises such as pushing kit bags full of sand up the sand hills or lumping logs in a bush camp. You have to be case hardened like the All Blacks. And you won't do that in the gym with personal trainers.

Concentrate on lineouts and rucks and mauls. When you do your analysis of 2009 you will realise that the only reason you lost matches this year was your lateness and ineffective control at the stoppages.

I suggest that Barnes will be the new Larkham. Put Ashley-Cooper at inside centre to straighten the attack and create options inside and outside. Keep the bastards confused. He will also be able to make the line breaks before feeding in or out to others running at angles.

Matt Giteau at outside centre will return to his brilliant best when given room to exploit his obvious talents and he won't have to persist with the dummy and cut in as has happened lately. This will boost his confidence and outcomes.

Then its a fight between the other exceptional fast men to feed off them; and there are plenty of them.

Believe in yourselves and the team. It will happen. By the end of next year you will be number one or a very close number two.

You will win the Rugby World Cup in 2011. Believe me.

Enjoy the match against Wales. Go into it believing in yourself and the rest of the team and listen for the F flat and B sharps.”

Let’s hope the boys read that just before that run out to face Wales and do exactly as Laurie suggests. Go the Wallabies!

Yours in Rugby,

Men of Gold