Internationals - Aussies fume at 'laughing stock' Wallabies

Reuters - Mon, 23 Nov 08:22:00 2009

Australia's 9-8 loss to Scotland at the weekend has been labelled the Wallabies' worst performance in decades, with former players and media lining up to criticise the team.

Australia's Matt Giteau reacts after missing his conversion kick against Scotland - 0

The head of the Australian Rugby Union has promised a full review of the team's dismal results this season including Saturday's first loss to the Scots in 27 years.

But the critics are already demanding that heads roll, savaging the team's display and calling for player salary cuts.

"The Wallabies are not just the laughing stock of Australian sport. They are also the laughing stock of the international rugby world after suffering their worst loss in decades," the Sydney Morning Herald wrote.

"This defeat was not as bad as being beaten by Tonga in 1973 but it's not far off."

The Australian newspaper wrote that the team's poor performances were threatening the very support of the game in a country where four football codes are all fighting for fans and sponsorship.

"This Wallabies side will be the death of Australian rugby followers, if not the death of Australian rugby," The Australian wrote.

"They are becoming the anti-All Blacks of world rugby, the Wallabies. Where the New Zealanders nearly always find a way to win, the Australians nearly always find a way to lose. Hats off to them. That's a rare and perverse skill."

ARU Chief Executive John O'Neill said he was "devastated" by the loss to Scotland and promised a full review of the team's performances.

O'Neill said everyone would be held accountable but coach Robbie Deans, who has managed just 14 wins from 27 tests since taking charge last season, was not at risk of losing his job.

"We have every confidence in Robbie Deans being the right coach for us," O'Neill said.

"The results are clearly disappointing and not acceptable. We have two more games to go on the tour and rest assured we will be reviewing every aspect of this tour."

Bob Dwyer, who coached the Australia team that won the World Cup in 1991, said the Wallabies were struggling because they did not have two world-class locks and had lost their way in attack.

"I think one of our giant problems is we don't have a second row of top international class," Dwyer told the Australian Associated Press.

"No team can win at the top level without good locks. If you look at the great sides, they've all had great locks.

"We haven't got any and apart from that the second thing is our attack has gone to pieces, it's poor in the extreme."

The Sydney Morning Herald even suggested the players should be docked of their match fees if they continued losing.

"It begs the question of whether the Australian Rugby Union, which has an annual player salary bill of A$27 million (£15m) is getting value for money? Hardly," the paper wrote.

"Their skill level is uninspiring. They cannot back up. They have a losing mentality. They are lazy. And deep down they know they can get away with unacceptable performances, because player depth is so poor."

Reuters

Comment 1 - 19 of 19

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  1. Scotland were very very lucky on Saturday, sometimes­ you need luck but this was a miracle, I am sadened by­ the fact that the AUSSIES played their SECOND STRING­ SIDE, there was no need to rest the first eleven so­ maybe they deserve to lose to a bunch of SKIRTED SCOTS.­ This will be a big lesson for the Aussies not to­ under-estimate the opponents in future just because­ they have TARTAN SKIRTS on.

    From Can-U-Shut-up-please!, on Mon 23 Nov 2:30PM

  2. rpajmt2512 #16

    I didn't see any

    From Donald D, on Mon 23 Nov 1:11PM

  3. As a Welshmen, I have to say it's good to see­ Scotland competing well at the highest level again.­ Keep it going for the 6 Nations now, and it should­ make, what is always an enthralling competition, even­ more competitive. Any victory, by 6 Nationals sides­ over the southern hemisphere teams should be applauded,­ - great stuff!

    From Roger B, on Mon 23 Nov 12:46PM

  4. After watching the video footage the Australian team­ managemnent have spotted some instances of hand ball­ and are demanding a replay.

    From rpajmt2512, on Mon 23 Nov 12:29PM

  5. The Australian press reaction to this game is­ unbelievable. They seem to think that the Wallabies­ have a God given right to win every game they play.­ Unfortunately rugby is not that kind of game. They lost­ a World Cup to England by one dropped goal and they­ lost to Scotland by a missed conversion. Scotlands­ defence was better
    than the Wallaby attack. and when­ that happens the defending side will always have the­ chance to nick the win.

    We are fortunate to finally­ have a coach who has the balls to drop or replace under­ performers before and during a game. He began with­ ditching the woeful Dan Parks and on Saturday he saw­ the weakness of Morrison and brought on De Luca for the­ second half to great effect. The choice of Steadman on­ his coaching staff is obviously paying dividends too.­

    Contrary to popular Australian belief we won't­ measure our side by a one off game against the­ Wallabies. The real proof of our advancement will be­ the 6 Nations. France, Wales, and Ireland are all­ better than the current Australia side and when we can­ win home and away against these sides then we can start­ to crow a bit.

    In the meantime it's a big thank­ you to Andy Robinson and the squad for putting a smile­ back on our faces and sending Australia home to think­ again.

    From John L, on Mon 23 Nov 12:05PM

  6. Murrayfield is a fortress!!

    From eddyguinness, on Mon 23 Nov 11:38AM

  7. Have a load of English sport reporters gone to work in­ Australia or something??

    From ptothej, on Mon 23 Nov 11:10AM

  8. their line outs are a mess, their scrums are a mess,­ their
    passing is a mess. now their kicking? what the­ hell's wrong
    with the wallabies? they should be­ better than the south africans.
    where are the skills­ and mentality of the end of year tour
    last year?

    From gab c, on Mon 23 Nov 10:49AM

  9. I live in Scotland now and have become a Scotland­ supporter besides my former team the Springboks. When­ Scotland played the latter last year they were unlucky­ to loose as I honestly thought they put up the best­ performance. The Saturday match was brilliant so well­ done Scotland. The Australians always always amaze me.­ They have the gall to call the British wingers! If we­ are we must have learned from them. The article above­ denegrates Scotlands massive effort as they wallow in­ their own ineptitude. If you follow the tri-Nations you­ will realise this sort of behaviour is nothing new. All­ I can say is WELL DONE SCOTLAND and lets see this sort­ of effort brought into the 6 Nations.

    From Les, on Mon 23 Nov 10:46AM

  10. Like Stalin said I am an English fan through and­ through, however I was willing the Scots on the whole­ match was awesome they won, they defended like their­ lives depended on it, it really was a great match, and­ the deserved the win.
    Really an up yours to the­ aussies, that was just as great as they think they are­ supreme beings at sport.
    Well done the Scots!!!!

    From Jif, on Mon 23 Nov 10:45AM

  11. The Aussies done everything right in the match apart­ from turning up with some guts to play hard rugby well­ done the jocks you played well

    From alan, on Mon 23 Nov 10:43AM

  12. markear1.... they have already won 1 match, they beat­ England easily.
    Well done Scotland but the game was one­ kick away from going the other way and could so easily­ have done so
    Big over reaction from Aussie­ press.
    Aussies will be wounded and will tear into the­ game in Cardiff on Saturday.
    Should be a cracker, just­ hope we have a decent (preferably Northern Hemishere)­ ref, which is crucial in these games.
    Australia are not­ playing well by their own standards, but that is a­ pretty high standard.
    They will be there or thereabouts­ in 2011.
    C'mon Cymru.

    From Cymro, on Mon 23 Nov 10:36AM

  13. I'm scottish, and really not pleased with whats­ being said in the above report. Its as if us winning­ was ridculous, they cant expect to win every game, then­ completely throw the toys out the pram when they lose,­ its hardly a bad squad, alot of talent in the team, so­ they have lost a few games... boo hoo, scotland lose­ ALOT of games, and still get back on our feet and­ managed to beat you guys, and we have only a tiny­ country, mainly soccer oreintated, to find players,­ whereas you have the whole of bloody australia! Your­ australia, your always gonna find quality players and­ come back strongers, maybe a few defeats will be good­ for you in the run up to the world cup, maybe the­ problem the all balcks have? winning alot.. until the­ world cup. Anyway stop complaining abd give us scots a­ bit of credit, we wanted it more than you on saturday

    From bmuirboy, on Mon 23 Nov 10:32AM

  14. The Great Australian wine....

    Aw, we were really­ unlucky in the rugby!

    or should that be­ 'whine'

    Wales/Aussie should be a blinder at­ the weekend.
    GO WALES

    From jacob.waugh, on Mon 23 Nov 10:15AM

  15. Now they know how it feels!

    From Donald D, on Mon 23 Nov 9:30AM

  16. Christ winging Aussies with ego,s like clowns pockets­ !!!
    Just learn to deal with losing !
    You should give­ credit were its due.
    WINGING AUSSIES
    WINGING­ AUSSIES
    WINGING AUSSIES
    Print this in your newspapers,

    From MARK, on Mon 23 Nov 9:18AM

  17. So much for the Australian grand slam tour. They will­ be lucky to win even one match at this rate, well done­ Scotland.

    From markear1, on Mon 23 Nov 9:08AM

  18. I totally agree with the above comments,would we have­ heard such an outcry regarding the team performance if­ the final kick had gone over!....doubt it

    From markblackburn58, on Mon 23 Nov 9:08AM

  19. How about well done to the Scots, I am an English rugby­ Fan through and through but was screaming at the TV for­ the Scots to win and was impressed how they forced the­ error on the last kick......that was a team that still­ thought they could win. Robinson has done an excellent­ job and I hope scotland fans appreciate his talent.....­ As for the Aussies... typical toys out of the pram­ reaction when it does not go their way...........have a­ g'd day

    From stalin, on Mon 23 Nov 8:52AM
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