We can beat All Blacks: Poido
We can beat All Blacks: Poido
By Peter Jenkins
September 18, 2007
AUSTRALIA great Simon Poidevin hailed the born-again Wallabies and warned the All Blacks to fear another World Cup disaster.
The straight-shooting former flanker, scathing of the Australians just 10 months ago, claimed a stunning on-field makeover has them ready to upstage the title favourites in a looming semi-final collision at Stade de France next month.
Poidevin claimed the Wallabies were in a "depressing" state last season, shackled by a conservative approach and with no genuine prospects of making a grab for their third global title.
After a record defeat against Ireland in Dublin on the tour to Europe last November, he raged: "The Australian public will accept a side that has a go. They won't accept a side that betrays our history of an expansive game.
"Sides that go to low-risk rugby are dead and if that's the way coach John Connolly decides he wants to go from here, then he should hand in his resignation."
But Poidevin has cast aside his disenchantment, is excited by changes made this season, and has a deep-seated belief that the Australians are on the cusp of something special after watching them rumble past Wales at Millennium Stadium on Sunday.
"The side has shown dramatic improvement this year," he said. "They have been transformed from what was a depressing situation.
"We're seeing more influence from the total coaching group and we've now got a very dangerous platform to move forward. You have to say on our day we can knock the Kiwis off."
Poidevin suggested the influence of attack coach Scott Johnson was evident in a potent midfield attack "which we didn't have 12 months ago".
He also lauded the contribution of defence coach John Muggleton.
"We're back to the days where Australian sides are handing other teams an injury toll in a legitimate way," said Poidevin. "We've consistently had the best defence in the world but it's gone up another notch.
"It was offensive and brutal against the Welsh. Michael Foley and Knuckles (Connolly), especially Foley, have done a fantastic job on the set piece, too. Our scrum is never going to be the most dominant in the world. But we have got a legitimate scrum now.
"They had a tough time with the referee in Cardiff but I didn't see them going backwards at all in that Test."
Two-time World Cup winner Tim Horan is also convinced the Wallabies are building momentum at just the right time.
"A year ago people would have been canceling their trips to France for the World Cup," he said. "But now there's a real belief, and it's certainly there in the team as well."
Horan sensed the turnaround in confidence during a come-from-behind victory over the Welsh on Australian soil in June. "They were down 17-0 but there was no panic," he said.
"They knew they could make up the points. It's all very positive at the moment. We don't want to pick up any more injuries, that's a concern.
"But when you see players enjoying themselves, and with smiles on their faces, that sort of momentum is very hard to stop," Horan said.
