The five commandments: how novices cope with the pressure

The five commandments: how novices cope with the pressure

Rupert Guinness in Bordeaux | September 29, 2007

As the tournament's group stage draws to a close, the Herald speaks to four of the 17 World Cup rookies in the Wallabies squad on what they need to do to succeed in the knockout stage.

1. Pick up the pace:

"There is this totally different way you approach the pool section as opposed to any other tournament," says back-rower Rocky Elsom. "Against the lesser teams, you aren't dealing with as much media - they just expect you to win."

Breakaway/second-rower Hugh McMeniman is also ready for the intensity to pick up. "The team has to keep concentration and focus," he says. "We can't slack off, especially at training. There is still the fight for positions."

2. Manage time and energy:

"The biggest thing is dealing with [the] extended tour," says Elsom, adding that last year's Wallabies end-of-season tour had prepared him well. "I enjoy playing in a tour environment."

With three games under his belt - and a fourth off the bench against Canada to come - Elsom feels the physical demands have not yet taken their toll.

"Mentally, I have been feeling fine," he said. "The games have been quite tough even though we haven't played too many top-tier nations. But if you get injured, you have a big problem."

Hooker Stephen Moore says rest is essential and that he is feeling the benefits of Wallabies forwards coach Michael Foley's detailed tutelage.

"He senses the [players'] feelings, talks to the guys about how they are and plans the sessions accordingly … like with how much scrummaging we might do," Moore says. "We may back off one week but then turn it up again with a live session."

The need to avoid player burnout also encourages rotation within the 30-man squad, helping to build depth for the pressure games to come.

"In a squad, guys need to be ready to go for the big game. It's important everyone gets a run," says Moore, admitting mental highs and lows are inevitable in the group stages, when some games are targeted more than others.

"The Welsh Test, mentally, was a big game and everyone put a lot of energy into that. After, there was a bit of a low for a couple of days. Now I'm fine."

3. Take your opportunities:

It is not uncommon for players who miss selection to become frustrated in a World Cup.

McMeniman, whose career has been stalled by injury, knows all about seizing the day.

"It is a long World Cup. You have to take your chances when they are given to you," he said. "If you don't, you might be left out for the rest of the World Cup."

4. Ignore outside influences:

The message of 137-Test veteran George Gregan in the build-up to last weekend's game against Fiji is still fresh in Moore's memory.

"You have to manage your emotions throughout the tournament," says Moore, who admits he still gets caught up in the moment every time he walks on to the field and sings the national anthem in front of a crowd.

"'Greegs' made a couple of good points about the preparation in a World Cup and how we have to block out a lot of the outside influences, to focus totally in what we have to do on the field," Moore says.

He added that there will be a lot of Australians around and it can be very easy "to get distracted by all of that from your actual job". Moore believes the World Cup rookies are up to the task because many figured in the Bledisloe Cup win against New Zealand at Melbourne this year.

"That was good preparation for the big sudden-death matches," he says.

5. Draw on the experience of others:

Utility back Julian Huxley, who is set to play his ninth Test, against Canada at No.10, says one thing he has learned in his first World Cup is to tap into the minds of the 13 squad members who have already been to a World Cup.

"We are lucky to have the players like Stirling Mortlock and our leadership group, guys who know what is required and not to get ahead of ourselves and look at other games, which perhaps others countries have done," Huxley says.

"You have seen bigger teams have some scary moments. While we have not played to our potential for 80 minutes, we have paid recognition to teams we have come up against. That may be a reason why.

"I wouldn't think our first-timers have had to learn that the hard way because we have guys who may have learned the lessons themselves."