Wallabies 'can't win World Cup'
Some pretty blunt assesments from those who have been there before.
Stay tuned for Campo to come out and say Australia CAN win the RWC :S
Wallabies 'can't win World Cup'
By Peter Jenkins
May 28, 2007
AUSTRALIA legend Nick Farr-Jones fears for the side's chances of landing a third Rugby World Cup in France later this year.
The Test halfback great described as "poor" and "alarming" the error-riddled last-gasp victory over Wales on Saturday night.
He also suggested that the attempt to inject new players at such a late stage of the build-up - there were two backline debutants at Telstra Stadium, with another player in the starting side for the first time - had been left too long and was now fraught with danger.
Asked if he would be backing the Wallabies to emulate his side's success in 1991, Farr-Jones replied: "Not at all.
"If we come up against South Africa in a quarter-final we would be 5/1 just to win that game," he said.
"History has told us the more an Aussie gets written off the more he can rise to the occasion.
"But to win a World Cup, you have to win three big (knockout) games.
"I can see us maybe winning one. I can't see us winning three."
Farr-Jones said the secret to success 16 years ago was the infusion of young talent into the side in the early stages of the World Cup countdown.
"The coach, Bob Dwyer, and his fellow selectors, in their wisdom, were bringing in players like Jason Little, Tim Horan, Phil Kearns, Tony Daly, Ewen McKenzie and Willie Ofahengaue two years before the tournament," he said.
"They were blooding them when they had hardly been heard of. There was only one freak who came into the 1991 team in the year of the World Cup, and that was John Eales.
"You've got to be putting your jigsaw together 24 months prior. That jigsaw involves experienced guys but also a bunch of young guys who can strut their stuff, chance their arm, be hugely athletic and give a really good balance to a team.
"I felt for some of those guys on Saturday night who had hardly played any Tests or were debuting.
"It's big pressure so close to the World Cup.
"But the lack of execution was quite alarming. Balls were going to ground, passes were in front and behind people. I thought it was pretty shoddy.
"One of the alarming statistics for me too was that 20 minutes into the game, Wales were leading 17-0 and up on the scoreboard came the possession statistic. We had 83 per cent of the ball to that point."
Another former Test captain, Tony Shaw, said the injury-time escape act - with the replacement back rower Stephen Hoiles crossing after the siren to snatch victory - would serve as a confidence booster.
But he lamented the overall performance.
"We've got to stop frigging around with changes and get some stability," he said.
"The fact we resurrected the game and got a win was a huge plus but we were looking down the barrel of an embarrassing loss."
Former Test flanker Simon Poidevin baulked at assessing the Australia display, adopting the approach that if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything.
He was, however, prepared to discuss the importance of beating a full-strength Wales when the two sides meet in a World Cup pool match in Cardiff on September 15.
The loser will almost certainly be consigned to second place in the group and a likely joust with the Springboks for a spot in the semi-finals.
"I watched South Africa and England after the Wallabies game and the intensity and strength of the Springbok forward pack was spectacular," Poidevin said.
