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Wooden spoon battle 'embarrassing'
By Peter Jenkins
April 12, 2007
FORMER Australia stars have branded this season's stunning collapse of New South Wales and Queensland as "tragic" and "embarrassing".
The one-time highlight of the domestic provincial calendar - a traditional showdown with 125 years of history - looms on Saturday night as the scrap to avoid the Super 14 wooden spoon.
"I'm saddened to think it's been reduced to a battle for the wooden spoon," legendary five-eighth Mark Ella said.
"No one in their right mind would have predicted this six months ago.
"It's tragic. It's a nothing game. There's a lot of rivalry there from the past but these guys are playing for pride and little else. It's terrible for Australian rugby.
"I just hope NSW and Queensland learn from this. But what is going to happen between now and next year to make sure it doesn't happen again?"
Former Queensland back rower Sam Scott-Young said the long-time ill-feeling between the states would hopefully lift them out of their form slumps.
They have each won only one of nine matches this season - both successful in round one in the first week of February.
NSW and Queensland have since played a combined 16 games without victory.
"It's a bit embarrassing for the two former superpowers to be lining up as wooden spooners," Scott-Young said.
"But regardless of what has happened this year, if anyone who pulls on a Reds or NSW jumper this weekend isn't bursting with pride for the game, then they really shouldn't be out there.
"I'll be hoping it has all that traditional fire and brimstone.
"If it doesn't, then cancel the season fast."
Scott-Young blamed the arrival of Western Force last season, and its recruitment of eastern seaboard players, for the struggles of the Waratahs and the Reds.
"I know we needed a Perth team, but it was always going to hit hard," he said.
"It has shown up the depth.
"But, by the same token, the ARU should give up on spending all this money on rugby league players and start directing it towards nurturing our own players coming through the ranks. It's an ego trip from the ARU."
Former Queensland second rower Rod McCall agreed with Scott-Young that the "care factor" would be high for both teams at Aussie Stadium.
"It's all about desire," he said.
"So I think it will be tight.
"I can't see the NSW forwards dominating us, and if (Waratahs full-back) Peter Hewat keeps playing the way he has been, we're in with a chance."
Waratahs and Wallabies legend Simon Poidevin was concerned by recent comments from rival coaches Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie that suggested there were question marks over their players' attitudes.
"If the belief and the passion isn't there for the jersey you play in, then all else fails," he said.
"Both sides have the chance to answer that rightfully-asked question this weekend. And I think it makes this one of the more important interstate games in decades.
"Forget the excuses about injuries. Every side gets them. People have also argued about the Force coming in and NSW and Queensland losing players to them. But no one was saying that last year, which was when most of those players went."
Poidevin also wondered about the effectiveness of the academies in NSW and Queensland, and their tendency to "cotton wool" emerging players who have been forced this year to step into the breach.
"When they play meaningless NSW A or Queensland A matches, do they get up for those games thinking they're playing for their lives?" he said.
"This weekend, if you've got pride in yourself as a player, you are playing for your life."
Former NSW and Australia full-back Glen Ella had no doubt Queensland would be ready for confrontation.
"They have always used this game as a benchmark," he said.
"There are still some people up there who will think they've had good year if they beat NSW.
"There is no doubt the intensity will be full on. There is pride and Test places at stake. (Reds flanker) David Croft will no doubt be throwing a few punches early, trying to stir up NSW.
"But it's definitely disappointing they're probably fighting for the wooden spoon. That would be devastating for either state."
Ella tipped NSW, and dyed-in-the-wool Queenslander Scott-Young almost agreed.
"On form I'd have to say, and this will be a first ..." he started.
"On second thoughts no, I can't do it ... Queensland by three."