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Gutsache Growden is still at it. It’s great to see him support his National Team.
Mediocrity or bust in France
Greg Growden | September 5, 2007
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...783236430.html
Should the Wallabies survive a Welsh ambush in Cardiff, the best they can hope for is third place, writes Greg Growden.
The Wallabies have, with varying success, attempted to play down reports of rats in the ranks, division between the players and coaching staff, and that they are suffering from a siege mentality.
To overcome that complex, the Wallabies have attempted to bond by involving themselves in a boot camp off the Queensland coast. This comprised midnight swims across lakes and pushing utes up hills. Practising basic football skills was avoided.
Instead, target practice to shoot the messenger was organised, then suddenly training sessions went behind closed doors. Even jaunts to Portugal, well away from prying eyes, were organised as part of one of the more unusual Australian World Cup preparations.
However, the fate of the Wallabies' pursuit of a third world title will not revolve around all these theatrics. It will depend heavily on what occurs during one of Australia's pool matches held at a venue far away from the heart and soul of the tournament.
In yet another example of how the Rugby World Cup organisers struggle to get it right, probably the most important match before the finals is not being held in France. Instead, everyone has to head to Cardiff on September 15 for the crucial Wales-Australia encounter at Millennium Stadium.
Due to sneaky political deals (which sadly international rugby is based upon) for France to get the right to host the 2007 World Cup, they had to secure the support of Scotland and Wales. Quid pro quo. That's why there are three pool matches and a quarter-final in Cardiff, and two pool fixtures in Edinburgh. Thankfully, the semi-finals and final are all in France.
Unsurprisingly, the Wallabies are underwhelmed by the fact that they must leave their home base in the south of France and head to Cardiff for several days. It is a gross inconvenience and could unsettle the Wallabies. They are walking into ambush territory.
While Wales hover below the main rugby powers, they do have a way of upsetting unsuspecting opponents. One team they have recently taken delight in destabilising is the Wallabies.
Playing heavily on the minds of the Wallabies will be the memories of their 2005 match against Wales at Millennium Stadium. Many vivid scenes linger, including then Welsh assistant coach Scott Johnson, now with the Wallabies, pacing up and down the sideline, revving up the local crowd and screaming at his forward pack to annihilate the Wallabies pack. Johnson also chatted away at the referee, and it worked.
The Welsh pack eventually twisted, bent and humiliated the Australian scrum, enabling them to enjoy a 24-22 triumph.
Johnson has since left the valleys and moved into the Wallabies fold, where he is backs coach. But his Welsh links remain strong, and it is no wonder that he is among many worried about that Cardiff jaunt.
Eddie Jones departed shortly after that Cardiff defeat, and was replaced by a new Wallabies coaching regime who are relentless in telling anyone who wants to listen that there has been much improvement in the Australian team, especially in their forward work.
A lot of it is hot air. But reality could easily smack the Wallabies coaching contingent in the face if Australia again struggle during the tournament to show they have the forward might to stand alongside the other major powers in international rugby.
Wales are not convinced by the Wallabies' boasts, and still believe they can belittle their pack. They are looking at this pool game as the one which could see them finish top of Pool B instead of Australia.
Australia want to finish No.1 in their pool - as it would give them the leg-up of possibly playing England, rather than South Africa, in the quarter-finals. Finishing second in their pool could see the Wallabies exit the World Cup far earlier than many originally anticipated.
Due to the crucial nature of finishing top of the group, Australia will field their best line-up in their first two pool matches against Japan in Lyon on September 8 and the following weekend in Cardiff.
The plan is then to rest key players, in particular five-eighth and chief playmaker Stephen Larkham. But that would all change if Wales defeat them, and suddenly Australia find themselves fighting for survival in their next two pool matches against Fiji in Montpellier on September 23 and Canada in Bordeaux six days later.
This would force them to keep playing their best line-up, and then injuries could easily take their toll. Unfortunately, the back-up in numerous positions is flimsy, prompting the Wallabies selectors to pick some who are on their last legs, and others who are going into the tournament either carrying or covering up problematic ailments.
The most important player who cannot suffer from any injury is Larkham. So much hinges on him remaining fit. And that's a major uncertainty considering that he gets targeted so closely by oppositions, in particular South Africa, whom the Wallabies are likely to encounter somewhere in the finals.
If Larkham is sidelined, it could be goodbye Wallabies. Matt Giteau is an acceptable alternative, but he has not played enough at five-eighth recently to be considered a World Cup-winning playmaker.
Because of that uncertainty, the most likely outcome is for Australia to win their pool, get through the quarters then be overhauled by the All Blacks in the semi-final.
All Australia could then hope for is that they do better than they did in Rotorua in 1987 and this time win the third-fourth play-off in Paris on October 19.
THE SQUAD
Forwards: David Lyons, Wycliff Palu, Stephen Hoiles, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, Dan Vickerman, Mark Chisholm, Al Baxter, Matt Dunning, Greg Holmes, Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore, Sean Hardman, Adam Freier. Backs: Chris Latham, Julian Huxley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lote Tuqiri, Mark Gerrard, Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Scott Staniforth, Stephen Larkham, Berrick Barnes, George Gregan, Sam Cordingley.