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The fearless three who can save the Wallabies
ADAM FREIER
August 15, 2010
ANALYSIS
The Wallabies are in a temper trap of frustration. They have played and trained their hearts out, but something is missing, and success evades them.
Recently Mark Ella told me he was struggling to understand why this Wallabies crop wasn't playing exciting rugby. He and his brothers played the same way for Matraville High as they would for Alan Jones and the Wallabies in the 1980s.
"Where is the confidence?" Mark said with high eyebrows.
Ironically enough, as if the great man heard the question being asked, David Campese enters the conversation. Love him or loathe him, Campo is the most honest and confident bloke I have ever met. I love the guy. His mindset on anything and everything he believes in is exceptional. It is not arrogance, but a proven confidence.
When asked the same question - "What's wrong with the Wallabies?" - there was no love lost with Campo's response. "They simply don't play with any confidence, they don't attack."
Campo would get booed for some things he would do on the rugby park, but when they came off he was a magician. Ella was the same, having the crowd always asking: how did he do that? He was a positive risk-taker.
In our generation there have been few that can be classed in the same bracket. Matt Burke, known to some as "Bosnich" (the bloke at the back of the field, who just kicks the ball), would always be open to trying something new. Brumbies Jeremy Paul, Joe Roff and George Smith were always prepared to take risks and were never fazed if they didn't come off - they believed they were likely to work next time.
Stephen Larkham is the greatest player I have ever played with. He would always want to be put in the position to fail, and most times he would not. Whether the opportunity was a try-assist or 50-metre field goal to win in a World Cup semi, as in 1999, he would never shy away from it. You can include Stirling Mortlock, too, on that list.
Matt Giteau had always been the cheeky little No.10 who would pull something flamboyant out of nothing. Now the bunsen burner has gone from yellow flame to blue and his ability is under fire.
There is no doubt he questions things on the field now, whereas before he would not have done so. Just take a look at his goal-kicking.
I think the heat on Gits is unjust, but it's hard to swing a vote with 800 words a week.
The All Blacks, meanwhile, are brimming with self belief. This comes with the sweet disposition of winning and once it starts, it's hard to stop.
Each and every truly great rugby player, or sportsman for that matter, always has a positive mindset. A positive mindset enables you to take more personal risks.
At the international level, most sides are pretty evenly matched. But it's the mindset of knowing they have what it takes to win and have no fear of presenting it on stage in that very moment.
The new generation of Wallabies, or what I like to call the ''the new Geniation'', have got the attributes and the positivity in their play. We've missed Quade Cooper, no doubt. But was it his actual freakish play that the Wallabies longed for or the positive manner in which he plays the game?
One of my favourite players is the young and almighty Kurtley Beale. KB reeks of positive ions when playing in the Wallaby gold.
Against Ireland this year he was caught up against the Irish front row down the short side and simple hands would have guaranteed a Wallaby five-pointer.
"Nooooo," the commentators cried. He acted instinctively and made the wrong call. But that act shouldn't be frowned upon - it should be applauded.
James O'Connor is a hard one to judge. Young, brash and untapped in his ability, one thing he has streaks of is confidence. Name another 20-year-old who would take on the best Super rugby inside centre, weighing some 25 kilograms heavier, and make him look like a fool?
The rest of a team survives off positive players like these. This particular trio of young men can lead our Wallabies to resurrection.
The Wallabies will soldier on and success will follow. The character is there, the talent is more than available, but as with all good athletes that come and go, it's the little man upstairs doing most of the damage. He can be a hard man to wrestle, but once down pinned down, you can achieve almost anything.
There is a science of fear, about reducing the importance of an event and therefore reducing the uncertainty. Maybe we have put way too much importance on each and every Wallabies player to win.
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