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In the wake of the Wallabies 40-14 being beaten by the All Blacks on Saturday night, Australian rugby legends have explained where things go wrong for the much-maligned side.
Australia failed to recover from the controversial heartthrob in the first Bledisloe Cup game, instead putting in a buggy display to go 26 points to New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.
It’s a location where the Wallabies haven’t won since 1986 — and some pundits suggested the side capitulated in the face of patriotic Kiwi support, being overwhelmed by the imposing All Blacks.
However, ex-Wallabies star Justin Harrison refused to believe it was because the All Blacks are more proud of their jersey.
Downcast Wallabies players leave the field after disappointing 26-point loss to the All Blacks on Saturday night
“I think it’s important to recognize that New Zealand has no mortgage on the jersey and has no national pride when they lose or win test matches and they are afraid of losing,” an excited Harrison told host Alanna Ferguson on the post from Stan Sport. – match coverage.
“Every time you take a Wallaby jersey onto the field, you’re equally proud of wearing that jersey.”
The towering slot, which earned 34 caps for Australia, said the rollercoaster ride for Wallabies supporters was not due to a lack of passion for the players’ green and gold jerseys.
“What we’re looking for is a team with consistency… we had some setbacks, we had over 25 missed tackles and we had over 13 or 14 errors in fielding,” Harrison said.
“That’s not a lack of pride and not knowing what it means to wear the Wallaby jersey.”
(left to right) Rugby union commentators and former Aussie stars Drew Mitchell, Alanna Ferguson and Justin Harrison have all made strong comments about the Wallabies’ plight
Harrison’s concern about the Wallabies’ alarming lack of consistency was echoed by coach David Rennie after the game.
‘Last night we were all in the shade. We know that when we are at our best, we can compete with anyone. But we need to be in and around 100 percent every week,” said the disappointed Wallabies coach.
Rennie has been under relentless pressure since he was named to the top position in November 2019.
Australia continues to show flashes of brilliance – namely thrilling wins against both Argentina and South Africa earlier in the Rugby Championship, when all odds were stacked against them.
An excited Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has been bumping into it from the start, since his appointment in November 2019
However, it doesn’t look pretty on paper.
In the 29 games since Rennie took charge, Australia has won just 11 out of 29 games.
Every time they seem to take a step forward in their development, they take three steps back: just like we’ve seen in the last two Bledisloe Cup matches.
Of course, many fans will still be able to say that referee Mathieu Raynal’s controversial penalty seemingly cost the team a certain victory in match one of the Bledisloe Cup.
Harrison’s fellow Wallabies great and Stan Sport commentator, Drew Mitchell, said he had a theory as to why Australia never seems to get the pinch of the green.
Wallabies legend Drew Mitchell has admitted the Wallabies are seen as arrogant – and it’s working against them
The lace is – rightly or wrongly – seen as ‘arrogant or perhaps whiner’.
“Look, if there is perception, perception is reality,” Mitchell said on the Stan Sport broadcast when asked about Australia’s reputation for arrogance.
“If that’s the referee’s perception, let’s assume they do…look, I’m guilty of it, we’re all guilty of whining sometimes because we’re emotionally invested in this.
“Obviously, if there’s a 50/50, you’re going to the bias where you’re emotionally invested. Last week I was up against Mathieu Raynal because I felt emotionally that we were on the wrong track.
“It does work against you,” Mitchell added.
Wallabies captain Nic White (left) is often seen complaining to the referee during matches, and is much reviled in some corners of the rugby world
Mitchell then pointed to a few examples of Saturday night’s loss that seem to support that perception.
“Look at the way the referee spoke to Nic White today when he told him, ‘If that was aimed at me, you’ll get off the field.’ Ask me again, was it further amplified? “Be very careful, be very careful,” he said, describing the interaction between player and umpire.
“These kinds of interactions with umpires give you insight into how they feel or how they position themselves towards these players or teams.”
That was not the only example of perception that seemed to be reality.
Raynal was adamant that he had made the right decision, despite the ire of (almost) the entire rugby world in Australia’s heartbreaking loss on September 15 – the first match of the Bledisloe Cup.
Mathieu Raynal defends his controversial decision to blow up a crucial penalty against Australia during the closing moments of the first Bledisloe Cup game against captain Nic White
When explaining his controversial decision to Australian skipper Nic White, his words angered Wallabies players and supporters.
Raynal’s language suggested that the threat to his ego turned out to be the main motivation for his decision to impose a punishment.
“Nic (White) I’m sorry, you know exactly what I wanted,” was heard on the vision released by Stan Sports.
“So that’s not fair what you ended up doing, you’re just running the time and you know exactly. If you think I can’t give a scrum, you’re making a mistake.
“So now you know.”
Wallabies attacker Jed Holloway pleads with the referee on Saturday night during Australia’s loss to New Zealand
For now, the perception seems to be the reality.
The Wallabies will try to put the Rugby Championship’s disappointing finish behind them, with a grueling European Tour for October and November.
They will take on Scotland in October and a quartet of tough tests in November against France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.