You know the Wallabies are in trouble...
...when their media start turning on them. Arguably the most parochial media in the world have turned on their own. Today's headline on the Sydney Morning Herald is entitled Wallabies Reach Crisis Point. Greg Growden is baying for blood. Far too often Aussie media ignore their shocking hypocrisy at calling for South Africans to be fined, banned, etc, or calling our players big dumb brutes. But it appears that the thoroughness of their defeat on the 23rd July 2005 has marked the beginning of some introspection. If that didn't do it, then the cover up of Matt Henjack's attack on team mate Lote Tuqiri appears to have done it. Finally, the idiocy of the team bonding exercise at Tank restaurant has embarrassed the Aussies. Aussies are deeply proud people and would have you believe they are all clones of Crocodile Dundee. He, by extension, is merely typical of them.
The difference however is that Croc Dundee's charm was in his self-effacing nature and down to earth character. As is the nature of most Australians. Perhaps this is why South Africans cannot bear it when they assume a pius and accusatory attitude. It does not become them.
Which is why Greg Growden believes that, "Somewhere in the high veld, Springboks coach Jake White, otherwise known as Sideshow Bob, is killing himself with laughter."
Growden believes that the reason for this, is that, "In one of the most lamentable weeks in the history of Australian rugby, the over-pampered, over-paid, over-and-out Wallabies have been accused of harbouring drunks, late-nighters and impetuous fools who need anger management counselling."
White has not said enough this week to be worthy of his Eddie-Joans-given nickname of Sideshow Bob. He has however reminded the Aussies of the 61-22 whipping that they received at Loftus in 1997. Growden recalls this as the match where some Aussies gave up so as to get rid of their coach. Funny, I don't recall that stunning bit of information. But perhaps it my own national bias that inspires me to remember Carel du Plessis' final match as coach where a group of young inspired choices ran the Aussies ragged.
I, for one, am thoroughly enjoying the Aussies recent journey of self discovery.
Perhaps what is more important though, is the Springbok's growing self confidence and their discovery that the Aussies are less than perfect. Now if only they would learn from that as they consider the All Blacks.
The difference however is that Croc Dundee's charm was in his self-effacing nature and down to earth character. As is the nature of most Australians. Perhaps this is why South Africans cannot bear it when they assume a pius and accusatory attitude. It does not become them.
Which is why Greg Growden believes that, "Somewhere in the high veld, Springboks coach Jake White, otherwise known as Sideshow Bob, is killing himself with laughter."
Growden believes that the reason for this, is that, "In one of the most lamentable weeks in the history of Australian rugby, the over-pampered, over-paid, over-and-out Wallabies have been accused of harbouring drunks, late-nighters and impetuous fools who need anger management counselling."
White has not said enough this week to be worthy of his Eddie-Joans-given nickname of Sideshow Bob. He has however reminded the Aussies of the 61-22 whipping that they received at Loftus in 1997. Growden recalls this as the match where some Aussies gave up so as to get rid of their coach. Funny, I don't recall that stunning bit of information. But perhaps it my own national bias that inspires me to remember Carel du Plessis' final match as coach where a group of young inspired choices ran the Aussies ragged.
I, for one, am thoroughly enjoying the Aussies recent journey of self discovery.
Perhaps what is more important though, is the Springbok's growing self confidence and their discovery that the Aussies are less than perfect. Now if only they would learn from that as they consider the All Blacks.
posted at 9:36 PM
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