‘We’ve got to be realistic’: Tate McDermott’s message for Wallabies fans
The Wallabies’ losing streak under new coach Eddie Jones continued on Saturday afternoon after an enthralling battle with fierce rivals the All Blacks at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Australia looked like world-beaters during the opening quarter of the Test, and continued their fine form throughout the first term. But a few minutes into the second half, it was clear that the All Blacks were hot on their trail.
The Wallabies couldn't quite hold on, and ended up losing a thriller 23-20 - courtesy of a last-minute penalty goal from playmaker Richie Mo'unga.
But rugby, just like every other sport, is a results-driven business. Australian rugby fans want to see their team win, and they’ve been made to wait a while with coach Eddie Jones at the helm.
Australia has lost to South Africa, Argentina, and two Tests to New Zealand so far this year. The Wallabies have one more match before the World Cup, and it’s a big one against France in Paris.
It doesn’t get much tougher.
But this is a matter of perspective. Some fans may feel an all-too-familiar sense of doubt and pessimism, while others might be a bit more optimistic.
The Wallabies’ glass is half full – they’ve come a long way in a month, even if the results aren’t quite there.
Captain Tate McDermott is confident that they can continue to “make a difference” in their game ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
“I think for us, we’ve got to be realistic with where we are,” McDermott told reporters. “You look in that dressing shed, the boys are gutted.
“Like Eddie’s saying, we’re working bloody hard and we’re not seeing much for it at the moment. What we are seeing are small areas of our game growing and growing quickly, too.
“I guess from a fans point of view, they can see just that the rate of our attack has progressed from that South African Test to now. What they’ll see come World Cup time is our defence increase like that as well.
“It’s slow at the moment and it’s obviously not ideal from a fans' point of view, but the players are here to make a difference and you saw that tonight.”
The Wallabies, just like the All Blacks, have just 80 minutes of Test rugby between them and their World Cup opener in just over a month’s time.
Australia, who will reveal their World Cup squad on Monday, will look to turn their losing run around against tournament hosts and favourites France.
Many fans would agree that the Wallabies are potentially heading towards an 0-5 start under coach Jones. But the Aussies aren't panicking.
Asked post-game whether the Wallabies will win the Rugby World Cup, Jones had a very clear response.
“100 per cent. 100 per cent,” Jones said. “I think we will.
“If I could bet I would, but I think you get in trouble if you bet.”
It’s really quite simple. The Wallabies believe that they can go all the way in France, even if others don’t.
They’re continuing to build and develop the Wallaby way under coach Jones, and slowly, it’s showing signs of promise. The Wallabies’ tough loss to New Zealand on Saturday was a giant step forward.
Considering they’re on the perceived ‘easier side of the draw’ as well, there’s no reason why the Wallabies can’t shock the rugby world and make a decent run at glory.
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Some interesting stats that just proved what my first impression of NZ’s drive to speed up Rugby Union would amount to - fine margins here and there to cut a few seconds off the game and nothing else. To do more there would have to be wholesale changes to the game like doing away with scrums, lineouts and bringing back the ELV’s to have free kicks instead of penalties. Very little chance of it happening but, in the end, Ruby Union would be a 15-man version of Rugby League. There are reasons why Rugby Union is globally more popular that Rugby League and what NZ are also not considering is the unintended consequences of what they want to achieve. This will end up turning Rugby Union into a low value product that will not be acceptable to the paying public. If people really wanted a sped-up version of rugby, then why is Rugby Union globally way more popular than Rugby League? Rugby lovers all over the world are also not stupid and have seen through what NZ are trying to achieve here, selfishly to bring back their glory days of dominance over every other nation and compete with Rugby League that is dominant in Australasia. NH countries just don’t have the cattle, or the fantastic weather needed to play like NZ SR franchises do so good luck to whoever has to try and convince the NH to accept going back to the days of NZ dominance and agreeing to wreck the game in the process. I have serious doubts on the validity of the TV stats presented by GP. All they did was expand the broadcasting base by putting it on free to air, not even any indication of arresting the continued drop in viewership. Match day attendance goes hand in hand with broadcast ratings so if there was an increase in the one you should expect to see it with the other. However, the drop in match day attendance is very evident to the casual highlights package viewer. The only club who looks to be getting solid attendance is the Drua. I am calling it now that NZ’s quest to speed up the game will fail and so will the vote on the 20-minute red card.
Go to commentsIt’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
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