The buck should stop here: cease paying the Wallabies for losing
Greg Growden | November 23, 2009
MONDAY MAUL
The Wallabies are not just the laughing stock of Australian sport. They are also the laughing stock of the international rugby world after suffering their worst loss in decades. This defeat was not as bad as being beaten by Tonga in 1973 but it's not far off.
To think that just over a week ago this group of players seriously thought they were going to emulate the feats of the 1984 Wallabies by completing a grand slam. More like a grand sham after they allowed a second-rate rugby team, which had no imagination and did little more than tackle for 80 minutes, to beat them for the first time in 27 years and 17 encounters.
Depressing as it may be when the Wallabies get belted by New Zealand and South Africa, at least their opponents are usually formidable. When the Wallabies give up, as they did in Wellington, it is hard for the fans to cop.
But getting beaten by Scotland? That is unforgivable. The Scots have done nothing in the Six Nations for ages and are rightfully ranked a lowly ninth in the IRB world rankings. They are little more than a bunch of scrappers who haven't a clue about how to score a try against a good team.
In the end, it was probably for the better that Australia did not emulate the grand slam feats of the 1984 Wallabies, because this crop is vastly inferior to that mighty side. And to think that magical bunch did it all for nothing and this mob of perennial losers are among Australian football's highest-paid players?
It begs the question of whether the Australian Rugby Union, which has an annual player salary bill of $27 million, is getting value for money? Hardly. The Wallabies struggle to score tries. They struggle to kick goals. They struggle to win games. What do they do? Not much really - the bulk of these players have won absolutely nothing of note in their international careers.
Most disconcerting is that Australia's highest-paid player and chief playmaker, Matt Giteau, had the chance to establish himself as the king dog on Saturday. He fell way short of the mark. He failed to provide midfield leadership, he kicked abominably at goal and took poor options. His ability to handle pressure must be seriously questioned.
Don't forget this is the same side that demanded to be paid for a pre-tour intra-squad trial match; the same bunch who had their noses out of joint when this column recommended that their pay structure be changed, suggesting a bonus scheme that rewarded them for victories and docked their wages for losses.
And what else can coach Robbie Deans do? He's tried everything. He's given so many players so many chances and they continue to waste their opportunities. Not even Vince Lombardi could get this mob up.
Undoubtedly, the calls will be made for Deans to move on. But, seriously, who is out there to replace him? No one. As with the players, the Australian coaching cupboard is near bare. The problem is not with the head coach, it is with the players.
Their skill level is uninspiring. They cannot back up. They have a losing mentality. They are lazy. And deep down they know they can get away with unacceptable performances, because player depth is so poor.
Forget feeling sorry for the players. They get paid big money. The quicker the ARU brings in a win-loss salary system for the Wallabies the better. Then, and only then, will the magnitude of Saturday's loss at Murrayfield really hit home to the players.
