Ex Wallabies captain makes World Cup prediction U-turn
Former captain Stirling Mortlock has changed his tune and reckons the Wallabies can challenge for Rugby World Cup glory after all.
Nine months after declaring Australia had “no chance” of winning back the Webb Ellis Cup this year following a “train-wreck” loss to Italy, Mortlock believes again.
A try-scoring hero of Australia’s shock 2003 World Cup semi-final triumph over New Zealand under Eddie Jones, Mortlock has seen similar progression from the Wallabies since the master coach returned for a second stint in January.
While the Wallabies are none-from-four during Jones’ latest tenure, Mortlock isn’t ruling out emulating Australia’s swift reversal in fortunes of 20 years ago.
Back then, the Wallabies made the World Cup final four months after copping a 50-21 Bledisloe Cup hammering from the All Blacks, only to lose the showpiece to England in extra time.
“I have been a lot more positive and optimistic than a lot of other people that I’ve been speaking to in and around the game,” Mortlock told AAP on Tuesday.
“I have been to both the home matches that we’ve had and I’ve seen improvements from every Test match.
“Although we’ve lost all four, there’s certain aspects of our game where I’ve seen definitive improvements.”
Mortlock has been most impressed with Jones’ juggling of the twin challenges of trying to settle on the best 33-man World Cup squad while overhauling the Wallabies’ playing style.
“That involves making sure players get certain opportunities to show their wares at Test level, so they’ve been rotating through more players than you’d normally want,” he said.
“At the same time, they’ve been really trying to push the team through fundamental big changes to the way we’re playing the game.
“If you add those two together, they really are two conflicting focuses that don’t usually add up.
“For the team to be able to go through this – constantly changing your combinations – and still improve is huge. It’s massive.”
Mortlock believes the Wallabies were “pretty unlucky” not to have recorded their first win against the All Blacks in New Zealand in 22 years on Saturday, when they lost 23-20 in Dunedin.
He says the question remains whether Jones’ charges have enough to beat the heavyweights of the world in France.
“If it’s a fitness concern, there’s not that much time to remedy that,” he said.
“But I’m pretty strong on my view that firstly, we do have a relatively favourable draw. It’s not easy but it’s a good side of the draw.
“So that gives the Wallabies a good opportunity to get into the semis.
“In World Cups, it’s all about maximising your chances of taking momentum into the sudden-death matches, and that will certainly be the focus for the Wallabies.
“With Eddie at the helm, I’ve got no doubt that’s what they’ll be focusing on and then applying themselves 100 per cent on the sudden-death games.
“If you win two of those, you’re in the final and anything can happen.”
Jones will name his World Cup squad on Thursday.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments