'We are no chance': Wallabies great makes major World Cup call
Fed-up former World Cup captain Stirling Mortlock says Rugby Australia must draw a line in the sand after the Wallabies’ “train wreck” loss to Italy and immediately address the national side’s “systemic” discipline issues once and for all.
Adamant Australia has “no chance” of winning next year’s World Cup in France, Mortlock believes embattled coach Dave Rennie must “pick and stick” to at least give Wallabies fans hope for the 2027 edition of the global showpiece.
“There is no way that we are going to win the World Cup next year. We are NO chance of doing that,” Mortlock told AAP in a no-holds-barred interview on Sunday.
“What needs to happen is the coaching staff and the leadership group of Rugby Australia must get the foundations right to build into winning the World Cup in 2027.”
That starts at the selection table and, most importantly, stamping out the horrendous lack of discipline that is dogging the Wallabies week in, week out.
Australia are officially the most penalised tier-one team in international rugby and infringed 16 more times in Saturday’s 28-27 infamous first-ever loss to Italy in Florence.
Halfback Jake Gordon was also yellow carded for an unnecessary off-the-ball tackle, enabling the Azzurri to pile on two tries and 14 points while Australia were a man down for 10 minutes.
But that didn’t stop first-time skipper Allan Alaalatoa from saying he was “proud” of the Wallabies.
After famously apologising for Australia’s 2007 World Cup loss to England in Marseille, Mortlock – like thousands of other frustrated Wallabies fans – is tired of the message not getting through to Australia’s ill-disciplined Test stars.
“Stuff like this, this has been going on for probably 10 to 15 years,” said Mortlock, also a Bledisloe Cup hero from the way-back-when era of Australia dominating world rugby 20 years ago.
“I need to have a look at the data and stats but we’ve gone from being a very, very disciplined team globally to being one of the worst.
“It’s systemic so captains are getting penalised. Senior players are getting penalised, young players are getting penalised.
“It’s an extension of this lack of cohesion-slash-not sticking with combinations and chopping and changing all the time. It’s been a dog’s breakfast.”
Mortlock accepts it’s a “delicate balance” for Rennie, who needs to blood youth while easing the workload of senior players on spring tours.
Another week, another heartbreaking loss for the Wallabies, who were beaten by Italy for the first time ever on Sunday morning (AEDT). #ITAvAUS https://t.co/EFaOe4yCMw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 13, 2022
But he also believes the Wallabies jumper needs to be respected, noting that Rennie made a dozen changes to his starting side from last week’s loss to France and fielded eight players with less than 10 Tests each under their belts.
“The reality is I don’t see this result against Italy in isolation. It’s not a blip,” Mortlock said.
“It was a train wreck.
“It starts and finishes with the coaching staff and then that is implemented by the leadership group.
“And if it’s getting worse it’s because they’re not addressing it or not consistently addressing it and reinforcing it.
“At the end of the day, if people want to keep on doing it, they just don’t get picked.
“There’s no way you get inroads if you don’t address it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments