Rugby
Greg Growden, ESPN Rugby 6y

Super Rugby: Positive Australian talk on hold until more trans-Tasman wins come

Rugby, Super Rugby

There are certain vogue phrases used by sporting officials and participants that can often mean the exact opposite.

How many times have you heard a sporting boss, confronted by scandal, attempt to sidestep the snooping media by announcing 'we will conduct an open and transparent process' to solve their problem?

More often than not 'open and transparent' leads to 'one big cover-up.' Bit like those who after some debacle will blurt out the Management 101 line of: "I take full responsibility for this." In the back corridors of that organisation, someone else is bound to cop the blame. Then there are those athletes who parrot on about how they 'never read the press.'

Yeah right. Whenever I hear that chestnut, I recall a high profile Australian Test cricketer, who had a fragile relationship with the media. He relentlessly trumpeted in any interview that he point-blank refused to read newspapers and ignored anything said about him on television or radio. This was before the social media disease.

After one more 'I'm not interested in the media...what would they know' utterance, the then Australian team manager cornered me and said: "Well if that's the case, how come every day in the dressing room I have to pick up a huge pile of newspapers that are scattered around his locker."

Since retiring, that Test cricketer has enjoyed a flourishing media career.

The latest psychobabble phrase, endemic in Super Rugby circles, is: "We never talk about that."

This phrase has repeatedly been expressed the past two seasons by Australian Super Rugby players as the number of losses against New Zealand provinces became mountainous. Queries over whether this trans-Tasman drought would ever end would always bring about the Boycott-esque dead-bat response of: "That's not something we as a team discuss. We don't talk about it."

What a load of tosh. That players and coaches never discuss why they were constantly letting themselves down in front of their New Zealand foes defies belief. It also begs the question- what were the Australian teams actually talking about?

It was clearly not about how to improve their skills or devising a comprehensive game plan because until last Saturday night, it was 40 straight humiliations in a row. Maybe the focus was instead on determining what parts of a traditional text they could use on social media to antagonise a fair percentage of their fan base.

Now that the Waratahs have ended an embarrassing 722-day dearth of success, it would actually be worth the Australian provinces talking as a team about crucial matters, including what is required to ensure this never happens again, and how they should not waste the moment.

After the Waratahs' triumph, there has been a number of 'hallelujah brother, Australian rugby has been saved' articles in the various media forms. That is understandable, considering the circumstances, but it could look a bit silly if Australian teams revert back to their old habits this weekend. Don't forget Australian teams have traditionally lost their way when the pressure cooker lid has been lifted.

There are still seven trans-Tasman encounters to go before the Super Rugby finals in July. The aim of the Australian provinces- as long as they are allowed to talk about it- must be to win the majority of those. If that can be achieved, talk of an Australian rugby revival may actually have some substance.

The Waratahs have to lead the way. Admittedly the Waratahs were helped last weekend when the young New Zealand referee Brendon Pickerill ignored the constant abuse he received from several high profile All Blacks throughout the game to give the home team a fair go- including either sending Highlanders players off or to the sinbin.

These All Blacks even tried to monster Pickerill in the players' tunnel during the halftime break, to no avail. Pickerill stood strong, unlike his counterpart Ben O'Keeffe who appears to be swayed whenever notable New Zealand players start haranguing him. Just ask the Queensland Reds.

It was still a passionate, powerful performance from Australia's best province, who the week before should have defeated the Crusaders except for some wonky shots at goal in the final minutes.

But it must continue this weekend. The Waratahs head to Hamilton to play the Chiefs on Saturday night. This is hardly an intimidating stadium, even though the ringing of the mooloo bells in the terraces can send you over the edge. The Chiefs are also well short of the standard that made them a top-shelf outfit a few years ago.

So a second Waratahs triumph in a row over a Kiwi opponent is far from a faint dream- it should be more than an expectation, but an anticipated, no obligatory goal. It is up to the players- and there are a fair assortment of Test representatives amongst them who will shortly confront the All Blacks during the Rugby Championship- to show that they are not just up to the task, but have actually learnt something from last weekend's victory. They have to convince themselves they are dominators, not spectators.

And don't just talk about it. Bellow it out loud.

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