Northern exposure a wake-up call for Aussies
WILL Genia has lamented the “pear-shaped” end to the Wallabies’ season by warning that the gap between the northern hemisphere rugby powers and the traditional heavyweights of the south is now a myth.
The halfback forecast the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan would be the closest of the three editions fought during his career because only the All Blacks now really have a consistent margin over their rivals around the globe.
Australia being humbled by England (30-6) and Scotland (53-24) on successive weekends, Ireland’s 38-3 thrashing of South Africa and Scotland’s 22-17 near-miss against the All Blacks this month highlighted what Genia already knew.
“I wouldn’t even say there’s a gap. I think just sometimes they play well, we don’t play well; we play well, they don’t play well; whichever it might be,” Genia said of the northsouth divide.
He was still raw over the Wallabies’ failure to honour retiring stalwart Stephen Moore in last weekend’s wretched flop against the Scots.
“It hurts because you don’t want to finish (the year) that way but also you’ve got someone in there who’s played that number of Tests (129),” Genia said.
“It’s just so disappointing to not send him out the way he deserved and I guess we’ll have to carry that with us.
“The mantra the team wants to live by is we don’t make excuses for anything. We still backed ourselves to get the job done (with 14 men) but obviously (it went) fairly pear-shaped.”
Toppling the All Blacks in Brisbane in October; Kurtley Beale’s excellence in his return to Test rugby; scoring the most tries (59) in a year by a Wallabies side since 2003; and No.8 Sean McMahon’s rise were among a raft of 2017 highlights.
With a 2017 ledger of seven wins and two draws with South Africa from 14 Tests, Genia was excited how it could translate at the 2019 World Cup.
Some reality must be added to the rabid outcry that Australian rugby is tripping as often as it gains ground. There have to be tough, inconsistent moments because rookies are still learning the trade.