Forget the win, focus on the pain
IF the Wallabies are serious about wanting to turn the corner after their miraculous victory over Argentina, they should forget all about their miraculous comeback in the second half.
As epic as it was, the best thing the Wallabies can do is wipe those last 40 minutes from their memories because the back slaps and high-fives won’t do them any good.
If they are really fair dinkum about making a run at next year’s World Cup, the most valuable things worth banking from Salta are the poor first half and Michael Cheika’s rage.
There wasn’t a rugby fan in Australia who wasn’t right behind Cheika when he tore strips off his players.
And if ever the Wallabies need a reminder of the defining moment from the miracle of Salta, that was it, not the romp that followed.
“I just can’t get the picture of that first half out of my head,” Cheika said. “I always keep coming back to it and I want to make sure we definitely don’t ignore that.
“The second half was great. I won’t lie, it was unreal. But we don’t forget about the first 40 in any way, shape or form.”
For too long, the Wallabies have been pleading patience, insisting everything will be all right on the night.
But there can never be a repeat of what happened in the first half in Salta, when they missed tackles and gave up 31 points to the Pumas.
For all his best intentions, Cheika knows he’s limited in what he can do because tirades only work so many times.
It’s up to the players change their attitudes.
“I think there’s a season’s worth of learning in that game for our lads and now it’s up to them to take it,” Cheika said.
“No one can force that into their minds, into their conscious or their subconscious.” to