What you thought - Wallabies vs All Blacks in Wellington (PART 2)

The Wallabies are being tackled by Men of Gold contributors after the loss in Wellington

In PART 2 of our excerpts from the Men of Gold Mailbox, Qantas Wallabies fans continued to express their frustration at the disappointing 33-6 reverse in Wellington to the All Blacks.

Sharon Altman wants the Wallabies to “Man Up!”:

“To put it simply - it looked like a team of children versus grown men. The Wallabies were blasted off the ball with apparent ease and the All Black forwards toyed with us for 80 minutes.

Some serious muscling up required by our guys to say the least. More time in the gym and on the training paddock - less time in front of the cameras and at the hairdressers. These guys lack mongrel.

Turnover stats were astounding. You cannot have all the forwards standing around as spectators as the AB's simply push us off the ball every time we go to ground.”

While John Burgess thought it was a case of WWW – Weak Wimpy Wallabies:

“I was ashamed of the disgraceful limp-wristed non-performance of the Wallabies. They looked like they were there to lose! During war-time they shoot men for cowardice in the face of the enemy and this lot of overpaid & over-feted prima-donnas need to be taken out and put up against a wall. (That’s a bit harsh – MOG)

Where was the Anzac spirit that once made our country great? Where were the guts to take the fight up to the enemy? Left in the ditch between here and Wellington, obviously!

I've got a great idea for this lot ... pay them on performance. If they play like fairies then just give them fairy bread with hundreds and thousands on it.

If they play like men with courage then pay them accordingly. Let's see if they like to go hungry, like they seem determined to make their heart-broken and wounded followers suffer.”

Frank Sykes agreed with a legendary former Wallaby:

“Nick Farr-Jones said it all. It was a pathetic attempt by the majority of our highly paid 'athletes', who still have to learn that the harder you go in and forward, FROM THE START TO THE END of the game, the less you get hurt.”

Nigel Strahan thinks player should only be paid on performance:

“It’s time that the players were paid on performance. In the business world you are paid incentives for greater than expected performance.

No win no pay – it’s simple. That would drag the best out of every player.

I also believe we are to nice. The teams we play with pride, passion and aggression – we don’t. we are highly skilled athletes and that’s all.

We are at a point where we may as well save ourselves the pain and forfeit tests that are played overseas especially in New Zealand.”

Kevin Bresnan was of a similar opinion: “As a supporter of all Australian sport, I am mortified at the performance of the national Rugby team over the last five or so years.

To say they are under achievers is an extreme overstatement. There is just no urgency or passion as a team. They seem to be over pampered and over paid. I feel sure that if they were in any other job they would be asked to explain the lack of commitment.”

Stan Krasnoff feels the coach is not in touch with the Australian psyche: “Robbie Deans has to learn something here. While he's doing a great job picking young players, he doesn't understand the Aussie psyche: a lay-back attitude added to a new-age laissez-faire. Solution: KICK ARSE!”

Mark Johnston thinks the “problem is we have to many of the tight five trying to be backs, get in there and do what your suppose to do, win the ball for the backs, stop lolly gagging ,show some balls and contest the breakdown, when we achieve that the rest will come.”

Todd Cranston is obviously a kiwi: “That will teach you for thinking that a kiwi coach will help you beat the all blacks !  hahahaha”

Raj Sirimanne didn’t think we’d print his email:

“How long is the public expected to put up with this? Seems like league is much better value for my money at the moment.

These guys are getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to win, not just play. Their efforts tonight were beyond mediocre.

If I had people in my team, being paid that much (and the attendant expectation of high performance), and failing so miserably, there would be warnings, more than likely outright sackings for continued under performance.

However, since they are Wallabies, they'll get their $10k match payment and run off to the next game with basically no penalty for losing.

What does Matt Giteau or Rocky Elsom care if they win or lose - their bank balance will grow either way.

It's not as if these guys are playing their first game, they've more than likely been playing since they were kids - they know what is required, when it is required. Well.... maybe I should say they should know what is required, when it is required. It seems the Boks and the AB's do.

One word basically sums it up - embarrassing.I wonder if you'll print this? Probably not, since you can't be negative on the ARU site.Anyway, I've had my say.”

You certainly have. And enjoy the game on the weekend.

Stephen Fraser is changing sides:

“Not a game a shame!  Congratulations I'm turning into an All Blacks supporter.  There is passion in the ABs team that the Men of Gold will never have!! (They are mercenaries who will play for $ but not for pride!)”

Mark Collis: “was ashamed of the performance the Wallabies put in tonight. I need to be clear - I do not mind losing (much).  I do mind an Australian team that looks and behaves like it does not care.”

Steven Duke believes: “Intensity, support, teamwork is all lacking, they appeared sluggish and dis-interested. Requires a very large spoon or dose of ‘Harden the hell up!’

It was really disappointing and devastating to watch, they were, as much as I hate to admit it, totally outclassed by a hungrier New Zealand team.”

Kevin Ackroyd says: “A win is good, to draw is hard, to lose is even harder - but to lose when you have not given it your best and put in 110% ?????

A game is 80 minutes not 70 or even 75. I could not understand what happen to the Men in Gold in the last 10 min have pride and play for 80min even if you are losing.”

Liam O’Regan isn’t giving up totally just yet: “The Wallabies were like playing touch out there. And the game was pretty much a waste of time for all the spectators who had faith - but I'm still believing until Tokyo!”

Outraged of Canberra was blunt: “The problem is simple: this is the most incompetent Wallabies team since the 1970s.  By incompetent I mean unable to execute the most basic skills of the game: kicking, passing, catching (and tonight, tackling).”

To be concluded …