Why are Australians such bad losers?
Another World Cup – another defeat to Australia at the hands of a determined English team. Predictably, the build up to the game was full of the usual hype, most notably by the Australian Rugby Union boss John O’Neill stating that all Australian sports fans hate England.
I’m no rugby expert, but from what I saw, England went into the game with a plan to stifle the opponent – a perfectly sensible game-plan when facing such a quick Australian side. And the plan paid off. The Australian pack was no match for the strength of the English front row.
The Wallabies were beaten not wholly by skills on field (the English team still has a long way to go in this respect), but also by tactical decisions.
The Sydney Morning Herald takes a different stance. They don’t seem to recognise that any element of strategy was involved in England’s win, stating that:
Australia ended their worst World Cup campaign by losing to a substandard England
and going on to say that:
Losing a World Cup final is forgivable. Being defeated in a quarter-final by B-grade opponents isn’t.
Such bad losers! If England are a sub-standard B-team, what does that make the Wallabies?
I think that The Guardian makes a valid point in it’s analysis, noting that neither the Wallabies nor the All Blacks play in knock-out competitions outside of the world cup.
There is a big difference between playing in group/league competitions and playing in knockout tournaments. Just ask any Liverpool fan!
Ah, yet another England fan with nothing to say before the game and everything afterwards. Seems like the whole country today. No doubt there will be a run on England merch this week and Maddy will be bumped from the front page. But only until the English are beaten by France. Then it’s back to normal :)
Say what, Alun?
Hmmm, my 2c.
England came out and RAN the ball for the first 20min, that didn’t work but their front row got them enough possession and penalties to get them home.
Both sides missed multiple penalties/drop goals, Sterling had the chance go ahead in the 77th minute and MAYBE win the game, but missed.
World Cup Rugby is as bad as World Cup Football (soccer, not league or AFL), far too defensive and cautious to be entertaining.
Meanwhile, my ferry was late this morning, had to stop and watch a whale and her calf near the heads.
Can’t disagree Cam. Winning doesn’t always provide good entertainment. Germany’s World Cup team is a classic example. Not sure if it’s an excuse for Australia’s performance though. Are they happy to lose so long as they remain entertaining to watch? Would the Ozzie cricket team sacrifice a test cricket match lead by slogging sixes to entertain the crowd? No. And this is why 20-20 has been so successful. Maybe we need t get rid of the group stages?
I didn’t see any whales on the way to work, but I did have to wait for a farmer to herd his cows across the road.
And the headlines on Monday…
“Maddy’s Mum wants to work in Childcare” :)
Commiserations to all.