Jan 2009

Welcome to 2009!

Last year was a great year for Australian rugby. We started off with Robbie Deans, Australia's first foreign coach, the team kicked off the domestic test series well and went oh so close to securing the Bledisloe and Tri Nations for the first time in a while.....

Our spring tour was extremely positive with gutsy wins against England at Twickenham and France in Stade de France just falling short of a clean sweep with a loss to Wales. The team finished off the tour with an inspired display against a star studded Barbarians XV.

The positives from the year were clear for all to see. So many new capped players made great contributions to the team this year. Robbie has given the group clarity and the green light to play what is in front us. The result is we are playing better rugby, but more importantly enjoying every part of what we're doing.

We know that we have a lot of work in front of us and improvements to make, but that is what is exciting. Last season was the start! A mere taste of what can be achieved. This year everyone who was exposed will know what is required and know where we are heading. So strap yourselves in, it is going to be a big one!

Cheers Stirlo

Wayne Smith | May 18, 2009

Less than a month ago, Brumbies coach Andy Friend was questioning how much more Stirling Mortlock had to give, but now he has no doubt the warrior centre is still the man to lead the Wallabies.

The worst game in Brumbies history, the 56-7 Anzac Day loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington, coincided with the worst performance Mortlock has played in the Brumbies jersey.

Although Friend subsequently came to realise a viral infection the previous weekend had drained Mortlock of all energy, not the shape to be in when confronting All Blacks battering ram Ma'a Nonu, it took all of his self-restraint in the immediate aftermath of that record defeat not to dump the Wallabies captain.

In the end, he retained him in the side but nonetheless switched him from the midfield to the wing.

"It was a very un-Stirling-like performance from him against the Hurricanes," said Friend, no doubt referring to Mortlock's five missed tackles.

"But since that day Stirling has shown what a phenomenal character and inspirational leader he is.

AAP | May 11, 2009

ROBBIE Deans insists Stirling Mortlock remains well in the mix to retain the Wallabies captaincy in 2009.

Stirling Mortlock kicks the goal to be highest point scorer in super rugby at Canberra Stadium last Saturday Picture: Kym Smith

Turning 32 next week, Mortlock is under growing pressure from a clutch of younger, in-form players _ headed by Queensland dynamo Digby Ioane _ to hang on to his Wallabies No.13 jumper in 2009, let alone the national captaincy.

The scrutiny on Mortlock reached fever pitch last month when Brumbies coach Andy Friend shunted the 76-Test stalwart to the wing for the first time in almost a decade of Super rugby.

Deans, though, says Mortlock remains one of the most influential players in Australia, an assertion emphasised in his match-turning display in the Brumbies' season-saving win over the Blues on Saturday night.

"Stirling has shown through Super rugby again that he's still a player who has a presence and an ability to impact on a game _ as recently as last weekend," the Wallabies coach said today.

"His acts (on Saturday) were the pivotal acts in the game that turned the momentum.

"But, most importantly, what was evident most of all was his desire. He still wants to make a difference as opposed to just make up the numbers, and that's a critical quality with any player."

AAP | May 11, 2009

He is refusing to guarantee him a walk-up start, but Robbie Deans insists Stirling Mortlock remains well in the mix to retain the Wallabies captaincy in 2009.

Turning 32 next week, Mortlock is under growing pressure from a clutch of younger, in-form players - headed by Queensland dynamo Digby Ioane - to hang on to his Wallabies No.13 jumper in 2009, let alone the national captaincy.

The scrutiny on Mortlock reached fever pitch last month when Brumbies coach Andy Friend shunted the 76-Test stalwart to the wing for the first time in almost a decade of Super rugby.

Deans, though, says Mortlock remains one of the most influential players in Australia, an assertion emphasised in his match-turning display in the Brumbies' season-saving win over the Blues on Saturday night.

"Stirling has shown through Super rugby again that he's still a player who has a presence and an ability to impact on a game - as recently as last weekend," the Wallabies coach said on Monday.

"His acts (on Saturday) were the pivotal acts in the game that turned the momentum.

"But, most importantly, what was evident most of all was his desire. He still wants to make a difference as opposed to just make up the numbers, and that's a critical quality with any player."

Deans said Mortlock, like all players in contention, was well aware he needed to keep performing to gain ongoing Test-match selection.

"There's no guarantees for any player - and they don't want a guarantee," he said.