Rugby World Cup 2023: Wallabies deal with crowd and social media criticism
From French crowds to fans on social media, the Wallabies are copping it from all angles. Halfback Tate McDermott explains how they are using the criticism in the lead up to their must-win match against Wales.
Australian halfback Tate McDermott says he has no idea why the Wallabies are so unpopular at the World Cup but learning to live with the haters could help the team get back to winning.
Already under fire from their own fans after losing to Fiji, the Wallabies have also been roasted by the French crowds in their two pool games so far.
Every time Eddie Jones appears on the stadium big screens, the crowds whistle their displeasure, then cheer and roar with delight whenever opposing teams score against the Wallabies.
Baffled by why so few people like the men in gold, McDermott said the players were learning to live with it so were expecting more of the same against Wales this weekend.
“For some reason they don't like us,” McDermott said.
“So they're singing the Fijian songs and no doubt they’ll be singing the Wales songs this weekend.
“But we’re across that, we’re embracing that, We don’t mind that at all.”
If anything, the criticism the Wallabies are copping from their own supporters is even fiercer.
Social media has been lighting up all week with furious supporters demanding answers after the loss to Fiji left the Wallabies in danger of missing the quarter-finals.
McDermott said he understood how frustrated the team’s followers were but wasn’t letting it impact him.
“I‘m not looking at stuff,” he said. “I’m aware. I’m not oblivious to the fact that we’re under pressure on social media particularly.
“But that’s not my style. I don’t get on there. I don’t choose to prove doubters wrong, I like to do the talking come game day.”
Facing the ignominy of missing the playoffs if they lose to the Welsh, McDermott is certain the Wallabies will raise their game.
But he also expects Wales to step it up and attack the Australians at the breakdown after they were heavily penalised against Fiji.
“They‘re going to come hard. They’ve got good back rowers that will put pressure there,” McDermott said.
“So for us, we’ve just got to move the point of attack. We’ve got to win that physicality and that mindset battle at the breakdown in order to do that.
“We have to get that result so we’ve seen a big shift from boys, the hangover from that performance against Fiji, we had to throw that in the bin as quickly as possible because of the importance of this game and I’ve been really happy with the response on that training field.
“Whether it’s the breakdown, whether it’s the last pass – so for us, we’ve got a game plan that gets us to the right spots.
“We’ve just got to make sure we’re clinical enough at the breakdown and we’re clear in our minds exactly what we want to do when we get down there.”
Wales will secure a place in the quarter-finals if they beat the Wallabies after winning their opening two matches against Fiji and Portugal but are still in danger of missing out if they lose with the possibility of places being decided by bonus points.
“Obviously the Australia result against Fiji has put a spanner in the works for everyone, so it's a massive game for us and we have to go out and win it on Sunday,” Wales centre George North said.
“The boys are champing at the bit.
“The message has been clear from us that we take every game, every week, as it comes. Focus fully on what's coming. You’re here for a reason and the way you’ve been playing has got you that jersey, so don’t change anything.“
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