I captained the Lions to a series win. Here's what I'd say if I was Wallabies skipper
So I can understand the difficulty for the Wallabies in preparing for the third Test in Sydney this week, with the British and Irish Lions having already claimed the series.
What would I say to the team if I was the captain and in this situation? It would be simple, and along these lines: 'You are fighting for respect and pride. That's what you fight for anyway, all the time, but you do not want to lose 3-0 at home. You were winning for 79 minutes last week, and you showed what you could do. You can score tries, and you can make it difficult for the Lions. Do it again.'
These guys get to where they are because they're competitors. They are not always the most talented kids when they are 11 years old, but they're always the guys who are competitors and still get their way to the top. Loads of those guys would have been told they weren't good enough, and had their knockbacks. But they just kept coming. So they're hardwired competitors.
And that's what it's all about in Test matches. You need to find that extra little bit on top, and to be able to dig deep. That's where the Wallabies mindset will need to be this week.
Do they harness the controversy of the Melbourne game? No doubt. They're coming off a disappointing loss, and you always feel aggrieved after losing, whatever the situation. You always feels an injustice somewhere, somehow, because that's the mindset that you need.
That's the mindset that works. Thinking happy thoughts and being in a beautiful place, that's not the mindset that works for teams. They need to be upset, disappointed, bitter, angry, vengeful and wanting to destroy everything in their path.
It's just as fascinating to think about the Lions' mindset will be this week, too, however.
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