a day ago
Is the Wallabies working the canteen enough to get you to their game? It should be
THE Wallabies were once Australia's favourite team. Sports fans above the age of 30 will recall the halcyon days.
But times have changed, which is why the new-generation Wallabies have been bending over backwards to connect with fans in Newcastle the past few days.
Players were mobbed by school kids at an open training session on Friday.
Wallabies then served in the canteen, cooked snags on the barbecue, sold raffle tickets, and stood in the cold watching club rugby on Saturday
Joseph Sua'ali'i - the game's $5 million man - joined starry-eyed youngsters for a game of touch footy.
The Wallabies have invested in Newcastle, and they're hoping the city invests in them when they play Fiji this weekend.
It's a long way from those glory years, and it's hard to imagine the likes of George Gregan, Wendell Sailor or Matt Burke having to man the canteen to drum up support.
In 2002, the Bledisloe Cup took pride of place in a clattered trophy cabinet.
Not even a heart-breaking defeat courtesy of a Johnny Wilkinson drop goal in the World Cup final on home soil in 2003 hurt the Wallabies' popularity.
As the saying goes - or went - 'everyone wanted tro be a Wallaby'.
You could mount a similar argument in 2015.
Again, Australia made the World Cup final, going down 34-17 to the All Blacks.
Kids wanted to be the next Will Genia, the next Israel Folau, Matt Giteau, Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale ...
However, the Wallabies results and popularity have since dropped off a cliff.
Rock bottom was the 2023 World Cup in France and Australia's failure to progress past the group stage.
The Matildas, Aussie cricket, Socceroos and Kangaroos now vie for Australia's most-loved-team tag.
The Wallabies sit fifth, ahead of the Boomers, just.
But maybe, just maybe, it's time for the Australian public to jump back on board.
An encouraging 2024 under well-credentialed Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt is reason for optimism.
The Wallabies take on Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday ahead of a blockbuster series against the British and Irish Lions.
The hard work has not been restricted to the training paddock and gym.
The Wallabies have gone above and beyong to interact with the community since arriving in Newcastle.
"Going to watch the Shute Shield, everyone was very accommodating," Wallabies breakaway Fraser McReight said. "There were plenty of young fans getting autographs. We had about 300 school kids at an open training session as well. It has been great.
"Getting together with communities and representing the brand of the Wallabies is super important."
So too is winning Test matches.
While there is much hype about the Lions series, the Wallabies are focused on Fiji.
The Pacific Island nation upset Australia 22-15 - and sent shockwaves across the 2023 World Cup - in their last encounter.
"That was a tough game obviously," said McReight, who played breakaway at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
"They were up for it and played a cracker. It was the first time they had beaten us in 60 or 70 years.
"This is not a warm-up game. This is a game we need to get ready for. It's a Test match against Fiji, which is a bloody good side.
"They have threats all over the park, but so do we. It is about building on how we finished last year.
"Now we are in year two under Joe Schmidt, we build a bigger base and be more clinical.
"We watched some clips [from the last loss to Fiji] this week. A lot of the clips were the first time I had rewatched parts of that game. We are not too worried about getting revenge.
"We have a new group here. We have a new destination where we want to go."
Western Force back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny is one of two uncapped players, alongside Corey Toole, in the 36-man Wallabies squad.
The 28-year-old from Canberra, like many of the current crop, is largely unknown in the wider rugby community.
He finished school and moved to Sydney, where he played in the Shute Shield before four years in the Top 14 in France with Castres.
He played for the Force in a 54-7 defeat to the Lions on Saturday - the tourists' opening game - and arrived in Newcastle Sunday night.
Now, he has a chance to make a name for himself with the Wallabies.
"To play for the Wallabies is the pinnacle," Champion de Crespigny. "You grow up watching them. It would mean everything to me."
And just maybe to the rest of us.
THE Wallabies were once Australia's favourite team. Sports fans above the age of 30 will recall the halcyon days.
But times have changed, which is why the new-generation Wallabies have been bending over backwards to connect with fans in Newcastle the past few days.
Players were mobbed by school kids at an open training session on Friday.
Wallabies then served in the canteen, cooked snags on the barbecue, sold raffle tickets, and stood in the cold watching club rugby on Saturday
Joseph Sua'ali'i - the game's $5 million man - joined starry-eyed youngsters for a game of touch footy.
The Wallabies have invested in Newcastle, and they're hoping the city invests in them when they play Fiji this weekend.
It's a long way from those glory years, and it's hard to imagine the likes of George Gregan, Wendell Sailor or Matt Burke having to man the canteen to drum up support.
In 2002, the Bledisloe Cup took pride of place in a clattered trophy cabinet.
Not even a heart-breaking defeat courtesy of a Johnny Wilkinson drop goal in the World Cup final on home soil in 2003 hurt the Wallabies' popularity.
As the saying goes - or went - 'everyone wanted tro be a Wallaby'.
You could mount a similar argument in 2015.
Again, Australia made the World Cup final, going down 34-17 to the All Blacks.
Kids wanted to be the next Will Genia, the next Israel Folau, Matt Giteau, Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale ...
However, the Wallabies results and popularity have since dropped off a cliff.
Rock bottom was the 2023 World Cup in France and Australia's failure to progress past the group stage.
The Matildas, Aussie cricket, Socceroos and Kangaroos now vie for Australia's most-loved-team tag.
The Wallabies sit fifth, ahead of the Boomers, just.
But maybe, just maybe, it's time for the Australian public to jump back on board.
An encouraging 2024 under well-credentialed Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt is reason for optimism.
The Wallabies take on Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday ahead of a blockbuster series against the British and Irish Lions.
The hard work has not been restricted to the training paddock and gym.
The Wallabies have gone above and beyong to interact with the community since arriving in Newcastle.
"Going to watch the Shute Shield, everyone was very accommodating," Wallabies breakaway Fraser McReight said. "There were plenty of young fans getting autographs. We had about 300 school kids at an open training session as well. It has been great.
"Getting together with communities and representing the brand of the Wallabies is super important."
So too is winning Test matches.
While there is much hype about the Lions series, the Wallabies are focused on Fiji.
The Pacific Island nation upset Australia 22-15 - and sent shockwaves across the 2023 World Cup - in their last encounter.
"That was a tough game obviously," said McReight, who played breakaway at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
"They were up for it and played a cracker. It was the first time they had beaten us in 60 or 70 years.
"This is not a warm-up game. This is a game we need to get ready for. It's a Test match against Fiji, which is a bloody good side.
"They have threats all over the park, but so do we. It is about building on how we finished last year.
"Now we are in year two under Joe Schmidt, we build a bigger base and be more clinical.
"We watched some clips [from the last loss to Fiji] this week. A lot of the clips were the first time I had rewatched parts of that game. We are not too worried about getting revenge.
"We have a new group here. We have a new destination where we want to go."
Western Force back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny is one of two uncapped players, alongside Corey Toole, in the 36-man Wallabies squad.
The 28-year-old from Canberra, like many of the current crop, is largely unknown in the wider rugby community.
He finished school and moved to Sydney, where he played in the Shute Shield before four years in the Top 14 in France with Castres.
He played for the Force in a 54-7 defeat to the Lions on Saturday - the tourists' opening game - and arrived in Newcastle Sunday night.
Now, he has a chance to make a name for himself with the Wallabies.
"To play for the Wallabies is the pinnacle," Champion de Crespigny. "You grow up watching them. It would mean everything to me."
And just maybe to the rest of us.
THE Wallabies were once Australia's favourite team. Sports fans above the age of 30 will recall the halcyon days.
But times have changed, which is why the new-generation Wallabies have been bending over backwards to connect with fans in Newcastle the past few days.
Players were mobbed by school kids at an open training session on Friday.
Wallabies then served in the canteen, cooked snags on the barbecue, sold raffle tickets, and stood in the cold watching club rugby on Saturday
Joseph Sua'ali'i - the game's $5 million man - joined starry-eyed youngsters for a game of touch footy.
The Wallabies have invested in Newcastle, and they're hoping the city invests in them when they play Fiji this weekend.
It's a long way from those glory years, and it's hard to imagine the likes of George Gregan, Wendell Sailor or Matt Burke having to man the canteen to drum up support.
In 2002, the Bledisloe Cup took pride of place in a clattered trophy cabinet.
Not even a heart-breaking defeat courtesy of a Johnny Wilkinson drop goal in the World Cup final on home soil in 2003 hurt the Wallabies' popularity.
As the saying goes - or went - 'everyone wanted tro be a Wallaby'.
You could mount a similar argument in 2015.
Again, Australia made the World Cup final, going down 34-17 to the All Blacks.
Kids wanted to be the next Will Genia, the next Israel Folau, Matt Giteau, Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale ...
However, the Wallabies results and popularity have since dropped off a cliff.
Rock bottom was the 2023 World Cup in France and Australia's failure to progress past the group stage.
The Matildas, Aussie cricket, Socceroos and Kangaroos now vie for Australia's most-loved-team tag.
The Wallabies sit fifth, ahead of the Boomers, just.
But maybe, just maybe, it's time for the Australian public to jump back on board.
An encouraging 2024 under well-credentialed Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt is reason for optimism.
The Wallabies take on Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday ahead of a blockbuster series against the British and Irish Lions.
The hard work has not been restricted to the training paddock and gym.
The Wallabies have gone above and beyong to interact with the community since arriving in Newcastle.
"Going to watch the Shute Shield, everyone was very accommodating," Wallabies breakaway Fraser McReight said. "There were plenty of young fans getting autographs. We had about 300 school kids at an open training session as well. It has been great.
"Getting together with communities and representing the brand of the Wallabies is super important."
So too is winning Test matches.
While there is much hype about the Lions series, the Wallabies are focused on Fiji.
The Pacific Island nation upset Australia 22-15 - and sent shockwaves across the 2023 World Cup - in their last encounter.
"That was a tough game obviously," said McReight, who played breakaway at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
"They were up for it and played a cracker. It was the first time they had beaten us in 60 or 70 years.
"This is not a warm-up game. This is a game we need to get ready for. It's a Test match against Fiji, which is a bloody good side.
"They have threats all over the park, but so do we. It is about building on how we finished last year.
"Now we are in year two under Joe Schmidt, we build a bigger base and be more clinical.
"We watched some clips [from the last loss to Fiji] this week. A lot of the clips were the first time I had rewatched parts of that game. We are not too worried about getting revenge.
"We have a new group here. We have a new destination where we want to go."
Western Force back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny is one of two uncapped players, alongside Corey Toole, in the 36-man Wallabies squad.
The 28-year-old from Canberra, like many of the current crop, is largely unknown in the wider rugby community.
He finished school and moved to Sydney, where he played in the Shute Shield before four years in the Top 14 in France with Castres.
He played for the Force in a 54-7 defeat to the Lions on Saturday - the tourists' opening game - and arrived in Newcastle Sunday night.
Now, he has a chance to make a name for himself with the Wallabies.
"To play for the Wallabies is the pinnacle," Champion de Crespigny. "You grow up watching them. It would mean everything to me."
And just maybe to the rest of us.
THE Wallabies were once Australia's favourite team. Sports fans above the age of 30 will recall the halcyon days.
But times have changed, which is why the new-generation Wallabies have been bending over backwards to connect with fans in Newcastle the past few days.
Players were mobbed by school kids at an open training session on Friday.
Wallabies then served in the canteen, cooked snags on the barbecue, sold raffle tickets, and stood in the cold watching club rugby on Saturday
Joseph Sua'ali'i - the game's $5 million man - joined starry-eyed youngsters for a game of touch footy.
The Wallabies have invested in Newcastle, and they're hoping the city invests in them when they play Fiji this weekend.
It's a long way from those glory years, and it's hard to imagine the likes of George Gregan, Wendell Sailor or Matt Burke having to man the canteen to drum up support.
In 2002, the Bledisloe Cup took pride of place in a clattered trophy cabinet.
Not even a heart-breaking defeat courtesy of a Johnny Wilkinson drop goal in the World Cup final on home soil in 2003 hurt the Wallabies' popularity.
As the saying goes - or went - 'everyone wanted tro be a Wallaby'.
You could mount a similar argument in 2015.
Again, Australia made the World Cup final, going down 34-17 to the All Blacks.
Kids wanted to be the next Will Genia, the next Israel Folau, Matt Giteau, Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale ...
However, the Wallabies results and popularity have since dropped off a cliff.
Rock bottom was the 2023 World Cup in France and Australia's failure to progress past the group stage.
The Matildas, Aussie cricket, Socceroos and Kangaroos now vie for Australia's most-loved-team tag.
The Wallabies sit fifth, ahead of the Boomers, just.
But maybe, just maybe, it's time for the Australian public to jump back on board.
An encouraging 2024 under well-credentialed Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt is reason for optimism.
The Wallabies take on Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday ahead of a blockbuster series against the British and Irish Lions.
The hard work has not been restricted to the training paddock and gym.
The Wallabies have gone above and beyong to interact with the community since arriving in Newcastle.
"Going to watch the Shute Shield, everyone was very accommodating," Wallabies breakaway Fraser McReight said. "There were plenty of young fans getting autographs. We had about 300 school kids at an open training session as well. It has been great.
"Getting together with communities and representing the brand of the Wallabies is super important."
So too is winning Test matches.
While there is much hype about the Lions series, the Wallabies are focused on Fiji.
The Pacific Island nation upset Australia 22-15 - and sent shockwaves across the 2023 World Cup - in their last encounter.
"That was a tough game obviously," said McReight, who played breakaway at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
"They were up for it and played a cracker. It was the first time they had beaten us in 60 or 70 years.
"This is not a warm-up game. This is a game we need to get ready for. It's a Test match against Fiji, which is a bloody good side.
"They have threats all over the park, but so do we. It is about building on how we finished last year.
"Now we are in year two under Joe Schmidt, we build a bigger base and be more clinical.
"We watched some clips [from the last loss to Fiji] this week. A lot of the clips were the first time I had rewatched parts of that game. We are not too worried about getting revenge.
"We have a new group here. We have a new destination where we want to go."
Western Force back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny is one of two uncapped players, alongside Corey Toole, in the 36-man Wallabies squad.
The 28-year-old from Canberra, like many of the current crop, is largely unknown in the wider rugby community.
He finished school and moved to Sydney, where he played in the Shute Shield before four years in the Top 14 in France with Castres.
He played for the Force in a 54-7 defeat to the Lions on Saturday - the tourists' opening game - and arrived in Newcastle Sunday night.
Now, he has a chance to make a name for himself with the Wallabies.
"To play for the Wallabies is the pinnacle," Champion de Crespigny. "You grow up watching them. It would mean everything to me."
And just maybe to the rest of us.
