Port Elizabeth: Wallabies back-rower Ned Hanigan has never been one to mince his words and let’s hope his country colloquialisms never get media trained out of him.
Ahead of the Wallabies’ clash with South Africa, the 23-year-old Coonamble kid was asked about Australia’s loss to Argentina just over a week ago, which demoted them to seventh in the world rankings, and what the review process would be like for that match.
No excuses: Ned Hanigan wants the Wallabies to all own their recent failings and make amends in South Africa.
Interestingly, Hanigan contradicted coach Michael Cheika’s comments earlier in the week that forgetting about the four-point loss was the best thing to do.
“You review it but you can’t leave it behind,” Hanigan said. “We’ve obviously had a few hard conversations and [spoken about] the learnings to come out of it.”
Then came a one-liner, spoken with conviction and in a manner that shows Hanigan and teammates are well and truly sick of the malaise the side is in.
“We can’t be sitting there kicking stones and letting it just get worse, we’ve got to grab it by the balls and try and turn it around,” Hanigan said.
Even Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa, sitting next to Hanigan, thought the phrase was rather amusing. While there might have been other expressions to use, the message was clear as day.
Despite winning two of their last nine games, there is an unwavering belief in this Wallabies squad that big things are still on the horizon, only if little one percenters are completed diligently.
“We've obviously got a dream of winning the World Cup, it's 100 per cent what everyone in the room wants to do,” Hanigan said. “But if you just have that dream and no process about getting there you might lose your pathway. We've gone back to, starting yesterday, nailing our processes and that starts individually.”
Although the heat has been on Cheika and his coaching staff over the past few weeks, Hanigan – and many players for that matter – insist they have to shoulder the blame for some uncharacteristically poor performances.
Cheika and his assistants could implement the best strategy in world rugby but if the Wallabies can't transfer that onto the field they are shot ducks.
“I don't read much of the press but we've got to take a level of responsibility as well,” Hanigan said. “The performances on the field is what we're delivering. It's such an excuse it's easy to point [the blame] at someone but the 15 blokes that walk out, it's our responsibility to do what we say we'll do. In terms of the coaching staff, they're the people for the job 100 per cent."
Hard feelings: Hanigan, in Port Elizabeth with Kurtley Beale, says the players shouldn’t forget their loss to Argentina.
With no Lukhan Tui or Pete Samu on this tour, Hanigan is firming as most likely to wear the No.6 jersey. After starting in 10 of 12 matches in his first international season, Hanigan has been on the bench in three games this year against Ireland, South Africa and Argentina. Cheika does not name his team to face the Springboks until Thursday.
“We’re in a situation where positionally it’s not really up to myself,” Hanigan said. “You’ve got guys coming in like Angus Cottrell, who has had an awesome Super Rugby season. Caleb [Timu] has been performing in the NRC. I try to just make sure that whatever role I get given in the team I just make sure I do it to the best of my ability.”
South Africa have not lost a Test from five outings at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and will still be buzzing after beating the All Blacks on New Zealand soil 36-34.
“They’re going to come in with a lot of confidence,” Hanigan said. “Their tactics that worked against the All Blacks, they might look to hang onto or try to counteract those.”
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