Danny
27-06-2004, 09:28 AM
An injury to Mark Gerrard gave him a chance, he broke down in the warm ups, and his replacement (Rathbone) scores 3 tries. Below is Wendell Sailor's rendition of the night and his place in the test team in the future.
More than my hamstring hurts
By Wallaby winger Wendell Sailor
June 27, 2004
I HAVE said all along that there is so much talent in this Australian squad you just can't afford to give someone else a chance.
Last night was an example of that. I was doing a regulation move in the warm-ups when I hit the pads and felt my hamstring go.
I consulted Dr Martin Raftery in the sheds to see if it was just cramp, but when I came back out I couldn't get out of a jog.
Clyde Rathbone said, "What's happened?", and I said, "Mate, I think you're in."
He was exceptional last night. As a reserve back you don't expect to get a call-up like that, but to score three tries and make those runs, I couldn't fault him.
After the game he put his arm around me and said sorry for my injury, but I just said to him that he went awesome.
Unfortunately I had the best seat in the house to watch. While I am so happy we won and I thought the boys were brilliant and ruthless, you can't help but feel disappointed.
There was a record crowd at my home ground and I'd lost to England the only three times I'd played them, including last year's World Cup final.
And seeing all the space that was created for the outside backs made me want to be out there even more. When I told Eddie Jones I was no good, it was probably the lowest I'd felt - apart from losing the final last November.
The boys were really good after the game and John Roe came and jokingly thanked me for getting injured because it gave him a second Test cap.
He only had the one from our big win over Namibia in the World Cup.
Obviously the pressure is back on me now to keep my place in the team - I think I'll have my fingers crossed just to make the squad of 22!
I've just got to focus on getting my hamstring right, and the medical staff reckon I can do that in time for next weekend's Test against the Pacific Islands.
I wouldn't say our win last night was revenge because, as George Gregan has been saying, that final is ancient history and the World Cup is over in their trophy cabinet.
But it was a superb performance and was a level above what we showed against Scotland. It was very professional because we lifted for a game we had been focusing on.
We knew we had to step up and we know we have to keep improving for when we take on this year's benchmark, New Zealand.
Some of the guys were awesome, like Lote Tuqiri and David Lyons. The way Joe Roff played, I reckon he should shelve retirement plans immediately.
And Rathbone's performance should suggest we don't need to buy any more outside backs, with him and Mark Gerrard coming through.
The Sunday Telegraph
More than my hamstring hurts
By Wallaby winger Wendell Sailor
June 27, 2004
I HAVE said all along that there is so much talent in this Australian squad you just can't afford to give someone else a chance.
Last night was an example of that. I was doing a regulation move in the warm-ups when I hit the pads and felt my hamstring go.
I consulted Dr Martin Raftery in the sheds to see if it was just cramp, but when I came back out I couldn't get out of a jog.
Clyde Rathbone said, "What's happened?", and I said, "Mate, I think you're in."
He was exceptional last night. As a reserve back you don't expect to get a call-up like that, but to score three tries and make those runs, I couldn't fault him.
After the game he put his arm around me and said sorry for my injury, but I just said to him that he went awesome.
Unfortunately I had the best seat in the house to watch. While I am so happy we won and I thought the boys were brilliant and ruthless, you can't help but feel disappointed.
There was a record crowd at my home ground and I'd lost to England the only three times I'd played them, including last year's World Cup final.
And seeing all the space that was created for the outside backs made me want to be out there even more. When I told Eddie Jones I was no good, it was probably the lowest I'd felt - apart from losing the final last November.
The boys were really good after the game and John Roe came and jokingly thanked me for getting injured because it gave him a second Test cap.
He only had the one from our big win over Namibia in the World Cup.
Obviously the pressure is back on me now to keep my place in the team - I think I'll have my fingers crossed just to make the squad of 22!
I've just got to focus on getting my hamstring right, and the medical staff reckon I can do that in time for next weekend's Test against the Pacific Islands.
I wouldn't say our win last night was revenge because, as George Gregan has been saying, that final is ancient history and the World Cup is over in their trophy cabinet.
But it was a superb performance and was a level above what we showed against Scotland. It was very professional because we lifted for a game we had been focusing on.
We knew we had to step up and we know we have to keep improving for when we take on this year's benchmark, New Zealand.
Some of the guys were awesome, like Lote Tuqiri and David Lyons. The way Joe Roff played, I reckon he should shelve retirement plans immediately.
And Rathbone's performance should suggest we don't need to buy any more outside backs, with him and Mark Gerrard coming through.
The Sunday Telegraph