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Wallabies are delusional, says … former Wallaby

Will Genia after  Wallabies' 42-8 loss to the All Blacks last weekend in Sydney.

Will Genia after Wallabies' 42-8 loss to the All Blacks last weekend in Sydney. Photo: Getty

Former Wallaby Clyde Rathbone has suggested the Wallabies are dreaming and challenged them to admit they can’t beat the All Blacks, in a scathing assessment of the embattled rugby team.

In an elegantly penned column for rugby.com.au, Rathbone has fired up after Australia’s embarrassing 42-8 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks in Sydney.

Rathbone argued that the Wallabies were being burdened by expectations and doing little to help themselves in overcoming the All Blacks, whom they haven’t beaten in NZ in 15 years — and that only on a last-gasp penalty kick.

“From Muhammad Ali to Conor McGregor absolute self-confidence appears a prerequisite to every great sporting achievement,” Rathbone said.

“But for every Ali and McGregor there are countless athletes for whom blind faith in one’s ability is a slippery slope to delusion.

“The Wallabies were confident going into the first Bledisloe  … they talked themselves into the much vaunted ‘winning mindset’.

Forty-two points later reality came crashing home in the form of a record loss to the All Blacks. The truth is pitiless, indifferent to all but the purity of its own self evidence. And the truth is that the All Blacks are a much better team than the Wallabies.”

Someone needs to admit they Wallabies are totally outgunned: Clyde Rathbone. Photo: Getty

Someone needs to admit the Wallabies are totally outgunned: Clyde Rathbone. Photo: Getty

Rathbone claimed that ahead of Saturday’s test in Wellington, nobody among the Wallabies had come out and spoken honestly about their real prospects.

“What I would give for the coach or player who when addressing the media let rip with this kind of unprecedented truth bomb: ‘Look, we’re almost certainly not going to win on Saturday. The last time we won in New Zealand was back in 2001 and our home record against the All Blacks isn’t great either.

“They are one of the greatest sporting teams in history, so we’ve got to play at our best and hope they have an off night if we’re going to steal a win. That’s the reality but we’re up for the challenge’.”

The Wallabies play the All Blacks in Wellington, tomorrow (Saturday, August 27).

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