Setting the record straight

Thursday October 30 2003
Bill Young is back this week after a slight absence, with the Wallaby loosehead prop in no mood to beat around the bush. He wants to set the record straight - once and for all after recent media reports about the spirit in the Australian RWC camp.

There's been a lot said about the team unity of the Wallabies over recent weeks.

We'll I thought I'd address that for our Planet Rugby readers once and for all.

When Eddie Jones read the team out to the squad last week there was little doubt in my mind and in that of every other squad member who would be captain.

Chris Whitaker would not only replace George Gregan at scrum-half, he would also assume the captaincy for our match against Namibia.

I might have been on the bench for this match, but I can think of no greater honour than running out under the leadership of 'Whits'.

There is so much more to a rugby team than the starting XV.

People have suggested that there are signs of disharmony in this squad.

Once again, ill-informed, so-called 'experts' have made this assumption because we have a 30-man outfit.

Of course guys are going to be disappointed when they miss selection and we ALL go through this drama at some point of our rugby lives.

But what this squad of 30 and 14 management have shown since we assembled in September, is a commitment to the cause.

The good of the Australian team comes first for all of us and the best example of a person who displays that unselfish attitude was our captain last weekend.

Chris may have run on for the third time only in the starting side, but in reality he has been involved in over 50 Tests for Australia and is therefore in my eyes, one of our most experienced players.

I honestly can't remember being involved with such a large squad that is as tight and harmonious as this one.

A few of the boys have read some of the press reports (with great amusement I might add) suggesting disharmony has manifested itself in the group.

This is nothing more than a grab for a headline because the World Cup has been relatively controversy free.

Journalists are, not surprisingly, looking for dirt where none exists.

Anyone who saw Chris Latham play on the weekend would be left in no doubt just how much it means for EVERYONE in this squad to contribute when the time comes.

I don't care what anyone says but you don't score 142 points in a game if blokes don't like each other.

The people of Australia deserve a big slap on the back for the way they've come out in their hundreds of thousands to support not just the Wallabies, but the World Cup as a whole.

The reception we received at Adelaide airport the other day was absolutely incredible.

South Australia is renowned for its Aussie Rules, but for one weekend it was a rugby stronghold.

The ground was fantastic and the people friendly.

Now we reach the end of the pool stage and a clash with Ireland in Melbourne.

I'm glad the Irish have named a full-strength line-up because this Wallaby side has made a commitment to test itself against the best the opposition can muster.

They had the best of us at Lansdowne Road last year and we had the better of them in Perth this year.

So there is a score to settle at Telstra Dome on Saturday night and I cannot wait.

Chat Soon
Bill