SAINT-ETIENNE: Wallabies assistant coach Pierre-Henry Broncan says Super Rugby has not prepared Australia to deal with the extreme pressure of winning games at a Rugby World Cup.
The Wallabies are now relying on Fiji to implode if they are to have any chance of avoiding unwanted history and qualify for the quarter-finals in Marseille.
Speaking ahead of Australia's final Pool C game against Portugal in Saint-Etienne on Monday (AEST), Frenchman Broncan had some fascinating observations about his adopted team.
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Broncan, the Wallabies maul consultant, is a former professional halfback who coached Castres to the Top 14 final in 2022.
The 49-year-old has also worked with Toulouse and Bath.
"If you want a big difference between the Top 14 and European Cup and your Super Rugby competition in Australia and with New Zealand, it's the pressure," Broncan told reporters at Stade Roger Baudras.
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"In France we have pressure every game, every game you have pressure because there is a massive thing about relegation or qualification (for European Cup places). It's very important for the European teams. In Super Rugby there is no relegation, you play just to win Super Rugby (which) is a very good thing but just between New Zealand and Australian teams.
"You will see the next games in the World Cup, the quarter-finals, semi-finals or final, there will be massive pressure on the pitch. A lot of games, they will finish with a very close score between the two teams and the last five or 10 minutes, you can win or lose a game.
"Today our team is not that (ready to deal with pressure). During half-time against Wales, I was sure we were going to win the game. Ten points (the deficit to Wales) is nothing. But we start the second half and we concede a penalty and that was it.
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"We need to change that in the future, you understand."
The Wallabies have a 1-7 record under Eddie Jones this year and have slumped to an all-time low of 10th in the world rankings.
Broncan, who admitted Australia's maul was not up to scratch against Wales under his watch, continued his theory on why the Wallabies did not know how to win tight games.
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He thought that might stem from Super Rugby struggles, a competition not won by an Australian team since the Waratahs in 2014 under Michael Cheika.
Cheika then led the Wallabies to the World Cup final the following year.
"My games with Australia, we won just against Georgia but it was an easy game and a big score," Broncan said.
"The game in Dunedin (Bledisloe Cup) we lost 23-20, it was our game and Argentina (a 34-31 Rugby Championship loss) it was the same thing, we lost the game at the end of the game. It's not just a (problem) with the Australia national team, I am sure about it.
"Brumbies is a good way for the team (to follow) because they have a very tough team and they can beat New Zealand sides today. The other teams in Australia, it was very tough, very difficult for (them) to beat New Zealand teams. Sorry… but it is a reality. We need to change that firstly."
Broncan also believed that the loss of South African teams from Super Rugby – in addition to Argentina's Jaguares and Japan's Sunwolves – had harmed the game Down Under.
"When you had Super Rugby with South African teams it was a tough competition, very tough competition. Today South African teams play the European Cup and it was a benefit to the northern hemisphere."
Broncan was also convinced that Jones would continue to lead the Wallabies next year, despite the World Cup flop and his flirtation with Japan.
"I am sure about it because he's a great coach. He understands everything about it and I think in his head he wants now to find the best solution for the Australia national team and his country. He is the right person. It is not just a problem of Eddie Jones or the players today, I am sure about it. I repeat pressure is very important in our sport today."
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Wallabies and Waratahs centre Lalakai Foketi was also asked about the rest and rotation policy among Australian Super Rugby teams.
"I did get rostered off a couple of games, against the Blues and the Crusaders. Our two hardest games," Foketi said.
"Those are the games you want to play and Pierre is right, if we want to learn how to handle pressure then we've got to play those games and we've got to beat the teams that are up at the top of the Super Rugby ladder. I am not too sure what's happening next year about that but Pierre is right, we've got to play those games.
"For next year, if you asked me if I wanted to get rostered off for two games, I want to play the tough games and the hardest teams."
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