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Subscribe to RSS FeedMortlock rues missed kicks
Missed chances: The kick that got away
Australia captain Stirling Mortlock has taken the brunt of the blame for his teams' 12-10 World Cup quarter-final loss to England after missing three kicks at goal.
The Wallabies skipper left Marseilles with his devastated team-mates on Sunday morning, and Mortlock was still ruing the missed goal opportunities that ultimatelly cost his side dearly.
"It is extremely disappointing for me personally to miss three kicks in the game and, in the end, that was probably the difference," said Mortlock.
"It is always extremely tough on a goalkicker when it is like that.
"But that doesn't erase how disappointed I am that I didn't hit a few [kicks] through. If I had, we wouldn't be going home."
Mortlock was particularly pained by the failure of his last attempt at goal, with two minutes on the clock, which would have stolen the match for the Australians.
"I actually thought it was over. The wind was very skewy," said Mortlock.
"When I set it up, it was blowing to my right. When I went back to redress the ball, it was going from right to left.
"I hit it exactly where I wanted to. I thought it was on track. So I gave it a chance. I actually thought it was over... and it just hooked hard and that's how close we were."
Though it's the end of the road for the two-time world champions to make it a record three titles at the Rugby World Cup, Mortlock would not rule out a return for 2011 when the tournament will be held in New Zealand.
"I haven't thought about post-World Cup. I want to sit down with my wife; discuss where we want to go. But I never say never," he said.
The Wallabies captain highlighted the one positive to emerge from the World Cup campaign - the experience gained by the younger members of the squad.
"I always feel and believe you have to take a positive from any situation," said Mortlock.
"Two-thirds of the crew are extremely young and the way the guys came through in this World Cup, I thought the future is extremely good."
He added that the Wallabies had failed to play to their own potential on the big occasion.
"That is something you have to learn from and hopefully we will grow from that," he said.
Wallabies coach John Connolly concurred, saying the World Cup rookies "will not forget" the loss as they approach the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
Youngsters like Berrick Barnes and Adam Ashley-Cooper, who had previously enjoyed something of a red carpet ride in Test rugby, were given a rude awakening.
Mortlock said the Wallabies spent a downcast night together after their loss, adding that "a few beers" did little to ease their pain.
"It was a very solemn and quiet night with all the guys. For a lot of us, it hasn't really sunk in," said Mortlock.
"To finish the World Cup [by] probably playing our worst performance in the World Cup is very disappointing."
It hurt too that the Wallabies were unable to toast the end of the Test careers of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham with a win.
"It was very emotional. They are two guys who have given Australian rugby so much," said the Australia skipper.
"It is extremely disappointing we didn't have an opportunity to send them off in a fitting style.
"We had a few quiet words over a couple of beers. [There was] nothing more we can do really.
"You would love nothing more than to send those guys off in a final or with a win."
Mortlock said the losses recorded by Australia and New Zealand showed that the World Cup was becoming a less predictable tournament.
"It re-emphasises how much tighter world rugby is now, and in particular [that] the top one or six nations on their day - if they play well - will win," said Mortlock.
"I still feel disappointed with how we didn't play well and didn't show our true colours."
