Back Harry Potter has slammed former England and British and Irish Lions head coach Sir Clive Woodward\u2019s comments that the Wallabies have a losing mentality.<\/p>\n
Woodward hit out at Australia captain Harry Wilson\u2019s decision to boot the ball out when the Wallabies trailed the Lions by eight points in the final play of the first Test match in Brisbane.<\/p>\n
Lock Nick Frost had just won a lineout against the head and with the Wallabies claiming possession inside their own 22 and no hope of winning the match from there, Wilson decided enough was enough.<\/p>\n
Sir Clive Woodward\u2019s comments slammed<\/p>\n
Woodward<\/a>, who coached the Lions<\/a> on an unsuccessful tour to New Zealand, losing the series 3-0, slammed the back-rower\u2019s decision, believing that it was an indication of Australian Rugby\u2019s \u2018losing mentality\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was not what a Lions series should all be about. What summed up the game for me was that with the clock in the red and with the Lions winning 27-19, the Australian captain, Harry Wilson, kicked the ball out to end the game,\u201d he wrote in his\u00a0SportsMail column.<\/p>\n \u201cTalk about a losing mentality. For me, it is the last play of the game, so why not have a mentality to try and score, as this could be the situation in seven days\u2019 time, only closer?<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not rehearse this scenario? Why would any player, especially the captain, want to end the game? That in so many ways reflects the current state of Australian rugby, which is clearly not in a great position.\u201d<\/p>\n His remarks have been met by strong backlash Down Under with Wallabies legends Michael Hooper and Matt Burke<\/a> both hitting out at the former England boss.<\/p>\n England-born Potter has followed suit when he was asked about the remarks ahead of the second Test.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s pretty ridiculous to suggest that the 23 players who played on the field that played at the weekend have a mentality of losing,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n \u201cWe went out there to win the game, and we didn\u2019t win the game but it was our intention very much.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could tell after the game that every one of the 23 players wanted to win that game.\u201d<\/p>\n