The Wallabies rejected the proposal to “lose mentality” after the decision that skipper Harry Wilson kicked the ball.
Australia quickly switched focus to leveling the series level 1-1 after being beaten 27-19 by the Brisbane Lions.
But that scoreline praised the Wallabies, but the second half from Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott came back within 8 points after the hosts had previously pushed 24-5.
However, it was skipper Wilson’s decision to let the ball hooves after the final siren, drawing criticism from Woodward rather than chasing attempts on the field length.
“What put the game together for me was the Red Watch and the Lions’ 27-19 win, and Australian captain Harry Wilson kicked out the ball to finish the game,” Woodward wrote in a column in the Daily Mail.
“Tell me about the lost mentality. For me, it’s the last game of the game. Is there a mentality you’d like to try, as this could be a seven-day situation? Would you like to rehearse this scenario?
“Why do players, especially the captains, want to finish the game? In so many ways, it reflects the current state of Australian rugby that is clearly not in a great position.”
Woodward failed to mention Nick Frost’s lineout steal, as well as the fact that Australia has already concluded the second half 14-10 as the Lions denied a last chance to expand their winning margin.
Asked about Woodward’s comments on Monday in Melbourne, Wallabies veteran James Slipper claimed his skipper threw him into the towel.
“I didn’t see it,” said the Wallabies’ most capped player.
“The game from memory is over. We were eight points behind. It’s a long way to go to potentially flip the ball and admit another attempt.
“I’m not saying that it was a lost mentality. It stopped that game completely and cracked it in Game 2.”
Comments were also featured by Stansport commentators and Wallabee’s Great Matt Burke.
“Don’t score,” Burke said between two posts for Stansport.
“Get them a driving mall or something and try rubbing salt on the wounds. Finally, 34-19 sounds incredibly bad.
“Get the ball, kick it out, start again, walk away and say, ‘In the end, you didn’t break our line.’
“We won that second half after we got back, in tough circumstances… As a captain, that’s what I did every day. Please raise it.”
Meanwhile, Wallabies backrower Rob Valletini agreed that it was the right call for him to target this weekend’s second Test, despite his belief that he was always ready for the Brisbane opener.
The Wallabies decided to omit both the Balletini and the Lock. Will Skeleton skeletoned the skeleton from his first Test team after suffering a calf injury in a collision with Australia’s Fiji at the beginning of the month.
Valetini guarantees he’ll come straight back to the starting side for his second Test at MCG, but Skelton may join him or leave the bench.
“I thought I was Shuin for the first test, but it was a wise idea to get a week off and get through more training.
“I had a session on a Saturday morning and had a pretty tough session, so I feel good.
“I’m born and bred with Melbourne. I have my whole family here, so I’d like to go out there and play in front of them. That’s great.”
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