ARLINGTON, Texas – Team Australia’s lungs were on fire earlier this week. Their arms were quickly turning into jelly, and the seven representatives from the Land Down Under could barely hold their arms into the air by the time the second round of their respective boxing matches began.
Head coach Troy Dunn brought his team to Chris Cox’s Texas ranch on Monday in Mineral Wells, Texas, to hold a two-and-a-half-day training camp, and he once again pulled out a set of boxing gloves as part of his team’s fitness testing like he did at the Sydney Global Cup in 2018.
“I have always been a big believer in physical fitness because I just think a physical fit body is a confident mind, and bull riding is all about a confident mind,” Dunn said. “I wanted to give them all a good test of their physical ability. I told them in November that I would match them up and it wasn’t just a sparring match, but they would be trying to punch each other. I was pretty impressed with their fitness level.”
Team Australia will have to channel their boxing ability during Championship Sunday of the 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy.
The Aussies are sitting in third place following a 2-for-8 showing during the first night of competition.
Team Australia trails the Team USA Eagles by two rides (177 points) for the event lead. Team Canada is in second place (3-for-8, 259.75 points).
Fans can watch the conclusion of the Global Cup on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET and on RidePass at 2:45 p.m. ET.
RELATED: Sunday Global Cup daysheet
Can Team Australia bounce back on Sunday with a few haymakers in the final rounds of the Global Cup after taking one too many shots from some of the best bucking bulls in the United States on Saturday night inside AT&T Stadium?
“We are all still in it,” Dunn said. “Everybody tried really hard tonight. Everybody got a little bit too hyped up. We still need to be calmed down.”
Team captain Cliff Richardson got the Aussies on the scoreboard first when he rode Wicked Hou for 85.5 points in Round 1.
Aaron Kleier was the only other Australian to reach the 8-second mark, doing so aboard The Tickler for 84.25 points.
Coincidentally, Richardson and Kleier boxed against each other earlier this week.
“I guess it went alright,” Richardson said. “It was something different but I liked it. We have to be fit. It was good. Troy said you get a whole new respect for your opponent by the end of it. Troy did it for a reason. It wasn’t just for us to beat each other up. It was a fitness thing. He judged how fit we were. He told us months ago we were going to box. He said, ‘I am telling you now, if you think you are fit, you are not, so do a little bit extra.’”
Richardson has been Dunn’s team captain for the past three Global Cups, and he continues to be a veteran leader for Australia.
The 28-year-old can try and help calm his team’s nerves heading into Sunday’s long round.
“I guess I am someone the boys can talk to if they want to,” Richardson said. “If I think something needs to be said, I will say it. I want to keep the team as close together as possible. Troy covers most bases with his job, but whatever has to be done, I am here to do. They all know as much if not more than me, but Troy picked me as a captain. I have been around a while, I suppose, and I am older than most of the guys. I don’t think they look up to me, but I don’t know. There is no one different person on our team. We are all here for one job and one reason.”
Richardson went 2-for-6 at the 2019 PBR World Finals, and he is an example that the Australians can indeed convert aboard the rank bullpen that awaits them inside AT&T Stadium.
The Gresford, Australia, bull rider knows his team can contend with the Eagles and Team Canada for the event title.
“I knew I can ride the bulls at the World Finals, and I know I can ride the bulls here,” Richardson said. “Whether you have been riding good of late or not, it is a confidence thing. You know you can do it. You just have to make it on that day. Every one of us here is the same. They are good bulls, but we are good riders.”
AUSTRALIA’S HAMILTON DOUBTFUL FOR SUNDAY
According to Dr. Tandy Freeman, No. 1 PRCA bull rider Ky Hamilton is doubtful for Championship Sunday after spraining his right MCL Saturday when Smokin Gun bucked him off in 3.30 seconds.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko