Tim Evans writes:
Regarding Spiro’s article in the SMH, Time is not on the Wallabies side, I couldn’t agree more. I guess if I could see a workable plan by the coaching staff through this haze of puzzling selections (and with the captaincy) I could understand, but I can’t and continue to become more frustrated each week.
After the Super 14 fizzled out, I have to say I was looking forward to the fresh start that the test season would bring and was hoping the coaching staff had seen what the rest of the Australian rugby public had seen over the last couple of months and act accordingly, but they haven’t.
It is completely befuddling as to why they are not picking the obvious players such as Turner, Paul, Gregan, Holmes and Giteau in his right (go forward) position . These guys are not going to get better or develop combinations and
confidence sitting on the sideline or playing out of position.
As for the pick a new captain or two each week policy, this is a recipe for disaster, as has been seen over the last 10 or so years with the All Blacks, where they have continually struggled to find a suitable long term leader. It also goes against the tradition of rugby in Australia and will work against us.
If they want more flexibility with Gregan (that is, not as captain), then the need to pick someone who will be in the team week in week out regardless of anything else and who will not be replaced in a game unless injured.
Personally, I like Larkham as well, but I would probably have to go with Mortlock , as like Gilchrist (in the Australian cricket team), Larkham has more than enough on his plate . In addition to this, they should have (that is
the ARU) managed the resting of the captaincy from Gregan much better than they have done so. As with the captain of the Australian cricket team, the captain of the Wallabies is critically to the performance of the team.
Devaluing the position of captain, as has been done over the last couple of weeks, like so many other recent decisions by the present ARU and coaching regime will come back to bite us. Time is indeed running out.
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Bruce from Bkk said | May 31st 2007 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
I read with interest your ‘Time is not on the Wallabies Side’ article and as a
despairing Wallabies supporter cannot but agree with you. While watching the
recent game and trying not to ‘cry’ the selections are a mystery to me and my
loyal but increasingly disenfranchised friends. It seems amazing that the
selectors cannot see what is in front of them. Perhaps they are too close to
it?
In order to be somewhat brief, I’ll leave the backline selections alone but
as for the forwards, I am a believer that the success of a team starts in the
‘engine room’. There has to be ‘presence’ there and for the last several years
the Wallabies have completely lacked this sense of presence! I remember as a
youngster watching Topo Rodriguez, Tommy Lawton or Rod Slaughter McCall
demanding respect from the opposition while, as it is now and has been for
awhile, we are lucky if the opposition doesn’t laugh.
What are the Selectors
thinking with sticking with guys like Al Baxter, Dunning etc. when it is
obvious to everyone else (but them it seems) that they are just not respected
nor up to it. They certainly aren’t feared. What we need is to get a few guys
in the tight five that have a bit of mongrel and have a go. As it is we are a
laughing stock. Nice guys but who cares.
I was sent an article by a Kiwi mate written by Richard Loe. Sure, a guy that
we don’t much like as Australians, but at least he got the job done. I wish
right now we had someone like him in the side. Perhaps you read it, if not I
attach the hyperlink. I think he hits the nail on the head.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10442039&ref=emailfriend
Terry Kidd said | June 1st 2007 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
I have said before in a thread about john connolly that I didn’t think he was a great coach because a great coach decides how he wants his team to play, then selects the available players that he believes can deliver the game plan.
In the past 12 months I have seen no shred of evidence that jc has a game plan or that he has any idea of what players can do what.
What was jc and his assistants doing during the S14? Were they attending games and observing player performance? Apparently not, because now they have a huge squad and are experimenting to see where players can play and what combinations work. Too late by far. If you don’t know by now you never will and you shouldn’t be coaching.
I believe all this experimentation simply devalues the Wallaby jumper and reduces the psychological impact of playing for one’s country. A pox on it all.