The Jones show paved the way for a smooth Deans takeover
Roar Pro
By Warrick Nicolson, 14 Dec 2007 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
In the wake of Robbie Deans being appointed as the new Australian Rugby Union coach, the 48 year old New Zealander can thank an Australian 18 years his senior for making his transition into the job much smoother than it could have been two months ago.
Make no mistake; media personality Alan Jones’s interest in the Wallabies head coaching position was a huge coup for the ARU, who were always going to appoint Deans if incumbent All Blacks coach Graham Henry failed in his bid to hold onto the job following yet another Kiwi World Cup implosion in France. With Jones making headlines by simply saying he was interested and then officially applying – the ARU was promised blanket coverage in the press until such time as Deans became officially available for an interview.
There isn’t much doubt that Jones, along with fellow short listed candidates Ewen McKenzie (NSW Waratahs coach), John Muggleton (Wallabies assistant coach), David Nucifora (Auckland Blues coach) and Laurie Fisher (ACT Brumbies coach), were all destined to tread water waiting for the All Blacks coaching situation to be resolved following their own ARU interviews in early November. But the fact Jones was genuinely interested was a media boon for the game, as the prominent breakfast radio announcer had the coaching pedigree and public influence to fill Rugby Union’s traditional off-season lull with excitement about a job the ARU board had all but decided was going to Deans.
The excellent feature on Jones’ Wallabies blueprint in the Sydney Morning Herald (December 1) by Roy Masters outlined the brief the former Wallabies coach had given to the interviewing panel on November 9. In that brief Jones was clear in his intentions to get the game back to the basics and when addressing the seemingly on-going issues with the Wallabies scrum he said “I believe there is a lot of confusion in the game about the general role of the forwards” and that “my preference on what I’ve seen would be to set it (the scrum) early and feed quickly” both statements that encourage simple straightforward tactics which obviously were the basis of his coaching regime in the 1980s. Jones also called for the coaching team to be streamlined and reduced in number to increase effectiveness – another provocative statement that ensured the game received plenty of media coverage.
So how does the Jones’ show pave the way for a smooth Robbie Deans’ takeover?
The Wallabies had crashed out of the World Cup at the Quarter Final stage and as a result whoever was going to succeed the outgoing John Connolly faced an off-season of scrutiny as to how that individual was going to turn things around in four years time. Had the ARU right off the bat appointed someone in October or November, the new coach would have had a couple of days in the press window to explain why his tenure would be different to his two predecessors (Eddie Jones and Connolly) and then there’d have been little or no Rugby Union coverage until the Super 14 trials in January. Add in the disinterest of the general public towards Rugby Union at the end of a long season and whose attitude towards any new coach’s rhetoric would have been something like ‘win the Bledisloe Cup back and then we’ll care’; and the ARU would have wasted two or three months of media exposure and the new guy in charge is on the backfoot with the fans already.
By dragging out the interviewing process – which saw Wallabies assistant coach Scott Johnson’s withdraw as a result – and waiting on the NZRU to make a final decision between Henry and Deans, the ARU had ensured the game would stay in the press for a couple of months and once Alan Jones seriously applied – it was like Christmas had come early. The various subplots surrounding Jones’ interest (will he leave 2GB? is he out of touch with the game? and of course – is this just a media stunt?) made the head coaching position seem sexy, intriguing and only suitable for the best of candidates.
So when Deans missed out on the All Blacks position; he appeared not only qualified but clearly the best option when stacked against the other contenders who had apparently not done enough over the previous months to convince the ARU they were can’t miss prospects for the job. Even Jones now looked a lesser option because surely the NZRU had made a huge error in passing on the hugely successful Crusaders coach, whose team has dominated the Super Rugby competition for the past decade and brings a winning brand of rugby to the table.
The ARU – once again headed by the astute John O’Neill – have played their cards expertly in this process and have seemingly convinced all and sundry that Robbie Deans is not only the best choice, but the only choice, to lead Australia to the 2011 World Cup. Plus there are no real losers in this process given the other candidates all have Super 14 coaching jobs to fall back on and in Alan Jones’s case – a slightly successful media career.
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Peter L said | December 14th 2007 @ 2:48pm | Report comment
My my, that’s a VERY long bow to draw.
That’s a bit like saying Kevin Rudd can thank John Howard for staying in power until he was ready to assume the mantle of PM of Aus.
I guess if you want to stroke ABJ’s ego to lessen the pain of his missing out on this appointment you could make something of this, but please…
sheek said | December 15th 2007 @ 7:17am | Report comment
Warrick,
I’m sorry, but you talk utter nonsense. The ARU did not play their cards expertly, & O’Neill’s judgement lacked astuteness this time.
I’m talking about the entire selection process. The word farce doesn’t do it justice. Australian rugby got it’s man – Robbie Deans – but the manner of his appointment is nothing less than a slur on the integrity of the ARU. Sometimes, the ends doesn’t justify the means.
The ARU could still have got Deans, but have been more transparent in its process. I even had an ex-Joeys mate (O’Neill’s old school) make the poignant observation that O’Neill isn’t the man he claims to be (I’m assuming an integrity issue here).
As for Alan Jones’ article in the SMH, he said nothing more than any half-witted rugby supporter could have figured out for themselves. Jones, as usual, articulated himself superbly, but he wasn’t saying anything ‘out of this world’.
Of the Aussie candidates, I plumbed for Jones, but less for his coaching acumen, & more for his corporate connections. It’s no secret Australian rugby has somehow lost its golden nest-egg from 2003. The reason the ARU is so desperate for Deans, is to have a coach make the Wallabies successful again.
And that means re-filling the ARU coffers.
mudskipper said | December 15th 2007 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
I really don’t get the Alan Jones interest. He was coach before professional rugby with some excellent talent in the Wallabies team, just lucky I would think. Since then he has become a media sensationalist shock jock who’s prepared to do and what he pleases on air even if he is breaking numerous broadcasting laws. So where is the integrity in the man, personally I rate him very low.
He are few brief details about Alan Jones; Born 1941 Oakey Queensland age 66, Rugby union Career he coached the manly Marlins for 1 year in 1983 won premiership and Wallabies Coach 1984 – 87 with an excellent Wallaby team.
But this is Alan Jones 20 years ago since then…
Alan Jones is fuelled by controversy: from a number of defamation cases, cash for comment for Telstra (Stadium Sponsor) and Qantas (A Wallabies Sponsor)
Jones and 2UE in 1992 were found guilty of contempt of court after the criminal trial of ex-policeman John Killen was aborted following an interview with a former Drug Enforcement Squad officer.
Incitement of violence involvement in the Cronulla riots. On 10 April 2007, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that the broadcaster 2GB and Jones had broadcast material (specifically comments made by Jones between December 5-9, 2005) that was likely to encourage violence or brutality and to vilify people of Lebanese and Middle-Eastern backgrounds on the basis of ethnicity.[
Alan Jones was convicted of breaching the Children’s (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW), by broadcasting the suppressed name of a juvenile witness in a murder trial.
On Wednesday 18 October 2007 it was revealed that NSW State Coroner Mary Jerram was referring Jones and The Daily Telegraph to the NSW Supreme Court for comments made the Friday earlier relating to the inquest into the death of Private Jake Kovco. Jones is being referred on the charge of contempt of court, which if found guilty could carry a jail term.
This some of Alan Jones exploits, if you wish to know more goggle him. The above points have been edited from where the above points have been taken from Wikipedia Alan Jones. I personal view is Alan Jones 2008 is of a very questionable character.
sheek said | December 15th 2007 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
Mudskipper,
Alan Jones certainly had the cards fall his way in 1983-84, but he was smart enough to capitalise. I know this is going off on a tangent, but you might be interested in the following.
The magnificent grand slam pack of 1984 was: Topo Rodriguez, Tom Lawton, Andy McIntyre, Steve Williams, Steve Cutler, David Codey, Simon Poidevin & Steve Tuynman. Backups were Mark McBain, Nigel Holt, Chris Roche & Ross Reynolds.
Lawton, McIntyre, Cutler, Codey, Tuynman, McBain, Holt, Roche & Reynolds were all blooded in tests & tours by Bob Dwyer in 1982-83. This was invaluable experience for when Jones took over. Poidevin & Williams were the only two long term Wallaby forwards.
Then of course, Jones was incredibly lucky to have Rodriguez come into Australia when he did. He turned a good Wallaby scrum into an awesome weapon of destruction. He was the leader.
Jones also had the good sense to let Mark Ella call the backline shots, despite Andy Slack being captain. Has a better backline ever taken the field than the one for the opening grand slam test against England in 1984? Farr-Jones, Ella, Moon, Lynagh, Slack, Campese, Gould. Moon broke his arm in this test, & missed the rest of the tour.
Yes, Jones was lucky. had Ella kicked a late field goal in the 1983 grand final, Randwick would have won, & Dwyer perhaps retined as national coach. But Jones, when given the opprtunity, was smart enough to capitalise on his good fortune.
Some years ago, in the states, there was an outstanding racehorse named Smarty Jones. He won the Kentucky Derby & Preakness Stakes, but missed the ‘triple crown’ when he bombed out in the Belmont Stakes.
Sort of summarises Alan Jones’ career also. Grand Slam 1984, Bledisloe Cup 1986, but missed the World Cup 1987.
mudskipper said | December 15th 2007 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Sheek
Some interesting history and a few names I didn’t know…I have noticed on a number of occasions the Crowd referring to Topo, is he still around and is he involved in coaching?
Bob McGregor said | December 15th 2007 @ 7:54pm | Report comment
Peter L,
Despite your scepticism, Rudd and Federal Labor CAN thank Howard for staying on. They couldn’t believe their good fortune that his ego and supposed “lack of respect” from some fellow Liberals prompted him to believe ONLY he could have a chance of winning the 2007 election. The conclusion of internal Liberal Party polling 15-16 month out from the election was that the Government had no hope of winning the 2007 Federal Election with Howard as leader and it also concluded Howard would lose his own seat as well. Like a typical LEO he believed only he could do the job. What he failed to realise – or face and accept – was that in Victoria both he and his wife were hated and in Qld they were despised. I got this feed back from a former Victorian – now Qlder – with impeccable Liberal connections [late father was a Victorian State member for over 20 years]. The 2 biggest State swings were in Qld and Victoria. Some voters on Bribie Island were heard to remark “give me the voting papers so I can vote Howard and his wife out”. They didn’t have a clue who they were voting for – only who they was voting against! This election was similar to 1972,1976,1982 & 1996 Federal elections where the voters only wanted one thing – dismissal of the incumbent PM and by inference his party. They got their wishes in all cases. In fact all the elections since 1972 where the incumbent lost – ALL WERE WON BY THE DROVER”S DOG SYNDROME. The populace wanted the incumbent out. Even Bomber Beasley would have won had he been the Labor leader.
Labor by comparison KNOWS how to handle succession of leaders – at least since the Keating landslide. Notice how every State Labor leader was “pushed” on during the prior 15 months, except Nth Territory, and she has gone since? They eliminate any potential bad “smells” by changing the guard. It works too – as they continue to win election after election when LOGIC would suggest the contrary. Remember the NSW result?!
Labor demonised Costello for 12 years for one reason and one reason only – THEY FEARED HIM. Labor put out continuing disinformation about Costello from the time the Coalition came to power in 1996. If one “bells the lie” often enough then there comes a time when the punters – having heard it frequently [by Labor] – accept it as “fact”. That is why a new leader needs 15 months at least to establish him/herself in the eyes of the voters. Howard’s hubris stopped this occurring when LOGIC and evidence suggested otherwise. We get what we deserve!
The reason I’ve outlined the above is to highlight what a monumental mistake the NZRU has made in the reappointment of Henry. They stayed with the incumbent who failed to deliver the ultimate prize [RWC] instead of embracing the challenger who has delivered. Australia threw out the incumbent [Howard] for being too successful and embraced an unknown with no experience to run an economy the size of Australia. Never underestimate perception!
Peter L said | December 18th 2007 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Bob – you will get no argument from me that the NZRU did not make the best decision – without a doubt that would have been to appoint Deans. On that basis I could see an argument that Deans has the NZRU to thank for getting the Wallabies role (in a convoluted sort of way).
There’s alos no real argument against your analysis of JWH and why the Libs lost (I believe there are now 6 books in print that analyse this and at least two of them follow the same broad theme you outline).
But there is no way I can draw a line from Alan Jone’s entry to the race for the Wallabies coaching role and Deans getting the gig, nor can I stretch to his presence making it easier for Deans to assume the role. Perhaps my analogy to the Fed election was misplaced, but the sentiment as intended remains – Alan Jone’s hat in the ring had no bearing on Dean’s appointment, nor will it have any impact on how successful he will be.