For the Wallabies, it’s Advance Australia bare
Roar Guru By Benjamin, 2 Sep 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
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- Australia, Australian rugby, Gerrard, Giteau, Gregan, props, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Tyrone Smith, wallabies
That’s it. The bar is dry, the food’s gone, the cupboard is empty. As a young fan enticed by late-1990s Australian rugby, the 1999 World Cup was a professional epiphany, a veritable feast of accurate, modern rugby.
Harry, Blades, Giffin, Eales, Cockbain, Wilson, Kefu, Gregan, Larkham … Super, super stuff.
From there Australia have slowly declined.
They still made the 2003 World Cup final, but instead of being trendsetters as in 1999, they progressed through that tournament driven by sheer desire and perhaps home nation fear. The general conclusion being that they had got to the final against all odds.
That final was a close affair. But the next World Cup was not so generous and Australia were on the decline.
Against that backdrop, Robbie Deans was brought in.
The anointed one apparently, Deans has an excellent coaching record and he is a pleasant, warm man. I certainly wouldn’t question his pedigree.
However, on Saturday he made some bad, bad mistakes that cost Australia dearly. Whether it will affect the Wallabies in Brisbane is another matter, but what the record capitulation also revealed is something that a lot of fans have known for a long time.
There is no depth in Australian rugby.
Connolly set out to improve the front row. He didn’t, but I don’t blame him. Props mature as they age and Holmes and Shepherdson must still be long-term priorities.
He could only work with what he had, the same as Deans: Dunning and Baxter. Let’s be frank – the pair couldn’t scrummage their way out of a pack of crisps.
Nonetheless, the fans of Deans were applauding their new ‘attitude’, a mongrel anger that was previously missing.
On Saturday, this myth was blown out of the water.
Despite a meaty weight advantage, the Australian pack was once again blasted onto the back foot. In this context, it is logical to assume that the only reason Australia managed to win that particular battle against South Africa in recent weeks is because South Africa were non-committal to the ruck.
It appears that the problem therefore is mental, and I can’t see what Deans can do if the players themselves do not want to do what is required.
The front row is still a massive issue. Deans cannot immediately remove Dunning and Baxter because they are experienced and Dunning has utility value.
Improving the front row must be a long term process, but throwing in Kepu with Robinson would be the stuff of nightmares.
Robinson is showing promise but he will not peak until he hits 30.
Vickermann and Elsom are leaving, and suddenly the Australian pack looks softer than a tub of Lurpak.
All Deans can do is maintain the status quo and persevere until a real contender offers themselves. If Holmes, Shepherdson and company truly wish to improve their game, then they should look at moving to a Guinness Premiership club for a season.
Not only does Australia not have a climate that is accommodating to propping, but there are simply not enough games in the Super 14 for players to test themselves. As much as English players would bemoan their long seasons, I am sure that Rowntree, Woodman, White, Payne and others learnt more playing 40 odd club games a season than they would have with thirteen plus provincial starts a season.
Moving TPN to prop would not be an answer and he is another player who must be persevered with… at hooker, and not at flanker and not at prop.
Throwing in is a confidence issue, and until TPN can maintain a regular starting position his bench position should be under review.
He certainly won’t perfect his trade subbing behind Freier.
At least Moore has proved himself this Tri-Nations with rugged loose performances and largely excellent throwing.
The second-row is an improvement.
Horwill and Vickermann provide an excellent combination of grunt and intelligence. The problem lies in Vickermann’s sabbatical.
McMeniman is clearly a good player, but like TPN he must be a regular starter. And he also must decide on a position. What other countries have a flanker cum lock who can dominate international games?
To that extent, he cannot be considered an automatic replacement for Vickermann. The same applies to Mumm. There is no chance of Williams, Thorn, Matfield or Botha having the occasional game at six.
One or the other: five or six.
The departure of Elsom may make that decision for him, but Australia needs a true blue second row. And urgently.
The back row, often a position of Australian strength, is now under threat of becoming maligned. After Saturday it is irrefutable that Smith is the starter and Waugh is the impact sub, unless of course Deans decides to fast track the more physical Pocock onto the bench.
Elsom will be missing this Autumn and Palu has a habit of disappearing. Who is the back up no. 8? Who plays 6? McMeniman, Mumm? But then who plays second row?
Undoubtedly there are potential greats in the Super 14, but it is one thing losing with veterans and another with young, untested players.
The 4 and 6 are the most physical elements of the pack and that loss will hurt Australia badly. Chisholm, Hoiles, or Sharpe will not remedy that.
The back division pick themselves, but as with the second and back row, there is an issue with utility players.
Starting from the back: AAC is not an international fullback. Where does he play?
It is also questionable whether Shepherd is up to the task. Latham would have excelled on the weekend.
The wings pick themselves despite Tuqiri’s sloppy skill set and lack of midfield involvement. Hynes has been perhaps the Australian find of the Tri-Nations, but again he is another young gun.
Mortlock, although receiving criticism post-South Africa, is physically the glue holding the back division together.
Cross has looked very good when called upon, but he will have to be content with a bench position.
Which leaves the 12 slot.
Barnes is unequivocally the starter, but there is always the theory that he would be better at 10 and Giteau would be better at 12. If there is more broken play under the ELVs, then surely it pays to have your more electric players further afield?
Tyrone Smith had an excellent season and I am convinced that he has a future. Tahu too.
However, it was negligent of Deans to play Tahu in an fifteen of that composition and with so little experience under his belt. When Mortlock retires, which may be sooner than later, Australia will be short of some key experiences.
If the going gets tough, Mortlock can take the ball up if need be. But how good would it be for Australia to have an alternative kicking no 12!
Barnes got injured and look what happened? No plan B.
Even Giteau is not yet a consistent international 10.
Despite that, he is Australia’s key performer. Take him and Mortlock out of the equation and there are players with a host of question marks in need of answering. And also a host of players who need to play regularly in one position: Burgess, Mitchell, Tahu, AAC, Sheperd, Turner, Ioane, Gerrard, and so on.
Burgess has abundant talent but Cordingley is departing soon and Sheehan is barely Super 14 standard.
I am convinced that Deans has taken on a much bigger job than initially expected, and until Australia recognizes that rugby union is a game of specialists, the Wallabies will always be found out when it matters most.
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- Australia, Australian rugby, Gerrard, Giteau, Gregan, props, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Tyrone Smith, wallabies
September 2nd 2008 @ 10:06am
ohtani's jacket said | September 2nd 2008 @ 10:06am | Report comment
There’s no question that Deans is worthy of an international coaching job. He’s wanted the All Blacks job since 2001 and paid his dues at the provincial level over the course of 12 years. I’m not sure if the Wallabies job will hurt his credentials. Henry and Hansen weren’t hurt by their stints in Wales.
It’s this particular board who were never hire him as coach. The next coach of the All Blacks will be Steve Hansen, either in 2010 or 2012. That has always been the succession plan. If Hansen does succeed Henry, Wayne Smith will probably go offshore. So long as Tew and Hobbs (Deans’ brother-in-law) are in charge, this is the future.
September 2nd 2008 @ 10:19am
ohtani's jacket said | September 2nd 2008 @ 10:19am | Report comment
True Tah,
Well Hamilton played for Deans’ old club… He’s a good example of a Crusaders player who was selected for the All Blacks on the basis of being a Canterbury player.
Lachie Turner is fast, but Deans won’t have the biggest hand in his development. That duty belongs to the Waratahs coaching staff. If I were John O’Neill, I would’ve had Deans coach the Waratahs for a season or two.
September 2nd 2008 @ 10:32am
Peter K said | September 2nd 2008 @ 10:32am | Report comment
Benjamin – Nothing has changed.
Australia has never had large depth, at best they have had a very good or great XV, and reasonable bench.
Injuries etc always hit us harder. During McQueens day he could not have dropped his big name players either, not enough depth then either.
The problem at tighthead has been that way ever since Darwin was injured. Astounding we never developed one since then. Baxter and Dunning are our only tightheads, Shepherdson is even worse. Kepu is a loosehead so is Alexander. Blake needs to learn in France and come back quick.
Mongrel is the key point, we had lots of hardmen in the days of Finegan etc, and that is the problem.
Horwill, Elsom, McMeniman and Vickerman and maybe Waugh look forward and want the hard confrontation.
We are loosing Elsom and Vickerman. McMeniman is always injured, and he is really a 6, has not played lock for Qld for 2 years so he suffered starting at 5, Waugh may be past his best and battle worn.
Palu might not be seen but stats show he has the highest work rate and makes more metres and runs more than any other Wallaby.
The front row is soft and does not relish the confrontation and that is a big issue. Moore is too loose.
We will be left with Horwill and McMeniman and maybe Palu (if he is involved so much he has to be willing) willing to fight every time and thats not enough.
September 2nd 2008 @ 11:03am
sheek said | September 2nd 2008 @ 11:03am | Report comment
Benjamin,
Peter K makes many pertinent points. I never saw Deans as a messiah. However, I saw him as the best man for the job, better than any Australian that put his hand up for the job, or was remotely interested.
I still believe he is the best man for the job. Coaches, & players, don’t become monkeys on the evidence of one, or two, or even three disasters. I take the alternate view of what has happened – what the disasters in Auckland & Jo’burg demonstrated, is that the Wallabies are still an ordinary team that have been coaxed by a canny coach to play above themselves on most occasions this season.
So, in other words, what happened last Saturday in Jo’burg, & previously in Auckland, were necessary corrections. Bringing a team back to somewhere where it really belonged!
Peter K mentions lack of depth. Australian rugby is struggling to understand that whatever structure allowed them to succeed up to the turn of the century won’t help us into the future. As rugby becomes more international & more competitive, we’re going to require greater depth of playing numbers, & better progression structures than we presently have.
You often hear people say “we won the RWC in 1991 & 1999 with the current structures in place, so why change”? Well, it might have been good enough for ’91 & ’99, but it won’t be good enough into the future. Of course, i’m talking about increased player depth & a vaible national comp.
We might also need a frontrow school to fast-track quality props. Indeed, we might need a national academy, not these state run affairs, where ex-International specialists pass on the techniques that made them successful.
September 2nd 2008 @ 11:09am
Peter K said | September 2nd 2008 @ 11:09am | Report comment
IMO better to send the young props on 2 year sabbaticals to Europe to learn the propping trade.
Academy is not hard and mongrel enough. Need to learn against cheats in the real world.
September 2nd 2008 @ 11:15am
ohtani's jacket said | September 2nd 2008 @ 11:15am | Report comment
Yeah but last year the Wallabies pushed the All Blacks hard at Eden Park and the Boks hard in Cape Town. So somethings not quite right with either Deans’ coaching or his Test selections.
September 2nd 2008 @ 11:25am
Peter K said | September 2nd 2008 @ 11:25am | Report comment
OJ – But this year we won in Durban and had bigger wins at home against the AB’s and Boks so it could be argued the results are better.
This year we still have a chance to in the TN’s with 1 game to go, thats a better result.
September 2nd 2008 @ 11:51am
ohtani's jacket said | September 2nd 2008 @ 11:51am | Report comment
The extended Tri-Nations has brought about that chance. I’m pretty sure that if this was a World Cup year that NZ would have retained the Bledisloe and won the Tri-Nations on points differential. Unless the Wallabies win at Brisbane, that would’ve been a better result.
September 2nd 2008 @ 1:08pm
Mark said | September 2nd 2008 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
OJ – Carter played for Ellesmere (sp?) & only went to CBHS for his final year at school. There were claims of player poaching but nothing was ever proved & knowing ChCh you don’t need smoke for people to say tehre’s a fire !.
September 2nd 2008 @ 1:26pm
Harry said | September 2nd 2008 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
OJ I can assure you as a Wallaby supporter things are better off than they were last year, and the year before that, and the year before that (8 losses in a row in 05 from memory). We got smacked on the weekend but while unpleasant these things happen to Aus rugby with our poor depth and lackadaisical attitude.
OJ also there is an absolutely massive difference between pushing hard and actually winning. I’d far rather take 1 overseas win and 2 hammerings then 3 narrow losses.
Brisbane will be interesting … the fact is in this 3N we have seen some huge turnarounds from one fixture to the next … New Zealand from Sydney to Auckland, SA from Durban to Joburg, Aus from Auckland to Joburg. Can Aus keep this pattern going? If Vickerman was playing I’d say we would have had an about even chance, but with him (and barnes) missing NZ are clear favourites.
Had you have given me these results to date at the start of the year I wouldn’t have hesitated to take them, regardless of the result in Brissy.