By Darren Walton
November 13th 2008 @ 4:13am
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Stop living in the past, Deans warns England
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has warned England against living on past glories as Australia seized the psychological ascendancy in an intriguing build-up to Saturday’s much-hyped Cook Cup clash at Twickenham.
As new England coach Martin Johnson restored former captain Phil Vickery to his front row in an obvious, and perhaps desperate, attempt to intimidate Australia, Deans turned the tables on the hosts when he revealed the Wallabies would target the scrum as an unlikely area to gain an edge.
Such tactics would have been unthinkable for Wallabies of the recent past, but Deans believes that, having already matched the All Blacks and Springboks up front this year, his rebuilt pack is ready to shatter England’s sense of invincibility at the set piece.
The England forwards have destroyed Australia in their two most recent northern-hemisphere encounters, at Twickenham in 2005 and in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, and Johnson’s recall of Vickery alongside fellow Wallabies tormenter Andy Sheridan suggests they are hoping to do so once again.
But displaying a quiet resolve, if not scant disregard for England’s past dominance, Deans promised the Australian scrum would be up for the challenge this time around.
“The scrum has been a good launching pad for us and obviously we’re hopeful that will be the case on the weekend,” the first-year Wallabies coach said.
“One thing I have noticed in my role is the amount of reference there is to the past. And the great thing about this game is the past has no bearing.
“It’s what happens on the weekend. And the one thing I would say about these blokes in terms of the way they’re playing now - if I could out it in a sentence - is that these guys have done their apprenticeship.”
In a blow to British reporters - and possibly the England team also - who continue to bombard the tourists with questions about the Wallabies scrum ad nauseam, Deans said Australia had only placed “a typical emphasis” on the set piece in their preparation this week.
“We haven’t adjusted the proportions at all,” he said.
Deans has clearly grown tired of repeated references to Australia’s 2005 and 2007 submissions to the old enemy and warned payback might be imminent if the English presumed further successes.
“What happens is your next opponent tends to get more excited about tipping you over,” he said.
“So the bar keeps being raised and the key is to stay with it. Because the moment you park up and presume anything, it bites you.
“You can’t presume anything in this game, so that’s what makes it so good.”
Not one to look back, Deans said it was high time the English realised the events of Marseille 2007 were no longer relevant.
“There’s been a lot of references to Marseille, but I understand from hearsay that there’s four players in the starting XV for England (backing up) and I understand there’s five in the Wallabies,” he said.
“So I think there’s your answer in terms of background ”
The coach’s confidence has obviously rubbed off on Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock, who said he had no plans to use last year’s painful loss to motivate his players on Saturday.
“Personally, I always have fond memories of great wins and obviously not so fond memories of defeats. That’s the way it is, that’s sport,” Mortlock said.
“So we’ll be totally focused on what we’re looking to achieve and that’ll be pretty much be where I’ll draw all my inspiration from. Nothing from Marseille.”
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Benjamin said | November 13th 2008 @ 6:07am | Report comment
“Not one to look back, Deans said it was high time the English realised the events of Marseille 2007 were no longer relevant.”
This is one of the most bizarre articles I have ever read. England and Johnson have made specific mention of the fact that Marseille is irrelevant. Let’s hope they’re not reading, eh?!
bennalong said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:26am | Report comment
Benjamin, Robbie Deans is responding here to the British press, and perhaps to some of the doomsayers to be found elsewhere in these pages of the Roar.
He’s coming out to back the scrum particularly and the tight five will hopefully prove his confidence is well placed.
I hope the referee doesn’t penalise us when the English collapse the scrum to milk the points. Keep resetting like the old days and the tricks diminish.
Stan Morris said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:26am | Report comment
In the world according to Benjamin “England and Johnson have made specific mention of the fact that Marseille is irrelevant”
Oh really, try telling that to Stephen Jones and Paul Ackford. Stephen Jones still hasn’t gotten over RWC 2003 final and Andre Watson. Talk about living in the past!
Benjamin said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:29am | Report comment
You may have a point had the England team and Martin Johnson morphed into Ackford and Jones however I don’t recall reading that they have. I think my original point stands.
Incidentally I can’t see how criticising Baxter is living in the past.
ohtani's jacket said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:33am | Report comment
“seized the psychological ascendancy”?
God he’s a crafty bugger this Deans. First Hong Kong, now Twickenham, always with the mind tricks.
Benjamin said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:34am | Report comment
Bennalong, the article headline implies that Robbie Deans criticised English rugby for living in the past as if they have been publicly evoking the memories of Marseille. Robbie Deans said nothing of the sort. What he actually said was that both sides contain few players involved in the game and thus it is irrelavant. It is a question of semantics and a weak attempt at controversy.
When the English collapse the scrum (sigh)… If that is a serious comment then I don’t think I have a response. You mention the old days as if there was a mystical bygone era when Australia were renowned scrummagers. I suppose you think that Finnane is a scrummaging hero as well.
Blinky Bill - Bellingen said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:54am | Report comment
Blimey (as my English mates would say) what a beat-up all of this is.
IF Australia win I don’t think many of us will be beating our chests over it & equally if we lose there will be no slashing of wrists. It’s just a game of Rugby and both teams will be way of the pace.
Even though I don’t expect a great game of footy, I am dead keen to see how our front row stand up to the ‘old firm’. Equally I’m expecting to see England use their backs and rely far less on a forwards oriented game plan as I think the Wallabies are vunerable there.
All will be revealed Sunday 1.30am.
Benjamin said | November 13th 2008 @ 7:57am | Report comment
“IF Australia win I don’t think many of us will be beating our chests over it & equally if we lose there will be no slashing of wrists. It’s just a game of Rugby and both teams will be way of the pace.”
Probably the most pertinent comment I’ve heard all week.
Dan said | November 13th 2008 @ 8:06am | Report comment
Maybe Deans and his team need to focus more on their form and performance, rather than try and play “psychological” games.
Bailey4 said | November 13th 2008 @ 9:42am | Report comment
ummm whos playing “psychological” games, Deans was just sick of the talk involving their scrum…this is a new year, new team and new coach, i think the last thing Deans wants to do is go into that test match without having any focus on their form and performance hes not that kind of coach….
Tarpo said | November 13th 2008 @ 10:46am | Report comment
O J, deans maybe crafty, but he is a mere apprentice compared to Henry!
Darryl said | November 13th 2008 @ 11:37am | Report comment
ahh Benjamin, your arrogance in regards to your beloved england rugby globetrotters makes you sound, dare I say it, Australian.
Keep them coming little man! I love it.
Sam Taulelei said | November 13th 2008 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
Amidst all the chest beating bluster from media and fans for both sides, I have to acknowledge Al Baxter’s achievement of playing 50 tests for the Wallabies.
He’s never been a prop that would have been an automatic selection in people’s world’s bext XV, or listed as the most difficult opponent by fellow props and his career has been a rollercoaster ride that mirrors the Wallabies form over the past 5-6 years.
But regardless of the quality of any other rivals to his position in Australia , playing 50 tests for your country is no mean feat. Much respect and congratulations.
Sam Taulelei said | November 13th 2008 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
Oops that should have read 60+ tests for Australia.
Tarpo said | November 13th 2008 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Agree Sam, it is 61 tests more than I played! There is some truth in props getting better as they get older, it is the one area where experience is absolutley irreplaceable
OldManEmu said | November 13th 2008 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
It is suggested Australia have never been renowned scrummagers. In the last 25 years there have in fact been some superb and dominant Australian scrums, 1984 Lawton McIntyre Rodriguez, - pushover try at Cardiff Arms Park anyone- 1991 Kearns Daly McKenzie (David Sole whinged after playing the Wallabies that Daly had torn the sleeve of his jersey - this was to stop Sole pulling him down - high praise indeed from the true scrum doctor), 1999 Blades Foley Harry.
Better if you are going to get on a high horse that you’ve fed the pony oats rather than grass otherwise the mess it makes smells rather bad.
bennalong said | November 13th 2008 @ 8:02pm | Report comment
Benjamin: you’re a prickly bugger aren’t you?
In referring to the old days I’m talking of the days when, as I said, scrums were reset until the two teams “got it right”.
Before the marketers of the professional game indicated the need to pick someone/anyone as the infringer and penalise them, when it’s actually quite difficult to know. But perhaps you can actually pick the offender regularly.
It so happens I have great respect for the English scrum. And that scrum regularly does other than simply overpower oppositions. Once a ref is penalising your opponents for collapsing, its much easier to pull back and milk the penalty than to shove for it
My guess is your irritibility comes from the fact that other countries are not impressed by English Rugby when you started the game.
But imagine what you’d miss if southern hemisphere ‘aliens’ (a reference to my queue to get into England) didn’t have a different take on the game you blokes play,
Ian Noble said | November 13th 2008 @ 8:20pm | Report comment
Never underestimate the opposition, classic mantra from time immemorial.
The bigger question is whether England at this stage of their development are strong enough to take on the top nations. Certainly there is the potential, but many of the squad are untested in the International arena. I think the Wallabies have the upper hand as at least they have had more time together coming off the 3N’s and Deans and his coaching staff will have been able to assess players in the field of battle.
To be frank all this talk about the Wallaby scrum is smokescreen.
Benjamin said | November 13th 2008 @ 8:45pm | Report comment
“ahh Benjamin, your arrogance in regards to your beloved england rugby globetrotters makes you sound, dare I say it, Australian.”
Or even worse… South African.
“I hope the referee doesn’t penalise us when the English collapse the scrum to milk the points. Keep resetting like the old days and the tricks diminish.”
Bennalong, that is quite clearly an implicit criticism. Why would a dominant scrum collapse? There’s no logic to it. Top level props do not collapse scrums when they’re on top and that is why Bill Young had that reputation and Jason Leonard didn’t.
My irritability ascends from misinformed comments, not what other nations think. In any case I’m not even English.
OldManEmu, in the last 25 years there hasn’t been dominant Australian scrums. Perhaps in one off games but not over any consistent period. David Sole was never a powerhouse scrummager and why would he be facing Daly? I thought Daly was loose. Anyhow, the Daly, Kearns, McKenzie unit was overrated and even ol’ Bob Dwyer found the time to come out and say that when Daly cut the sleeves off his shirt Probyn still stuck his head up his bum. Harry, Foley and Blades were another poor unit, as the famous anecdote goes… during the 1999 WC they attempted a push on the Wales scrum.. which just laughed. That Blades was never respected anywhere beyond Australia was illustrated during the Woodcock scandal when all the NZers came out of thewoodwork. Even the Lions 1989 scrum with two weak scrummagers managed to twist the Australian pack. Whilst it may hurt your pride there is no point in playing games, Australia have never been recognised as a scrummaging nation and that is why in the all time list of front rowers only Rodriguez and Kearns would be included.
Maybe you could get me off my high horse by getting Al Baxter to come over and scrum it. I’m sure the subsequent collapse would bring me to the ground.
Rowdy said | November 14th 2008 @ 2:16am | Report comment
Well said Blinky. We in England are very curious to see how the Aus scrum has improved (we know it has) and also keen to see how our young backs perform in attack (against a top-class defence) and defence (against a back line which is always dangerous). We’re hoping that this will finally lay some foundations for England to be a genuine top-three contender in a year or two after the last 5 wasted years.
Blinky Bill - Bellingen said | November 14th 2008 @ 7:48am | Report comment
Rowdy or anyone in the UK - Just wondering about Rugby’s profile there in the UK and in England in particular.
Over here it’s terribly badly managed on the PR front. 3 other codes of football receive far more press than poor old Rugby does. At times there’s barely a mention in the paper (one has to really seach for it) and on TV you can almost forget it.
I’m in touch with mates in England on a regular basis & they have absolutely no interest what so ever in Rugby. In fact they only try to keep up with things to kind of annoy me. Mates eh?
For them it’s about Football the round kind.
So what’s it like over there? Is the English version of our ARU looking after development? Is there Rugby awareness with the general public or was it interest in the 2003 with the RWC win & after that zip? Is grass roots Rugby doing well?
Colin N said | November 14th 2008 @ 8:11am | Report comment
In terms of the playing side, there are a lot of English players coming into the game and there seems to be a lot of talent around. In terms of the press, there is a lot on the AI’s that are going on and there are regular reports on the GP and HC. Obviously it’s not back-page stuff but there are fairly sizeable reports and columns about rugby union, especially during this time, mainly in the posher papers, if you like, such as The Times, Independent, Telegraph etc.
Rugby League gets very little coverage and even the RLWC is getting a lot less coverage than the Rugby Union side. I would say Union is the third most popular sport behind Football and Cricket.
Certainly after 2003 there was a massive boom in the watching and playing side and all of a sudden the GP has become a world renowned league, possibly due to 2003. Teams like Sale were getting around 2,000 5 years ago-now they get 9,000 (there are also other factors contributing to the rise as well but even so, pretty impressive) at least for a league and drew a record crowd against Munster, whereby tickets were sold out a month before the game, meaning I couldn’t go. I’m not bitter or anything. In general with Sky putting a good amount of publicity into rugby and with ITV buying the rights for a decent highlights package, the game is in a fairly good state, with crowds generally on the increase. Unfortunately, with the credit crunch crowds have declined slightly in the last year but apparently Rugby is going to avoid the worst of it, which is good.
Rowdy said | November 15th 2008 @ 12:22am | Report comment
Blinky, your UK mates are pretty representative - over here, sport=football. In a way, the lower profile is good thing, as it means we don’t get too many thugs and yobboes at games. In common with football and cricket, the club game’s the thing here; I wouldn’t be surprised if many fans would rather their team won the HEC than England win the RWC.
Blinky Bill - Bellingen said | November 15th 2008 @ 6:55am | Report comment
Colin N & Rowdy - Thanks gents for your replies. It all helps to give a feel for what’s going on Rugbywise elsewhere on the planet.
I look at Australian Rugby and wonder what could they do to improve it and develop the game. Depth appears to be our biggest issue along with good old fashioned publicity such as free to air TV. No doubt the blokes that get paid the big bikkies at the ARU are hard at work thinking up amazing ideas to sort that out, although there’s no evidence of it just yet. Maybe tomorrow.
How true Rowdy about the lower profile and avoidance of thugs. Union games over here tend to look like family get togethers with thermos, sandwiches & a woolen blanket. Our ‘crowds’ are pretty tame, which isn’t always a bad thing in sport. Trouble is when we all gather for the big ones (internationals), the Aussie crowd is still in local park mode. Feels like you need a cattle prod to get them motivated.
Take care and enjoy the Rugby. Now then……where’s my blanket & folding chair?