Australian Under 20s effort disgraceful
Roar Guru By tiger, 23 Jun 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Australian Under 20 rugby, Damien Fitzpatrick, David Nucifora, Kurtley Beale, ob Horne, Rugby Union
The Australian Under 20s have posted a less than impressive campaign for world glory. The side, with household names such as Rob Horne, Damien Fitzpatrick and the injection of Kurtley Beale and Mat Toomua – who were unavailable to compete last year – has failed to achieve supremacy.
Their dismal record of five games played three games won, losing to New Zealand and then obliterated by South Africa in successive matches, must be questioned.
May it be remembered that David Nucifora had described last year’s effort of five games played four games won as “disappointing,” despite the fact they lost controversially to second place England and managed to beat France to finish fifth with a depleted side.
When juxtaposed against his team’s inability to beat a top class side, with a squad full of Super 14 talent, it must be questioned as to why Nucifora should keep his position as Under 20s coach.
Apparently, as the head of the High Performance Unit, he appoints himself.
Something has to be done, or imagine what will happen next year without Beale, Horne and Fitzpatrick to steer the ship.
A small fall from Australia’s youth, but a large fall for Australian rugby.
Recommend this story.
June 23rd 2009 @ 12:37pm
Scrum Importance said | June 23rd 2009 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
I didn’t see the 3rd / 4th playoff, but they were right in the game against NZ. Two tries (one from a charge down and another from a bounce that could not have favoured NZ more in 2 mins destroyed them. They lost the two most experienced players before the finals. Does 3rd/4th playoff really mean anything? Probably used to give some guys some playing time.
June 23rd 2009 @ 12:38pm
AndyS said | June 23rd 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
I would echo the point that Nucifora can not have any real influence on player skills, strength etc. What he got was the group of players perceived to be the best in the country at their age, from which he then had to make a cohesive team. Nucifora can be held responsible for tactics and the like, but could only minimally influence skills and could not affect fitness, size, strength at all.
What I wondered in watching the matches was whether it was more indicative of the relative approaches. Australia hones its young players in academies and club rugby, the other countries in elite competitions like the ANZ and Currie Cups. As a result, our lads were generally outmuscled in the scrum, beaten at the breakdown and exposed in defence. They play more, at a higher level, against grown men – is it that surprising they are further along the development path?
June 23rd 2009 @ 1:01pm
Jameswm said | June 23rd 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
If that Haylett-Petty was one of the wingers then no wonder we struggled outside 10. He was useless last year but of course they want to bring along a local Perth boy.
I agree if you want them to do better they need to be playing against men, but then we only have a club comp.
Was our best year the year we had the ARC, when younger guys were getting blooded at a higher level? Or the year after that comp?
June 23rd 2009 @ 1:59pm
Terrytate said | June 23rd 2009 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
Andy s. He cannot change their skill, but he can strategize, motivate and insprie players. All great state of origin coaches do not change skill, they change thought processes and motivate.obviously nucifora just can’t do thAt. I mean he did have the best team on paper so he didn’t need to change their skill
June 23rd 2009 @ 3:16pm
AndyS said | June 23rd 2009 @ 3:16pm | Report comment
Which is all well and good, assuming the skills are in fact there. My point is that the opposition players hone their skills week in, week out at a higher level than the Australian lads. You can inspire, strategise and motivate all you like, but so will the opposition coach . It won’t overcome a lack of strength, power or stamina.
June 23rd 2009 @ 3:25pm
maxtta said | June 23rd 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
is it just me or did anyone else see the baby and bath water fall past the window?
June 23rd 2009 @ 3:29pm
Midfielder said | June 23rd 2009 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
The usual suspects in the semi finals NZ England SA and Australia. England have improved their U/20 and junior structure. NZ as always are already there.
The disappointment is in the rather dismal performance of countries like Italy and Japan.
The rality is the game is stuck with the same old faces especially galling in an U/20 tournament. It is here where football really does begin to reduce the skill difference between the dominant and second stringers..
Rugby seems to maintain the difference.
June 23rd 2009 @ 5:00pm
ohtani's jacket said | June 23rd 2009 @ 5:00pm | Report comment
Japan actually played really well.
June 23rd 2009 @ 6:53pm
rugbyfanatic said | June 23rd 2009 @ 6:53pm | Report comment
All said and done winning teams are made by coaches.
Study the selections made and the players that failed us – all teams have injuries and lose players – SA lost their 7 for the last 1 and a bit games and played 40 mins with 14 men against us!!!
We were let down by the backs who were supposed to win the tournament for us –
Kingi was great against weak opposition – he cannot play 15 man rugby against a good team – there are twice as many players on the field than in 7′s
We need a robust decent half back and none of the two had it
Our best half back played 20 mins against Tonga and scored !!!!! Where was he when we needed defence and grunt against decent teams???
The 14 on the wing helped Kingi loose the NZ match – he is an ok player but put in the wrong place!!
90 % of coaching is being able to select the right players – Nucifora just doesn’t have it or has relied on bum advice from others who don’t have it
We had the best tean – we should have won the tournament – the head coach must accept responsibilty – end of story
All coaches had the same prep, same circumstances and same injury whoes – let’s not keep looking for excuses
June 23rd 2009 @ 7:08pm
mcxd said | June 23rd 2009 @ 7:08pm | Report comment
What actually is Head of High Performance Unit anyway ? Is it similar to coaching the Auckland blues with some outstanding players and overall strong team on paper to finish very ordinary for a number of years in the S14 ?