Wallabies should stop complaining and start performing
Roar Rookie By Crusty of KL, 3 Nov 2009 Crusty of KL is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
I have now watched two seasons under the “messiah” Deans and I am wondering why he is getting such an easy ride from the rugby scribes of Australia: Growden, Spiro, Smith and co.
All well-credentialed and admired rugby writers, who have in the past, and with much venom, gone after under-performing Wallaby coaches. But not this one.
Why is Deans protected? Isn’t his record now one of the worst in our living memories?
Jones and Connolly must want to know also!
After watching the fourth successive loss to the All Blacks in 2009, I despair for Wallaby rugby and any chance they have of being a regular force in world rugby. I despair even more in the television commentaries: Kearns is now the “doyen” of biased TV commentary and I do not understand why he is allowed to be so inaccurate and biased.
The constant “whining” about Richie McCaw is just so weak and pathetic when he could be looking to get positives from McCaw’s performances and maybe give some clues to his Wallaby “mates” on how to combat this great player, who never whinges or complains about other players or referees.
Have you heard the Springboks complain about McCaw?
On Saturday night, McCaw was held back “illegally” on at least two occasions that I saw by Pocock (and good luck to Pocock for not being penalised) once almost allowing for Palu’s try before halftime.
Do you hear the All Black’s complaining? No. And McCaw wins the man-of-the-match again.
Surely this is telling someone that the New Zealand captain is doing something’s right and the Wallabies are doing a lot that is not.
This All Black team, and it is not a great one, has coasted to victories in the past three matches against the Wallabies, but probably should have lost the first match.
Whose fault was that? The Wallabies butchered their chances.
Deans, who has until now shown great “mana” in not complaining, has joined the cheap-shot brigade to make excuses for his under-performing team and pointing blame at referees who don’t make decisions he would like.
They have been completely outplayed in the second half of the past two games by huge margins.
Someone has to tell Deans and his team that complaining will win no games and even fewer friends. Choose a team and stick with it. Play players in their right position.
I really worry about Ashley-Cooper, the Wallabies best performer in 2009. He is such a good player but has played every position except halfback and flyhalf this year. How can that be good for him and building a backline?
But perhaps Australian rugby is just at the bottom of a cycle and the players are just not there.
It is very hard to see any players in this crop of the calibre of Eales, Horan, Campese, or Farr-Jones that could drag this team up and out of the doldrums.
The Grand Slam tour should be a very interesting month of rugby.
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November 4th 2009 @ 3:25pm
Ben said | November 4th 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
Palu is about as consistent as a Sydney train. Smith is too good to leave out.
As someone said earlier in year, someone should have dangled captaincy in front of Vickerman.
Gerrard kept Brumbies in hunt for s14 finals along with Hoiles and Smith. He is very good and a great kicker and runner.
November 4th 2009 @ 4:19pm
HOYA said | November 4th 2009 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
Mickey B.. Bet Tony Woodcock doesn’t question George Smith’s aggression!
I reckon Deans is feeling the heat.. his record was just starting to be questioned after the 2nd All Black defeat.. but then hte Wallabies were toast of the town after beating the Boks in Brisbane.. so after the Wellington Bledisloe defeat – what’s he do? blame the players for being gutless.. Now he’s blaming the ref after losing in Tokyo.. seems like he’s looking after himself to me.. especially as he’s also getting rid of the older clique within the team.
November 4th 2009 @ 6:44pm
MickeyB said | November 4th 2009 @ 6:44pm | Report comment
Why then was Pocock so effective in Smith’s position, quicker to the breakdown and, at least for the first half, allowed the Wallabies to compete at the breakdown unlike other tests this season?
Smith is a good player, but I agree with Dean’s policy of having to earn your position rather than own it. I agree he’s putting Smith on notice to say no one’s position is safe.
No doubt the heat is on, but like we’re all saying, we are ranked third in the World and been beaten by the best two teams, consistently, in the world.
I’m keeping the faith, not just because the ARU can’t or won’t sack Deans (think of the pay out in the contract and what would they achieve – who would take over with a better result?) but because I think he’s making progress. Sure not to everyone’s liking but I can’t see any team a threat to the Wallabies on the Grand Slam bar Wales.
Inside the camp I’m sure he’s read the riot act for a clean sheet on this tour, following which he will have blooded some new blood which, you would hope, will provide a real challengers for every position in the team.
I can only see that as being a positive, increase pressure, and hopefully better performances to hold positions leading into next year’s competitions.
November 5th 2009 @ 10:14pm
KF said | November 5th 2009 @ 10:14pm | Report comment
Hi
I compared player lists of the sides that beat SA in Durban 2008 and Brisbane 2009 as well as the last side that have beaten NZ 2008 and teams that lost last two matches. There is frighteningly little difference between that team (Mortlock, Tuqiri, Cordingley, Vickerman and on bench Baxter, Waugh, Sheehan, Tahu) to the team that lost in Wellington or Tokio. Only constants are Robinson, Horwill, Elsom, Giteau and interchangable hookers (Moore and Polota Nau). It seems to me that the main problem was by sacking of Tuquiri, causing lack of trust between players, coach and administration, since the virtually the same team was capable of such diabolical turns of performance.
Also, I am afraid that O’Connor is not test material yet (and possibly never). He might have a good sidestep, but any back that is run down by Brad Thorne (34 years 195 cm 114kg) should have a really good look at his lack of genuine speed.
Regards
KF
November 5th 2009 @ 10:31pm
TommyM said | November 5th 2009 @ 10:31pm | Report comment
What? When was JOC run down by Brad Thorne? Not in a straight line mate- JOC is very quick. Even the most cursory examination of him playing will tell you that.
November 6th 2009 @ 1:01pm
AndyS said | November 6th 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
Actually, when he got the ball from that early break by Genia. Not a long foot race where he was reeled in or anything, but caught from behind by a forward he was.
November 5th 2009 @ 10:34pm
KF said | November 5th 2009 @ 10:34pm | Report comment
Hi
I apologize I had a problem with my keyboard. The fist paragraph should read that only constants in the first 15 were named players. Also 7 and 8 was a rotation between Pockock, Smith and Palu. All in all there were 33 players used in those 5 games, 17 backs and 16 forwards. In forwards most changes were happening in tighthead prop and lock positions. In backs there were more changes, but only in positions above number 10.
Hope this clears previous comment.
Regards
KF
November 16th 2009 @ 7:38am
harryonthecoast said | November 16th 2009 @ 7:38am | Report comment
What are they going to call the tour now following this morning’s draw at Croke? They had a cheek calling The Grand Slam before they had finished the tour.
Why didn’t Clarke and Kafer admid they were in an Aussie studio (Sydney, I presume). The good thing about that was it was obviously too early for Kearns to get his ass out of bed…..and he wasn’t missed.
Why didn’t Kafer call as it was when the new “star’ Digby came off his man and “made” Brian’s 100th match memorable?
It was, however, a better game that the AB’s and Italy…..what a shocking advertisement for the game that end-of-game scrum debacle!