By Rickety Knees -
November 10th 2009 @ 1:52am
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Robbie Deans, bring Vickerman back home
Dan Vickerman played some 55 tests for the Wallabies before leaving at his prime to follow an academic career. Some would say that he left because he did not feel valued by Australian Rugby.
It is believed that John O’Neill tried to drive Vickerman’s contract price down and in the process Australia lost its best lock in a decade. Having had three shoulder reconstructions, he probably asked himself “what is the point?”
Recently, the Wallabies have struggled at the line-out and have been criticised for their lack of mongrel at the breakdown. Vickermen is renowned as an aggressive world-class lock who invariably dominated, especially against South Africa and New Zealand.
Vickerman has returned to the field and recently signed a one year contract with Northampton Saints to play in the Guinness Premiership, which expires in May 2010. The next RWC is due to commence in September 2010.
Robbie Deans, if we are to have a chance at the next RWC we need to bring big Dan home. John O’Neill, please stay out of this.
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Harry said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:05am | Report comment
Rickety yes I’d love to see Vickerman back in Australian rugby, particuarly as I have a horrible feeling he will be really missed this Saturday at lineout time. Vickerman seemed to be the one lineout exponent in the world that could hold up against Matfield. I really do believe if he was fit and firing thena the Wallabies could, now that Elsom’s back, be really challenging for top spot and at RWC 11.
But he’s made his decision and while we all guess that Jon played hardball with him and a part in driving him away, whats done is done, however much we wallaby supporters would like it to be otherwise. I’m not sure what his current status is … I checked out the Northampton rugby website and he doesn’t seem to be playing at the moment, despite being on their books. Does anyone know what the situation is? If he’s hit the books (started the academic year) then realistically he won’t back till 2011, if ever.
In Spiro’s match thread there was similar pinings for McMenimem – but it is not the same. The fact is that while always having great potential he never actually delivered consistently for either Queensland or Australia … this year for the Reds he was finally relatively injury free and able to play week in, week out. The hard fact is he was part of a real poor Reds pack and didn’t excel. Plus he’s never really done anything at test level, while playing in some of our worst losses. He actively sought out the easy yen, good luck to him and I hope he sets himself up for life at the Yokohama yazoos or whoever’s signed hm.
The solution? On the current tour Horwill, Chisolm and Mumm need to really dig deep and play smart at the lineout and tight around the park in the next 3 weeks. They went OK at the weekend (good around the park and tight, lineouts still poor) and I hope they aim up again this weekend. All 3, particuarly the starting 2, will be tested and I’m sure they’ll be giving their best. They need Elsom’s help and accurate throwing from the hookers.
Looking beyond this tour, next year’s S14 should see some bright prospects back from injury and hopefully they will develop to challenge for a spot in the test team – Kimlin, Timani, Wykes, Hockings, Caldwell are all young and promising and all have the potential to play test rugby in 4 and 5 in 2010.
Rickety Knees said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:34am | Report comment
It’s easy to have 20/20 vision in hindsight and that old axiom – “you never really know what you have lost until it is gone”. Big Dan has left a huge gap that is yet to be filled. I am not a fan of Chisholm or Mumm, they just have not stepped up to international class, they don’t have the steel. I understand that Caldwell has been ill – what a shame – as he is the sort of hard nut we need. Not to mention Al Kanaar who could have filled the breach but retired with a chronic knee complaint.
Cameron of Melbourne said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment
I absolutely agree. The current locks in our squad don’t give me any confidence. Not only they are bad in the lineout they don’t seem to do much tight work either. Yes we have some promising young players in super 14 squads but they won’t be ready by 2011. That’s why I reckon ARU and Robbie should try and bring Vickerman back for world cup. I remember Vickerman said in an article he’d love to come back and play for Wallabies agian, before he left. So there’s still a chance he might come back. I really hope he does, otherwise I cant see our lineout being dominant like it used to be.
Rickety Knees said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Winning our set piece is criticial – we have no show if we can’t win our ball. The effect on team confidence is enormous – good set piece gives confidence to attack – bad set piece ………
RWC’s are won by teams that master the basics.
kingplaymaker said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Rickety you’ve said it. The amount of possession his presence alone in the lineout would guarantee would be worth it.
The ARU have tons of money now they don’t have to pay Tuqiri and Tahu any more.
He should be allowed to come straight back in to the tri-nations in 2010 though, as Elsom was, so he can have a good amount of time to get back up to speed and to help the Wallabies get winning again.
Plus, with the emerging Palu, he would give the Wallabies pack the physical presence to square up to South Africa.
Rickety Knees said | November 10th 2009 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Thanks KPM – I just hope that Robbie Deans takes time out whilst in the UK to have a coffee/beer/glass of red with Big Dan and talk him into have one last hurrah. IMHO – we have a serious chance of winning the next RWC if he is onboard.
kingplaymaker said | November 10th 2009 @ 11:17am | Report comment
Agreed, just look at the difference Wycliff Palu in form has made to the Australian pack these last two matches, and think how much better still it would be with Vickerman.
Brett McKay said | November 10th 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Rickety, good points, all very hard to disagree with. But as I said to KPM the other day on this topic, it doesn’t matter who we have in the lineout, we still have to hit the target. Somehow, Stephen Moore has gone from being one of the very best throwers in the game this time last year, to a 50-50 prospect now. Polata-Nau might not be that accurate. Can it all be pinned on Michael Foley no longer being involved with the Wallabies??
By the way, RWC is Sep 2011, not 2010…
Rickety Knees said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Thanks for the correction on RWC Brett – that gives us another year to get Big Dan back! I was surprised that Robbie Deans let Foley go ….. Jim Williams was a winger cum backrower and in comparison knows little about the set piece. So I believe that you are right.
chochie said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
yeah. Dan Vickerman is needed in the team.
Rickety Knees said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
cheers
fox said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
Yes. Bring him back!
Cameron of Melbourne said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
I reckon I’ve read at least 3,4 articles in the last few months about how Dan Vickerman should be brough back to Australia. If we are to win the world cup we are going to need a good lineout and locks actually doing ruck/maul work. Currnent locks are average at best
Parisien said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
While being a big fan of Vickerman, I agree with Harry, I just don’t see it really happening, and think the others have to step up, or the ARU needs to find another one somewhere.
By the way, off the subject, but what is that bit of coastline in the background of your photo?
Rickety Knees said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Albany in SW Western Australia
Parisien said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Fantastic spot, incredible beaches, especially when the fish are biting. Sorry, back to the rugby.
Rickety Knees said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Agree – certainly one of my favourite spots.