Composure needed for Wallabies victory
Roar Rookie
By Josh Dutton, 26 Nov 2009 Josh Dutton is a Roar Rookie
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Robbie Deans received the full backing of John O’Neill earlier this week, which is a decision that should be supported fully by Wallaby supporters.
The sacking or leaving of another coach could only spell more disaster and it’s interesting that it hasn’t been noted that Australia’s last horror tour in 2005 finished with the Wallabies losing to Wales.
Could a loss on the weekend lead to ‘Dingo’ Deans being shown the door?
Even with Deans gone, the team would have to be completely re-structured to even challenge for the spoils in two years on New Zealand soil. The problems don’t appear to be coached, they appear to be deeply-seeded issues with confidence.
And it has been seen all year.
Three of Australia’s five losses in the Tri Nations were by seven points or less. In Sydney, all that stopped Australia from winning was a lack in confidence and poor decision making.
Matt Giteau should have backed himself and told his forwards to position him perfectly for a drop goal attempt.
Australia’s loss to Scotland on Saturday was another example of this, the opportunities were there to be taken but the finishing and confidence was again missing. Matt Giteau missed three kicks at goal along with a wayward drop right on half-time.
Composure is needed to punish the Welsh on the weekend and a strong showing would surely push the Wallabies a little further forward. A loss could lead to an implosion.
Giteau needs to have his confidence restored: too much pressure is being placed on him and Quade Cooper. Sadly, this is where Berrick Barnes is needed most.
His cool head would surely have helped Giteau re-gain his spark.
Surely a Wallaby victory is possible and after a 31-3 victory over Cardiff, morale will most certainly be up. Whether it can tame the flame of the dragon is another story.
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Parisien said | November 26th 2009 @ 4:09am | Report comment
“Even with Deans gone, the team would have to be completely re-structured to even challenge for the spoils in two years on New Zealand soil.” Why? I think these are pretty much the players we’ll have for the next few years.
“The problems don’t appear to be coached, they appear to be deeply-seeded issues with confidence.” I agree confidence is an issue, as is Giteau’s form but so is the coaching, the preparation, the strategies employed against each team, the use of the bench, the sticking with Giteau at 10 amongst many other issues.
“lack in confidence and poor decision making” can indeed also be caused by poor coaching.
I suspend judgement until after Wales, but I maintain that the coach is responsible for the players preparation, mental and physical readiness when they take the field. the players are resosible too, but if they are shirking their duties you get new ones, unless of course no new ones are available.
The way it is! said | November 26th 2009 @ 7:42am | Report comment
Deans as coach is directly responsible for ever aspect of the player and thus team and that includes confidence, bring in a shrink if he has to. Deans has now had amble time to show his worth as the super coach that he was made out to be and while he is a good bloke and calm under fire he has not lived up to the mark. His selections and game plans have been poor on numerous times.
I just can’t see the Wallabies winning this weekend and you can forget about that mid week match as it was just that. It also demonstrated what happens when you blood a raw 19 year old at pivot. Australian rugby are being forced to throw under developed talent at the situation due to the lack of a 3rd tier platform, until this is addressed the same results will occur.
Barnes won’t be the answer as he is just too injury prone and any good player who becomes great must string together long runs of injury free rugby. Time will tell. Giteau must be moved to 12 this weekend with Cooper at 10. I still believe that Digby is a winger as he doesn’t seem to have the passing skills or consistent read in defence to be a 13 so I would leave Cross there and drop off Mitchell.
This won’t occur so the result will be a narrow lost to the Welsh this weekend but I hope I’m wrong.
Hansie said | November 26th 2009 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
It seems odd that, with the Wallabies underperforming badly, the coach and the CEO who appointed the coach should be exempt from scrutiny. I find it really strange that O’Neill, Deans and Nucifora are conducting the review of the Wallabies performance during 2009, which can only mean that they are exempt from accountability and scrutiny. The reality is that the performance of the Wallabies has gone backwards during Deans tenure.
cookee said | November 27th 2009 @ 7:35pm | Report comment
HANSIE;lucid and correct.giteau with all his characteristics needs a mature competent mentor to bring out his abilities and indeed confidence.deans has a historic pattern of handling some stars poorly.