By Darren Walton
November 28th 2009 @ 1:37am
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Defiant Deans to soldier on
Firmly believing his rebuilding side is on track for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, defiant Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has vowed to fight on come what may in Saturday’s year-ending showdown with Wales in Cardiff.
With just two wins from their past 10 Tests, and coming off Australia’s first loss to Scotland in 27 years, the [...]
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warrenexpatinnz said | November 28th 2009 @ 4:56am | Report comment
I believe the Wallabies will win and win well and head home positive but not estatic. The only thing that has frustrated me re the tour and perhaps the season for the Wallabies is their lack of focus after a win which I think affects their mindset for the next game and the game after that and which stops them building on positives. Personally I believe come the next international games the Wallabies second fifteen need to be playing mid week games and as many as able i.e. create a 12 game calender for them even when the first 15 have the weekend off.
Not only will this be a revenue generator and promote rugby domestically it gives the guys game time without down time. The biggest hindrance to Australian rugby is a lack of game time, not depth (depth actually relates to No games) as Australian players thrive on regular game time as it builds confidence, maintains skill levels and keeps match fitness, it may also have the rugby public more focused.
I am not one for this player burn out excuse as the comparisons with AFL and the NRL highlight with correct management you can have players perform at the top level for 20 or more games and in leagues case that reaches 30 with finals and representative games.
Is it the Aussie mentality that requires our players to be at their best playing under constant pressure, I think it is and when we have stop start competitions, players having too many breaks all it does is throw the guys mindset.
Why do you think the Wallabies have generally performed well and punched above their perceived weight during actual week in and week out tournaments such as the Lions series, RWC’s and so on. Yes the NH tour gone is effectively a series but I treated it more as a fact finding, player blooding and combination sorting tour rather than the best 15 playing week in and week out.
Barnes injury I think was crucial, in some ways he was the ‘Dan Carter missing from the ABs’ result and highlighted the key playmarker issue. But what it has done is now brought on Cooper (Quad and AA) as well as matured Beale as they have played game time not ear marked before the NH tour but they have stepped up and should be far better Super Fourteen players come 2010 which you then translate that into a National side come June next year brimming with youthful expectation and know how. Ioanne linking with Barnes, Cooper, AA, Gitteau, then either Turner, Mitchell, O’Connor and you throw in Beale, Gasneir, Cross and you will have perhaps the most devasting, skillful Wallaby backline ever assembled as you have speed, combinational links, flair and strength combining that with a little bit of maturing of which Deans is especially renowned for and the mix is complete.
Call me one eyed and delusional but I think this vintage of Wallaby wine bottled in 2009 and uncorked mid 2010 and best tasting come 2011 and beyond will be well worth the wait.
PS sorry about he ramble but haven’t had an oppurtunity to vent and express due to a tough few business weeks, therapy complete, cheers
formerflanker said | November 28th 2009 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Good post Warren. I too think the wallabies can win, based on Palu’s return to form, the enthusiasm of Pocock, the sheer ability of Giteu (which I’m hoping will burst into prominence against Wales) and an intelligent coach. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
cookee said | November 28th 2009 @ 7:46am | Report comment
YES OPTIMISTIC LOGIC? NOT QUITE DELUSIONAL BUT CLOSE
Pete said | November 28th 2009 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Warren, nice rant! I hope for all our sake, you are right. I have refrained from being optimistic about the Wallabies’ prospects for the Wales game. I have been the kiss of death on this tour. So I am going to try the opposite. Wales by 273-0.
Kevin,Meath said | November 28th 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
As a completely biased exiled Welshman I would say Australia are favourites for the game, just!. Wales are down to their 4/5th tighthead Australia will target this ,Argentina did and Wales did well (good play,kind REF!)
Wales like to play good rugby as do Aussie that means (I bloody well hope so!) a good game. Will be very interesed how the ’small’ but fast welsh wings do (the best thing about union is the position for even small players power is so important today it would be nice to see speed and guile come through) with the big centres of Roberts, who at 22 is now a vet!, and younger and the ’smaller’ Davies, who has been ‘id’ as a future powerhouse.
Knives Out said | November 28th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Australian fans will be missing the chance to see some Lions: Adam Jones, Ryan Jones, Mike Phillips, Tom Shanklin and Lee Byrne. They’re all excellent players and worth watching. A shame for the neutral that they’ll be absent.
cookee said | November 28th 2009 @ 6:07pm | Report comment
KO;quite right its a shame for wales but worse the formerflanker divulges that the wallies have an intelligent coach;now theres a revelation knives
Parisien said | November 29th 2009 @ 12:49am | Report comment
Tom Shanklin was declared fit and ready, but not selected by the coach. I’m looking forward to seeing how his replacement goes…
Knives Out said | November 29th 2009 @ 1:20am | Report comment
Actually Shanklin wasn’t selected due to lack of game time, hence he didn’t start against the Wallabies for Cardiff Blues thus Gatland decided to keep the Davies-Roberts combination.
hammer said | November 28th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Defiant Deans vows to fight on ? – I guess $1m a year coaching a side he’s got zero connection to makes it a pretty simple decision
Red Rooster said | November 28th 2009 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
It is interesting that he is “safe” so it is not really defiance just good luck. Others with better test coaching records have been given the boot for less. I read today that they will be looking at the sevens program for players after the success of Kingi and Morahan. What I cant understand is if they are so valuable why did Kingi only get 6 mins of game time on the whole trip and Morahan was called up as a late replacement. The review will have some public sacrifices all of whom were chosen and supported in their roles by the coach. There seems to be poor decision making happening off the field which would seem to then show up on the field. Experienced players were left behind, Pockock gets man of the match v England then gets dropped, then get resurrected for Wales. How is this kid going to improve in confidence without the regular starting opportunity and not knowing what he has to do to get it – please enlighten
fred said | November 28th 2009 @ 6:23pm | Report comment
DARREN
soldier on thats exactly it;plod on as a foot soldier with more brilliant tactics losing games ,patrons and players but highly intelligent at the same time.the bounce of the ball tonite will go our way,scotland just an aberration
The Other Reds Fan. said | November 28th 2009 @ 6:57pm | Report comment
Had Barnes not been injured, we would be playing for the Grand Slam tonight.
Easy to say, I know, but whilst that shows that depth is our problem, at the same time, a promising young team is being assembled for the World Cup.
I hope that Deans gives us a chance to see Beale play at 5/8 tonight.
fred said | November 28th 2009 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
RED depth not the problem as close results and other teams injuries explain;its more inhouse imho.
beale will come on if we are behind and deans will call it rwc team building and if we win he is the master coach
barnes a top fellow 4 sure