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 Wallabies are facing their second-worst season, results-wise, of the professional era.
Defeat at Millennium Stadium would leave Australia with five wins, eight losses and a draw from 14 Tests in 2009 – the worst return since Eddie Jones was sacked as coach after presiding over a five-from-13 record in 2005.
“I’m really enjoying working with this group. I think we’ve got an exciting future,” Deans said ahead of the pivotal encounter between the third-ranked Australians and sixth-ranked Welsh.
“Obviously every time you hit the ground there’s pressure, but that’s just part of the industry.
“The key is dealing with that, coping with that, and bringing some of your own pressure to bear.
“You can’t help but encounter the criticism one way or other. If you don’t read it yourself or hear it yourself, others tend to tell you about it.
“It’s part of the territory. I’m not afraid of it. It’s just one of the realities. The key is not to go belly up and I won’t be doing that.”
Deans is also aware that Australian fans are disillusioned by the fact the Wallabies have only managed to score 15 tries in 10 Tests since the start of the Tri Nations.
“It’s all answered by the fact that we’re not winning enough. If we’re winning enough, whatever we were doing would be fine,” he said.
But the embattled coach admits the Wallabies will need to play more attacking intent of they are to notch just their second victory over Wales in Cardiff in five Tests since 2001.
“It will be a very good contest. There will be a lot of movement,” he said.
“Both sides are constructive and like to use the ball, both sides like to involve their outside backs and, when you look at both sides are at their most effective, the outside backs are a big part of that.
“So we’re expecting them to play positively. But we also want to go into thew summer with a good performance under our belt, so we want to involve everyone. We want bring some pressure to bear on Wales.
“And to do that we’ll have to play. We won’t be able to be conservative to achieve that.”
Skipper Rocky Elsom says the fact Wales don’t respect the Wallabies like they do the All Blacks is giving his side added motivation to put the hosts in their place.
“I first came over here in 2005 and for some reason they are always very confident against Australia,” Elsom said.
“Yeah, they really made no bones about it during the (2007) World Cup that they were pretty happy that we were in their pool.
“And to be honest, they’ve had reasonable success, a draw and a couple of wins, it’s not too bad.
“But they’re very open with that (confidence). It’s sort of put there in front of us, so Saturday I guess will settle that score at least for a little while.”
The Test is just one of three this weekend featuring the world’s top six teams, with fifth-ranked Ireland, the reigning Six Nations kings, hosting second-ranked South Africa, the Tri Nations champions, in Dublin and fourth-ranked France taking on top-ranked New Zealand in Marseilles.
“It’s a fantastic feast of rugby and I think you’ve seen in recent weeks just how small the margins are,” Deans said.
“So I guess you’d only be betting money you could afford to lose, for those of you who are gamblers.
“We’ve got enough at stake.”
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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