Our next generation of heroes destined for mediocrity
Roar Rookie
By itsuckstobeyou, 22 Mar 2010 itsuckstobeyou is a Roar Rookie
The constant shuffling of Australian backlines will result in our best young players never reaching their potential, falling victim to the ‘Peter Principle’.
The ‘Peter Principle’, penned (somewhat comically) by Dr. Laurence Peter in the 1960’s, is a common truth which you may well have heard of, or at the very least, been witness to.
It states: “In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence”.
To clarify, here is an example. A man is employed as a cleaner at a law firm. So impressed by his performance are the firm, that they promote him to the mail room. After revolutionising how mail is sorted and distributed, the firm promotes him to secretary, then legal assistant after excelling yet again. Finally, after earning a degree, he is promoted to a fully fledged lawyer. The man loses four out of every five cases.
Despite being hugely talented in his previous roles, according to the principle, he will live out his life as a lawyer, the role he is worst at.
The ARU, the Super 14 franchises and the fans have followed a similar course to the firm.
The hierarchy within Australian rugby exists in the backline. Fly-Half is king. The next tier includes scrum-half, fullback and increasingly, inside centre. Wing and outside-centre make up the rest.
Over the past few years we have seen some revelations dotted throughout our backlines. Giteau and Barnes were highly acclaimed at inside centre. Ioane was our most dynamic winger and James O’Connor would cement the Wallabies fullback position given time.
Despite the gleaming talent we’ve seen from these players in their respective positions, their incredible success has us demanding they be promoted up the hierarchy. Giteau has become the Brumbies and Wallabies starting five-eighths, with Barnes also being pushed into the role. Ioane has been moved to the centres and O’Connor has played three positions in four weeks.
The promotion of these players within the hierarchy has impacted on other great talents too. Once seen as the future of Australian rugby, Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale were touted to spend their careers fighting it out for the Wallabies number 10 jersey. As a result of the promotions of Giteau and Barnes, Kurtley has been adapted from our brightest young playmaker to a utility reserve.
Australia’s best performing fly-half, Quade Cooper, is most likely to play inside centre for the Wallabies which, as has been mentioned, is the position Giteau and Barnes excelled at.
Ioane and O’Connor, whilst adapting their roles, are losing valuable game time in their preferred positions.
The reason why this has occurred is simple. We want our best players to have the ball in their hands as often as possible. We have seen it work before, in particular, with the promotion of Stephen Larkham from fullback to fly-half.
Unfortunately, this notion is far too simple.
The case of Larkham was relatively unique. He was a born number 10 who was mistakenly started at 15. He was an intuitive player with incredible decision making skills. Whilst his execution in some parts of his game may have been inferior to some of his more athletic rivals, he was moved to the position he was born to play.
The same cannot be said for our young talent today. Giteau, Barnes, Ioane and O’Connor were not the victims of a mistake. By being promoted, their effectiveness has been reduced and in doing so, they have prevented some of our best young stars from reaching their potential.
The solution to the ‘Peter Principle’ is not to take your best talent and squeeze them into your highest ranking positions. The solution, in rugby terms at least, is to do away with the hierarchy, play the best player for each position and focus on strengthening combinations. Where talent is lacking, fill the gaps with targeted development or recruitment.
Whilst it may appear the players are out of their depth, the truth is ‘Peter’s Principle’ was inherited. It is their employers who have reached their ‘level of incompetence’ and it is they who need to rectify the problem.
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby Union articles
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (178)
- Will South African rugby force a Super 21 by 2018? (171)
- Brumbies 2012: New coach, new players, new attitude (128)
- Pocock set to be named new Force skipper (56)
- Can the ‘Tahs win the battle after losing the Waugh? (51)
- What does the future hold for the Six Nations (50)
- Wales and France the early stars of the Six Nations (48)
- Wales’ Davies banned for ‘tip tackle’ (3)
- Graham Henry’s rugby future confirmed (12)
- Barnes to lead Waratahs in first hitout
- Harris and Lucas in Reds No.10 audition (3)
- Wales show Southern Hemisphere how to play running rugby (18)
- Dan Parks and the unsolved questions of expat rugby (61)
- David Pocock: a skipper my Force teammates will fight for (21)
- Wales show Southern Hemisphere how to play running rugby (18)
- What opening matches of Six Nations taught us (16)
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (198)
- Clinical Chiefs cost rusty Rebels in Corio (9)
- Six Nations shows rugby is a parochial game at heart (5)
- Goose’s Super Rugby up-and-comer XV for 2012 (29)
- What does the future hold for the Six Nations (50)
sheek said | March 22nd 2010 @ 6:14am | Report comment
Just love the Peter Principle, reminds of my workplace.
Don’t really care about the Tahs at present…..
TommyM said | March 22nd 2010 @ 8:05am | Report comment
Agree with the main thrust of your article , but to be fair, Barnes was always a 10- not a 12, JOC is a 10/12 (he played fullback for the first time last year) and I think you’ll find that Cooper gets the 10 jersey for the Wallabies this year (especially as Gits will go to 12 at the Brumbies to allow Toomua at 10 after Mortlock is reinjured, with Smith going to 13.) Ioane will end up back on the wing when AAC/Horne come through at 13.
rugbyfanatic said | March 22nd 2010 @ 8:20am | Report comment
One of the best articles I have read in some time – well done!!
Justin said | March 22nd 2010 @ 8:25am | Report comment
Very interesting indeed. Good write up.
Can Aussie Bob get the right players in the right position? I have my doubts
itsuckstobeyou said | March 22nd 2010 @ 8:18pm | Report comment
I’m sure it doesn’t help that none of his backs are playing in their best position during the S14. Even if he moves Gits to 12, Ioane to the wing, Beale to 10 and O’Connor to 15, they’ll have gone 8 months without playing those positions.
Deans should be putting his foot down regarding what position these guys are playing. Whilst the clubs may not be happy about it, it’s the best thing for the players, for the future of our game and for the Wallabies chances.
Justin said | March 22nd 2010 @ 8:28pm | Report comment
It will be Cooper at 10 not Beale! Ioane has been playing both but looks like he will end up at 13 for the Reds. AAC will be the 15 also (although I think he is the best 13 in AUS).
itsuckstobeyou said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:17pm | Report comment
Of course it won’t be Beale. How could it be? He’d be lucky to have played 80mins total this season.
Cooper is the only player who is being played in his natural position. That’s why I didn’t mention him. By rights, Beale should be second in line (which is what I was suggesting), but his hopes may well have been dashed. The way he was held aloft and presented to NSW as their saviour, only to be hung out to dry, is an absolute disgrace.
I wasn’t making any predictions, I was just suggesting that all of these players have been playing out of position. They’ll all be in the Wallabies squad, I just hope Deans doesn’t try and play Beale anywhere but 10, behind of course, Quade Cooper.
Hoy said | March 22nd 2010 @ 8:50am | Report comment
It has always been the way with talented players in this country. Slot them in, no matter where it is.
Does it hurt some players to miss out? Surely O’Conner, at 18, can wait a year or two to play 12, and doesn’t need to be slotted in at 15, just because he wants to play?
Changing young players into different positions does not give them experience and game time, it ruins development in their rightful position, turning them from a bright prospect, into a so-so utility, who never really lives up to promise.
One of my massive pet hates in selection.
itsuckstobeyou said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Couldn’t agree more. You end up with competition for every spot, instead of our 6 best players queueing up for the number 10 jumper.
rugbyfanatic said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
I often wonder how we – the “laymen” know and see things 3 months or more before the ëxperts”do! Are they just slower to take action or do they actually read comments and opinions and take some benefit from them?
Who Needs Melon said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
Totally with you suckstobeyou.
Go_the_Wannabe's said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
JOC should not play 15…..far too small to take the high bombs, he would be found out in that area sooner or later.
Otherwise agree, especially with rf above. How come the fans can see logical positions for the players but the coaches are in some sort of 3 month time lag?
TembaVJ said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
When they play the Bulls?
katzilla said | March 23rd 2010 @ 6:03am | Report comment
Doesn’t matter how tall you are if players run through and take you out whilst pretending to catch the ball
soapit said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
never been a fan of weakening one position to fill another. positions are pretty specialised and youd get the best out of them by letting them focus on learning a specific trade uninterrupted for a number of years (like 10). then they’ll become real experts at a position.
Gatesy said | March 22nd 2010 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
Absolutely spot on, ISTBY, and the backline should thus be:
Genia 9,
Cooper 10,
Mitchell 11 (on current form),
Giteau 12,
Ioane 13,
Hynes 14,
Ashley Cooper (maybe Huxley, by the time the tests come around) 15
Bench: (Giteau covers 9),
O’Connor,
Mortlock,
Barnes
Huxley or Ashley-Cooper (ONE TO BE OMITTED IF PLAYING 4 FORWARD RESERVES)
Bad luck to the rest – but that is the best Australian backline right now and you couldn’t see that changing before the Tri-Nations
Chris said | March 22nd 2010 @ 5:48pm | Report comment
I think you’re being a bit harsh on Ashley-Cooper. He was close to Australia’s best back last year. Ironically he and the other man you mentioned (Huxley) are the two players that immediately come to mind as “true” utilities (as opposed to, this articles topic, players playing out of position). Ashley-Cooper is one player who IS about equally good at 11/13/14/15 while Huxley is a good 10/15.
O’Connor is never going to be a 15. He should pick one of 10/12 and stick with it.
For the record – on current form Mortlock can’t even make the Brumbies 22. He isn’t anywhere near the Wallabies. Let’s hope he can turn that around but if he can’t Australia has two quality 13′s in Ashley-Cooper and that bloke who decided to change the pronunciation of his name (I own knee? You are nay!).
Brett McKay said | March 22nd 2010 @ 7:21pm | Report comment
Chris, did Digby change or are we only just getting it right now….
Justin said | March 22nd 2010 @ 8:31pm | Report comment
I think Digby is a winger who can play 13. He can roam with a license to do anything he likes on the wing. Its where he gets the big inside ball from Cooper and charges through the ruck fringes. At 13 he has to be more positional which is not his strength and also is suspect at decision making in defence.
Gatesy said | March 22nd 2010 @ 7:56pm | Report comment
Mate, I think Ashley-Cooper has earned the right to be called a genuine 15, and I have always thought of Hux as a 15 or a 10, but in this modern game, those 2 positions are interchangeable anyway.
Chris said | March 22nd 2010 @ 8:33pm | Report comment
He is a genuine 15 – but also a genuine 11,13 and 14 as well. Calling him a utility wasn’t an insult but a compliment given he has not only filled those positions but mastered them.
By the way – I have never seen a Rugby Union bench with 4 backs.
Justin said | March 22nd 2010 @ 8:34pm | Report comment
Having played both I dont think they are as transferable as many people believe.
Clear decision making and leading a side around the park is much more difficult and mentally tiring than sitting back at 15. Also more tackles are made by a 10.
At 15 you can pick and choose your involvement to a degree. The toughest part is the high ball. A good 15 could make an absolute mess of 10 but I dont think the other way around is nearly as tough.
katzilla said | March 23rd 2010 @ 6:07am | Report comment
Yeah a guy with a traditional polynesian name just up and decided after generations that he should change the pronunciation……………………..