Deans needs to wake up and smell the coffee
Roar Pro By stash, 2 Aug 2010 stash is a Roar Pro
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- All Blacks, ARU, Bledisloe Cup, Graham Henry, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
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“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” While there is no Marcellus or Horatio in Australia – this statement captures the plight of Australian rugby under the rule of Robbie Deans.
Deans is seemingly unable to shake the monkey of his back in the shape of his New Zealand nemesis, the All Blacks and their grizzled leader, Graham Henry.
Initially, Robbie Deans ascension to supreme leader of Australian Rugby was considered a coup, when the ARU swooped onto Deans after he was somewhat inexplicably dumped and discarded by the New Zealand rugby union who viewed him as unfit to take the reins from a battered Henry whom lay mortally wounded after being ravaged by the French during the 2007 World Cup.
New Zealand was horrified that Henry had survived Deans storming of the All Black tower, and overcome by dread at the thought of Deans leading a new army of Australian’s finest.
Dread was followed by genuine fear when Deans jumped out of the stable in 2008 and trounced New Zealand and South Africa in successive weeks. Deans was ecstatic as was the Australian hierarchy.
But those victories were to become the rarity as opposed to the norm.
Deans claimed re-building was required and senior veterans began being decommissioned as Deans looked to form a master-plan based on speed, power and individual skill sets with particular emphasis on emerging talent, in the process unearthing gems James O’connor, David Pocock and Quade Cooper.
While Deans seemed to look comfortable performing Coup de Graces on senior players like George Smith, Phil Waugh and Stirling Mortlock, a peculiar trend started emerging which found Deans favoring players that had trouble performing in the big games, such as halfback Luke Burgess.
Dark clouds started swirling around Deans’ inconsistent (which many considered error ridden) player selections and management of his bench in big games.
Deans’ victory over the Springboks, who were considered mighty before their own spectacular nosedive into the ground, was short-lived after the All Black’s blitzkrieg in Melbourne which saw New Zealand hit their bonus point try before the end of the first half.
An emotional Deans said that “it wasn’t so bad” had the same tone of denial when uttered by fellow beleaguered coach Peter De Villiers.
The truth is Deans’ coaching record is on a stunning spiral downwards, and it has become obvious that he has an inability to motivate and extract game changing performances from his men when compared to the likes of Graham Henry, whose half time vocalisations are able to bring about a perceivable increase in performance.
Being rejected by his overlords in New Zealand, is in itself rather telling.
They sniffed and sensed and probed Deans’ persona, and decided he did not have the right make-up or characteristics to be crowned the dear leader of New Zealand rugby.
Calls for Deans’ head are in fact warranted, even if it is based simply on his win/loss record.
He has failed to live up to the hushed promise, and his mojo is bleeding away with each new loss, particularly against the All Blacks whom Wallaby supporters dearly love to beat.
Because Deans’ purchase was considered as a coup, buyer’s remorse has taken a long time to set in. If Henry had Deans’ record, he would have been banished from New Zealand’s shores many moons ago.
The problem is Deans is in fact a top quality coach, and there would be a number of nations that would lay down the red carpet if he found himself tarred and feathered and lead out of Australia by townsfolk with flaming torches in the dark of night.
The other very real problem is that it is simply too late to replace Deans with the 2011 World Cup looming. A World Cup is not like getting a new leader and going to the polls a couple of months later.
If Deans can’t be replaced, then what needs to be done is Deans needs to be coached. He needs to surround himself with a new team of motivators, teachers, leaders (and scribes).
Deans needs to enhance his own skill sets and increase his own abilities, to become more excellent at what he does, so that he can in turn, use these as tools to improve the Wallabies performance.
Rot starts at the top – but so does change.
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The Crowd Says (8) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Explore:
- All Blacks, ARU, Bledisloe Cup, Graham Henry, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
August 2nd 2010 @ 9:23am
Nathan said | August 2nd 2010 @ 9:23am | Report comment
It appears that Mr Deans job is secure regardless of how the Wallabies play. What kind of criteria is that? What if they lose all of their remaining games in the Tri Nations? Ok, perhaps getting ahead of myself but it’s a distinct possibility. If ever the Wallabies were going to win a game it was going to be in Brisbane, let’s face it. When you start feeling sorry for a coach you know you have problems.
August 2nd 2010 @ 1:38pm
sheek said | August 2nd 2010 @ 1:38pm | Report comment
Well, if Deans is REALLY the problem, by all means sack him.
But just make sure you have another half-a-dozen coaches in reserve, because the replacement coaches will all come up against the same problems as Deans has.
Apart from the “feel-good” sensation of appearing to have “done something” (by sacking Deans), I don’t believe Deans is the problem, or even the principal problem.
The problems lie elsewhere, & are largely historical problems, which are not easily shifted, or solved. I reckon our structures need an overhaul & don’t fit with the requirements of professional rugby. Also, we have to make a mighty effort to build up our player participation numbers. The game is basically leaking everywhere.
Don’t forget Deans came into the Wallabies coaching position with impeccable credentials. Sacking Deans will provide a quick short-term “look at me, I’m doing something” fix, but won’t necessarily provide any long-term cure.
August 2nd 2010 @ 2:10pm
stash said | August 2nd 2010 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
Sheek,
I don’t think that Deans should be sacked at all. BUT I do think that enough time has passed for there to be an examination of what Deans is doing wrong. Because he’s not doing all right.
Personally, I think its his man management skills – there lacking and his tone and manner in interviews always suggests that. Let’s face it…he would be a crap politician (in the US anyway).
Henry manages his people by scaring the bejesus out of them – (and in fact is also quite warm and friendly to the inner circle). But he also intimidates the press – so many of them are reluctant to take Henry on.
Peter De Villiers uses Jedi mind tricks – or beats his players into submission by confusing the hell out of them.
Deans does nice guy, quiet guy soft speak to explain his position and philosophy – and seems to have trouble holding his teams attention – lest that’s what it looks like after half time when they seem to switch off.
August 2nd 2010 @ 2:35pm
sheek said | August 2nd 2010 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
Stash,
It’s like we’re all becoming druids, looking under every rock for the magic potion, & using dumb-ass analysis as to why it’s all wrong.
Hell’s bells, nice guys can be winners. I would have thought Deans’ style to more effective than say, Nucifora’s. Yeah, maybe Dean’s quiet manner is part of the problem.
But I have a slightly different take – if an international rugby player needs to be motivated by the coach in order to produce his best for his country, then I would say the player is the one with the problem…..
August 2nd 2010 @ 3:57pm
Red Rooster said | August 2nd 2010 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
He might be a good coach but I am not convinced about the selections and man mnagement – you could get significant improvement if you sortedf this out
August 2nd 2010 @ 3:13pm
stash said | August 2nd 2010 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
Sheek,
Deans is head coach – I can’t see why he can’t be questioned about his guidance. I just can’t see Deans ripping into the guys… and unfortunately I think they need it.
Better discipline and better focus – sounds like a coaches job to me.
I don’t think that Deans is the only one responsible for the rot setting in – but its up to him to stop the rot.Its part of this job description.
If he was winning, you can bet he would be at the front of the cue taking in the kudos.
August 2nd 2010 @ 8:44pm
Hansie said | August 2nd 2010 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
No, JON would be at the front of the queue taking the credit. In his autobiography, JON makes a big play that he had Greg Smith sacked because of an unacceptable winning percentage. Well, JON’s man Deans has a lower winning percentage. It’s noticeable that Graham Henry has rebuilt the All Blacks since 2007, and their performance levels now are at an unbelievable high, while Deans has taken the Wallabies backwards since 2007. For whatever reason, Deans as Wallaby coach is not working.
August 2nd 2010 @ 9:33pm
Todd Johnson said | August 2nd 2010 @ 9:33pm | Report comment
What we fail to acknowledge when we look at Deans’ time with the Aussies is that Deans has, in fact cleaned out the side from the 2007 world cup and has created a squad of young players that now provide depth in a range of positions where we didn’t in the past.
We’ve got blokes like Dunning and Baxter on the sidelines who we can call on in need (ie- injuries in a world cup) but we’ve now got guys like Slipper, Ma’afu, Robinson & Alexander in the front row who are young and getting exposure to test footy. Players like Genia, Cooper and Ashley-Cooper have kicked on massively under Deans.
Whilst the results haven’t been what we’d like at least we are building a squad that has the potential to knock off the AB’s.
Just because Deans doesn’t carry on in front of the press doesn’t mean he can’t coach or motivate players. Wayne Bennent barely speaks to the media yet most acknowledge him as the best league coach in the country. Give the bloke a break.