Open letter to Wallaby players and coaches
Roar Guru By stillmissit, 10 Aug 2010 stillmissit is a Roar Guru
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- Bledisloe Cup, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Tri Nations, wallabies
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I think it is appropriate to ask questions of the Wallaby team and coaches regarding the World Cup. We are only 13 months out from the start of the Cup and I have some questions regarding players and coaching and thought some of you knowledgeable posters here may want to add to the questions.
Question #1 to Robbie Deans – How do you plan to get the forwards to compete at the breakdown with consistency and structure? I ask this as it seems we have been without this for years and I am thinking our forwards go in one off and have no support.
Question #2 to Robbie Deans – Your use of the bench seems to have myself and several on The Roar here confused. For example, you did not replace Genia in the CHCH Test even though he was obviously struggling, but you replace Sharpe who was doing a good job for us and keep Mumm on who had done little.
There are many examples but I am trying to keep it short.
What’s going on?
Question #3 – Rocky Elsom. It strikes me that since you have become captain your game has gone to hell in a hand basket. Is the captaincy too heavy a load for you?
Question #4 – Matt Giteau. You are one of the most dangerous broken play exponents around when you chance your arm, how do you regain this ability at 12 that we used to admire so much in you?
Question #5 – Berrick Barnes. You have more natural skill than several players stacked up. Before you run back to league, at this World Cup are you capable of showing us the skills you showed at the last World Cup as a youngster?
Question #6 – Nathan Sharpe. I have not been your greatest fan but you are playing OK this season. This team needs an aggressive second row combination to win this World Cup. Do you think you can be half an essential aggressive second row combination that is critical to winning this Cup?
Question #7 – All Players. We realise you are not our greatest group of players ever but you are all we have and we support you. Can you:
-Work harder on your passing and catching skills?
-Show a real hard man approach to the breakdown in pods?
-Support any player who makes a break? Lose BD, lose game.
-Chase kicks to impact quick put ins and counter attacks?
Decide that the players around you are the ones you will thrive or die with at this Cup and play as if you care for and respect those around you. The fundamental question is are you capable of forming a tight team who accepts your strengths and weaknesses, and will fight together to win this bloody Cup?
It’s up to you Roarers to add questions to this, please try to keep the numbers sequential as you never know they might read it.
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- Bledisloe Cup, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Tri Nations, wallabies
August 10th 2010 @ 2:03am
ThelmaWrites said | August 10th 2010 @ 2:03am | Report comment
Question #8. To Richard Graham. As skills coach, what do you teach? How do you fit in the coaching set-up?
August 10th 2010 @ 8:43am
Rockin Rod said | August 10th 2010 @ 8:43am | Report comment
yep, and what did you do as backs coach with the force this year? JOKE
August 10th 2010 @ 9:35am
mother teresa said | August 10th 2010 @ 9:35am | Report comment
please walk us thru the reasons harris remained at ten in the force/brumbies game and neither asst wallabies coach graham or ex AB coach mitchell intervened to stop the torture.how dumb was that .
August 10th 2010 @ 2:03pm
ThelmaWrites said | August 10th 2010 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Still to Rchard Graham.
Is is the coaches or the players?
I don’t expect you to answer that point blank. I for one appreciate the fact that, unlike with the previous coaches, the present ones have not criticized the players before the press.
However, your fervent rugby supporters are getting cranky about the fact that we are so bewildered at the inconsistency in the Wallaby side.
No, I don’t expect you to point your fingers at particular players, as that would be most damaging to morale.
However, you would get us onside if you would just explain what you are trying to achieve. What specific tactics have you have been working on, and in what larger strategic context do these play? Or forget the tactics, just give us your strategic thinking.
Don’t say, “We’re teaching them to play what’s in front of you”. Or, “We’re building to the World Cup”. (Believe me, I respect your time-line.)
We want you to say something specific. On The Roar or in the papers.
It won’t be showing your cards to the opposition. By this time, the latter have already done their homework on you.
August 10th 2010 @ 8:32am
Willy said | August 10th 2010 @ 8:32am | Report comment
“Question #6 – Nathan Sharpe. I have not been your greatest fan but you are playing OK this season. This team needs an aggressive second row combination to win this World Cup. Do you think you can be half an essential aggressive second row combination that is critical to winning this Cup?”
Here’s the scoop – Dan Vickerman will definitely be back and available for the Wallabies next season.
He can be found each day training at Waratahs HQ in Moore Park – decked out in his Tahs gear – and will be back in time for the June Tests next season.
August 10th 2010 @ 8:45am
Rockin Rod said | August 10th 2010 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Their is a way bigger scoop out their, watch this space
August 10th 2010 @ 9:33am
Jerry said | August 10th 2010 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Do you not have any questions as to whether Vickerman will be able to come back? Most kiwis are hesitant to make a call on whether Ali Williams will be able to return to and Vickerman’s been out for just as long.
August 10th 2010 @ 9:37am
mother teresa said | August 10th 2010 @ 9:37am | Report comment
thank god and better still hes been coaching himself.
August 10th 2010 @ 9:51am
stillmissit said | August 10th 2010 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Willy – I have heard similar stories so lets all keep our fingers crossed. Vickerman and Horwill would be a great second row.
August 10th 2010 @ 10:26am
Willy said | August 10th 2010 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Yeah – it’s exciting.
This isn’t a story though mate – you can take it as gospel. I’ve seen the man at Waratahs HQ, in his Tahs gear, working on his Wallabies training program.
Direct from the horses mouth – he will be back and available for the Wallabies in the June Tests next season.
August 10th 2010 @ 10:35am
Red Rooster said | August 10th 2010 @ 10:35am | Report comment
I am hearing he will return in May so he will miss most of the Tahs season
August 10th 2010 @ 12:50pm
Willy said | August 10th 2010 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
Yeah – won’t be playing for the Tahs next season mate.
August 10th 2010 @ 11:08am
ohtani's jacket said | August 10th 2010 @ 11:08am | Report comment
There are no June Tests next season.
August 10th 2010 @ 12:53pm
Willy said | August 10th 2010 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Sorry – my understanding was the Tri Nations etc was going to start a little earlier.
Either way, the big man will be back and ready to go by June 2011.
August 10th 2010 @ 1:32pm
Nick_KIA said | August 10th 2010 @ 1:32pm | Report comment
There must be OJ, this is the horses mouth talking! The mouth!
August 10th 2010 @ 8:38am
The Other Reds Fan. said | August 10th 2010 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Can you not see any positives coming out of a 10 point loss against by far the best team in the world on their turf? Seriously, this is quite a nasty post and completely uncalled for. I would hate to bust my guts for my country and come home and see a post like this from some armchair critic couch potato. Did you not feel Rocky’s pain in the post match interview?
August 10th 2010 @ 9:22am
stillmissit said | August 10th 2010 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Yes I did. But being upset after a loss is something I have grown quite used to. I am also used to excuses ie we were always in the game, if only X had happened. etc etc.
I am sick of it all. I want to understand where our team is going RATHER than having a nice emotional bath. In short I want action not emotion thank you.
If you think this is a nasty post then maybe you don’t work in the real world where actions and results are measured and you live or die by them. These guys are highly paid professionals NOT your cuddly toy!
August 10th 2010 @ 9:45am
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | August 10th 2010 @ 9:45am | Report comment
Nasty? Well I’ll be buggered.
IF this post is considered the New Nasty then it just goes to show how things have changed. Are we all becoming too soft?
This is Rugby …….not tiddley winks.
August 12th 2010 @ 9:18am
Spencer said | August 12th 2010 @ 9:18am | Report comment
No…this is the roar…a blog site. And that’s a keyboard in front of you…not the AB pack. Soft!…ok go ahead belt those keys..harder I tell you!
August 11th 2010 @ 4:33pm
breakaway said | August 11th 2010 @ 4:33pm | Report comment
TORF: I agree 100 per cent. Losing to the no. 1 team in world rugby is no crime and the W’s busted their butts in the game. It was a terrific contest. I’ll run the yardstick over them after the tests in the republic at altitude, another immense challenge. There’s been a lot of chatter as to whether the W’s are a happy bunch of campers and frankly, I don’t know. Deans’ dour approach and Elsom’s mono-syllabic commentary are hardly the stuff of fun, perhaps that’s the problem. Hey, it is a game after all.
August 10th 2010 @ 9:02am
Justin said | August 10th 2010 @ 9:02am | Report comment
I like the one about Berrick Barnes – had to check it wasnt April Fools Day
On a serious note though Graham is a huge concern as backs coach (and as Force coach next year). I have seen sweet FA from the backs except when Cooper plays. Where once we were the smart team I thought the ABs showed us up brilliantly on Saturday.
The use of decoys on AF was terrific. They knew, particularly in his first Test, he would want to make some hits and so drew him up and then had players on the loop or outside runs to get around him. Great stuff, hats off AB coaches on that one.
August 10th 2010 @ 9:44am
stillmissit said | August 10th 2010 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Agree Justin where are the smart plays, the deception, the many runners etc. The All Blacks have us covered as we play simple moves and worse than that, they know we will turn it over eventually, so they just need to work with patience and the ball will be there’s.
Seems we are still dependent on defence only and that ploy had had its day by 2001.
I thought Berrick Barnes would be either a great 5/8 or fullback. He has not developed into either and his centre play leaves me a bit cold.
August 10th 2010 @ 9:52am
Even looser said | August 10th 2010 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Robbie had his chance to use BB as a 10 and instead moved our best 12. In my view that was a disruptive move with an very low chance of success.
I would like to see Berrick developed as our back up 10. He also has the ability to slot into several positions in case of injury.
August 10th 2010 @ 9:47am
mother teresa said | August 10th 2010 @ 9:47am | Report comment
the ARU normally raid league at this stage of the 4 year cycle before rwc.
pay a fortune for a wallaby coach from out of australia and bring in players coached in league;what does that say about aust rugby.oneill should change his ways if he is in it together with deans.time to leave the building
August 10th 2010 @ 12:19pm
stillmissit said | August 10th 2010 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
Christ! Mother Teresa I hope not. Please no more league players they can’t do it.
August 10th 2010 @ 10:07am
sheek said | August 10th 2010 @ 10:07am | Report comment
Qs 8-20, or wherever, to the ARU about what/how they intend to improve rugby at all levels below the Wallabies, which might in future help make the Wallabies more talented, better skilled, more determined on the pitch & desperate to hold their positions.
Oh, & win many more games than they lose!
August 10th 2010 @ 10:29am
jeff watt said | August 10th 2010 @ 10:29am | Report comment
I have to agree regarding Robbie Deans use of the bench,he is happy to swap forwards around but it was in the backs that we were very pedestrian,Burgess who is an accomplished ball runner was wasted on the bench on Sat night while Genia became more and more one dimensional.It is apparent that without Cooper the backline loses a wheel.
August 10th 2010 @ 12:23pm
stillmissit said | August 10th 2010 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
Jeff for all the criticism about Burgess nobody could say he doesn’t have ticker. Genia was obviously struggling why not bring on Burgess in a game that needs lots of ticker and go forward. Maybe Giteau has said he doesn’t want to play outside of Burgess?
August 10th 2010 @ 1:09pm
jeff watt said | August 10th 2010 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
My gut feeling is that gainst the All Blacks and South Africa Giteau struggles they have worked himout as a player who requires plenty of space and he gets none of that now.
August 10th 2010 @ 11:54am
Damo said | August 10th 2010 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Yeh a steering wheel
August 10th 2010 @ 12:21pm
stillmissit said | August 10th 2010 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
And the engine ain’t looking too flash either, never mind the gear box which is an after thought.
August 10th 2010 @ 12:44pm
john allen said | August 10th 2010 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Why the wallabies are getting beaten by the blacks is , they are not as strong at the breakdown or tackle area, thus the blame lies with the Wallabies strenght and conditioner coach Peter Harding, who uses out dated training methods.
August 10th 2010 @ 1:05pm
Red Rooster said | August 10th 2010 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
JA – thats a big call. We are losing the breakdown through tactics, skill and decision making. Our backrow is bigger and heavier and probably stronger so I dont see what Pete Harding can do about it unless you are coveting his job. Please explain the outdated methods??