Don’t worry, Wallabies will be a force next year
By Simon Mathew, 1 Sep 2010 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Quade Cooper, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
141 Have your say
Its time to put this Quade Cooper nonsense to bed. Right now. The Wallabies should be fine tuning their backline, not having to think about preparations to restructure it.
The ARU should have given him a deadline to make a decision, and if league was his choice, then allow Robbie Deans to groom whomever he picks at five-eighth so they can gain much needed experience on foreign soil before the campaign for the World Cup begins in New Zealand.
Rugby has been very good to Quade Cooper, and has stood by him during some trying personal times – it’s time now that he accords the ARU with the same respect shown to him, and make a decision before Saturday’s Test against South Africa.
The game comes first, not the player.
He should stop being selfish and commit to either union or league for the good of the country.
Experience creates level heads in pressure situations, something we were sorely lacking in South Africa. They reminded me of New Zealand in the 90s – managing to lose Test matches they should have one by poor decisions and unforgivable handling errors.
Don’t blame Robbie Deans for the loss last weekend.
He is a wonderful coach and brought back to Australian rugby the attacking flair that really gives me hope for next year. Possession is everything, and we would have cantered home last weekend if it weren’t for a woeful half riddled with mental mistakes that only the players can hold themselves accountable for.
Not Deans.
Why would Ashley-Cooper throw a dummy to a vacant sideline and then lose the ball in a tackle? Why would Cooper kick the ball out on the full when it was brought back into the 22 by Genia?
Why would we not be able to make a sensible decision (keep it away from Matfield) during line outs on the South African line? Why would we lift a secondrower from a kick off when there was no pressure from the chasers?
We have this reputation as being a ‘smart’ team. Well, the players failed that exam, and unless the players themselves play smart while on the paddock, there is nothing Robbie can do.
And yet, I have great hope – and if they listen to Deans, I honestly believe, particularly when we get our full complement of players back from injury, we will be a force next year.
Here’s a quote from America’s most beloved coach:
“A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.” — Vince Lombardi.
Our Wallabies might want to think about that.
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Mike said | September 1st 2010 @ 7:37am | Report comment
Quade (Burglar Bill) Cooper – take the league money (laptop) and run! It will be a CRIME is you don’t.
PB said | September 1st 2010 @ 8:06am | Report comment
“They reminded me of New Zealand in the 90s”
By this you mean 98-02, probably – plus the World Cup 03. However they were also beset by diffident coaching and selection in this period. Wrong players, wrong positions, under-prepared. Deans has form in this area.
kingplaymaker said | September 1st 2010 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Agreed: the vast majority of criticism of Deans from Wallaby fans is because:
a) He is a New Zealander. Even ex-coaches, like Bob Dwyer and journalists like Wayne Smith abuse him purely from this childish prejudice.
b) They won’t admit that the Wallabies players aren’t that good. A combined Wallaby/All Black 15 might be:
Muliaina, Jane, Smith, Nonu, Dagg, Carter, Genia (not on current form though), Reid, Elsom (maybe), Mccaw, Thorn, Sharpe, Franks, Mealamu, Robinson (maybe). That’s being generous in the case of all four Wallaby starters. A big difference in player quality then.
Cracker said | September 1st 2010 @ 9:46am | Report comment
c) Win ratio of 52% since becoming Wallabies coach
CizzyRascal said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:12am | Report comment
One to one, the All Blacks are better, but it is how they perform in a team that will define them.
If Australia can learn to be a better team, they will achieve what they are aiming for.
kingplaymaker said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:49am | Report comment
cizzy it’s really very tough to regularly beat a team where, being deeply honest, you might not get even one player into their starting side.
Perhaps if the Wallabies had some kind of secret powers and could transform into supermen it might be possible, but otherwise I think you’re asking for rather too much.
CizzyRascal said | September 1st 2010 @ 11:03am | Report comment
By your reasoning no one will be able to beat the All Blacks and upsets never would never happen in sport.
Anyway, while not many of the Aussies would make it into the All Black squad, but it doesn’t mean they are poor players or that far off their opponents.
If put into the right system, and with a nice dose of luck, this Wallaby side can beat the current All Blacks.
EP - Rugbywits said | September 1st 2010 @ 11:47am | Report comment
KPM while you are right – it is hard to beat a team that is probably better one-on-one than you across the park you reference the Wallabies turning into Supermen to win. I dont think thats right.
The All Black men arent supermen. They are footballers who work hard and do simple things better than everyone else. There arent actually many superhuman efforts that come to mind regarding the all blacks.
Hopefully the Wallabies play LESS like Supermen and play more like a bunch of hardworking all blacks.
jeremy said | September 1st 2010 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
EP – you’ve not read the Richie McCaw facts then?
When Richie McCaw does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up; he’s pushing the Earth down.
When Richie McCaw goes swimming he doesn’t get wet, the water gets Richie McCawed.
When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Richie McCaw.
Richie McCaw counted to infinity – twice.
Richie McCaw invented every colour. Except pink. James O’Connor invented pink.
Richie McCaw gave Mona Lisa that smile.
Richie McCaw can slam a revolving door.
Some kids pee their name in the snow. Richie McCaw can pee his name into concrete.
Richie McCaw’s calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; No-one fools Richie McCaw.
Richie McCaw can speak Braille.
Richie McCaw’s tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried. Ever.
Superman owns a pair of Richie McCaw pyjamas.
Richie McCaw owns the greatest Poker Face of all-time. It helped him win the 1993 World Series of Poker despite him holding just a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green 4 card from the game Uno.
Richie McCaw sleeps with a night light. Not because Richie McCaw is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Richie McCaw.
Once a cobra bit Richie McCaw’s leg. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.
Richie McCaw divides by zero.
When Richie McCaw exercises, the machine gets stronger.
Richie McCaw doesn’t use pickup lines, he simply says, “Now! “.
Richie McCaw sold his soul to the devil for his rugged good looks and unparalleled rugby ability. Shortly after the transaction was finalized, Richie spear-tackled the devil and took his soul back. The devil, who appreciates irony, couldn’t stay mad and admitted he should have seen it coming. They now play snooker every second Wednesday of the month.
Richie McCaw can kill two stones with one bird.
The only time Richie McCaw was wrong was when he thought he had made a mistake.
M.O.C. said | September 1st 2010 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
Jeremy you forgot some
Chuck Norris would pee his pants if Richie McCaw told him to
Richie McCaw can kill 22 Wallabies with two stones – the stones in his shorts.
.
M.O.C. said | September 1st 2010 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
Richie McCaw can kill 22 Wallabies with 2 stones – the stones in his shorts….
kingplaymaker said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:28pm | Report comment
Yes, like hardworking All Blacks but with a fraction of their abilities.
Ben S said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:33pm | Report comment
Typical exaggeration. So why did the Australian Super sides outperform the NZ Super sides? Why have the Wallabies built up so many half-time leads against NZ?
kingplaymaker said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:25pm | Report comment
Cizzy perhaps they could pull off an upset yes, but REGULARLY, a word I use specifically above, no.
CizzyRascal said | September 2nd 2010 @ 2:26am | Report comment
One win could easily give them the confidence to do it again.
ben said | September 2nd 2010 @ 2:14am | Report comment
you are forgeting injured players……..in this team would be iaone, tpn,alexander……..horwill would get a look as well. I would not have Jane for Mitchel either. so combined team would look more like
Muliaina, Mitchel, Nonu, Giteau, Ioane, Carter, Genia, Reid, Elsom(for sure) McCaw, Sharpe, Horwill, Alexander, TPN, Robinson.(Definately) Dont forget end of last year we had worlds No1 front row.
That is 8 -9 wallabies and if you picked a 22 it would include Cooper,Pocock and Oconnor.
Jerry said | September 2nd 2010 @ 4:03am | Report comment
Ooookay, you lost any respect at ‘I would not have Jane for Mitchell”.
kingplaymaker said | September 2nd 2010 @ 4:12am | Report comment
ben you’re also forgetting injured All Blacks then. Ioane would not displace Sivivatu. Sharpe and Horwill would never replace Brad Thorn or Ali Williams.
Elsom is normally better than Kaino, but is he playing better now? Genia is doubtless better than Weepu, but isn’t playing better than him now. Having said that this is not a list based on form.
So I’ll let you have Elsom and Genia. Robinson ok, I’m not sure, but definitely not Alexander over Woodcock or TPN over Mealamu.
So that’s two players.
However, it’s not as if the Wallabies are devoid of good players.
Alexander, TPN, Robinson, Elsom, Pocock, Palu, Genia, Cooper, Giteau, Ioane are all world-class players (I discount the likes of Beale and O’Connor because in my opinion they are more world-class players at 10 and 12, rather than counting properly).
So for the Wallabies to be competitive they need some world class second rows and world class outside backs, the absence of both of which was evident last week.
Sharpe and Horwill or Vickerman should sort out the second row, but to return to my old refrain, Australia fall down on critically in the outside backs, where Ioane is the only world-class strike runner.
Ben S said | September 2nd 2010 @ 5:00am | Report comment
‘Yes, like hardworking All Blacks but with a fraction of their abilities.’
But yet a side that has 10 ‘world class’ players? Smells like a Robbie to me.
kingplaymaker said | September 2nd 2010 @ 8:08am | Report comment
KO are you both Ben and Ben S?
Ben S said | September 2nd 2010 @ 5:54pm | Report comment
Of course I’m not. This has been asked before, and I guess you didn’t notice because it’s a big site, which is fair enough. There are quite a few Ben monikers, I think.
MOTHER TERESA said | September 2nd 2010 @ 8:41am | Report comment
too many mediating variables there to be significant.
clearly you would expect a third year coach to have achieved a better representation.sadly not
sheek said | September 1st 2010 @ 8:32am | Report comment
I am a supporter of Deans, although like many I would like answers to some of his selections & poor use off the bench.
There is an irony here, that the Wallabies could, I say could, win the world cup next year. Would the nay-sayers apologise? Not on your nelly!
Would I & other supporters of Deans feel vindicated? In my case – No! It would be a hollow victory. Winning in 2011 would not make up for the accumulated pain of 2003 through 2010. Not for me, anyway.
I argue constantly the problems of Australian rugby run deep. We are ranked 4th of 4 football codes in player participation numbers, fan popularity & media interest. Personally, I draw no satisfaction from this state of affairs.
And I’m not interested in winning the world cup & then going through another 5-7 years lean spell. I want a Wallabies outfit that is highly successful most years. And when they hit a lean spot, they bounce back no later/longer than two years.
Remember 2003? The Wallabies caused a boil over in the semis by beating the vaunted ABs. Then in the final they over-achieved by pushing favourites England to the last minute of extra-time.
This was the same Wallabies outfit that was beaten comprehensively by England during the regular season, had 50 points put on them by the ABs in another match, & qualified first in their pool only with a one-point win over Ireland.
But having massively over-achieved, everyone associated with Australian rugby heaved a huge sigh of relief, & drifted back into complacency. “Oh, every thing’s fine with our game, we don’t need to change a thing”.
When ARU supremo John O’Neill attempted to institute much needed & required changes to the domestic structures of Australian rugby, he was shown the door. Over the next 5 years, the financial windfall from the 2003 world cup was obliterated.
The Wallabies continued their hiatus from exemplary performance, from most of 2003 right to the present time. That’s why sacking Deans is only a quick-fix. It won’t solve the underlying problems within the game.
If only Australian rugby fans could show the same dedication & determination to finding solutions to our domestic structural problems, as they are at boning Deans!
And what does the Aussie fan have to look forward to? Fully fit & in form, there are about 7-8 players who would walk into the starting XV.
Props: Alexander (at tight-head), plus Kepu, Cowan, Holmes, Weeks.
Hooker: Polota-Nau.
Locks: Vickerman & Horwill.
Backrow: Higginbotham, Palu.
Scrumhalf: Valentine to pressure Burgess.
Threequarters: Chambers, Horne, Ioane, Davis.
Fullback: Shepherd.
That’s a lot of players, many of whom would find a place in our 22. So there would be an irony if Deans, after all the miserable attacks on his coaching ability, were to harness all this talent into winning the world cup. However, I won’t be putting my house on the Wallabies. The ABs are still the team to beat (themselves!???)……….
ohtani's jacket said | September 1st 2010 @ 9:09am | Report comment
More of the same from the Deans camp. You can’t even praise Deans without contradicting yourself:
“He is a wonderful coach and brought back to Australian rugby the attacking flair that really gives me hope for next year.”
“managing to lose Test matches they should have one by poor decisions and unforgivable handling errors.”
“Why would Ashley-Cooper throw a dummy to a vacant sideline and then lose the ball in a tackle? ”
Which is it, attacking flair or handling errors and poor decisions? Or is it, as I imagine, a case of praising Deans when the backs do something good and blaming the players when they don’t?
Name me one wonderful thing Deans has done as Wallaby coach.
cookee said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:04am | Report comment
oj ,nothing but send money back to nz.
they say when you turn a ships engines off it continues momentum for approx 20 miles;so it is unfair that deans should have his stats including his first year when others influence affected the team.
however on reflection looking at stats both ways deans % were worse when taking his last 2 years into account.
remember that 50 POINT drubbing by boks ,even the for and agst in games that matter were sad.
the asst coach of 2003 wallabies was mckenzie and as sheek explains beat the abs with deans in a similar role.that is the major irony not the pipedream of a deans led wallaby victory at rwc
Who Needs Melon said | September 1st 2010 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
I agree. I almost chocked when I read “attacking flair” and had to re-read to make sure it wasn’t meant as sarcasm.
Did you watch the game before against NZ? Without Cooper there there is no “attacking flair” whatsoever!!! It’s Cooper that bring this – not Deans.
Rockin Rod said | September 1st 2010 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Totally agree WNM. Why should Cooper rush his decision,its been reported Cooper wanted to do this deal in Febuary and it was the ARU that made him wait.
Who Needs Melon said | September 1st 2010 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
“Name me one wonderful thing Deans has done as Wallaby coach”…
The aqueducts?
RedsNut said | September 1st 2010 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
“Name me one wonderful thing Deans has done as Wallaby coach.”
He has blooded some new talent, which didn’t happen before Eales & Co retired. That was when our troubles really started. And the successful coach was let go, instead of keeping him on.
Parisien said | September 2nd 2010 @ 8:31am | Report comment
Deans is a done deal to do what no-one has done before.
kingplaymaker said | September 1st 2010 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Sheek I agree the Wallabies could win although my reasons are so elabourate that I’ll have to put an article together to say why, and why some of the others won’t.
What’s a little worrying is the crazy attitude in the press towards Deans. Wayne Smith assaults him relentlessly and unfairly, clearly because he’s not Australian. How ridiculous!
By the way, what did the ARU spend that massive windfall from the 2003 RWC on?
You pointed out that O’Neill tried to change structures in the game after 2003 but I wonder what he’s doing on this note at the moment?
sheek said | September 1st 2010 @ 9:31am | Report comment
KPM,
I think O’Neill second time around, is playing a straight bat, so to speak. He has probably said, or at least thinks to himself, “all I’m going to do is balance the books. Last time when I tried to be pro-active, I got shafted. So this time, I’ll keep the books balanced, & nothing more”.
So Australian rugby continues to suffer from petty, self-absorbed, in-fighting, politics.
kingplaymaker said | September 1st 2010 @ 9:47am | Report comment
sheek perhaps he has decided the ARU is going to be his life’s work and so is proceeding slowly so as to get everyone on board and make careful progress, i.e. the Melbourne Super 15 team, in order to eventually completely turn around rugby in australia for good!
But at the moment he doesn’t seem to be doing much!
sixo_clock said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:05am | Report comment
Dingo really does not have to do that much, keep them fit, provide a bit of analysis from his Rugby experience, and organise a bit of skills training.
How much do you think PdV affects his squad, they are still winning?
How much coaching do you think Carter, McCaw, Rococko etc need. The answer is not a lot.
Then why do we hear this constant bleating in the Roar about our head coach.
The central fact is that some of those who make it to the Australian Test Squad are unable to tackle, catch easy passes, form a defensive line, scrum, pass effectively and on and on and on.
These marginal players do everything but concentrate on basics. They waste little effort on thinking about supporting the ball carrier, doing the little things like anticipating what might be needed if that or this happens. This has been trained out of their skill set long before Dingo ever laid eyes on them. All he has to do is work with what he has. If the ARU are happy with the current squad, have no real plans for next years squad and the year after that then I say Dingo is doing more than enough just having to deal with these issues.
Are the players happy with losing? What are they doing about it? If the answers are No and not a lot then void their contracts forthwith. What the hell has happened to Rugby in Oz. We can’t even field 15 players who can play the game.
Rugby is played between the ears. That is why it has survived, that is why we enjoy support from the business community but here in the Lucky Country it is all one man’s fault.
Really?
ohtani's jacket said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:29am | Report comment
People are only too happy to blame Eddie Jones, Chris Hickey or any of the Roar’s other favourite sons, but when it comes to Robbie Deans there’s some sort of circuit breaker that says “Deans is the most successful Super rugby coach in history therefore it cannot be his fault.”
The All Blacks need coaching as much as anyone else, but I think that misses the point. We don’t know what Deans’ training and pre-match preparation is like; it could indeed be wonderful, but coaching doesn’t end with the team being named and the captain’s run. Deans’ game management is poor. It’s a weakness in his coaching along with his selecting ability, which we already knew to be weak from his time in charge of the All Blacks. Deans hasn’t improved in these areas despite being almost 3/4s of the way into his Wallaby contract. He can’t expect his players to improve if he doesn’t make improvements himself. Even NBA coach Phil Jackson, who’s famous for letting his players play through bad periods without calling a timeout, makes changes during a game.
sixo_clock said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:43am | Report comment
If you think his game management is questionable then I see it differently. No Rugby team can ever have players who cannot go the 80 because uncontrollable things happen. There are some who see themselves in that role but I think Dingo is telling them to think bigger, make more demands on yourself etc. He is hardening up some soft elements.
ohtani's jacket said | September 1st 2010 @ 11:06am | Report comment
That approach worked with the Crusaders because that had a winning culture. He could take a hands off approach because his pack knew what to do. The Wallabies evidently didn’t know what to do when Sharpe came off the field and for this particular team the “let them figure it out for themselves” philosophy cost them another winnable game. Coaches may have their own particular coaching style but it’s a mistake to think you can coach different teams the same way and get similar results. The Wallabies have different coaching needs from the Crusaders.
sixo_clock said | September 1st 2010 @ 11:42am | Report comment
That encapsulates everything I have been saying for ages.
Test Level Rugby players have to be capable of anything the game throws at them. Injuries and all manner of mishaps must be dealt with in-stride, not missing a beat. Sharpe could have gone down with tummy troubles before the game, can we postpone?
The first attribute of rep level Rugby people must be self containment. It is impossible to achieve the perfect anything in real time. Each and every one who wants to pull on that jumper must be thinking for themselves, for the team, not sitting in the back seat arguing over the ‘Game Boy’ or whatever is the latest toy.
That is not a lot to ask considering the rewards on offer.
I think Dingo must be inwardly devastated sometimes when he sees the pitiful efforts of some players but I also believe he is a very strong believer in the ‘journey’ and that if his bosses send him Joe Blow then Joe Blow must have shown some promise. Those decisions are out of his hands.
ohtani's jacket said | September 1st 2010 @ 6:13pm | Report comment
Sixo,
There’s no excuse for the Wallabies to lose Test matches while they learn how to become instinctive rugby players. This is Test match rugby not some Chinese kung-fu film where they’re training at a Shaolin temple.
In regards to the Sharpe situation, in a traditional rugby set-up you have your starting looker, your main lineout jumper, your back-up hooker and your reserve lock, right? Your back-up hooker and your reserve lock ought to know the calls and be able to execute them based on their involvement at training, and someone other than your main lineout jumper ought to be able to make the calls. They may not be able to do this as instinctively as Victor Matfield, for example, but the lineout ought to work systematically so that 16 can replace 1 and 19 replace 4 or 5 without too much disruption.
It would be one thing if 16 and 19 came on and lost the lineouts, but the only reason there was a back-up lock on Saturday night was because Higgenbotham was scratched prior to the game, and the back-up hooker wasn’t used. Deans is about as instinctive a coach as the Wallabies are rugby players, and doesn’t have systems in place to deal with in-game situations.
I’m afraid that Deans outside of the Crusaders is like a fish out of water.
sixo_clock said | September 1st 2010 @ 6:26pm | Report comment
We are on the same page OJ. But for us years of neglect has the basic skills tank almost on empty and the instincts battery very flat indeed. We are getting by on some very fine players, in particular Bam Bam who has everything but great speed. There is a generation coming through who have not been imbued with the amateur spirit and they are going to require quite a bit of deft handling if we are to stay in the hunt. The lineout woes are just proof that nobody else in the pack is even interested in a leadership role and that mate is a very sad fact.
ThelmaWrites said | September 1st 2010 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
Nope, you teach them to play like the Crusaders.
When Germany’s panzer armies were rampaging through Europe and North Africa, did the Allies revert to the trench warfare of World War I? Nope, they played to the same game plan, and though they may not initially have the tactical nous of the panzer commanders, they answered with supeior materiel.
sixo_clock said | September 1st 2010 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
Maybe more to the point, just plain good Rugby. Attack weakness mercilessly, train yourself to identify opportunity, work hard and work your mates harder. Give the opposition a headache.
Using Spitfires might be considered bad taste though. By the way do you have access to one if we need it?
ThelmaWrites said | September 1st 2010 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
Hi Sixo!
My grandson will lend you his model Spitfire.
Cheers.
sixo_clock said | September 1st 2010 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
Cheers Thelma,
Its for a good cause, thank you.
Erm….. can he fly it?
ps: WRWC semi v England is tonight, do you know how to watch the games?
Here’s the link.
http://www.rwcwomens.com/video/index.html
ohtani's jacket said | September 1st 2010 @ 6:19pm | Report comment
Thelma,
I don’t think that you can teach them to play like the Crusaders and I don’t see why you’d want to. Did Macqueen and Jones teach the Brumbies to play like the Crusaders? If Deans is trying to get the Wallabies to play like the Crusaders then I’d suggest that that’s a big part of why he’s failing. You can’t teach a tennis player to play like Roger Federer. You’ve got to play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses.
ThelmaWrites said | September 1st 2010 @ 7:53pm | Report comment
OJ
My answer is long and involved; anything less will see us making piles and piles of clarifications, qualifications, etc. I’m not up to composing it right now, as I am rather tired. It is a massive exercise for me, and I ask for your forebearance.
Cheers.
ohtani's jacket said | September 1st 2010 @ 8:03pm | Report comment
That’s okay, Thelma. Please rest and don’t strain yourself too much.
cookee said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:19am | Report comment
look at this one mans record might give you a clue.
deans was promoted as the MAN;BUT clearly an imposter without the players you suggest need little coaching.
WHAT DOES HE COACH;WHAT IS HIS RESPONSIBILITY?
sixo_clock said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Dear dear Cookee,
Do you play Rugby, at what level? Are you any good? Did you read the whole post or did you see the reference to players taking adult responsibility for their own future and then decide to write your diatribe.
Men play Rugby, no-one else need apply. Big, grown up, responsible, capable men and a few marvellous women too.
I must most humbly admit Dingo has not been passing a lot recently, also in the last 3 games I did not see him make one tackle.
Most of the coaching a player needs is done with teenagers who if they are smart will absorb as much as their coach can teach them and then go on to expand their skills with Senior Club Rugby in the hope of moving up the ladder. That is the requisite mindset of a Rugby player and if his body grows with his dreams then maybe he can reach rep level.
So Dingo just has to do what he has prepared himself for, provide Test Level preparation for whomever the ARU sends him. Who they are and what they absorb and use is entirely in those players hands and no one else’s.
At some point you will have to stop blaming daddy for everything.
cookeej said | September 1st 2010 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
deans is responsible for results and he aint doing too well mate.
yes i played 6 and dingo wasnt the great tackler then either abetter kicker which is why its strange he brings someone else in to coach kicking
dont pretend deans isnt a failure in australia .
what does he coach mate
“deans just has to do what he has prepared himself for,provide test level preparationfor whomever the ARU sends him”
ARE YOU SERIOUS,GET BACK ON YOUR PILLS MATE YOURE SAYING DEANS AINT A SELECTOR
Darwin Stubby said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:25am | Report comment
Reading the majority of wallaby fan’s bullish predictions and positive analysis of the latest train wreak of game just played is a bit like listening to the denials of relatives of a convicted felon who has been put away with irrefutable evidence
Short-Blind. said | September 1st 2010 @ 7:07pm | Report comment
Jeez D Stubby (more appropriately the Steinlager Kid) with this type of bitter analysis I wonder how you survived the AB 98-02 losing streak. All teams rebuild and have to learn the hard lessons. It is clear that the Wallys lack leadership and experience because they are young – but that will come. It may take a year or two more but when it comes the AB WILL be beaten – and regularly. The only irrefutable evidence here is your pig headed ignorance or this……must have been drinking too much of that Darwin swill.
Darwin Stubby said | September 2nd 2010 @ 8:13am | Report comment
I love how some om here use capitals as if it guarantees what they’re babbling WILL come to pass
M.O.C. said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:41am | Report comment
I think that in retrospect Deans was somewhat cursed by having coached the most successful S12/14/15? team ever – a team in which ABs sat on the bench and had Carter and McCaw running the show probably did not need a fantastic coach to make them win. Combine that with his God-like status in Christchurch and suddenly his CV looks fantastic – unfortunately if you strip the player talent away from him (ie, the current Wallaby squad) he has been revealed as just another ordinary coach, who just happened to have golden run with an awesome team at one point of his career.