Australian rugby union player Will Genia at Wallabies training. AAP Image/Paul Miller
I like the idea of ‘Generation Y’ more than the reality. It gives me something to blame for the Wallabies form. Them, they, those young fellas with the funny haircuts and no respect for their elders – that’s who’s done it. Or isn’t doing it.
They’re all brand this and marketing that. On a side note about marketing – wasn’t it great to see Riki Flutey finally get to wear an All Black jersey?
But let’s not lower the tone of the conversation too far. Stick to the point: Generation Y and how they all look like one of David Bowie’s less successful incarnations.
Thank god, by the way, for blokes like Brad Thorn and Simon Shaw. They’re the last fellas still playing at the top level who are older than me.
Sorry, back to my mark. Now I’m going to show a little flash of Generation Y-esque brilliance myself and change the Y to why (see what I did there?) and ask a few questions about this particular generation.
Why is it that Digby Ioane can still play like he does for the Reds when he wears a Wallaby jumper (or should we start calling it a swimsuit because I sure as hell do not have any jumpers that look like that) but Quade Cooper reverts to the nervous and frustrated 2008 version of himself?
Cooper’s kicking game in this year’s Super rugby season was brilliant, but for the Wallabies he has kicked like a drunk trying to shake of a pair of soiled undies.
Why doesn’t James O’Connor look to pass when he makes those amazing breaks of his?
Why did Will Genia reduce his influence on the field to a passing role when, as others have pointed out, a strong running game from him, much as he provides for the Reds, would have been the correct response to the All Black’s defensive pattern?
The ability of the Reds playmakers to change their game according to the opposition was an absolute highlight of their 2011 season, but in the gold speedos they looked flustered and indecisive.
Now I’m not too sure about the boundaries of this generational classification thingy, so I don’t know where Rocky Elsom sits in all of this, but I’m just going to go ahead and ask the obvious question.
Why is Rocky Elsom the captain of the Wallabies?
Whether you subscribe to the idea that leadership is born or bred, Elsom satisfies neither criteria. He looks uncomfortable in the role and the added responsibility has reduced his usually high standards of play.
I could be snide and suggest that rugby teams get the captains they deserve but when I look at the quality of the Wallaby starting XV I just don’t believe that.
As a captain, Rocky falls into the category of those who have had the responsibility thrust upon them but there is scant reason for this to be the case. There are at least four stronger candidates for the job:
Nathan Sharpe. Captained two Super rugby teams and once led a very successful raid on the Super Chicken outside Brisbane’s RE Hotel during a mammoth session circa 1997 (my memory of the event and its exact date is a bit hazy).
James Horwill. Here’s a bloke who absolutely lapped up the responsibility when he turned from a bit of a loose cannon into the cornerstone of the Reds resurgence. Like Sharpe plays in the natural captains position but unlike Sharpe has his best years ahead of him.
Will Genia. Looks like a captain, talks like a captain, plays like a captain. Probably eats, sleeps and roots like a captain, but that’s nobody’s business but his own.
David Pocock. Has potential stamped all over him.
For my money it’s Horwill by a Nullarbor mile with Genia playing the mouthy vice-captain role (I’m picturing Joe Pesci in Goodfellas), but I’d be happy with any of the above if only to relieve Rocky from the post.
Having said that, Scott Higginbotham made a pretty good impression of both Errol Flynn and a starting flanker last weekend so the pressure on Rocky is surely mounting.
For answers to all of these questions I look to Robbie Deans.
Now I know we can’t all say it yet because quite frankly we’ve all invested too much in seeing him succeed, but just pretend it is ten years in the future when we have all accepted that Deans failed as a Wallaby coach and everyone has forgotten that we once supported his appointment. Kind of like how we all look back on the Eddie Jones years now.
Just go on and get yourself to that head space, think about the possible extension to Deans’ contract and ask this question: why?
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August 9th 2011 @ 12:58am
ThelmaWrites said | August 9th 2011 @ 12:58am | Report comment
Regardless of how we do in the forthcoming RWC, Robbie should ask all coaching and support staff for their resignations so he can start with a clean slate. This does not mean that he has to accept all resignations. He can reappoint whomever he wishes.
Likewise both captain and vice-captain.
Time for tough love.
August 9th 2011 @ 1:56am
Sportym said | August 9th 2011 @ 1:56am | Report comment
If Australia do not make the final, it’s Deans that must resign and we have to accept that like alot of players, Super Rugby does not translate to success in test rugby, that goes for coaches. At present the Wallabies are looking like the 2003 ABs, seems deans has not learnt his lesson. I say give Ewen the job, for whatever reason, he understands Australian rugby and gets the most out of them. Deans just seems to struggle with the au culture where the players do not treat the wallabies jumper at a religious level, our Y gen brats are not going to change , it’s deans who needs to adjust…. Though I think it’s too late now. Disappointed Deans is sticking with Rocky, the team had no leadership passion on the field .
August 9th 2011 @ 8:13am
Hoy said | August 9th 2011 @ 8:13am | Report comment
I have heard a lot about the Australian Psych etc. Please explain it to me. What is our Psych?
August 9th 2011 @ 12:53pm
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | August 9th 2011 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Well my take on Australian psyche these days is that you expect results without the effort.
It’s possible that the idea that ‘everyone’s a winner’ and ‘you need not prove anything’ and a false sense of entitlement has robbed us from achieving the best we can be at the top end of Rugby.
I’ve noticed the term ‘move forward’ being used straight after a flogging. What ever happened to Reflection?
August 9th 2011 @ 2:15pm
ianmac said | August 9th 2011 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
We are not scotsmen. More irish, really. Different motivations. Different ways into the head.
August 10th 2011 @ 7:45am
Fog said | August 10th 2011 @ 7:45am | Report comment
Rubbish, the Wallabies look nothing like the 2003 ABs who hammered full strength Springbok and Wallaby sides in going through the Tri-Nations undefeated. The Wallabies would be delighted to look like the 2003 ABs but of that there is as yet no sign whatsoever. And Quade Cooper remains a second rate version of the ABs flyhalf of that year, Carlos Spencer.
August 10th 2011 @ 2:37pm
rae1 said | August 10th 2011 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
As a kiwi I was astounded that deans was given the coaching job in the first place. Australian for australians i would have thought. I am a firm believer that a national coach cannot be 100% comitted if they are from another country no matter how well they know the anthem, wear the green and gold and have a cutesy nickname (dingo deans), I dont think the foreign coaches are able to ignite the mongrel out of a player.Eventually deans will come back to nz and look at this time as an experiment sorry experience nothing more.Vote Ewen next time, he will be 100%.
August 10th 2011 @ 2:42pm
Simon said | August 10th 2011 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
I expect many English football fans would agree with you.
Unless the Wallabies perform miracles at the RWC, I suspect Deans has lost any chance of coaching the ABs in the future.
August 9th 2011 @ 1:58am
Jimbojones said | August 9th 2011 @ 1:58am | Report comment
Horwill will win the world cup for Australia even if he has to do it all by himself. Deans cannot and will not win the world cup with Rocky Elsom as captain. In fact i dont think he can win it regardless as he is showing himself up to be a great super rugby coach that was just not up to test level. He does not know how to pick the right team from the talent he has got and I feel that I could do a better job still working my full time job.
I never thought I would sink to this low level but for the sake of Australian rugby and to maintain a positive can do attitude in the team I think it would be for the best if Elsom got injured this weekend – a season ender so that all the wrongs could be righted in a diplomatic and justifiable way.
August 9th 2011 @ 7:33am
Capital said | August 9th 2011 @ 7:33am | Report comment
Elsom is a non event.
He tries, it is obvious he has made efforts to improve hius persona since S15 finished – but it is not his bag.
On the field – Genia and Horwill, and Sharpe do the work.
His decisions are not tactical – he got blasted for not taking points against Samoa, so he continues with kicks with JOC when 10 and 17 nil down. At 17. we needed momentum – from a phase of play that rewarded points. 40 plus metres is not guaranteed under any circumstances.
Sorry – we have a squad – all professionals, now we need to be honest. Do Rocky a favour for his own game – and replace him now. His form will improve and he can focus on playing in close instead of the wing.
August 9th 2011 @ 2:25am
Will said | August 9th 2011 @ 2:25am | Report comment
Deans picked Elsom because of his experiences with Reuben Thorn- the quiet, brooding, physically imposing, follow me type of player. An ok strategy (not my choice but I havent won 6 super rugby titles), except Elsom hasn’t been playing. He has no match fitness, his body isn’t battle hardened and he is now also having to contend with immense criticism and pressure.
I’m a huge Deans fan, McKenzie should take over after the 2013 Lions Tour and not before. But, Deans got this call wrong. The problem is that last year neither Horwill, Genia or Pocock were ready. Sharpey can go missing in action at times. Vickerman had gone missing and was eating tea and scones in England. Giteau is not a very likeable little character, Branes was always hurt…
My point is that Denas made a call, it is probbaly too late to change Captain now and we all need to get behind Rocky and hope he pulls it all together for the Cup.
August 9th 2011 @ 4:23am
ThelmaWrites said | August 9th 2011 @ 4:23am | Report comment
Will,
I am guessing but at the time, I thought Elsom had been enticed back from Ireland by the promise of the captaincy
…at a time when coaches and the ARU were looking under stones for Wallaby Wonders.
Although Pocock seems to have had a head start at being touted as the next captain, I agree with you that Horwill and Genia apprear a better option. Horwill is the communicator, motivator, diplomat when it comes to the refs, etc
Genia is the on-field tactician. One a forward, the other a back.
Besides, the two know how to win. That is an enormous plus: they have the mentality, they have gone through the fire.
Should the changes be made midstream with the Tri-Nations on? I’ve thought about it a lot but I honestly don’t know.
August 9th 2011 @ 8:48am
Grimmace said | August 9th 2011 @ 8:48am | Report comment
The other quality about Horwill is he’s a ‘follow me’ kind of guy. He makes me want to put a shot on the fridge when i go for a beer during a game. Genia’s a half back, who by nature rub refs the wrong way and Pocock’s job description involves pushing the limits not all 7′s can get away with cheating as often as one fo them does.
August 9th 2011 @ 9:07am
mikeylives said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:07am | Report comment
“He makes me want to put a shot on the fridge when i go for a beer” – Quality.
August 9th 2011 @ 10:04pm
Rugby Diehard said | August 9th 2011 @ 10:04pm | Report comment
i second that.
August 10th 2011 @ 7:37am
Nick_KIA said | August 10th 2011 @ 7:37am | Report comment
Yep love it. I’m going to try and work that into conversation today.
August 11th 2011 @ 7:07pm
Garth Hamilton said | August 11th 2011 @ 7:07pm | Report comment
yep – i wish i had written that line. best sentence on the page.
August 9th 2011 @ 9:33am
Harry said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:33am | Report comment
I was going to make a post on similar lines but can only add 100% agree Will. Unless he gets injured or completely cocks up, we are stuck with Rocky.
Elsom is clearly off the pace at the highest level of fast paced, high impact rugby played with a minimum of errors. Not surprising as having a 6 month break (in hindsight he shouldn’t have toured at the end of last year, he’s been carrying injuries through the previous 18 months) and then expecting to return at the highes level is too much to ask for an ageing body (Elsom is late 20′s by now and has played high impact rugby for the best part of a decade – that takes its toll).
THought it was a mistake by Deans to take Elsom off after 55 odd minutes against SA. He needed to play a full game then to harden him up and give him confidence he can go the 80.
Fortunately Saturday’s test match is in Durbs, not at altitude which Rocky hates. So hopefully he’ll recover in time for the big physical challenge that awaits, as our Saffa friends will be fired up.
And I have lamented this elsewhere but will say it again – we wouold be in a far better position if George Smith was in the squad as cover for Pocock and indeed 6 and 8. I don;t know how these things work contactually but Deans, Williams and the ARU should swallow their pride and get him back.
August 9th 2011 @ 11:34am
cookee said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:34am | Report comment
WILL,please tell us why you are a huge deans fan;it cant be his sad % wins at international level;SO WHAT IS IT
August 9th 2011 @ 2:10pm
guinness14 said | August 9th 2011 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
I can. I am All Black to the bone. Deans is awesome. You guys want to win and win now. What did he have to work with when he took over Nada. He picked up JOC, and people were saying he was to young. Now this man, not a boy any more is a super star. Deans could see what no one else could, insight to the future. With Graham Henry, well he has the best in the world to work with. What would GH say to the likes of Richie M and Dan carter. Oh by the way I want you to do it this way. Deans saw in Dan Carter talent and look at him now. If you don;t want Deans then give him back. Stop blaming the coach. I remember when the NZ public wanted GH head, and good old Richie M stood up and said, at the end of the day, we are the ones on the paddock making the decisions, not the coach.
August 9th 2011 @ 9:19pm
Frustrated lawmaker said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:19pm | Report comment
He doesn’t get results at test level mate. Stop bulls–ting about how good he is when he has the worst win ratio of any wallaby coach (outside of the poor bloke who died) in 30 years. And he’s had much more depth of talent to work with than Alan Jones or Bob Dwyer, etc had. In those days every player came from one of twenty schools across the country – now it’s played in public schools and a lot of traditional league catholic colleges. Talent is there, results are not.
August 9th 2011 @ 11:04pm
PMac said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:04pm | Report comment
It is impossible for Elsom to be a “follow me” Thorn like captain.
He jumped off a Waratahs sinking ship for some coin, then spurned that team (who graciously released him from his contract) when he returned he didn’t return to his old club – instead jumped he went to Brumbies hoping to join a winning team – now that Gits was back in it. The Brumbies went downhill, he rarely played for them and was never a part of the team.
The Waratah and Brumbies wallabies squad members don’t respect him and the other guys are wary of him. Simply put, he hasn’t earned the respect from the players through his actions.
As a player, certainly I’d consider him worthy to be in the squad and maybe in the team depending on form.
August 9th 2011 @ 3:23am
ny ben said | August 9th 2011 @ 3:23am | Report comment
The Wallabies have got to play the ball as it lays…….if Elsom fails in the next test he has to be benched. Think Buck Shelford. Your performance must come first…..if you are not performing it is very hard for other players to follow you into battle. I think Horwill Genia combo is the best fit. Neither stands for any nonsense and knows how to motivate. Also first players picked.
A sfor the Gen Y kids, i still like our chances…get some ball outwide. Also Cooper is allowed a few bad matches, better to get them out of the way now. You watch against SA this weekend then again at suncorp….we will roll the AB’s then the WC is within reach again.
August 9th 2011 @ 6:54am
Moaman said | August 9th 2011 @ 6:54am | Report comment
Whilst I …admire your confidence I can’t help thinking that whatever the Wallabies gain from the next two fixtures–the damage has been done over the last year with miserable results.A 9-8 win/loss record today fails to support your bullishness.
“Cooper’s kicking game ” the Author says-was “brilliant” in the Super comp.Ahhhhh….I would say he passed and kicked brilliantly-at times-and he was incredibly flaky on occasion too.Perception is everything.One thing I have noticed here on the Roar-after every loss,fans bay for blood and turn on whatever the latest scapegoat currently is.Giteau was villified for “crabbing sideways” and consigned to the Scrapheap forthwith.That Cooper does much the same and did again on Saturday so far slips under the radar…and –bizarrely—the two innocents outside him who had to play cramped inside a tiny space like mice in a closed accordion-get the blame for being “anonymous!! I can’t recall AAC receiving any decent pass putting him in space in the whole game…and yet fans are now calling for him to be dropped! Elsom is constantly being compared to Higgenbotham.The former was forced to play a tight game-well,at least he should have been,whilst the latter came on at the death,when the bench of NZ had been cleared and the intensity switch had been flicked off–and what? He makes 5 metres down the right flank and kicks ahead? Now he should replace his skipper? Better observers then me will tell you that for loose forwards to shine and show up around the park making flashy runs,chipping ahead and dropping goals….they need,they REQUIRE their tight forward colleagues to be doing their jobs!!! I suppose my POINT in this rant is that imo if you want to call yourself a fan-be more a supporter and less a fanatic,scapegoat-seeking reactionary.DEMAND better performances in CONstructive fashion!
August 9th 2011 @ 8:53am
chief said | August 9th 2011 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Thank you Moaman & Johnno.
It is quite sickening to constantly read the Rocky haters – you know it was his fault the whole team got smashed by the superior Blacks, it was his fault Quade lost the plot, it was his fault JOC missed those shots, etc etc
One man does not make a team – just look at the ABs and the wonderful contribution from their players all over the field.
We were beaten by a better team.
And you are right about Higgers.
Comes into the game when everyone exhausted – does his one trick pony stuff of the chip and run – and suddenly this guy should be starting.
He would not know what the coal face looks like compared to Elsom & McCalman.
You want to be the starting 6 Higgers then you have to play tight.
August 9th 2011 @ 9:13am
Geoff Brisbane said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Well said chief, those who have never played at the coal face often forget the work done up front before going out to the show ponies. Higgers comes on after the hard graft has been done and also wants to be a show pony. Get in there and do the work.
August 9th 2011 @ 1:18pm
Decs said | August 9th 2011 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Well said Chief. All of a sudden it was the ABs vs Rocky. We didn’t have 14 other players on the field.
We are great at the Tall Poppy Syndrome. Ricky Ponting also lost us the Ashes.
On the logic that Rocky and Quade lost us the test, it is like saying only Eales and Horan won us the cup in ’99.
Higgers will get his chance to start. He has done well while on the field, but it also backed my long held thought that he is a 30miin footballer. Even in the S15, he was prone to go missing.
August 9th 2011 @ 9:09am
ny ben said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:09am | Report comment
I think I am being constructive……I am not sure if you are a Wallaby Fan or not but the Wallabies have a deep and rich tradition of not letting players be dropped, when it is clear they are not performing. Look at the Reds Success, if your good enough youll play……we have players like Beau Robinson sitting behind aging ex stars for years and not getting a run. Deans has been good at cutting the deadwood away, and i am not suggesting Elsom is past his prime, BUT he hasent played since the end of year tour and is brought directly back into the front line and is NOT perfoming, from a player or captaincy perspective. This is clear. Unfortunately Higgenbotham has a whole Super 15 season of performance behind him. He has earnt a shot. Ewan McKenzie is crystal clear about this as well, and it motivates players. I would never imagined at the end of last season that Samo Robinson Mike Harris nor Rob Simmons would be where they are. Also that Houston would be let go as i thought he a fine No8….BUT given a shot they performed and WON the Super 15 title. If Elsom was not the captain he would have been given some bench time to work his way back in and thats also a fact. It is very fair to suggest that he be benched if he fails to perform in SA. Hardly and unfair comment
August 9th 2011 @ 9:31am
ChrisT said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Fair comments Moaman. Ever since hearing the gen Y tag being flung about re the Wallabies I’ve increasingly been struck by the gen Y nature of many supporters attitudes. There’s seems a real ‘I want it and I want it now’ sentiment from many supporters with little recognition this is not the finished article or anything close.
The wunderkind backs are still largely that, kids learning their trade at test level and the pack still has very few players that could force their way into even the top six ranked test playing nations sides. There;s still a lot of work to do to ‘expect’ a better performance than last Saturdays – that anyone thought the last 12 months performances from the Wallabies was pointing to anything else has gen Y written over the faces of a lot of people here and in the media who should have known better
August 9th 2011 @ 5:09pm
Lorry said | August 9th 2011 @ 5:09pm | Report comment
wasn’t “i want it and I want it now” a terrible Gen X song?!
Im sick of all this crap about different generations… it’s rubbish, can we please just discuss the game and the performance of individuals, rather than dreaming up some half-baked nonsense about supposed generational attitudes?!
August 9th 2011 @ 11:06pm
ChrisT said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:06pm | Report comment
Yep, you’re absolutely right. So …. this team aint finished. Cooper hasn’t finished his test apprecticeship and any comparisons to Carter are rediculous. Beale looks fantastic against average opposition and looks less fantastic against good (starngely) but will only improve. O’Connor offers options as a winger, a kicker, a full back and possibly even a centre – but is not particularly great at any of them. Ioane is the real deal. The centre options are average at best. Genia like Beale looks fantastic when under less pressure but still has a test apprenticeship to serve and will get better. The pack, as I’ve said before, has too many players who would struggle for a game in the any of the top five nations packs.
Ranked second in the world, the Wallabies are still very capable of losing to any of the top five and are still some distance away from the AB’s. Why was anyone suprised or even disappointed about Saturday’s result?
August 9th 2011 @ 12:40pm
p.Tah said | August 9th 2011 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
Moaman: “if you want to call yourself a fan-be more a supporter and less a fanatic,scapegoat-seeking reactionary”
Its the 5 stages of grieving. We’re all at different stages at this point:
1) Denial – Its just one loss. We’ll learn. Everything will be fine come the RWC!!!
2) Anger – Bl*ody Gen-Y, drop Rocky, Sack Deans
3) Bargaining – If we swap Rocky for Higgers, get rid of ACC for JOC, replace Deans with Link… we’ll be sweet!
4) Depression – We’re doomed. Doomed I tell you. We don’t have the catlle. It too late… where can we hide? Stuff the RWC I’m going to Ibiza.
5) Acceptance – Oh damn. This is it fellas. This is what we’ve got. The ABs are better than us, but lets knuckle down and bring Bill Home.
August 9th 2011 @ 5:42pm
Sprigs said | August 9th 2011 @ 5:42pm | Report comment
Nice!
August 10th 2011 @ 7:42am
Nick_KIA said | August 10th 2011 @ 7:42am | Report comment
I thought Rocky was one of the better Aus forwards on the weekend.
August 10th 2011 @ 2:04pm
rae1 said | August 10th 2011 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
Absolutely,we thought his physicality in the game was right up there,sure he missed a few tackles but he wasn’t alone.One of the few wallabies I enjoy watching(especially the aftermatch comments) he is straight up,pulls no punches
August 9th 2011 @ 4:08am
Justin said | August 9th 2011 @ 4:08am | Report comment
The coach and leadership won’t change unfortunately. We might a miracle this weekend though – Deans might actually use his bench!
August 9th 2011 @ 4:40am
Johnno said | August 9th 2011 @ 4:40am | Report comment
I’m not convinced about higgenbotham as a starting option. he plays to loose, and at the start you need allayer who will be at the coalface doing the hard work. Elsom does that, he is not the player he was but do we have any other options at 6. Maybe Samo,but he will be nO 8 I THINK IF Palu is not fit. Maybe if Palu is fit Samo can go to 6. I don’t think ben Mowen, dean mum, dave dennis or kane douglas are better options than Elsom at no 6. And Jarryd saffy is a natural no 7 not a 6. I’d love it if the Wallabies had a Gareth Delve type of no 6. i really rated him at the Mebourne rebels this year as a 8. He was energetic hard working actually made meaningful work unlike Mcelman and Simmons, and did all this in a weak team. A sign of character, he would look much better with better players around him to share the work. SO i think it is Elsom whether we like it or not, we have no option. and I never have thought he has been that bad a captain. He is big man physically, he doesn’t seem to mind laying down the law before the match. And all this talk that he doesn’t say much or isn’t that personable, he’s not that bad, and since when was being a leader job pre requisite meant you had to be the life of the party. being the leacher means helping your team win sports matches. So don’t based your choice on leadership based on who you like the most as a person, and want to go the discos with on saturday night, base it on who the best man for the job is, keep it professional when making judgements on professional positions not who you like the most. If I were Wallaby coach and the person i thought was the best leader but disliked the most tin the team personality wise, i would give the ob to the man who would win the roc for me and keep everything i do for the team purely professional.
leadership options for Wallaby team:
1) Elsom
2)Horwill
3)Genia
4) Steve Moore
5)Berrick barnes
I think Rocky Elsom would play worse if he was demoted now. Some players need the leadership it motivates them to play better eg john terry soccer, Ricky Ponting i think liked being the leader more than just the player, alan border.
I think if Rocky was demoted now it would reduce his playing ability.
August 10th 2011 @ 8:15am
JB said | August 10th 2011 @ 8:15am | Report comment
Can’t be Steve more because TPN is so devastating and Moore’s place isn’t guarenteed… Same with Berrick
August 9th 2011 @ 6:43am
kingplaymaker said | August 9th 2011 @ 6:43am | Report comment
Garth let me try to answer some of the questions:
‘Why is it that….Quade Cooper reverts to the nervous and frustrated 2008 version of himself?’
Because he is playing behind a Wallabies pack that is being monstered (unlike Carter behind the dominant AB pack), and has the most unthreatening centre combination perhaps in Wallabies history outside him (unlike Carter with Nonu/Smith/SBW), ruining every golden ball he spins to them, and forcing him to go wide too early to the much more dangerous outside backs.
‘Why doesn’t James O’Connor look to pass when he makes those amazing breaks of his?’
Because the Wallabies midfield is so unthreatening the ABs can afford to leave few players to defend against it, and send everyone out wide to take care of the more dangerous back three, swamping them so that it is very hard to make breaks and they can cover the supporting runners too, making it difficult to pass to them.
‘Why did Will Genia reduce his influence on the field to a passing role when, as others have pointed out, a strong running game from him, much as he provides for the Reds, would have been the correct response to the All Black’s defensive pattern?
Because he was monstered by the massive Piri Weepu, who led much of the AB charge in the first half. It’s noticeable that Genia only came into the game when Weepu went off.
‘Why is Rocky Elsom the captain of the Wallabies?’
Coaches often overcommit themselves to captains, but it is difficult to chose and keep one with the form fluctuations players suffer. The benefits are probably worth it in terms of consistent and unchanging leadership though.
‘think about the possible extension to Deans’ contract and ask this question: why?’
Because he is virtually the best coach in the world, and has had to produce a competitive Tri-nations team with the weakest playing resources of the top three teams by far, and has still managed to take them to number two in the world and second favourites for the world cup. You may note how many AB centres would start for the Wallabies (Nonu/Smith/SBW/Kahui/Toaeva/Fruean) and how many SA loose forwards would do the same. He is an excellent coach doing well with very limited resources, probably the weakest in the professional era in Australia. Therefore he should be re-signed for another four years.
August 9th 2011 @ 8:00am
Geoff Brisbane said | August 9th 2011 @ 8:00am | Report comment
KP surely a player behind a great pack should always come out looking good but Carter hasn’t always had that and still looked good unlike cooper. Test is not when it is supposedly easy but when it is difficult. The true mark of outstanding players is their ability to cope well under pressure and Cooper definitely goes missing.
August 9th 2011 @ 8:52am
johnny-boy said | August 9th 2011 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Geoff – and Carter went missing at the last World Cup, too worried about getting hurt in case he didn’t look good in his underpants, taking the cowards option by running away from toughing it out, thinking he could avoid taking some of the blame, just when the boys really needed him . The same thing happened in Hong Kong, figured he needed to take the easy option and after missing kickoffs and penalties. Yeah Carter is a real hero who can cope under pressure all right. It’s a bit obvious you’re not prepared to give Cooper a fair go and happy to overlook Carters’ weaknesses. Typical.
August 9th 2011 @ 9:46am
Jerry said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:46am | Report comment
The All Blacks were leading when Carter went off the pitch in both Cardiff and Hong Kong. Are you really claiming he’s a coward cause he got injured in one match and subbed in the other?
August 9th 2011 @ 9:54am
johnny-boy said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:54am | Report comment
A bit of a sore leg in a crucial World Cup poor diddums and Carter himself later said he felt bad asking to go off in Hong Kong. And now Carter is being wrapped in cotton wool because he’s too scared to go to South Africa, knowing the Boks would have him in their sights. Pity.
August 9th 2011 @ 3:37pm
flying hori said | August 9th 2011 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
JB you must be QCs cuzzie!
August 9th 2011 @ 4:21pm
turkey slap said | August 9th 2011 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
Your off your chops mate, Carter is THE best flyhalf in the world (probably of all time) so don’t be fooled by his pretty boy head ,he is fearless in defense and attack.
Cooper IS the only COWARD in this story, too afraid to even take the tackle on his own tryline so he does a pathetic flick pass to no one.
What a stupid comment.
August 9th 2011 @ 6:06pm
Tissot Time said | August 9th 2011 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
johnny-boy moving on from anger to acceptance will make you feel better….honestly it will.
August 9th 2011 @ 10:14am
Geoff Brisbane said | August 9th 2011 @ 10:14am | Report comment
And Cooper JB??? The epitomy of courage under fire???
August 9th 2011 @ 2:37pm
stillmatic1 said | August 9th 2011 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
i knew it wouldnt be long before we got back to the real jb, geoff. he/she/it has been quite good on here the last week or so, but now its the usual anti allblack bile and nonsense. the boy in you is rarely anonymous, jb!!
as if carter would want to go off in 07, especially in that kind of situation!! has he done that before in a tight match?? and of course carter would look back in hindsight and regret going off in HK, his team was up by 12 and then the duck got on and managed to be so inept at playing smart that the abs lost. we all have regrets of coulda/woulda/shoulda.
carter has played 80 odd tests against these same teams that want to target him and he hasnt hidden away from it ala cooper and you spout the typical nonsense that streams from your little head.
but hey, dont let the facts get in the way of your hatred. maybe go and buy a bible or something to calm you down.
August 9th 2011 @ 2:43pm
johnny-boy said | August 9th 2011 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
Does this mean Stillmatic that the hatred and bile directed by kiwis towards Quade Cooper will now stop ?…… didn’t think so. When are you kiwis going to realise that the special rules you seem to think you have about being beyond criticism no matter how many Australians you rubbish, are only in your own head ?
August 9th 2011 @ 2:49pm
johnny-boy said | August 9th 2011 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
At least Cooper stays on the field and keeps trying GeoffB
August 9th 2011 @ 3:50pm
Kuruki said | August 9th 2011 @ 3:50pm | Report comment
You are criticizing arguably the best player in the world. Carter was the best player on the paddock last week, we criticize when it is due. You are doing it out of pure spite.
August 9th 2011 @ 4:00pm
johnny-boy said | August 9th 2011 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
From your point of view perhaps KK but funny from my point of view it’s the complete opposite. The criticism of Cooper appears very spiteful from kiwis, which is surprising when you want to claim him when he is playing brilliantly. Fair weather friends eh.
August 9th 2011 @ 4:43pm
ohtani's jacket said | August 9th 2011 @ 4:43pm | Report comment
Cooper doesn’t do anything physical enough to leave the field injured.
August 9th 2011 @ 11:56am
cookee said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:56am | Report comment
JB;WE WILL SEE HOW COOPER HANDLES THE BOK cos im reliably informed they will be targetting 9and 10.
injuries are bound to happen close to rwc i suppose
August 9th 2011 @ 2:17pm
guinness14 said | August 9th 2011 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
Hey Johnny BOY,lad. Carter is sublime, he does not go weak at the knees, and he is certainly no coward. Know I will not even waste my time on what I have to say about Coop.
August 9th 2011 @ 9:23am
kingplaymaker said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:23am | Report comment
Geoff but Carter normally does play behind a very good pack, the vast majority of the time.
Actually I think the bigger problem was the hopeless lack of penetration of the Wallabies centres. Mccabe and AAC were so ineffective they ruined the whole Wallabies attack including Cooper. He actually played many good balls out, but this dreadful midfield squandered them and put enormous pressure on the back three.
August 9th 2011 @ 10:47am
El Gamba said | August 9th 2011 @ 10:47am | Report comment
I think it was always going to be hard to penetrate the mid-field when we hadn’t done the work in tight. This allowed the AB back-row to spread early and dominate off the line.
August 9th 2011 @ 10:56am
kingplaymaker said | August 9th 2011 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Yes, but Mccabe and AAC I don’t think are capable of it. (AAC is not what he was).
August 9th 2011 @ 11:37am
El Gamba said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:37am | Report comment
I’m not so sure but respect your thoughts as it didn’t appear so on the weekend.
I think with a bit more directness in close (in tight and inside off Quade or Genia – the only inside ball I noticed led to Ioane’s try) will lead to some opportunities for McCabe and AAC that just weren’t there.
August 9th 2011 @ 3:54pm
Kuruki said | August 9th 2011 @ 3:54pm | Report comment
It’s pretty hard to run straight lines when the ball is being passed over your head. The Australian’s made some decent ground when they ran inside lines in phases. Cooper was way too quick to go wide without first drawing the defense in. This is why the centers were ineffective, they were taken out of the game plan.
August 9th 2011 @ 9:43am
Ben S said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:43am | Report comment
‘Because he is playing behind a Wallabies pack that is being monstered’
What were the possession and territory statistics from the weekend?
‘Because he was monstered by the massive Piri Weepu’
Really? Is Weepu massive? How did Weepu monster Genia?
I’m thinking of a word that rhymes with bowl and roll and has five letters…
August 9th 2011 @ 10:11am
formeropenside said | August 9th 2011 @ 10:11am | Report comment
Weepu did look like his training regime involved a lot of Big Macs.
August 9th 2011 @ 10:38am
kingplaymaker said | August 9th 2011 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Weepu and Mike Philips are normally between 100-105 kg, the biggest scrum halves in the world I think.15-20 kgs above Genia and it showed.
August 9th 2011 @ 11:05am
cinematic said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:05am | Report comment
Certainly showed. Genia was arriving 1-2 seconds ahead of Weepu to every breakdown. Weepu was so slow at times it was almost embarrassing and his lack of fitness allowed Beale to make the break for the Wallabies first try.
Genia had a very good game in a losing side.
August 9th 2011 @ 11:17am
Jerry said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:17am | Report comment
You can’t blame Weepu for not being able to catch Beale from a standing start after he was held back by Simmons.
August 9th 2011 @ 11:23am
kingplaymaker said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:23am | Report comment
cinematic re-watch the match and you’ll see how many critical breaks and moves were down to Weepu: you can do so on youtube, the whole match is there.
August 9th 2011 @ 12:00pm
cookee said | August 9th 2011 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
agreed weepu is good but not fit and fast and therefore a weakness
read 60 and 68 percent possession and territory
August 9th 2011 @ 3:58pm
Kuruki said | August 9th 2011 @ 3:58pm | Report comment
Weepu is not a weakness, he is the exact opposite. He is a strength. He will be a massive part of the All Blacks campaign, but it will be from the bench, he does not need to play 80 minutes to be a game winner.
August 9th 2011 @ 11:20am
Justin said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:20am | Report comment
How did it show (outside of stretching his jumper)?
August 9th 2011 @ 11:27am
kingplaymaker said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Justin see my answer to cinematic immediately above.
August 9th 2011 @ 8:24pm
Ben S said | August 9th 2011 @ 8:24pm | Report comment
‘Weepu and Mike Philips are normally between 100-105 kg, the biggest scrum halves in the world I think.15-20 kgs above Genia and it showed.’
Mike Phillips is 6’3. Weepu is 5’9. I suggest you research the size of other scrum halves, perhaps starting with Weepu.
I repeat, how did Weepu monster Genia? What does that even mean?
August 9th 2011 @ 11:38am
cookee said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:38am | Report comment
KING,maybe cooper is like deans needs the background music to perform at this level?
August 9th 2011 @ 9:12pm
wal said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:12pm | Report comment
I dont know what it is with you guys,but will genia,qc and co still play the type of game i and many others enjoy, as much as i love the all blacks- they are still one dimensional, so the aussie forwards must dominate in every aspect before backs can do there stuff.
August 9th 2011 @ 8:05am
AdamS said | August 9th 2011 @ 8:05am | Report comment
What’s in a name? the ranger has PM after her name, does she run the country? No.
If Elsom whent missing as the on field tactician and motivator others should have stepped up and filled the gap.
That they didn’t says as much about their readiness as it does about Elsoms’.
Effective leaders choose themselves, by adapting to the situation and leading in both words and deeds.
August 9th 2011 @ 10:16am
Who Needs Melon said | August 9th 2011 @ 10:16am | Report comment
That’s a fair comment AdamS. But frankly I’m more wondering whether Elsom should be on the field, let alone captain. If Elsom had still been out injured and it had been Richard Brown playing in 6, he would have been dropped by now and Higgers or someone else given a go.
My comparison with Richard Brown is deliberate since I think they are playing at about the same level at the moment – both abut the same size, skill levels, work rate and error rate. One has a cemented spot in the run on Wallaby side and the other is completely on the outer.
We seem to have had this weird circular argument happenning. We had to pick him in the side and as captain since he was incumbent captain. Now we have to retain him in the side since he is the incumbent captain and it is ‘too late’ to change.
August 9th 2011 @ 11:32am
AdamS said | August 9th 2011 @ 11:32am | Report comment
I’ll admit I am a Rocky fan. I would dearly love to see him playing to his potential, and admit he is not.
I think whats going on here to some extent is a curse of professional sport, we saw this curse at its worst in the recent demise of Australian cricket.
There are contracts, media and advertising all thrown into the mix creating marque players who _must_ be retained even if they are not playing to expectation. (how do you drop ponting when a whole summers (or ashes) worth of advertising has been based on him?). If Rocky started on the bench for the tri-nations and was not capt, why is he contracted for $xxx..? Will the selectors or administrators write off the contract and take the public hit for that “waste”. Not likely.
In a pefect world without a WC coming up perhaps he should have been a bench player given that he hasnt played all year.
But my point stands, if he was failing others should have stepped up.
There are supposed to be 3 leaders on the field (in my mind), the on site stategist (Genia), the tactical playcaller (Cooper) and the Marshalling General (Elsom). Each of these on field captains should have a 2nd who is ready to step up and contribute. All should have been workign to the same playbook.
Additionally, there are the Headquaters Staff who have complete oversight AND ultimate responsibility.
My question about this game is not about Rocky’s failure to marshal or Genia or Coopers direction and playcalling. All where lacking.
It’s a well known principle that no plan survives first contact with the enemy intact.
There must have been a plan A, B, C, D organised by the coaching staff specifically for this game, what were they doing for the past two weeks otherwize?
When the obvious plan A was eminantly countered by Henry’s plan A when was this realised by the guys in the box?
If the players weren’t reacting correctly to the AB gameplan at what point where the runners passing on the boxes instructions to counter?
If the instructions were passed but ignored then by all means, take some scalps starting with Rocky’s, but perhaps the big problem here is not the players.
The players have a massive support staff who are their seniors in the structure, is silly to think once the whistle blows it’s all on their heads.
August 9th 2011 @ 12:15pm
Who Needs Melon said | August 9th 2011 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
I think we are in agreement. I don’t think changing who has the (c) next to their name or even changing a few players would have made ANY difference to the result last weekend. I think we went in with a poor (if any) gameplan and no plan B, C or D.
And although we have some individuals with great skills, speed, athletism, etc. I don’t think they have been trained to the same level of competence AS A TEAM as the All Blacks have. I think this points more towards the coaching being received not just at national but lower levels.
August 11th 2011 @ 7:52pm
Rugby Diehard said | August 11th 2011 @ 7:52pm | Report comment
Watch The huddle after the game and check the blokes doing the passionate laying down of the law in the wallaby huddle. Messers horwill and genia…… 2 blokes who are not going to take losing laying down. Secondly, I can’t believe any dimwit could criticise genia’s game – try Playing 9 in a pack being smashed and produce a better performance than that against a revved up all blacks side….
August 9th 2011 @ 8:20am
jeremy said | August 9th 2011 @ 8:20am | Report comment
On a side note about marketing – wasn’t it great to see Riki Flutey finally get to wear an All Black jersey?
Thanks, now I have coffee all over my desk.
August 9th 2011 @ 12:42pm
p.Tah said | August 9th 2011 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
Double LoL
1st to Garth’s comment
.. and then to yours.
August 9th 2011 @ 9:08am
Dasher said | August 9th 2011 @ 9:08am | Report comment
It was a very sad day (early 2010) when that Super Chicken shut…