Robbie Deans has warned his Wallabies the looming Spring Tour of Europe will be no end-of-season holiday and that only the true performers will survive.
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Coach Deans has wasted little time carving a reputation as a tough and ambitious task master and, unlike some of his predecessors, is not viewing the six-match tour as merely a developmental exercise.
The former All Black has made no secret he demands continued improvement and – mindful that Australia’s Spring Tourists had under-achieved in recent years – Deans placed the 34-man squad on notice today.
“We’re conscious of the history,” he said.
“I’m confident that this group will present themselves well in terms of their enthusiasm and that will be the first requirement.
“I wasn’t present obviously in the past, but I suspect that the contributing factor (to poor results) may have been the enthusiasm levels at the far end of the year.
“I don’t think that will be an issue with this group. We’ve been working hard over the last few weeks and we’ve got another week to come before we assemble.
“The indications are that they’re pretty excited about this tour.”
Since Deans took charge in June, the Wallabies have shown much improved form, going within a try of winning their first Tri-Nations title in seven years after upsetting both the All Blacks and world champion Springboks.
But the no-nonsense coach today issued a subtle warning to his troops not to rest on their laurels.
“Hopefully we’re still going up, because that’s going to be needed,” Deans said.
“And I would be very surprised if the group’s comfortable. They have an opportunity to represent their country, represent their country well and give a good indication that they want to get the opportunity to do that again in the future.”
As expected, Deans today drafted uncapped Brumbies lock Peter Kimlin into his squad in place of the injured James Horwill, who requires foot surgery.
Although the 23-year-old red-head started just one Super 14 game this season, Kimlin impressed Deans representing Australia A.
“He’s a bloke that you notice when he plays because he does have a high work rate,” Deans said.
“And he’s quite influential with what he does. Because of his athleticism, he’s able to put himself in places to contribute.
“And possibly his hair colour helps – but that’s not necessarily an advantage if you’re not doing what’s required when you get there.
“We had a second-row need obviously with James dropping out, but it didn’t necessarily mean that we had to opt for a specialist. We’ve got some versatility in the group.
“He was a bloke who was on the radar anyway, from our perspective, and it was probably inevitable that he was going to get the opportunity at some point.
“It may have come a earlier than he was anticipating, but he’s very athletically-abled player and he’s no slug either.”
The Wallabies open their tour with a Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Hong Kong on November 1 before playing successive Saturday Tests against Italy, England, France and Wales.
The tour concludes with a match against the all-star Barbarians in London on December 3.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Rickety, Deans has hastened too slowly, choosing to select players proven not to be up to the task of International rugby, Dunning, Sharpe, Tuqiri and fading stars, Mortlock and weak leadership (Mortlock). God help us all if this is his team for the future, no Beale for example, nor Horne. Beale is a busted ligament away from being the Wallabies 10. (Giteau's ligament, that is).
Even looser
Guest
Spiro Zavos - It may well be true that "Deans is not afraid to pick new relatively untried players, if they seem good enough, which is the NZ method." However, Australia does not possess New Zealand's wonderful Rugby structure which brings on players and helps improve and develop skill levels. Our players are simply not getting that much needed 'next level' of Rugby between club & S14. Robbie Dean's will find that he quickly runs short of top level available replacements with high skill. I wish it wasn't the case but it is. Point in case is the return of Nathan Sharpe. This guy has done nothing to warrant a call-up.
ADH
Guest
Mark H, Would have to agree with you Mark H. I think there will be some surprise packages on this tour too. We will need to improve our kicking game. And the forwards will need to bring more tenacity to their game. If they follow suit from the last two Tri nations games and fade away as they get closer to 80 mins, they could be in trouble. Here's hoping Pocock, Brown and O'Connor get a run.
Rickety Knees
Guest
It has been good to watch Deans measured approach to the Wallabies. He has a four year contract and has adopted the "hasten slowly approach". The current side has been given every chance to show whether they have what it takes to be a dominant force in world Rugby. Lamentably many have had their opportunity but few have consistantly proved their worth. The next tour is the foundation setting for the next WC. Deans has cast his eye far and wide over Australian Rugby and is now in a position to pick his own team. This tour, IMO, is a watershed for Australian Rugby. Deans has his tactics and methods, he has the best players that Australia has to offer, can he bring it all together to dominate the AB's and the best the NH has to offer? Hmmm - it will not be easy but we are in with a show.
Mark H
Guest
I like the selection. I hope a few people in the team as well as ARU staff understand that Deans will do whats needed to change the fortunes of the Wallabies. If certain high profile players are cut, there is a reason. This is the tour to stand up and be counted. He has seen what we have and dont have and now been given the charge to fix it. Let him do it. Gits was untried when he kicked off a few years ago. There is a mountain of tallent selected. Lets see how this tour pans out. I think there will be a couple of surprise packages.
spiro zavos
Guest
My guess is that 5 wins out of the six matches played on the tour will be the worst-case option for Robbie Deans on this tour. The last and only (?) Wallaby coach to take his team through a NH tour unbeaten was the late Greg Smith in 1996. The next year he was sacked after the Springboks ran wild against the Wallabies at Pretoria a year later. Since then the Wallabies have performed poorly in the NH, with the exception of the 1999 RWC with Rod Macqueen as coach. Deans is not afraid to pick new relatively untried players, if they seem good enough, which is the NZ method. Peter Kimlin was a standout player for Australia A and looks to have a look career ahead of him as a Wallaby secondrower.