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Australian rugby union coach Robbie Deans (centre) talks to players during a training session for the team in Sydney on Monday, June 1, 2009. The Wallabies will play the Barbarians on Saturday night. AAP Image/Paul Miller
The Wallabies performance is being held back by the myths of a lack of depth in Australian rugby and a fear of young players being able to step up. The Wallabies are also missing the motivation of a well designed remuneration structure and individual packages.
Robbie Deans has blooded many new Wallabies but, rather than stop now, he needs to push on.
The first wave of new blood replaced the obvious dead wood, such as George Gregan.
The Wallabies still contain players who are struggling with consistency, mongrel, player smarts (avoiding dumb penalties) and overall motivation.
Sharpe, Baxter, Moore, Horwill, Brown and Mitchell are good examples. They need to listen to the drivel that they come out with after a loss. It is very indicative of the mindset.
Burgess is not in this category.
His issues are technical weaknesses and, I suspect, a lack of confidence, not effort or motivation.
Robbie Deans is more than capable of subtle but clear communication. Deans must, and is reportedly intending to, send the message – “No one is safe, no one!” – by dropping several senior players who are not performing for the upcoming game.
Don’t move them to the bench, drop them from the 22 for next three games as a minimum or until they are needed again, if ever.
Alternatively, as the 2009 Bledisloe Cup and the Tri Nations campaigns will effectively be gone by late on this coming Saturday evening if the Wallabies lose, make the changes after next weekend and give the underperformers one more game.
Do not underestimate the shot in the arm that the right youngster will get by being in the run on team.
Young players do step up and quickly. Sport is full of such success stories.
The current Wallabies squad has many examples of youngsters who have stepped up: Genia, Burgess, Giteau, Barnes, O’Connor, Pocock, Turner, Hynes and AAC, despite their age.
The advent of the professional era determined that the Wallabies are employees of the ARU. Just ask Lote Tuqiri. Despite the glamour of being a Wallaby, the Wallabies remain employees.
Most companies have transitioned to performance based pay and use the recruitment of bright young things to keep their more established employees on their toes.
The ARU, despite the belligerence of Tony Dempsey at RUPA, must use the renegotiation of the SANZAR TV agreement to also renegotiate the structure of the player packages.
The Wallabies currently receive the majority of their package as a guaranteed “salary” boosted by a $11,500 match fee for every test match played, win lose or draw.
At least 30 percent of the guaranteed salary and at least 50 percent of the match fee should be “at risk” or performance based, even if it means increasing the amount that they can earn in the new agreement.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.