World Cup-winning skipper Nick Farr-Jones implored shellshocked Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to turn nasty and read the riot act to his underperforming players after their sixth straight trans-Tasman loss.
An astonished Farr-Jones lashed out at Australia’s lack of urgency and intensity in the unacceptable 33-6 loss to the resurgent All Blacks at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night.
It was their 10th straight defeat in New Zealand against their great rivals dating back to 2001.
The former Wallabies halfback and long-time captain bluntly described the three-try rout as a sobering setback in the development of Deans’ young team towards the 2011 World Cup.
But Farr-Jones believed it could spark a positive reaction if the New Zealand-born coach gets harder on his team.
“This sets us back,” he said on New Zealand’s Sky Sport.
“Maybe this is the awakening that has to happen. Maybe it’s time he reads the riot act.
“This might be the wake-up call where he basically says ‘enough is enough. You’ve got to perform, you’re professional players, we expect you to perform’.
“How can (the Wallabies) not get up, they haven’t won here in (eight) years – it beats me.
“I think Robbie has got to get hard.”
Farr-Jones believed the All Blacks dominated every facet of play, especially the scrum and breakdown, to avoid the Tri-Nations wooden spoon.
He questioned Australia’s preparation and felt the lack of an up-front platform saw the pressure mount on their inexperienced men such as rattled teenage fullback James O’Connor.
“We were outplayed and outmuscled right across the paddock,” he said.
“They were totally outplayed in every facet of play.
“I was really surprised by the performance of our scrum. Every scrum we got beaten up.
“We just didn’t compete up front and that makes it really hard for the young guys.
“O’Connor, if he gets ruffled early it’s hard for him … but he’ll learn from it.
“Poor Robbie Deans, he’ll have to go back to his management and ask `how do we win across the ditch’.”
sportym
Guest
First step haircuts for all the pretty boys. As talented as O'conner is, he looks like a damn girl at 15. Time to drop Mitchell, seems he was thinking more about his sunday Grand final more then playing on Sat. And another poster pretty boy.
sportym
Guest
You do realize that smith was playing 8? that might explain why he was missing against McCaw who was not playing 8.....
AndyS
Guest
I'm inclined to agree. Just once this year I would have liked to see both teams show up to play. The Brisbane Wallabies v the Wellington ABs - that would have been a match!
nank
Guest
you cant make strawberry jam out of pigs*&^t. the wallabies are the latter and have been that way before deans came along. they have got worse as the ranks get thinner. the supply side needs to get a look. you could start with the nursery in nsw. unfortunately it has been reduced to the pathetic GPS competition, the main competition is 7 teams so they play 6 games. prior to that they play trial games among themselves and some independent schools. it is a little club that does little to breed game hardened schoolboys that support a more competitive club rugby scene. Scrap this stupidity antd have one competition among all secondary schoools with divisions including high schools (gasp) and independent schools. you can get at least 16 games in the two winter terms so it would be serious competition. you could also get rid of the state unions as they (or at least nsw and qld) are amateurs. alas rugby is a cinderella spport compared to AFL an NRL in terms of the quality of administration so it will never go anywhere and probably will never see wallabies as world champions. it needs a fundamental reform but the clowns that run it wont do it.
fox
Guest
Me either. Sadly, nobody in the squad knows either!
Justin
Guest
Agree re Smith at 8. Everyone knows this yet they are still trying it. I am sure at one stage Deans talked about Rocky being an option there yet we havent seen it at all this year.
Terry Kidd
Guest
I'm with you OJ. Its not Dean's fault that the players played so listlessly. Where was the fire? Where was the anger? Where was their pride? Elsom as usual showed it all, Robinson was ok. TPN was quiet. Smith was invisible, seems he always is when McCaw is opposing him. Palu at least showed how to get over the advantage line when he came on. Joubert made the scrums a joke. Had both packs so close theur was no engagement or hit. Sydney Uni would have performed better than the Wallabies against this ABs side.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Who among them isn't motivated? Deans culled the so called worst of them. I really have no idea what's going on.
cookee
Guest
fred, mt is technically correct but its the youngsters that deans seems comfortable with in pushing his agenda and thats the problem i have with his approach,not enough senior players to lead.
fred
Guest
bay ,do you consider barnes and elsom true leaguies or failed leaguies.i suppose MT is thinking of tuqiri,tahu and oldies waugh baxter not morlock or cross i guess its the way you interpret deans actions;situational or determined,in lots of ways i can see his point
fred
Guest
OJ.THE THEORISTS say to get a motivated team you must pick motivated players --and that my friend is the abc of coaching
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I know I've been critical of Deans countless times on this site, but I think it's a little ridiculous that the axe is swinging back Deans' way. If the Wallabies win in Tokyo, will it swing back at Henry? If you're Robbie Deans, it must have been gutwrenching to see the Wallabies show up and give 0% effort. Honestly, if you compare that performance to Brisbane, the Wallabies made 0% effort. Deans is poor at using his bench and some of the selections he makes are as bad as Henry's. He should've known, for example, that Smith is no number eight. The Brisbane Test made that emphatically clear. Nevertheless, he found a line-up that could win Australia a Test, and yet somehow in the players brains they thought they just had to run out there and they'd play like Brisbane. People talk about motivating a side, but this has got to be something they discussed. It's a fair comment that they got beaten up, but they let the All Blacks grow into that Test.
MarkH
Guest
Yeah. I think the gloves need to come off. Deans is a good coach. I dont think hes used to dealing with a bunch of soft arses. Hynes should have started and wheres Digby? Its not a quick fix but theres a few lads running around playing subbies that can show these clowns how to ruck, maul and counter ruck....
Harry
Guest
Perform or else ... fine and obvious sentiments but really what is the "or else". We have hollowed out Australian rugby so that there is really no altnernatives to the current team. Who else at 15 thats not already in the squad? Gerrard and Sam Knorton-Knight, the only possible two alternatives, have both scarpered overseas. Its the same in virtually every position. Genia is an exception in coming in virtually cold into test match football, but the rest of the young players last night - Alexander, Pocock, O'Conner - were all given a lesson. So what do we do - bring back Baxter, Waugh, Hynes and Burgess? Or pick the best club players, bypassing Super 14?
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Which leaguies are you referring to Mother Teresa? Barnes? Elsom? 2 of the better players over the season? Cross didn't play most games. Who else are you referring to? Oldies? The team's average age is 23. Have you been putting those funny mushrooms on your pizzas again ... ?
Jez
Guest
"Selection on form" and "no more private school pansies" are all well and good as ideas but who would you pick instead? And it is worth noting that some of Australia's toughest players went to private schools - Nick Farr-Jones himself went to Newington after all... Rocky Elsom, who most would consider the toughest current wallaby went to private school in Brissie and Benn Robinson who is probably second in line went to Kings in Sydney...
oliver
Guest
Mark you're spot on there but there is no way that tough passionate 'blue collar' players will ever get a look in. The whole selection process need s to overhauled - selection on form would be a novel approach. Why aren't selectors held accountable?
mother teresa
Guest
DEANS GETS RID OF THE OLDIES AND THE LEAGUIES ,feels comfortable with the kids.its not the school its modification;just study the transformation literature of army cadets mark
Mark
Guest
There's nothing wrong with deans, it's our soft private school players. Hate to say we need yobbos ha ha!!!