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It takes that quality to turn a 43-nil flogging by the NSW Waratahs on Super 15 debut last week, into a pulsating 25-24 win over the Brumbies last night. Not only the biggest comeback since Lazarus, but with 27% possession, out-rucked and mauled 35-122, running just 350 metres to the Brumbies 1001, and making 260 tackles to 83?
Not on, a statistical impossibility.
But that’s Rod Macqueen.
It’s been a decade since the most successful Wallaby coach in history retired with a 79% win-rate, that included:
* Winning the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
* Capturing the Bledisloe Cup, in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 – winning eight Tests to three – the last time the Wallabies held the Bledisloe.
* The Tri-Nations, in 2000, for the first time, and 2001 – also the last time the Wallabies were successful.
* And the historic 2-1 series win over the British and Irish Lions, in 2001 – his swansong,
How?
Macqueen is a lateral thinker, an innovator, and a communicator – and he’s been just as successful off the rugby field, as he’s been on it.
The founder of Advantage Line, a point-of-sale, and merchandising, company that turns over multi-millions a year, Macqueen has always had the golden touch – he’s earned it.
Until last week.
“The Melbourne Rebels won’t win a game all year,” barked former Wallaby skipper Phil Kearns from the Foxtel commentary box, after the 43-nil drubbing.
Kearns should have known better – he too is a lateral thinker, innovator, and communicator.
But Kearns could be forgiven, the vast majority of rugby fans felt the same, wondering why such a rugby coaching legend would risk his hard-earned reputation on a hiding-to-nothing?
He did it before when he took on the newly-formed Brumbies in 1996, with the leftovers NSW, and Queensland, didn’t want in the Super 12.
Macqueen took the “unwanteds” to within a point of making the play-offs in the first year, and into the final the second, losing 23-7 to the Auckland Blues.
A phenomenal performance, against all odds, that justifiably won him the Wallaby job – the rest is history.
But the newly-formed Melbourne Rebels is an infinitely more difficult ask, than the Brumbies.
Not only is it 10 years down the track coaching-wise for Macqueen, but given the leftovers from four Australian franchises – not just two.
The talent cupboard was almost bare, which prompted Macqueen to look overseas to make up the numbers – most of whom were dropped internationals, or well-past their used-by date.
And in Melbourne, which meant moving house at 64 years of age.
The odds were mountainous, the 43-nil first-up result the writing on the wall.
But only twice in Macqueen’s coaching career of 24 Super games had an opposition side put 40-plus points on him:
* NSW won 44-10, in the 1996 Super 12s.
* And the Auckland Blues 41-19, in 1997.
* But not once as Wallaby coach in 43 internationals – the All Blacks 39-35 win at Stadium Australia in 2000 – the closest.
The old message is so true – never knock a champion, invariably he bites back, with a vengeance – and no better example than last night.
In just seven days, Macqueen turned a ill-disciplined disjointed rabble into an 80-minute tackling machine with purpose, always sniffing for just a morsel to put points on the board.
But the positive signs were there as early as the 26th second last night, when Rebels lock Adam Byrnes drove Brumbies flying full-back Pat McCabe backwards with a ferocious front-on tackle, that shook the stands.
It spelled out commitment, a huge morale-lifter, that lasted the full journey.
The Rebels now have the Rod Macqueen message – air-tight defence, and attacking rugby – whenever they can get their hands on the ball.
Last night, ball-in-hand was as scarce as hen’s teeth for the Rebels, but look at the scoreboard – the Rebels won 25-24 with a Danny Cipriani penalty goal, 10 seconds from time.
In the light of that, it’s worth repeating those incredible Rebels’ stats – 27% possession, out-rucked and mauled 35-122, running just 350 metres to the Brumbies’ 1001, and making 260 tackles to 83.
Lazarus would be as proud as Rod Macqueen.