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.
bennalong
Guest
Like Robbie Deans, McQueen has that immeasurable quality of decency and intelligence that builds loyalty and builds a team. IMO it has been Deans's influence on Australian Rugby that indirectly produced this Waratahs team that has morphed over the break into a powerful, self confident Rugby machine the like of which we have not seen in Australian Super Rugby since the Brumbies After two games I can only say the Rebels lost their virginity to the best Oz team and it's to the teams credit and McQueen's that they came out fighting harder despite being mercilessly pummelled in their first match I suspect Chris Hickey is out of the same mould as Deans and McQueen, but had the difficult task of taking over a team that, rather like the Wallabies, took pride in defence and making hard yards through tough forewards grind. The transformation of the Wallaby backline annointed two Tahs speedsters as saviours in Beale and Mitchell but touched at least eight others with a vision of excellence that they could realistically aspire to. How good are the Tahs? IMO very good. And the Rebs? Well, we know they're a lot better than they looked, after the Tahs flogged the Reds. And my bet is they have heaps of improvement in them and the luxury of low expectation. McQueen loves working with underdogs!
Eric
Guest
Commentator1 your applying of statistics to explain the game shows how you can't rely on statistics. The game was an awesome contest.
Eric
Guest
Sorry Sheek, trying to emulate Mark Ella in 2011 S15 doesn't wash. Surely you have noticed that 5/8's who can run straight create so much more these days, and confuse defences. Giteau had enough ball to do anything he wanted but as usual confused the sideline with the tryline. He has become a liability, and appears unable to adapt.
Liam Doherty
Guest
I am astounded that so much is made of the penalty that Kaplan awarded at the end and very little is made of the blatant forward pass that allowed the Brumbies to take the lead. If we are going to criticise the referee lets criticise all his errors. Ashley-Cooper actuially reached ahead with both hands and then passed it forward a meter Yes the penalty was soft but the missed forward pass was just as bad.
UnionConvert
Guest
I'm a long term AFL fan, still am, but I have grown to love the game played in Heaven. I went to the game with a group of vocal, Union fanatics and early on I was just as vocal as them. It was the first time I went to a game of Union, but was able to understand that persistent pressure and good tackling kept the Rebels in the game. They took opportunities whenever they could. Their were many fans at the game who were obviously unsure of many of the rules, but enough true blue fans were there to guide them through. I lost my voice the next morning!! We plan to go as a group to every home game and will keep going, despite any bad results. The Melbourne Rebels will be a success and I will support them through thick and thin.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I genuinely hope he does. Against the Brumbies he was a turnstile, he was jersey grabbing and tackling with the arms, rarely put the shoulder in. Reminded me of Cooper.
Tragic
Guest
Huxley is a very good and aggressive defender. It will take him a while to get his defence back to where it was before his condition though, so while he might not be up to it now I see lots of improvement coming
scottmit
Guest
A agree as well. My current pet hate is this need to have your best back at 5/8th because "he gets the most touches of the ball". Giteau's technique at 5/8th is just wrong. I reckon he would enjoy having a good 5/8th inside him giving HIM space.
AC
Guest
The steel of The Stags coming through in the Highlanders ;) Love it!
nathan
Guest
spot on Rickety, Horan & Kafe actually have some insight into what's happening on the field, Kearns & Marto talk biased emotive garbage. half their comments on friday night i found patronising too, especially about the Rebels.
mick h
Guest
i can only agree with you on the referee's peformance pathetic how was that a penaltly from the scrum. those type of peformances are turning fans away from the game
Commentator1
Guest
Let's go easy on the Macqueen is a genius stuff. His team missed 35 tackles (to 5 by Brumbies), made only two linebreaks (Brums 10), had 35% possession and were dominated in the scrum and lineout. Credit to the Rebels for winning given they never looked threatening, but that says more about how poor the Brums were at capitalising on their numerous opportunities than it does about any great tactics of Rod Mc. If his team gets dominated in the game like that each week they will lose most weeks. Having said all that they defended with passion, scrambled well as kicked really well. Gerrard will be great helping to relieve them of the pressure that I think they will be under most weeks.
The Link
Guest
The Real Madrid of Australian Rugby strikes again
Ben S
Roar Guru
Cheers for the response, David, but I just don't buy it, with all due respect. If Rod McQ is a genius this week then he was a bufoon last week. IMO neither is true, and there is a middle ground to be claimed. I think we all exaggerate the role of the coaches in rugby. Personally, I thought McQ had recruited well in the off-season: although the Rebels squad contains no Rene Ranger or Israel Digg figure, I felt there was enough Super experience to support the strong blend of youth and experience, which is why I felt last week's result, and the performance moreso, was so, so dissapointing. At the very least I expected a strong defence, a good structure and a concerted forward effort for 80 minutes last week, i.e. the basics done well. That didn't happen, and for that I blame the coaches. I also think it was a very bad error not to start Cipriani. Whilst beating a middling Brumbies side is a great achievement, I don't think it merits any overt praise. This is a long season, and the Rebels should be well-equipped.
David Lord
Expert
Sorry Sam, it was Adam Byrnes who upended Pat McCabe so early in the game, but Michael Lipman did repeat the dose on the Brumbies full-back 19 minutes later - both tackles rattled McCabe's teeth, but he still turned in a blinder. As for the Rebels backline, you're selling them short - once fly-half Danny Capriani works out his combination with centres Julian Huxley, and Stirling Mortlock, with full-back Mark Gerrard chiming in, there will be plenty of flair on show. And a fair comment on Jamie Joseph, he has performed early season wonders, but don't forget the Highlanders are into their 15th season of Super rugby, they have tradition, and a track record, to call on - the Rebels have played just two games.
David Lord
Expert
Ben S - the comments ranged from Phil Kearns' understandable "They won't win a game all year", to mine of "Rod Macqueen's in for a long hard season", but no rugby fan gave the Rebels a hope in hell of turning it all around in a week - even a Rod Macqueen, that's why he is a genius. As for the ELV's, fair comment, but to mention them would require mentioning the referee, and I wasn't going to sully "Macca's" big night with the arrogant South African referee Jonathan Kaplan's pathetic, as usual, performance.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Nothing brings a smile to your face like the Australian sense of humour. So thank you, ;-)
Commentator1
Guest
Well done Rebels. A massive turnaround....BUT...it should be noted that the Brumbies had 70% possession, made 10 line breaks to the Rebels 2, had the clearly dominant scrum and line out and missed only 5 tackles to the Rebels 35 missed tackles. That says to me that the Rebels scrambled and spoiled well but really, the Brumbies should have put them away by 20. If the rebels run out those stats each week they will be lucky to win another game. Very poor effort by the Brums. Individually they were mostly pretty good. As a team they were very poor, lacking patience to deliver that final blow on the numerous times they entered they rebels 22m zone.
Grahame
Guest
Kearns, like MacQueen, is a "lateral thinker, innovator, and communicator". Hahahahaha. You must be joking. he is one of the most stereotyped, one-eyed commentators that you could get. His thinking is only good enough to predict one win out of the last eleven between the All Blacks and the Wallabies. And that was the last one. Funny that.
sheek
Guest
Well, compared to the Wallabies' professional record OUTSIDE the time he was coaching - he's obviously a genius. Splitting the season 1-1 with the ABs is usually as good as it gets for us.....