They say in democracy you get the leadership you deserve. In organized sport, it is an equal truth that a team is as much a product of its coach than any other factor.
Taking the Ireland versus England final Six Nations match on Saturday early evening in Dublin, we see an English team that is firmly shaped in the image of their Manager, Martin Johnson.
Whilst we are happy to praise players when teams succeed, often it is the under-lying culture and the small things that teams do that defines them and is so often evident in their play under pressure.
It is clear Robbie Deans’ attitude to the game, beliefs on personal behavior, and team ethos, is clearly reflected in his selection, playing style and, ultimately, the Wallabies’ performance.
The majority of the press coverage following the Irish emphatic win has concentrated on the inspired performance of the men in green and the inexperience of the current English Test team as the main reasons for the result.
I would suggest differently.
The Ireland match was the first opportunity Johnson’s England had to actually achieve success. This is a very different pressure from the fear of failure, the backs-to-the-wall attitude that comes from under-performance or inconsistent results, which has dogged Johnson’s national team directorship.
In their ineptitude, the England team expressed the fundamental values of a Johnson team.
There were a number of clear, repeat aspects of their play that reflects the type of manager Johnson is. None of these occurrences have been much mentioned in the media, but they demand examination.
1. Ahead of the kicker at re-starts.
This is honestly a schoolboy-type error most First XVs would be embarrassed to make. I have watched England repeatedly over the Six Nations and they regularly infringe this law.
2. Throwing the ball away to avoid the opposition taking a quick lineout.
This aspect has crept into the game in recent times and needs to be stamped out.
Just as Drew Mitchell was sent off in a Test match in 2010, so Youngs was sin-binned for a blatant professional foul. Ashton should have received the same punishment in the second half, in fact.
3. Youngs trying the sly push on the arm of the opposing halfback to disrupt the put in at the scrum. Another penalty.
4. Blatantly attacking the head of opponents both in general play and in mauls, which resulted in penalties against England.
5. The blatant trash-talk of the Irish players by the English: witness Ashton’s rant to Sexton after his first successful kick.
Why is this instructive?
All these aspects can so easily be removed from a team’s conduct, and should be in the professional era. I do not need to spell out the remedies, as they are so obvious.
Importantly, good teams fundamentally respect their opposition, the referee and the game.
This not to say one should weaken one’s competitiveness or aggression. And, of course, teams are always working on the margins to gain whatever advantage they can, physically or otherwise.
But such blatant, doltish tactics should have been ironed out of the squad in the first week of competitive training. It says much of Johnson, and the behavior he condones, that such imbecilic behavior was so evident in the biggest, potentially most euphoric, match for a side under his control.
Good teams are always pushing the boundaries, no doubt. But composed teams appreciate that, in a contest, the opposition will win possession, will retain the ball, and will have the opportunity to score points.
The idiotic actions as evidenced on Saturday evening in Dublin, simply give away possession, often without a fight, and put the side in a compromised position.
The real test is how in defence, or otherwise, a team deals with these challenges. In their response, Johnson’s England have firmly nailed their colours to the mast.
I don’t know Johnson as a person, but I have seen him play. And while there’s no question he is a great champion (a World Champion captain, no less), great players do not make great coaches.
Nor can they then shape great teams.
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.
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