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The road to RWC 2011: Robbie Deans

Roar Guru
18th July, 2011
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Roar Guru
18th July, 2011
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1281 Reads
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans. AAP Image/Julian Smith

This article will be the first of a series I plan to write about the Wallabies’ long road from France 2007 to New Zealand 2011.

I will never forget that horrible spring day in 2007.

I vividly remember sitting in an expat-bar in Paris, waiting for that quarter-final to start, and lining my stomach with grease whilst reading the English tabloids. The papers were almost universally in agreement – the Wallabies had it in the bag. How terribly wrong they were…

When Robbie “Dingo” Deans stepped off the plane in June 2008, we were lead to believe that the Messiah had arrived. Sure, there were Kiwi-themed jokes and just a hint of resentment from within the ranks (the old “an Aussie should coach an Aussie Team” mentality). But there was very little open skepticism and few voiced a truly disagreement.

In fact, there was almost universal agreement that he was the best man for the job – the job of taking the Wallabies to glory in New Zealand 2011. This optimism was justifiable too, as Deans had just coached the mighty Crusaders to yet another Super Rugby title. To say expectations were high amongst the faithful would be an understatement.

For Dingo, things started well enough out on the field with wins over Ireland and France, followed by first-up wins against the All Blacks and Springboks.

However since this high point, there have been consistent failures and unacceptable results. A brief reminder of some of the worst moments, illustrate my point well:

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* 30 August 2008: South Africa 53 def 8 Australia (largest losing margin in Wallabies history);
* 10 consecutive losses against the All Blacks, from our victory on 26 July 2008 until 30 October 2010 in Hong Kong;
* 21 November 2009: Scotland def Australia;
* 19 June 2010: England def Australia (at home);
* 16 November 2010: Munster def Australia; and
* 15 July 2011: Samoa def Australia (at home and for the first time ever).

But results alone are not enough of an indicator of the pain Wallaby fans have had to endure under Deans. For mine, it is not the losing that is frustrating, but the inability to learn from these mistakes.

Deans has consistently continued to select players (“back them”) well beyond the date when it became obvious that they were not up to Test standard. Some of my favourite targets include:

* Dean Mumm (32 Tests);
* Richard Brown (23 Tests); and
* Salesi Ma’afu (10 Tests).

However, he has also continued to select players that were shown by other coaches not to be up to standard (Chisholm). Furthermore, he has persisted with other facets of the Wallabies game that should have been abandoned much earlier; Giteau and the kicking responsibilities or Elsom and the captaincy.

And finally, the bizarre habit of selecting, and then playing, players out of position compared to their Super positions, for example;

* Ben Alexander at THP (a LHP for the Brumbies);
* James O’Connor at Wing (a fullback, fly-half or inside centre for the Force);

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Sadly, much of the failure has been attributed to the generational change that was necessary following the 2007 Rugby World Cup. This is undeniable – change was needed and losses were to be expected. But things could have been done so much better.

There should be no allowance made in Deans’ favour simply for tackling the generational change required. Anybody can cut old players and bring in new ones. The skill is in managing this change to ensure acceptable results, whilst building a team that will eventually be greater for that change.

Deans has failed to deliver this.

The fact that the Wallabies are selecting a player who has been out of the game and studying for three years speaks volume about what Deans has been doing for the past three years. Not to mention the fact that he is still selecting rookies only six weeks out from the tournament, whilst playing a bloke in a position he has been found out in over and over again.

With certain coaches you get that feeling that they are very much in control and that the team has a certain purpose and direction.

Sadly, with the Wallabies under Deans, I never have this feeling.

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