Rocky Elsom in action during the Tri-Nations rugby Test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Saturday, July 24, 2010. The Wallabies ran the world champion Springboks into submission to win the second Tri-nations rugby Test 30-13. (AAP Image/Patrick Hamilton)
Rival skippers John Smit and Rocky Elsom have a lot to prove in Durban tonight. Both are under the pump to retain their status with the Rugby World Cup only 27 days away.
Smit, who had dreams of winning Wimbledon as a kid, has led the Boks an international rugby record 76 times. Elsom will be in charge of the Wallabies for the 24th time.
Smit’s leadership is under threat from Bulls captain Victor Matfield, but Elsom has three breathing down his neck – David Pocock, James Horwill, and Will Genia.
Smit’s 76 internationals at the helm has netted 54 wins, for 21 losses, and a 30-30 draw with France – a 77% win ratio, tidy by any standards.
His position strengthened by leading the Boks to 2007 World Cup success, and the Tri-Nations in 2004, and 2009 – runner-up in 2005.
Smit’s record against the Wallabies – 10 wins, six losses.
Against the All Blacks – six wins, eight losses.
Against England – six wins, two losses.
And France – one win, three losses, and a draw.
Elsom’s 23 for 12 wins, 10 losses, and a 20-20 draw with Ireland – a 52% win ratio, clearly not good enough.
And a crack has appeared in coach Robbie Deans’ armour covering for Elsom. So adamant he should be captain two months ago, Deans has recently been quoted as saying Elsom, like everyone else, is a week-by-week proposition.
Which suggests another loss tonight will be the end of the road for Rocky Elsom as captain, but he should be in the final 30 for the RWC. Besides, he’s a much better player without the responsibilities of leadership.
His captaincy record against the Boks – three wins, one loss.
Against the All Blacks – one win, five losses.
Against England – two wins, two losses.
And France – one win.
In the wash-up John Smit can feel fairly comfortable, but Rocky Elsom will forever rue two internationals against the All Blacks that got away, the 21-20 loss to England at Stadium Australia that should have been a win, so too the draw with Ireland – and the two shockers, losing to Scotland, and Samoa.
It’s all on the line tonight for the big bloke.
jamesb
Guest
interesting that they'll be playing on the same ground where germany beat the socceroos 4-0 at last years world cup. hopefully better luck this time for the wallabies
David Lord
Guest
Captaincy stats are totally relevant Justin, especially nailing down close games. Had Rocky converted the six internationals mentioned, his win ratio would have jumped from 52% to 78%, and we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Red man
Guest
I have not been a rocky fan of late but I really hope he gets off the zoloft and gets a bit of what ever it is that Richie McCaw is on. We really need him to motivate the forwards to find their inner feral. Keep moving forward, fast ball and leave the scoring to the chorus line.
Dexter William
Roar Guru
If the coach/selector give the captain a weak team and a bad strategy, how can the captain make it a winning formula? Penalty stats probably, because the captain can manage those on the field, but for win loss ratio: 100% clutching at straw stats for you David.
Nick_Brisbane
Guest
Horwill wasnt fantastic? - what game were you watching?
Capital
Guest
Genia He will be picked week in week out, has the maturity and communicates well.
AdamS
Guest
The truth is that Rocky could hoist Bill on the back of a solo 30 meter intercept try having played out the second half with a broken collar bone and two men in the bin and the Rocky haters would _still_ call for his head. And Dean's. Rocky's main issue (apart from the year off) is that the deal struck to get him back from OS didn't include a S15 Captaincy. He hasn't had the chance to ply his trade and role week in week out. For a franchise having the Wallaby Cpt. in your side is a poison pill, always an open question mark and a challenge to the incumbent. For Rocky it places unwarranted expectation over his playing role, evident in the flack over his (lack of) contribution to the Brumbies this year. As an injured player his job is to get fit, not fly the flag, though he was in the crowd for every game I saw. This is even more ludicrous when we are applying winning the WC as the goal he has to achieve. It's a knockout tournament, anyone of the major teams can win it on their day. The only benchmark should be beating the AB's and Boks consistently, do that and you have more than your share of chances to lift Bill and will be on top of the rankings to boot. That we haven't had this over the last few years is down to many factors, injuries, depth, coin flip games, the captain is probably the least important factor. Should Rocky be Captain and Deans Coach? I don't know, all I do know is the hate and bagging coming from the fans (alleged Wallaby _Supporters_) and the media is not helping. Loyal Supporters or fair weather friends? Constructive criticism or calls for blood. What would you rather be as we come down to the wire? _We_are_Gold_
Justin
Guest
Not for a captain in a football code, its irrelevant. In cricket it has some legs but in a sport like rugby is means precisely zilch, zero, nadda. By the way Elsom should go :)
punter
Guest
Captaincy issues aside, I think that the first issue that should be raised is: Should Elsom, on form, be in the team?? It's obvious that he doesn't bring much to the captaincy table, so it should be decided purely on form, and in my opinion he's just not good enough at the moment to be in the side, let alone captain...
David Lord
Guest
You've got that right MMF, a win tonight will lay a lot of dust, another win in a fortnight at Suncorp would be the icing on the cake.
MM Fike
Guest
Rocky Elsom is still 'early' in his season. He will peak when the whips are cracking at the World Cup. Richie McCaw was described as 'lumbering' when the Crusaders had the one point loss to the Reds. A few weeks later he is anything but lumbering. Maybe we keep Elsom as captain and have Genia and Horwell as co-captains. If ever we need to win two straight it is now.
David Lord
Guest
You can't be serious DW, stats are the backbone of every sport, like it or not. That's how selectors pick their sides, that's where coaches strengthen weaknesses, that's what makes every sporting team tick - a myriad of stats. They may be boring, but usually they tell the story of what is going right, and what is wrong.
David Lord
Guest
Jiggles, until the coach said for the first time this week, Rocky is a week-to-week proposition like every other player.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen NSW
Guest
Wallabies to have a good win after making the Saffers wear those 'lack of match fitness legs out' by running them ragged.
Dexter William
Roar Guru
David There is hardly any significance at all what % of wins for a captain. The burden of win loss ratio is solely the domain of the head coach. Stop using useless stats to sensationalise your over abundant write ups.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
David - do you actually think before you type this baseless balderdash? Deans has made it pretty clear that Elsom is safe.
Mr Grumpy
Guest
If Andy Friend is at the Waratahs from next season, Rocky will be elsewhere. Rocky was one of the gang who said Friend was not up to coaching the Brumbies, hence Andy's move to the "manager" role in late 2010. For most of this season, Rocky was in Canberra just on matchday. He only appeared at training close to his one match of the season.
Big C
Guest
What needs to be remembered when looking at win loss ratios is that the Wallabies play 2 of the best teams in the world a large number of times a year. And whilst this doesn't excuse losses the fact of the matter is only one team can win. The All Blacks are always very good and the Wallabies have been in a but of a transitional faze, waiting for some players to mature. To be calling for the coaches head is ridiculous as I don't believe any coach would have had a much better win ratio in these games. In regards the Rocky Elsom, the first thing you need to do before being named captain is be an automatic choice in the team. On current form he is not. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
RedsNut
Guest
Reads more like a "jumping on the band waggon" article after all the other ones.
warrenexpatinnz
Roar Guru
Your last sentence is pretty well spot on Uncle. The Wallabies flip those areas around to a postive and they win, and all it takes is the mindset to be right. Watched the 2003 Semi replay on Sky sports late last night, the passion shown by Mortlock after scoring the intercept try said it all. Didn't do the Turtle or kiss babies but looked like he was in the middle of a brawl wanting for the next head to crack.