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As this Wallabies World Cup campaign lurches from disaster to disaster the heat will surely be applied to the executive and spin doctors of the ARU.
The Cup is not yet over and it may be that I and many others will have to stand up in due course and concede that Robbie Deans is indeed a genius and that John O’Neill is a manager extrordinaire.
After our second half display against Russia, though, one would have to be an extreme optimist to imagine the Wallabies winning three games in a row.
We were awful and the reality is that if another quarter final exit does not beckon then a semi final exit almost certainly does.
John O’Neill in defending his appointment and reappointment of Robbie Deans has said on numerous occasions that Deans has brought Australia from an IRB Ranking of 5 to a ranking of 2.
That was correct as at the beginning of the Cup and using a ranking as at the conclusion of the last World Cup.
Inherent in O’Neill’s comments is an unfair and cowardly criticism of John Connolly the coach who preceded Deans.
Let’s forget for the moment that Knuckles win-loss record is far superior to Deans. Knuckles was appointed at the end of the Eddie Jones’ tenure. He filled the gap at a time when Australian Rugby was struggling.
Much maligned by New South Welshmen, Connolly was an excellent coach a good manager of young men, and in fact a devotee of expansive play. He just happened to think that you had to have a good mongrel pack of forwards to help those backs get going.
And if he was as negative as so many southern critics think how did Lynagh, Horan, Little and so many others flourish under him? And how was Queensland so successful?
O’Neill’s spin doctors would have us believe that Knuckles left us after a disastrous reign as coach with Australia ranked 5 and that Deans the saviour (and thus O’Neill) have saved Australian rugby.
That is a cowardly slur on a decent man and a good coach and servant of Australian rugby.
The facts as the ARU will not tell you: When Connolly took over in February 2006 Australia were ranked 5. When we commenced the World Cup in 2007 we were ranked 2. (Connolly had done exactly what O’Neill has praised Deans for doing, lifting our ranking from 5 to 2!)
A quarter final exit which is certainly on the cards will most probably leave us at a rank of 5.
What then will the spin doctors say?
This has been a disastrous campaign. I may well have to eat humble pie and if needs be my hand will be raised accepting responsibility for unfair criticism of Deans. However I suspect that humble pie will not be on the menu.
Deans has had four years with support beyond that given to Jones or Connolly. We still have no idea what our best back row is. We have no idea what our best 12/13 combination is.
Our scrum has reached something below parity at best. We are inconsistent. We lack mongrel pride and fight. We picked at least 5 players back from injury who were not match fit and are now paying the consequences.
And this from the coaching guru who seems to have a never ending store of Chauncey Gardiner quotes responding to the latest disaster.
“We will learn from this experience.” Which one? There have been so many.
I don’t suggest that we bring back Knuckles. He wouldn’t come. I do suggest that it is time for some honest appraisal of our performance both at coaching and managerial level.
Whilst the spin doctors rule, no one benefits.
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.