Robbie Deans is looking a lot older than his 52 winters, and with good reason. The Wallaby coach won’t readily get over the failed Rugby World Cup campaign last year, even though winning the Tri-Nations for the first time in a decade eased some of the pain.
But his major problems are current.
If he was to pick a Wallaby line-up today purely on form, most of his normal first-choice selections would be watching the Test against Scotland in June from their lounge room.
Captain James Horwill, vice-captain Will Genia, Kurtley Beale, Berrick Barnes, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Rob Horne, Radike Samo, Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, the injury-prone Wycliff Palu, and to a lesser extent James O’Connor, would be missing.
And with Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Lachie Turner, Rocky Elsom, and Dan Vickerman long-term injury casualties, it doesn’t paint a pretty picture.
Only David Pocock, Nathan Sharpe, Stephen Moore, James Slipper, and Digby Ioane deserve run-on status. But playing great rugby, and consistently so, fringe-dwellers Scott Higginbotham, Ben Mowen, Tom Kingston, Nick Cummins, and the flying Dom Shipperley have stamped themselves front-line contenders.
And the “unknown” Force full-back David Harvey.
A month ago, only Gordon and Shute Shield followers knew of the 30-year-old who was plucked from nowhere with the Force suffering a spate of injuries. Harvey was handed a four-week contract that should by now be at least two years.
Harvey was been a revelation, and the form custodian of the five Australian franchises.
Which begs the question why didn’t the Waratahs nab him, he’s been right under their noses for four years? And how did the Waratahs lose Mowen to the Brumbies?
That’s all part of the on-going Waratahs malaise. But the Mowen move has been a blessing for the Brumbies, and coach Jake White.
The South African Rugby World Cup winning coach made a master-stroke by naming newcomer Mowen as captain. A bolt from the blue.
In one fell swoop White dismantled the player-power structure that has crippled the Brumbies internally, and given Mowen the chance of Wallaby selection which Deans must grab with both hands.
As a direct result, the Brumbies are on top of the Australian conference, while the defending champion Reds have lost three on the trot for the first time since 2009.
Judging from last season’s heroics, you’d reckon the Reds wouldn’t lose three in the entire tournament. And you could have named your own odds about losing 61-8 to the Bulls, and 45-19 to the Force in successive weeks, giving up 13 tries.
The Reds will snap out of this slump, coach Ewen McKenzie will see to that. And that will improve Deans’ state of mind.
But Deans has another problem with the ARU’s selection of Tony McGahan as the new Wallaby coaching co-ordinator from June to December.
McGahan has been coaching at Munster for the last seven years, and the appointment will clash with Deans’ job description for the last four years.
Is there a bit of Robbie Deans wing-clipping in the McGahan move? The jury is out.
Thankfully it’s only early April.
Hopefully by June 5 and the opening Test of the season against Scotland at Newcastle, the Wallaby stocks will be replenished with the heavyweights back firing.
Anything less, and it could well be a long hard winter of discontent on both sides of the fence.
Blakey
Guest
I disagree with will genia getting sat out he has been playing great footy especially against the lions at suncorp but I do agree the other wallabies haven't been playing well enough for test footy Liam gill at flanker
WQ
Guest
Nicely done mania, I think the other thing about McCaw that is underated is his support play, how many times do you see him link up on the end of an attacking raid? He plays the game with incredible vision.
WQ
Guest
Ah, my apologies I misunderstood your comments. I do rate Pocock, however believe he has a long way to go in terms of longevity and Test matches played, leadership skills and an ability to run with the football before he even gets a mention along side Richie McCaw
mania
Guest
jackson - LOL. cant, i'm holding WC in the other hand.
Jackson
Guest
mania, as my maths teacher used to say... change hands!
mania
Guest
wow didnt realise he was half aus. awesome!!! and thats the lure of the AB's jersey. NZ may not have the $$$ to keep all its players but the history, honour and mana (pride/personal power) of the AllBlacks is something that cant being measured.
mania
Guest
pocock is possibly a better openside flanker but richie is the best rugby player ever produced. pocock is a great player though. if he played for the AB's then richie would have to move to 6 or 8. of course richie would still be the captain and if push came to shove pocock would get dropped before richie. pocock is awesome at what he does, ie turn over balls at the rucks. richie dominates every other facet of the game and isnt a bad fetcher either. RR - i like Adam Thompson but he struggles in games vs the big boys, ie the boks.
mania
Guest
FOB power REPRESENT. pacific islanders in the fale!! Malo uso's, bula vanaka, fakalofa atu, aloha and to our palagi brothers; hi
Justin
Guest
Sarcasm from me Nath, many on here are death riding pessimists or seem to be. That ain't me :)
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Nathan I was talking about expansion, not success in heartlands. Rugby expands to completely new areas well: look at the crowd for the Force at the weekend.
tigerish2ala
Guest
is it true that Australia played their B team against Samoa that game last year??? cos i don't remember seeing a B on that jumper that day.i was at that game.i think they need to pick the team as if they were playing the ALL BLACKS.just cos its Scotland doesn't mean they're just gona sit there and get bullied by the big guy.DEANS...........don't be a FIA BOTS again.you know what happen last time.Samoa Mo Samoa
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Far more successful? KPM, Union in Australia lost an entire league in a year and couldn't blame News Corp or dodgy ossified league structures for it. I'm right behind my WForce and Australia anything but mother of god, really?
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Half-truth, Lippy; pessimism from Justin, but you would call premature stories of the decline of Australian Rugby optimism, no doubt! Assuming I'm remembering you from some of the other threads correctly (if not, oops).
RebelRanger
Guest
Can't argue with that.
LaurensK
Guest
Reading some comments on the new Boks coach got me thinking. Wonder what difference the coaching changes in NZ, SA and now with this new Tony guy in Aus will make to their respective teams? I for one am very optimistic about HM being named the new Boks coach.
Colin N
Guest
Scotland are actually pretty well stocked from scrum-halves. Cusiter, Blair and Lawson are all better players, with Laidlaw possibly switching back there when Duncan Weir comes through.
charles
Guest
I thought you meant they'd spent time in gaol and got beaten up. :-)
Another Toff
Guest
Gamba If DP is the best flanker in the world...lol..it really showed in the WC Semi didn't it!!! Ritchie smashed Pocock all over the paddock that night and will continue to do so until he retires. Maybe Pocock should learn to keep his mouth shut on the paddock too, instead of crying like a girl when he gets penalised!!! Pocockk is good..but Ritchie is great!!
Jiggles
Roar Guru
I've been really disappointed with Robinson this year. He has been lethargic around the park and his scrummaging isn't at its best. Hopefully he can get back to his 2009 form soon. Holmes for mine has been the best LHP in Australia when he has been on in that position. Longbottom has made me sit up and take notice however I would like him to do a couple more years in SR just to develop. on form (well in my eyes) I would like to see a Holmes Moore Palmer front row with TPN (also been disappointing) and Kepu on the bench. Slipper, Alexander (begrudgingly), Cowan and Charles/Hanson* in the squad. * I should point out I know Chibba Hanson so I should flag my obvious bias for him, but I have been impressed with his scrum work and his carries this year.
peeeko
Roar Guru
The GC is a rugby heartland? Apparently the Australian golf union is still regretting that JWH chose rugby league over golf