Jake White’s baby Brumbies have shown the other Australian Super rugby teams how to create a winning team, quickly.
Last night’s game against the Rebels added to this debate by demonstrating how not to create a winning team.
The Brumbies cut deep and hard, recruited youngsters and dreamt of the future.
This reset the supporters’ expectations to zero. They hired a coach in Jake White who had already proven he could mould disparate groups into a cohesive unit focused on one goal.
Just eight games into the season, the results are there to be seen. The youngsters have stood up.
The Rebels chose the other path, the supposedly safer lower risk option. They recruited experienced players and dreamt of days gone by. One man’s experienced player is another man’s journeyman or has-been.
Sadly, Lipman, Campbell, Byrnes, Blake, Freier, Holmes, Davidson, Johansson, Hilgendorf, Huxley and Gerrard have been found wanting. Even the mighty Rod McQueen’s legacy has been tarnished.
The Rebels even boasted of the number of captains in their 22, from memory 11.
In year two, they added Beale and O’Connor. Any chef will tell you that gravy will enhance a well cooked meal but cannot mask a poor one.
There was significant sentiment in the choice of several players; I include Huxley’s brave return from a brain tumour, Lipman’s return home after a distasteful departure from Bath and England, and the chance that Tim Davidson would finally succeed at Super level after such outstanding success in the Shute Shield.
The Rebels’ standout players in 2012 have been their youngsters such as Lachlan Mitchell, Luke Jones, Hugh Pyle, Tom Chamberlain and Nick Phipps (though suffering second season blues). The standouts have not been their numerous former captains.
Workhorses Delve and Robinson are to be commended for their efforts but they are the exception rather than the rule.
The Brumbies removed almost all of their underperforming players in one fell swoop, Wallaby or not. They retained only Alexander and Moore and newbie Wallaby Pat McCabe.
Further, they recruited talented young players who were desperate to play Super Rugby. In doing this, they handed starting jerseys to Matt Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, Nick White, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Joseph Tomane, Jesse Mogg et al.
In a rebuilding team such as the Brumbies, a starting jersey for a young player is a big deal, because the player knows that a good performance will consolidate their position rather than see them returned to the bench when the big-name incumbent returns.
For the Brumbies, there are more youngsters to come. Prior, Colby, Fainga’a, Robbie Coleman and Cam Crawford can all play.
A youth policy is not new when rebuilding a sporting team. Just ask Ewen McKenzie, or perversely, Rod McQueen when he established the Brumbies.
The Rebels are now at least two years behind the Brumbies.
How could the Rebels get it so wrong?
Phil
Guest
Go look at the Brumbies 2004 winning side, TPN is in there so is burguess no his gone and so is haggers ...
CrockyCrocky
Guest
Actually Bakkies, just read that Michael Hooper is leaving, after 3 years at Brumbies! First game in 2010 ... Think therefore before Narrabeen Camp! Had thought he was one of Jakes 'finds' too! Definitely seeing more of guys now who were actually already there, just that they had established 'stars' ahead of them. The forward planning was there .... good to see it coming to fruition.
CrockyCrocky
Guest
Thanks for clearing that up. Was a tad confused.
Bakkies
Guest
No a lot of them weren't. There were players recruited out of the Narrabeen camp. Yes guys like Sam Carter were recruited during last season but he never played under Rea and Friend
jameswm
Guest
I agree about the coaching/management stuff. The Tahs haven't had a decent coach since Link left. I mean, Foley is probably a good forwards coach, but didn't they realise they need someone with more vision and understanding to be head coach. And if Mumm keeps starting and Rocky takes Timani Jnr's spot on the bench, I'll be seething. However, players have improved at the Tahs. Drew Mitchell, for one has. He's become less flaky and much better defensively since being there (when he plays). I'm struggling to think of others there who haven't come through the ranks. None of the forwards are imports, other than Vicks who isn't playing anyway. Rocky came from League and NSW made him really. In the backs AAC, Mitchell and Barnes are all imports I guess (though AAC is from the Central Coast, but an import in terms of professional rugby). It's a bit early to say the Tahs can't improve him, and probably harsh if he's a 28yo seasoned pro past his best. Barnes has been up and down, after carrying Qld on hs shoulders, but a lot of that has to do with his medical condition. The biggest problem with the Tahs is not how they play individually, but how the team plays. I just can't believe with all the technology and watching replays, they can't sort some of their crap play out. Anyway - if the Tahs win the conference this year, they'll have made the semis what, 5 of the last 6 years?
Bakkies
Guest
Daily Telegraph. Yes it is career suicide. Players don't go to the Waratahs to improve and their coaching/management structure is full of politics. Now that the Reds and Brumbies are back to where they should be the Tahs are starting to look third rate again. Tahs may have the best pack on paper but are they any more efficient than the Force and Brumbies packs..
jameswm
Guest
Who is the DT? Career suicide? So no one at the Tahs makes the semis or plays for the Wallabies? Sheesh, a bit harsh there. The Tahs have the best forward pack going around (in Australia).
CrockyCrocky
Guest
Think Jake is doing a brilliant job with Brumbies but I am getting a bit confused. Read previously that the reason he is rotating players so much is because he doesn't know them yet, but in other articles read of praise for Jakes recruitment?? Weren't some of the new young guns already in the Brumbies development plans but only now getting heard of or a chance to play because Jake was finally able to get rid of some of our older 'stars'??? Does that mean they were 'recruited' by the previous coaching group???
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
here are some of the replies to the article that came in on twitter (#leftarmspinner) and facebook: The Brumbie's key to success this season is that they have recruited one coach and they have discontinued the practice of allowing the players to run the agenda. Superior coach and a willing audience will always beat a stable of old habits." "Brumbies and the Rebs are in a totally different spot. Brumbies are claiming excellent recruitment because all their stars walked. That said, a couple of their young guns have really proved themselves. Go Sammy Carter." Why should we be surprised if the Rebels stuff up their recruitment processes? The Waratahs have been in Super Rugby ab initio, proof positive that longevity is no guarantee of getting it right."
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
johnno, he bonded that disjointed, dysfunctional boks team well before eddie's arrival. years before.......... White was also great with the brumbies rebuild, turned the poison chalice that is the england rugby coach's job, and then, used it to get the players to commit to him...............
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
johnno, but forwards with miles left in their legs........ Somerville had been a great player and played well in 2011, but he was not the future.
Bakkies
Guest
I see the DT have put up a rumour that Hooper is going to the Tahs. I hope he isn't commiitting career suicide by going there.
Bakkies
Guest
Watched the highlights again from the Rebels match. Boy the Brumbies players flew in to the rucks and mauls in the lead up to the Hooper and first Fardy tries. Never seen that from an Australian pack in the Super Rugby era.
Bakkies
Guest
I am not sure what role Eddie Jones had when White arrived at the Brumbies as he is hardly around as he is now contracted to Japan. Jones was a forward and White knows forwards rugby and has Laurie Fisher as his assistant. Therefore Jones is redundant regardless of his Japan role. However he would have been useful to have around while White was settiling in. Fisher arrived back from Munster as he knew the Rugby program and environment but he had been away for a few years. Fisher being a Canberran fills in the gaps now.
Bakkies
Guest
He is a handy fullback too. Safe under the high ball.
Bakkies
Guest
Dodgy hamstrings have killed his Wallaby career. In 2004 he was the best back in the Super 12 comp. Booming step, scored a hat trick in the Final, was able to kick goals. Unfortunately before he made his test debut his hammy went. He hasn't got his step and pace back sadly.
Bakkies
Guest
KPM. Macqueen turned the amateurs in to professionals. Gone were the Golf is compulsory, training is optional days. Macqueen said in his book that it took a long time to convince the Reds players who weren't used to his methods to comply (as he had coached the Waratahs before the Brumbies). He used business strategies, developed a culture where everyone was entitled to their say and applied them to rugby. He wasn't being patronising back then and he isn't now. He is just coaching a different breed of player (bar the dad's army types like Somerville, Cordingley, Mortlock and Delve who would relate to him) who have loose attitudes and like things their way. Rebels don't have a proper team structure and on field strategy.
adieb9
Guest
Nice one.....LAS:) as a Brumbie's tragic let me just say it's now nice to be able to watch a game without chringeing at every Giteau kick going hayward and giving away possession. We had very low expectations at the beginning of the season, despite the White hype. However, i'm a tad biased but it has been a pleasure to watch Mr Moore dare I say it, blossoming. He seems to be allowed to get on with job and it's fabulous! Our breakdowns are more efficient and christ, our scrums seem to elicit fewer penalties. The big difference is to see an incredibly fit side playing a full 80, even more! (See 14 phases post siren versus the Sharks). We have players who are working their arses off and maybe it's because they're young but maybe it's just because they seem to actually care. Looking forward to some good seasons, def keeping the membership:) -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Johnno
Guest
The big reason for Jake White's success at the brumbies is this in my opinion. He is the clear no 1 boss. He is not from Canberra, or Australia for that matter. So he has no loyalty to Canberra or Australia. So therefore feels no emotional attachment when taking tough desicions. He has no concern about whose feet he treads on, just the 1 goal of winning at all costs. And that is the best attitude. And it is funny how he has brought all the old brumbie players into line in supporting him , rather than trying to undermine White. Gregan, larkham, Finegan, ex head coach Laurie Fisher are all behind White and are very clear Jake White is the boss. NZ Warriors rugby league team was the same mess and got cleaned up in many ways. One way was the start of having more aussies, and having aussie head coaches rather than kiwis. Aussies who have no links to NZ or emotional concern when making tough decisions. So that is the advantage of getting someone an outsider . they can make tough decsiions. Robbie deans was the same when he took over. And now Micky Arthur is the same . All these mens are outsiders, and will have the guts to make tough choices.
Suzy Poison
Guest
As a Saffa, I thought White was a decent coach, but was concerned that he had spent a lot of time, out of the game. Plus he had a stint with the Lions that failed badly. What Jake has done with the Brumbies, is re-establish pride in the jersey. (Same with the Boks) He brought in all the old schoolers, Gregan, Eddie Jones, even Owen “Mellon” to present the jerseys. Laurie, the Mad Scientist is the forward coach, and you can see in the Rebels game, the confidence that slowly is coming from the Larkham backline coaching. Essentially Jake has surrounded himself, with a damn good team of coaches. The winning habit is from a great team of coaches coaching some very good young talent. Jake has made the Brumbies have to earn the right to wear the jersey, it’s not a given right. There is no special treatment, and that’s the mistake the Rebels made. Also I believe, the Brumbies will finish top of the conference, I think they are going to go from strength to strength. Great to see the crowds back in Canberra.