The new Wallabies coaching staff, which went to work for the first time on Monday, faces a potential landmine in the first Test of the season against Scotland.
The Australia – Scotland Test will be played at Newcastle on Tuesday 4 June. Robbie Deans revealed to a maul of rugby writers at ARU headquarters yesterday that his Wallaby side would have the benefit of only one training run before the Test.
He laughed when I remarked “just like the good old days”. He responded by noting that “they’ll be having a two month preparation!”
Nick Scrivener, a former head coach of Edinburgh and Scotland A, becomes a new coaching assistant with a mandate on skills development. He opined that Scotland will be more difficult to defeat than their recent record might suggest.
“They’ve won a series in Argentina, which is hard to do. They have beaten the Wallabies in recent years and I was in the Scotland camp that day,” Scrivener said.
“They have a group of very promising youngsters who will want to make a mark on the tour.”
The reason for the back-to-the-past type of preparation for the Australia – Scotland match lies in the tight scheduling of the June Test season. This season has to be squeezed into less-than-a-month-long break in the 2012 Super Rugby tournament.
Super Rugby round one will be played on the weekend starting on Friday 1 June, with the Rebels – Brumbies contest in the Australian Conference and the Waratahs – Hurricanes on June 2.
The Reds and the Force have a bye. The players for the Test at Newcastle will mainly come from these two teams.
But Robbie Deans did tell us that it was not impossible that a player or players from the Waratahs might have to front up a couple of days after playing against the Hurricanes.
The new Wallabies coaching staff is made up of Robbie Deans, who says that the arrangement will take a lot of the trivial organisational work and allow him to “add substance”‘ (which he added “will be good for me”).
Tony McGahan, who was not present, will become the coaching co-ordinator. Deans said that he would also have a responsibility for defence.
McGahan has been in charge of Munster for the last four years. He has coached in Japan and was a head coach at Nudgee College (a great rugby nursery) and the Easts’ first-grade side.
In the sometimes-fevered discussion about the future of Deans and the next Wallaby coach, McGahan – who has head coach experience at several levels – has from time to time been mentioned as a candidate.
The former Wallaby prop Andrew Blades is the forwards coach, with a responsibility for re-starts. This is his second stint with the Wallabies.
Blades has long had a reputation as having a Ph.D in scrumming. He is forthright when he has to be.
When coach Eddie Jones started to blame him for some poor performances of the Wallabies, Blades resigned from the job.
The Wallabies continued on their downward plunge in performance, which rather proved the point that the problem was Jones, not Blades.
The fourth man in the new coaching set up is Nick Scrivener. ‘Scrive’, as Deans called him, was a foundation member of the Brumbies squad in 1996. He was part of the Brumbies coaching staff for 10 seasons.
At an announcement media conference like this one, it is understood that nothing very controversial is going to be said by the people fronting up.
The questions are generally the most interesting aspect of the event. So, in the interests of The Roar readers, I felt obliged to ask a couple of tricky ones.
“Does the new coaching staff reflect an inadequacy in the staff that was in place in the Rugby World Cup 2011 tournament?,’ I asked.
The real answer to this question should have been “Of course it does”.
The official answer was that this was “another time”.
The discarded coaches, like Jim Williams (now an indigenous development officer for the Waratahs) and Phil Blake (defence coach at the Western Force) have moved on.
“We’re happy where they took the group but this is a new group,” Deans added.
“Have you been happy with the actual play and the style of the various franchises?” I posed.
The real answer should have been “aside from the Brumbies, no”.
The official answer was that there has been contact but the franchises are autonomous.
“Will there be some new players in the Wallaby squad?”
Real answer: “Unless some of the senior Wallabies start playing much better than they have, there will have to be changes”.
Official answer: “Now that the coaching staff is on the job, they’ll be picking a XV every week. It will be inevitable that there should be some new faces”.
For those who take a note of these things, Deans seemed to be remarkably relaxed and enthusiastic about the prospects of the new Test season.
He did not give any indication of a coach under pressure to retain his job after the 2013 season. Or from the fact that the opening couple of Tests could be very difficult for the Wallabies.
After the unusual Tuesday Test against Scotland, with only a Sunday training run as preparation, the Wallabies then play a rampant Wales side, which are the toast of European rugby. This takes place only four days later, at Brisbane on 9 June.
Between travelling and so on, it might be possible to get in two training sessions for this Test.
Rob Howley, a fine halfback but inexperienced head coach, will be the Wales coach on their three-Test tour of Australia.
Warren Gatland fell off a ladder a month or so ago at his home in New Zealand and shattered his legs. He won’t be able to make the tour.
One shouldn’t trivialise serious injuries like this, but it is hard to avoid noting that for the Wallabies the Gatland injuries are something of a lucky break for them.
Jack
Guest
How can anyone seriously suggest Elsom? He played what, 6 games last year and none this year. He hasn’t been a dominant player for 3 or 4 years plus. He will be retired by the next world cup and there are 3 or 4 better 6’s in Australia. Elsom wouldn’t make the bench for the Brumbies. Wallabies should be picked on form not on long past reputation.
jeznez
Roar Guru
just watched a replay of the Tahs v Rebels game and Jones was not as good as Douglas. I think he'll get there - just needs to add to his 108kgs. It will come he is only 21 yrs old and he'll get bigger but at 197cm and that weight he is a test loose forward not a second rower at this stage in his career.
drama city
Guest
Thanks Jeznez. As a former no 10, I have no idea of what tight heads and loose heads do let alone what numbers they wear.
Bakkies
Guest
The Blues would be and he is off contract at the end of the season.
jeznez
Guest
Tackling is good, I just worry a little about his youth - same applies but slightly less so to Carter.
Rugby Fan
Roar Guru
Anyone know whether tickets are selling well for the Scotland game?
jeznez
Guest
Your 1s and 3s are around the wrong way - you"ve named your looseheads at tight and vice versa.
drama city
Guest
Damo It was tongue in cheek about Israel Dagg being the world's greatest full-back. He certainly played like Fred Dagg in the World Cup final but whenever an Australian comes out and says Kurtley Beale may be one every Kiwi on this site goes into convulsions and claims that the Dagg is numeo uno. Hard to see on his performances this year and last. Anyway there is no World XV picked by independent selectors so It's all just opinion and that's why The Roar is so entertaining.
Damo
Guest
Dramacity not everyone knows about Israel Dagg. Is he Fred Dagg's brother? Maybe Israel is the world's FUNNIEST fullback? PS who decides who actually is the best?
Damo
Guest
Some good points Dave. But Deans may have learnt a lot. Like Henry had to before he smoked the cigar.
drama city
Guest
Everyone knows Israel Dagg is the world's best full back as he showed in the World Cup final against France. Didn't he love the pressure!
drama city
Guest
Deans has said he will stick with the tried and tested because of the short training time available for the Scotland and Wales tests. He also said he didn't see anything wrong with some players having to play 3 times in a week - intimating that Wallaby players need to harden up. I therefore expect to see the following team against Scotland 1 Kepu 2 Polata-Nau 3 Robinson 4. Horwill (c) 5. Sharpe 6. Higginbotham 7. Pocock 8. McCalman 9.Genia 10.Lucas 11.Ioane 12. Harris 13. Cummins 14. Shipperly 15. Barnes 16. Moore 17. Alexander 18.Timani 19. Hooper 20. White 21.Leilifano 22. Kingston Against Wales 1.Palmer 2.Moore 3.Alexander 4. Horwill (c) 5. Sharpe 6. Dennis 7. Pocock 8. Palu 9. Genia 10.Leliifano 11.Ioane 12. McCabe 13. Horne 14. Ashley-Cooper 15. Beale 16. Polata-Nau 17. Robinson 18. Timani 19.McCalman 20. White 21.Barnes 22. Kingston
Lorry
Guest
Geoff Brisbane, It seems you're confusing the uncompetitiveness of, say, international rugby league with the competitiveness of international rugby union.... Wales, Argentina and Scotland are all on a similar level, and not far from the Wallabies...
Dave
Guest
I do understand what you are saying, but I would argue that the final had some great open rugby. Much like the 1999 semi between Australia and SA which despite the lack of tries, was quite an open fixture. Besides, playing conservative rugby should have cost New Zealand the final. In the pool round, they thrashed the French by playing like the All Blacks can. In the final however, they refused to do that, and only some highly dubious ref decisions saved them (there were multiple blatant penalities that France should have been awarded in the final few minutes - very much in kicking range). Im actually really glad NZ did win so we can get over the whole WC hoodoo each cup, but really, it left a sour taste in my mouth as a neutral observer. As for the other 2011 results, the Reds effort was fantastic and enjoyable for all. The Wallabies played well in Brisbane but that was a one off - we caught the All Blacks at their weakest in terms of the draw and tactics employed. SA played a weak squad against us in the first match, and their full team was rusty in their first run together the second time around. All in all, we took the Tri-Nations seriously, but they didn't. I actually said at the time that the Brisbane result might be the worst possible result, as Deans would use the selections that night in the WC (McCabe/AF etc). Turned out to be the case unfortunately. Overall though, as you say it is a professional game. That means we need more supporters, and more sponsors. The test arena is where most casual observers will tune in. We can have classic matches at super rugby level, but unless that translates to the highest level, Rugby is not going to grow in Australia.
Justin
Guest
All pretty good but Jones has been as good or better than those 2nd rower you mention. He is a tackle machine!
jeremy
Guest
Dave the RWC post professional phase never been about free flowing expansive rugby, it's about conservative grind. Only tries scored in the final match were by forwards, one fatty, one loosie. Free flowing back play leads to knock-ons, scrums, penalties, and the games are decide by the slimmest of margins. we are damned if we do damned if we don't in terms of playing styles in the RWC as what the non-union public wants is cut out passes and carved up defences which only happens in the one-sided minnow games which are, frankly, boring. When the top tier nations get going it's a case of who can force the other team into making the most mistakes. How is 2011 a failed season, you got the Tri Nations, the shieldy thingee with the Boks and beat the ABs in QLD?
Dave
Guest
If Beale goes to 10, and AAC to 15 again, I might just have to sit the season out... I mean really, that WC was bad enough to endure. Anyone with half a brain saw that due to Deans with his insane selection policies and game plans that we were headed for disaster. Our team still had the raw talent (enough with the 'cattle' nonsense - we most certainly had 22 blokes who could win it on their day) to hobble through to the semi, and what did Deans do? To cover for our injured 15, he moved our only tried and tested 13 to 15, brought in an injured 12 who cant pass, to a 13 who cant break the line. Most of the posters here knew we had lost before we had even taken the field. Those comments from Cooper in the linked article shows that he felt the same way. We had the best attacking backline in the world, but did what with it? Nothing. For goodness sake, let Beale stay and develop at 15. Bring JOC closer to the action when he is fit, and for the love of God, PLEASE PLEASE keep McCabe away from 12. We don't have any options at 13, so put him there and let him tackle and run straight as much as he wants. Cooper 10, Barnes 12, McCabe 13, Digby 11, Mogg/shipperly etc take your pick at 14, Beale 15 - with CL on the bench with lots of game time in the 10/12 role. Australian rugby had the entire nation watching last year and we BLEW IT BIG TIME. We all love the game, but seriously I hated trying to explain to non rugby watching friends and family why we seemed to have no tactics other than to tackle and kick the ball. Had they seen Cooper's long balls to Digby, or the freakish flicks of Beale, and footwork of JOC, and the elaborate backline moves - rugby would have won many more fans - even if we had still lost. If we play our natural game and lose Im ok with that. I just cant stomach another failed season - especially with the lions tour coming up. Either play a decent brand of rugby or get rid of Deans.
Armchair Sportsfan
Guest
so if growden's reporting it...then it's not a rumour?...thats a new one:)
Justin
Guest
I dont think the ABs are fussed about Harris. I'm not.
Jutsie
Guest
Will be disappointed if this is more than a growden led rumour. Leiliafano has been excellent at 10 and should be rewarded for a breakout season.