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There seems to be a policy within Australian sport to blame the coach for team failure. What rubbish.
When a Wallabies jersey is pulled on must always be an act of awe. For the All Blacks it is. For the Springboks it is. For many Australians it isn’t. Why do so many Aussie players seemingly consider it just another jumper?
There are some who treasure the haloed threads and the honour to wear it and there are others who appear to treat it almost contemptibly.
Is it a matter of player attitude toward the game plan, other players, coaching instructions and opposition? Or is it the nonexistent replacement for their position that gives this impression?
Why are there howls of indignation when one squeezes a festering zit and says it as it is?
The great disease of ‘giveupitus’ has afflicted the current Wallabies players. So many are desperate to deflect their going through the motions, onto Robbie Deans. It is not Deans who is running around the field making the mistakes, but the players.
Currently, it would matter none as to who the coach was. The Wallabies are just not good enough to beat many teams who have the belief that they can win.
A gold jersey is not a right given to players as many appear to believe. One earns it through blood, sweat and tears.
There is no fear of losing in the Wallaby player psyche because they have a built in scapegoat that they can blame for their inadequacies.
Deans is a fine coach who has tried to instil belief into the current Wallaby team that if they played as a team of brilliant players, instead of brilliant players in a team, they would win most games. Whatever the disease that the Wallabies have, they need to find a cure for it.
Sacking Deans is not the answer. Embracing his philosophies, doing what he asks and treating the jersey with the respect it deserves and working as a one-unit, fifteen-player team will solve most woes.
However, it must be done with all persons singing from the same song-sheet. Singing any other song is no longer acceptable.
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.