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The key question that must be being asked at ARU headquarters is, “Why haven’t Robbie’s successes at the Crusaders been transferred to the Wallabies?”
It is really the obvious question to ask. I’m certain that when John O’Neill signed Robbie Deans, he thought that the most successful Super Rugby coach of the time would deliver what the Wallabies needed.
Robbie Deans track record up until the Wallabies job was truly impressive. When you read the history of the Crusaders, it’s clear that Deans was a great performer on and off the field. This excerpt below describes something about what happened following The Crusaders disappointing 1996 performance.
“That included using Canterbury’s traditional red and black colours, and tapping into the traditions, values and heritage that had built Canterbury rugby up over more than a century of success. You could say that all of those things were loaned to the Crusaders.”
“As was the intellectual knowledge, through the likes of 1997-1999 coach Wayne Smith, and his successor Robbie Deans.
“While both men had been heroes for the province on the field, most notably during the record equaling Ranfurly Shield reign of 1982-85, the pair have since added significantly to their legacies off it, by delivering between them seven Super rugby titles.
“With Deans alongside as manager, Smith regenerated the Crusaders from last in 1996 to sixth a year later, before annexing back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999.
“As significant as Smith’s contribution was, the role played by Deans has been even more influential.
“The organisation’s most prolific ever point scorer, with 1641 points from 147 matches between 1979 and 1990, Deans made an instant impact as a coach by returning the NPC title to the province for the first time in 14 years in his freshman season as Canterbury coach in 1997.
He then took over coaching the Crusaders in 2000, and followed up Smith’s good work by transforming the side into the almost unstoppable juggernaut we know today.”
So why haven’t the Wallabies been this successful?
I have listed my views below, and I am certain readers of The Roar will have strong opinions. For me it comes down to three key factors:
1. The groundwork for Deans’ success was laid by Steve Tew, the Crusaders Chief and current head of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and also by Deans predecessor Wayne Smith. Robbie Deans then built on that foundation and did so with the best pack of forwards of the day.
There is no doubt much of the Crusaders success under Deans can be attributed to a superb forward pack. When Deans came to the Wallabies he inherited a group of forwards who were not competitive because they lacked the skills and size of those in opposing teams. Deans has failed to assemble a group of forwards who are capable of dominating their opponents.
2. Robbie Deans was part of a high-performing team and organisation at The Crusaders. He clearly did great work, but he was one member of the coaching team. When he came to The Wallabies he didn’t bring his coaching team and he inherited a coaching team. While he may have wanted to make changes (not sure whether he did) he would have felt he needed some time to get to know the ARU organisation before acting.
I’m reasonably sure the politics of the ARU have been a factor here.
3. Robbie came from an organisation that had determined back in late 1996 that to change their fortunes they had to make serious changes and that if they didn’t change then nothing would change. These words also from the Crusaders history on their web site:
“At the end of that first year, we had a good look at everything because it [the Super 12] hadn’t worked for us,” then Crusaders chief, and now New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive, Steve Tew remembers.
“As a result of that, we rewrote the plan for both the Crusaders and the Canterbury rugby union itself and decided to take some risks. The risks involved not only investing in some players from outside of the region, but also in building up the full-time infrastructure that we felt a professional team would need.”
So Deans came from an environment of innovation to an institution, the ARU. We know institutional behaviour is typically rooted in a distinct lack of innovation and in what you could call “opaque transparency” with a good dose of internal politics.
When you read the history of the Crusaders you see that their 1996 season performance was the catalyst for genuine change, and oh what a change they engineered.
The catalyst for genuine change for the Wallabies should have been the 2007 Rugby World Cup performance. The ARU allowed John Connolly’s contract to expire and they signed Robbie Deans. Clearly just changing the coach wasn’t enough, or we would be enjoying a better overall performance by now.
Like I said earlier, if nothing changes, then nothing will change.
Meanwhile, over in South Africa, the Wallabies got slammed on the scoreboard and on the paddock.
You have to feel for the guys in the squad as they recover from a massive belting, gear up for a horror road trip and then at the end of the programme get one more game against the ABs.
So what’s the answer to the above-mentioned question?
Maybe the 2012 season, and recent performances against New Zealand and South Africa, will be the catalyst for genuine change?
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.