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Coaches have been pilloried of late, none more so than Robbie Deans. Barbed criticisms have reached crescendo levels for the Wallaby coach, but South African bowling coach Allan Donald, and his Australian counterpart Allister de Winter, have been in the firing line as well.
Deans has won just six of his 12 Tests this year.
The 50% win rate even lower than his 68 Wallaby Test rate over four years of 57%, which isn’t crash hot in the first place.
The South African attack has bowled an inexcusable 76 no-balls in their last four Tests, the Australians 28 in their last four.
Two Australian wickets to Peter Siddle and James Pattinson and one South African to Morne Morkel were overturned by no-balls in their most recent Test, and all three were vital decisions that could have decided the result.
With Deans, Donald, and de Winter, it begs the question: where does the blame rightfully rest – with them or their players?
It must surely be the players.
Deans hasn’t been delivering puerile passes, had butter fingers, missed tackles, or his body language lacking interest, intensity, and commitment.
Donald and de Winter haven’t been overstepping the popping crease.
It’s crunch time for the Wallabies against England at Twickenham on tomorrow night. If the men-in-gold can’t have their adrenalin pumping at the home of rugby, and turning on a display to make their fans feel proud, the Wallabies don’t deserve to wear the coveted jersey.
And if the South African and Australian attacks can’t stop no-balling, they too don’t deserve to represent their countries.
If the status quo remains, sacking Deans, Donald, and de Winter won’t right the wrongs.
Sacking the offending players will. Their replacements will get the message in a flash.