Over the last few years I have been reading about how bad Robbie Deans is as a coach. This has picked up in the last few weeks, in particular the inept performance of the Wallabies attack recently.
One thing that I have been mulling over is why is our attack so bad?
We actually do have a lightning backline in Kurley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane and Pat McCabe. And I know we have stars like James O’Connor and Will Genia missing, but these guys are some of the best in the business.
I also know there is a lot of criticism around McCabe’s ‘one dimensional’ game, but is his fault? Or is it a symptom of a greater issue?
To answer some of the questions above, I think we need to look back at winning Wallabies sides.
And let’s start with one of the best, the 1999 Rugby World Cup champions.
Quite rightly, Rod McQueen gets the kudos for being a great coach. But is it because of his coaching style alone or the fact he employed the right coaches beneath him?
And lets analyse that for a second. He had John Muggleton as defence coach and and a dedicated attack coach in Scott Johnson.
The current team has no dedicated defensive or attacking coaches. And how was our attack and defence on the weekend just gone?
So without an attacking coach is it any wonder our attack is limp or non-existent? Is this the real reason we are where we are with the Wallabies?
And where do we lay the blame for such a set up? Is it Robbie Deans’ fault, or that of the ARU?
Why is there no backs coach? in every team I have every played in, we have always had a coach that hung around, handed out the hair brushes and hair spray for the backs, so why don’t the Wallabies?
Modern rugby coaching can’t be a one man operation any more – why doesn’t Deans have more support?
No attack coach? Well when questioning our poor attack, that would be the first place to start.
Marissa
Guest
Dear RichardHuzzah!! I was thrilled to hear of your amntinopept, being a Queen's Meds alumnus myself. They're very lucky to have you, and you in turn have wound up in a wonderful place with great folks. Have many fond memories of QU, but for reasons completely beyond my control I have never made it back to a reunion in fact, my last day in Kingston was the day after graduation. There's always been another overriding commitment on the Homecoming weekend. Will make a special effort to get there in 2012 35th reunion by my count. All good things for the summer and love to Cheryl and the kids!!FLM
Claypole
Guest
How many titles has Todd Blackadder won, with arguably a stronger lineup?
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Dead right Johnno on Tim Horan. IMHO he's humble and the ultimate team man too. I recall all kinds of concerns he had for Wallabies about 'whether or not he was the best man for the job'. And then he came out and won player of the tournament. How's that!!!
DB
Guest
Similar to Nuci at the Brumbies, the guys destroys the under 20's, loses the brumbies dressing room, stuffs Auckland up and despite his talent for destruction the brumbies still won!! Coaches are important but some sides need little coaching!
DB
Guest
Big Mike - it is Robbie!! Any mug could coach the crusaders!!
Paul Roach
Roar Guru
"Is Robbie Deans the real problem?" In short, yes.
I am quite surprised to hear Deans is considered a mat, I thought he was unapproachable.
Ra
Guest
And the main thing is - you lose playing "the Ozzie Way" Oi Oi Oi !!!
Justin2
Guest
Well Mark I'm here to be educated, please impart your greater knowledge.
BigMike
Guest
Gents, Mr. R. Deans was a super -coach with Cantebury. He has nothing to work with. We have no feeder competitions and no depth, and our key players have a history or persistent injury. He is NOT the problem. We have a useless Rugby institution from the top down that creates the lack of depth. From Schhol Boys, to Uni, to Club, to inter-State. No depth. It's not Robbie.
BigMike
Guest
Gents, Mr. R. Deans was a super -coach with Cantebury. He has nothing to work with. We have no feeder competitions and no depth, and our key players have a history or persistent injury. He is NOT the problem. We have a useless Rugby institution from the top down that creates the lack of depth. From Schhol Boys, to Uni, to Club, to inter-State. No depth. It's not Robbie.
Halleys Comet
Guest
Sheek don't forget the Wallabies lack of combinations, regular tinkering with players out of position, both forwards and backs..
Halleys Comet
Guest
Ream team I like it!
Halleys Comet
Guest
One of them, how about the weird selections, bringing player back from injury, before they are ready etc etc
Chivas
Guest
Sheek... I agree, the forward pack of the Wallabies is woeful. the engine room sometimes get up and play tight and hard, but too often they just look soft. They just don't seem to hunt as a pack. It's like when you are young and you think about the tackle you are going to put in and trying to position it so you don't get hurt... that moment is enough to ensure the tackle is soft andyou do get hurt. I have read on here how AAC made a school boy mistake by getting his head on the wrong side. I think we have all done that. You have a bad angle, but the only thought is to get your opponent to ground as fast as possible and taking out his legs is the best way. All this on the run... his mistake was lower or higher, but i wasn't the one running so don't know what issues he was faceed with. My point is he shows absolutely no fear. The forwards on the other hand do show fear or at least to hesitatein the contact area and aren't cohesive. Even though they have played together, they are still not showing the coherence they ought to be. That is before even looking at basic skills required of the tight five in terms of pushing, wrestling, jumping, lifting, mauling and the glue to link them all together. The wallabies will never dominate until their pack can get parity. In the past they have gained a slight advantage in line-outs, been weaker in the front row, but able to maintain parity, and an equal back three. Off that the backs may succeed to get some ball and win a few games. Right now show me any area of the game that the wallabies dominate or even holds there own. Having Horwill back, Palu, Kepu, Pocock playing back to there best will get you parity and with Pocock a certain amount of ascendecy, but aren't you still short a jumper to at least gain line-out dominance. The loosies definitely need a kick up the a... but they have the firepower to match other sides. A lot of people talk about Hooper and he looks flash. For me I could care less about the flash stuff, that can be left to the backs... he tackles and runs well, but his ground work is ordinary. Pocock is a better scrapper. Everytime I see Pocock I think gym bunny, hope he gets smashed. But he surprises me that he has genuine strength and he takes the knocks, but doesn't relent. On the back of the forwards the backs will sort themselves out... but with the forwards not playing a full eighty and a tight tight five, well the backs are going to get knocked on their butts. think in the AB's Wayne Smith was a backs coach and he didn't even last out his first tenure of coaching... the team was struggling, because the backs didn't have the skills to stand flat.. we had wingers playing centre (Tana Umaga), a freakishly talented first five in Carlos, but a lack of support talent around him. And for the record those fans who compare Cooper with Carlos, have obviously never seen Carlos playing live.Carlo's positional play to cover back, forward, to run in heavy traffic with no space, far exceeds Coopers ability. Carlos was favoured over Mehrtens in under 21's and was earmarked for great things very early on. Carlos played the game on the field not in the media. Cooper is really still a bit of a nobody.
Halleys Comet
Guest
Mark, super rugby a decade ago is not the same as International rugby in 2011/2. Simple really
mark
Guest
your showing either your lack of age or your lack of knowledge. professionalism started in the southern hemisphere in reality way before the rfu okayed it and when they did it took the home unions a good 4 or 5 years to begin to catch up.
Justin2
Guest
Did professionalism only start in the southern hemisphere in the 90s? Could have sworn it was a global thing...
Justin2
Guest
Its the worst of the pro era coaches...
Johnno
Guest
When I watch this ad to be honest what I find so refreshing is Tim Horan. Wow was he a good player I forgot how good he was. Best aussy centre I seen in 20 years watching aussy rugby maybe best centre ever. So elusive and reads the game so well, . Quality player.