Robbie Deans has shown he can walk a wobbly tightrope but there’ll be no safety net in June when the Lions are unleashed.
In the biggest year for Australian rugby since the money-spinning 2003 World Cup, Deans’ job goes on the line when the British and Irish Lions tour Australia.
He’s already been somewhat fortunate – courtesy of grinding backs-to-the-wall wins in Perth, Rosario, London, Florence and Cardiff – to stay on for his sixth season as Wallabies coach.
But with his current two-year contract expiring in 12 months time, Deans’ chances of pressing on to the 2015 World Cup rest heavily on the three-Test series against a hungry Lions squad focussed on ending a 16-year drought.
It would be no mean feat to beat them and the tourists should be bolstered by the nucleus of an exciting English outfit which dished out a dominant 38-21 upset of the world champion All Blacks this month.
But Australia will also have to show some style, as well as results, to guarantee Deans a new deal at a time rugby is battling in the football code wars.
Bored fans have been turned off by pedestrian, predictable play, which was also trotted out in Super Rugby’s Australian interstate derbies.
Under Deans, the Wallabies’ 2012 play was ugly, uninspiring and excruciatingly underwhelming – a stark contrast to their proud reputation as entertainers.
Fifteen tries from 15 Tests – their worst return in 33 years – doesn’t paint the full picture but it says a lot more than the bare record of nine wins, five losses and a draw.
To be fair to Deans and his players, a long injury list hamstrung them as they dropped to No.3 in the world rankings.
That they recorded nine wins – including three unconvincing efforts from their last three encounters in Europe – is testament to guts, character and emergence of players like Michael Hooper, Sitaleki Timani and Ben Tapuai.
Deans can also thank the radar boots of Berrick Barnes and Mike Harris, whose goalkicking prevented the Wallabies’ 2012 record ending in the red.
But guts, character and penalty goals aren’t enough against the best teams.
Four of their nine victories came against Wales – three of which almost went the other way. Only one came against a fellow top-four side.
It says a lot about the Wallabies, and Deans’ game strategies, that their best performance was a tryless 18-all draw in the Bledisloe dead-rubber against all-conquering New Zealand.
Creativity has been replaced by field position in a stodgy, kick-happy backline that is unable, and often unwilling, to run the ball effectively.
Such an approach has infuriated past greats like David Campese, who has consistently called for Deans’ head.
Irreplaceable halfback Will Genia, skipper James Horwill and backline marvel James O’Connor – all sidelined by serious leg injuries this year – are crucial reinforcements for the Lions series.
Controversial playmaker Quade Cooper may have finally settled on a new contract with the Australian Rugby Union but it remains to be seen whether Deans will select him for the Lions series.
He’d likely have some ground to make up with Wallabies teammates following his bombshell claim in September that the team environment was “toxic”.
But the Wallabies badly need the X-factor that Cooper, when at his best, provides.
“He is exceptional. You see the rubbish the Wallabies are dishing up, they need him back,” said former Wallabies fullback and Fox Sports commentator Greg Martin.
“South Africa and New Zealand are still scoring tries and we’re not even trying.”
The issues don’t end there for the ARU, who want to take more control of how much their leading stars play.
There’s a significant divide between the governing body, currently in caretaker mode as they search for a new CEO to replace John O’Neill, and the states, noted by former Sports Minister Mark Arbib in his review of the game.
Each union also must win back the fans or the code will continue to wilt.
To do that they mostly need tries, through a return to positive and pro-active rugby.
Long-suffering NSW Waratahs fans will have hopes yet again that their team will turn the corner and provide some genuine excitment.
Fortunately early indications under new coach Michael Cheika are promising.
The Queensland Reds will aim to rediscover their 2011 title winning mojo with key halves combo Genia and Cooper putting serious injuries behind them.
This year’s surprise packets the Brumbies should be better in their second season under Jake White but can’t hope to fly under the radar, especially after recruiting David Pocock.
The Melbourne Rebels have to add some consistency to the moments of brilliance so often featuring Kurtley Beale and O’Connor.
Another long hard season appears in store for the Western Force with no Pocock and a lack of backline firepower despite some creative recruiting.
ANON69
Guest
6 Years is too long for a Coach unless you are Alex Ferguson. No NFL coach would have survived 1 year let alone 6. I mean I would not have survived as accounts clerk for few months with Deans results. Injuries are an excuse. He had almost all player at his disposal for WC.
Hammertime
Guest
I would be interested to know what the players really think of RD. More than once a Wallaby has publicly stated how much they value him as a coach and how disappointed they were to let him down. I can think of no other coach in recent times who has had so much vitriol directed at them and handled it in such a dignified and determined way. Perhaps the reason that the WBs stoism in the face of adversity that has allowed them to win games they shouldnt have was learnt from their coach? Certainly it was a skill/attitude that has been missing for some years. If RD has taught them how to win ugly in 2012 and can now coach them to winning with style in 2013 then it will have been worth it. I for one am already feeling better about next year.
mania
Guest
this would be cringe worthy if wb's were better than the boks . that just isnt the case this year.
Justin2
Guest
Thats cringe-worthy when the Boks beat you in try scoring! And they didnt play Italy either did they?
Jerry
Guest
The accurate stats are actually slightly worse for Aus. Aus - 15 tests, 15 tries SA - 12 tests, 16 tries.
mania
Guest
fos - traditionally you'd be correct. unfortunately for u habana has been in the mood to prove that he's the best winger that boks have ever seen.
formeropenside
Guest
try scoring is not a saffa strength. penalties and field goals are how SA win games, as a rule.
mania
Guest
fos - but the boks are a better team. they dont have the injuries problem that aus have and have far better depth. i dont see why scoring less than SA is a disaster.
formeropenside
Guest
Actually, your stats are wrong. And even if they were right, scoring fewer tries per game than SOUTH AFRICA is a disaster.
Justin2
Guest
You keep pointing to individuals - its I how they work as a unit. Check the possession stats, we don't get clobbered in the forwards nearly as much as people claim but our tactics are rubbish in how to break down defences from 1 to 15. One try per test, worst in 33 years and people are turning off the game.
Justin2
Guest
The replacements have shown that we have depth and that some should have been first picked. The list of players you mentioned have mostly played plenty of football this year for the wallabies. The main losses have been Genia and Cooper, throw in JOC to that maybe. Horwill and Poey were adequately covered. Deans fcked white over so he can't complain about having to play Phipps.
Justin2
Guest
I'd happily pay for it, not sure you get first class to chch though.
Red Kev
Guest
It means (a) Deans has at least 5 more years of guaranteed ARU money for doing no work, and (b) the ARU don't want to focus on trying to win the RWC because it's too hard (so they'll gun for a brief stint as world number one ranked nation).
mania
Guest
j2 - i didnt say he deserved 1st class
Hightackle
Guest
Well lets hope that next year Genia, Horwill, Pocock, JOC, McCalman, Lealiifano, Cooper, Mitchell, Kepu and Palu are availible for the Wallabies. OTHERWISE I WILL HAVE TO HEAR THE ENDLESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT DEANS AGAIN. Look at that list of players now add additional injuries to White, AAC, Ioane, Barnes, Alexander, McCabe Timani, Higgs, TPN, Moore, Faingaa, Tapuai and more. Suspensions of Simmons and Higgs. Then think. I can not believe the endless whinging about Deans. No country with the depth or lack of it like Aust has would expect to do well with their captain injured, their replacement captain injured, the replacements replacement injured and their first, 2nd and 3rd choice #10 out or injured. Their fullback at 10, their 2nd 5 at fullback, their world class #7 injured, their 1st and 3rd choice #9 injured, their tighthead out and having to bring a lock out of retirement to captain the team. Ausie fans are astonishing "boo hoo why are we not playing exciting winning rugby"? Are you f-ing kidding?
Ra
Guest
looking forward to seeing the reults of your survey rus, oh but make sure a reputable org i doing it eh
Malo
Guest
I second that. I now hope and look forward to watching the ABs and Lions smashing these spoilt backs . I am a big fan of Timani but I feel no bond to the wallabie. It is just contracts now rather than form and character being the selection process.
Dcnz
Guest
Michael Hawker on fox sports saying they want the Wallabies to be the number one rugby nation in five years ... What the F does that mean ?
AdamS
Roar Guru
Deans tenure has been if not a complete failure on the scoreboard, at very least a placeholding exercise. Given we have dropped a ranking place, it's only just barely treading water. In such a performance and results driven enterprise, under the constant eye of public and press you really have to start asking yourself why Dingo stays. Why has he not thrown in the towel? We expected, and he had, a rebuilding phase, cutting loose the dross and blooding new talent. We then went to the world cup with a full and fit squad who, man for man were the measure of their opposition. he totally fluffed it with conservative "don't loose" game plans and was soundly trounced, embarrassingly so in some cases. The vaunted backline, admired by the world was ingnored and withered on the vine. It's clear now that Deans sole motivation and the basis of his planing is to go out and not lose. That is not winning rugby. But he has a million reasons for seeing it that way.
Skills & Techniques
Guest
I would give my left arm to play for the Wallabies. I'm very proud of their efforts on the Spring tour aside from the French bush wacking. They showed a lot of guts to get over the line with key members out. I admire their unity in adversity and I believe that QC is the only toxic element in the mix. I suspect the ARU were forced to top up by the QRU to move on constitutionally. It's a sad message for our kids that a selfish, unreliable brat gets his way in spite of never performing at an international level. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].