Most coffins only have one final nail. The coffin for Robbie Deans as Wallabies coach seems to have more than one.
After a lacklustre World Cup campaign, four years in the making, that saw the Wallabies unconvincingly battle their way to the semi-finals with a more than capable playing squad, many thought Deans’ days at the helm of Australian rugby were all over.
They were wrong. The undertaker wasn’t done with the coffin; he still had a couple more nails to go.
Deans lost to Scotland in 2009, the first time since 1982. In 2012 he went back to back against the Scots with a 9-6 loss on home soil making it all the more embarrassing.
The fat lady was singing, but the undertaker glared at her, he hadn’t finished the coffin.
The Spring Tour of 2012 saw France dispose of the Wallabies with a 33-6 victory. Italy came within centimetres of a draw with Australia.
Against England, the Wallabies were victorious and played their best match of the tour, but even that performance wasn’t something to boast about.
And if it wasn’t for some last minute heroics in Cardiff, the Wallabies would have gone down to Wales.
Apart from Michael Hooper and Nick Cummins bursting onto the scene, there weren’t too many positives from the tour.
The tombstone was now well out of date, but that didn’t faze the undertaker, apparently three ‘final nails’ weren’t enough. Deans was still the Wallabies coach.
By this time, Deans and the undertaker had come into contact several times and had struck up quite the friendship.
In light of ‘Aussie Robbie’ becoming the equal most capped Wallabies coach with Bob Dwyer, after the Wales match last December, the undertaker and Deans celebrated in style.
Though the celebrations didn’t quite reach the eerie heights of those with Graham Henry after the 2011 World Cup, Deans was just happy to let his hair down after his first season without Rocky Elsom.
Deans is now arguably the most scrutinised figure in the country after Julia Gillard and has only a few supporters left, one of them the undertaker.
When Deans was criticised for omitting Quade from the ‘logistics’ camp a few weeks ago, at least he had the shoulder of the undertaker to lay his head on.
In a couple of months this friendship reaches a crossroads. That is, the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
It is hard to envy the position Robbie Deans is currently in. The selection headaches wouldn’t be the only thing keeping him up at night.
The thought of losing a friend would be playing heavily on his mind. Because if Deans loses the series he can kiss his job as Wallabies head coach goodbye.
And in a cruel twist of fate, his new best friend, the undertaker will be the one putting his position as Australian coach to rest.
The Lions will arrive on Australian shores with a strong outfit, one that believes they can beat the Wallabies. They will be desperate for a series win after coming off second best in their last three tours.
‘Dingo’ Deans has his work cut out.
A nail now precariously rests on the coffin. The undertaker struggles to look at it.
With a series loss against The Lions, it will be ‘the’ final nail in the coffin. Deans’ reign will come to an end.
Justin2
Guest
Our LO has been very good, our options at 10 and 12 are fine its the selections and tactics that never compliment each other.
Justin2
Guest
As you say yourself stu - "loaded with talent". A coaches job is to get the best out of this talent and Deans hasnt not been able to achieve this.
stu b
Guest
Mcquire is this dribble some type of race to the bottom?we should be congratulating Deans for keeping the wallabies this competitive with the eggs he has had to work with,loaded with talent and all total individuals,some with massive eggos who have been very messy with the absence of stable on/off field role models. Can maybe suggest you start and coach your own tall poppy club,after all that it is some sort of a national sport.
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
Hoy - perfectly communicated. Dingo's supporters on this blog must be Cantabrians. No Wallably fan could be happy with any aspect of his coaching - not selections, not results and absolutely not style of play. I don't know if McKenzie will be any better but his players seem to play for him which is certainly not the case with our national team. Dingo is too far entrenched in his ways and is unlikely to change. It's time to stick his neck under the guillotine
Jock
Guest
No indications yet Mr Skellett. Havent seen Bill Pulvey anywhere
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Lots of respected people have read Mr Deans's Obituary before Mr Maguire and somehow he's still the boss .We'll see how he does this season -but it could also be the proving of Mr Pulvey too -for the public to see whether he has the intestinal fortitude to make the necessary and hoped-for fundamental changes to the infrastructure of Australian Rugby or will he prove to be just another weak , ineffectual noddy to the reactionary powers that be ?
A Different Cat.
Guest
I disagree with this talk of Australia doing better because of the talent Australia has. Australia has been ranked in the top 3 for his time in charge and considering the talent Australia has thats appropriate. I dont like the way Australia has been playing but I really dont yhink Australia has had huge amounts of untapped talent. This year is the best year for Wallaby selections in the last 10 years and there is a great deal of talent to choose from. That has not been the same recently and definately not in 2011. It is my opinion that Australia will threaten the no.1 spot in the following 2 years. Australia has struggled in the last few years because they didnt have the depth of talent. Their lineout wasn't great, their scrum was vulnerable, they had limited options at 12, 10 and in a few other positions but now many Wallabies from the Deans era cant even make their super clubs 22. That is because guys like lealiifano, Folau, Foley, Tapuai, Toomua, Mogg, Shipperly, Palmer, Ryan, Mafi and many others are solidifying spots, coming through and pushing the others aside. Guys like Beale, JOC, Cooper, McCabe, A.Faingaa, S.Faingaa, Barnes, Robinson, Kepu, Horwill, Simmons and even Genia have competition for spots in the Wallabies where over the past few years there were limited options or the competition for starting spots was either unclear or so far below in stardard it was often just patched up by moving JOC, Barnes, AAC or using utilities at loosehead or in the tighthead position. Now guys like Turner, A.Fainaa, S.Faingaa, Mitchell, McCabe, Beale, Kepu and a few others not only have pressure on them but they may have all been usurped. In saying that I think Deans should have gone after the World Cup. He had added pretty much most of the positives he could under the circumstances and he would have left with about a 61% record. Australian players and fans would have given a new coach more breathing space and the whole atmosphere would have been much more healthy. As it is there is a real preoccupation with Deans and the hate for him from both fans and media has become a real distraction. You will always get the odd crazy remark but to slander Deans is almost the norm and is accepted as such. Only in the last few weeks I've read false statements about Robbie to do with Cullen, G.Smith, JOC, Folau and the amount of misquotes and misrepresentations of Robbies interviews is out of control. It's become the new black to make up a lie about Robbie Deans in order to trash his name in anyway possible. It's mob mentality of the worst kind.
Rob
Guest
Agreed. This is getting ridiculous. Give it a break
maxxlord
Roar Rookie
Nail it shut, encase with reinforced concrete, and ditch the whole thing in deep waters.
Sharon Grey
Guest
The 'nails in the coffin' analysis is a suitably mordant reminder of a strand of recent Australian rugby history! But it's also an analysis recounting false dichotomies - if X happens, then Y happens - and thus identifies yet another form of marketing white noise. The reality is the ARU's contractual arrangements override any tap-tap-tapping sounds. Never mind that at least one of the reasons RD was initially hired appears to have been to prevent him being hired by others. And never mind that corporate best practice appears to have been - how does one put this delicately? - discounted by the ARU's board in a contract extension being offered when it was, and perhaps using some of the same 'blocking' rationale as originally used. The ARU has now stated that the existing contract will run its full course. Of course contracts can be broken. If at a price. It has always seemed to me the most concerning issue of Faustian bargains grounded in 'MBA negativity' is this: does that ethos, that value system (trying to gain an advantage not on the strength of one's own endeavours but by seeking to deny a perceived advantage to a competitor), permeate an entire approach? In other words, is it all that far removed from the difference in yielding a team that seeks not to lose versus one that seeks to win? Having attended the Lions game in Melbourne in 2001 - the location being a result of an early JON expansion initiative - the game, like the RC Tests there (or, for that matter, in Perth and now sometimes in Sydney), was not a home Test in a visible support sense. Nevertheless, my dinosaur-era recollection is that the Wallabies played to win. They didn't play not to lose. I'm hoping in the coming series the Wallabies play to win. Whether they will win or not playing this way is another matter. Nevertheless I hope, strategically and tactically, the Wallabies will be coached to do so. For a change.
Liam Maguire
Roar Rookie
Yep. With the players on offer, Australia has the potential to play some great rugby. Results aside, the style of rugby under Deans has been disappointing to say the least. E.g. Why was the best scrumhalf in the world, Will Genia, constantly box kicking during the World Cup?
AdamS
Roar Guru
That's the crux of it. Average results and ugly rugby. Inexplicable when you look at the talent he has had to call on.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
His record aint that great either, he has a chance to right the ship this season and possibly extend his tenure but his margin for error is very slim. I actually think Robbie is a good guy and is a tireless worker particularly with junior rugby / grassroots. You can't say he hasn't had ample opportunity to succeed. The ARU have been very patient with him as have many fans. Now is the time to deliver.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I was happy for Deans to have been hired originally. I was bitterly upset when his contract was renewed before his pass mark was ever reached. Results aside, and rankings aside, is anyone happy how we have played the game of rugby under Deans? Does everyone honestly think that is as good as we can play? I think we can play infinitely better. And that alone is why I think Deans must go.
Rebel
Guest
Agree Biltong, some of the lazy criticism does not even make sense. I think things will be a bit better this year with two wallaby captains back and some form new blood being included in the squad.
If I was Deans and had to listen to this every day I would have resigned by now. The guy's record aint't all that bad at all. But it seems criticism is as rive as abywhere. Doesn't take much be go from hero to zero in 7 days, no matter who the coach. Jake White better watch out, he sits anotop of the Super Rugby Log and he isn't free of any criticism either.