Controversial former Wallabies winger David Campese has launched another attack on Australia coach Robbie Deans and predicts the upcoming Lions tour will descend into a boring penalty-fest.
In reports published in the UK media on Wednesday, Campese labelled Deans as desperate and reiterated a call from him to be replaced by Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie.
Australia’s record tryscorer Campese, who now lives in South Africa, criticised Deans for turning a blind eye to the Australian Rugby Union ban on selecting overseas-based players in order to smooth a way for the return of Japan-based George Smith.
“They are breaking their own laws because Robbie Deans is desperate,” Campese told UK tabloid the Daily Express.
“If they lose the series, hopefully he will go and we can then have Ewen McKenzie coaching us.
“When Quade Cooper spoke about the environment being toxic last year he got in trouble, but I heard the same from someone else in the squad. There is a problem there.
“We have gone backwards in our back-line skills. It’s not the same Australian team as when we were playing.
“Robbie Deans came out last year and said: `You don’t need to score tries to have exciting rugby’. It must be the Kiwi mentality.”
Campese also criticised British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland for picking a Welsh-heavy side lacking players with X-factor.
“We know exactly what is coming from a Gatland side,” Campese said.
“… We know it is going to be a very structured series because they will be two very structured teams.
“Some of the games might be close because both coaches are under pressure. But it is going to be a penalty-fest.”
Campese will join the British radio station TalkSPORT’s commentary team for the Lions tour.
He told the Daily Telegraph he could not work in Australia because he would have to hold back on his opinions.
“You have to do and say the right things to get a job there and that’s never going to happen,” he said.
“That’s why I moved to South Africa.
“I was basically driven out of my own country. Tall poppy syndrome, mate. They couldn’t wait to cut me down.”
bokboybullblue
Guest
African desert?.....you clearly haven't been to Durban.
Tahhed
Guest
Awwwwwwwww poor Campo, us Australians are so mean with our backchat that he had to move to a country with a history of subjugating those who spoke back lol. Seriously don't be such a bloody whinger Campo! People told you off because you're a loud mouthed narcissit who's oblivious to his own failings. If you seriously can't deal with people calling you out on your BS and telling it like it is, then no wonder you felt you had to leave.
Bakkies
Guest
What's Mowen done?
West
Guest
Come on campo, you can't be serious.
Positive Rugby
Guest
It is very funny that most on here have used personal attackes against Campo instead of answering his comments - exactly what they are criticising him for -now, I am sure there is a word for that.
Positive Rugby
Guest
I love those guys and so do my kids. I can't see anything at all unusual in their behaviour and I can recall behaviour from my era in club rugby that would make them look like perfect angels.
Positive Rugby
Guest
Campo has well and truly earned the right to state his opinion, no matter how much some don't like it. More than can be said for most of us on here, who are merely entitled to our opinion but have not earned it.
Positive Rugby
Guest
Guys like Lynagh controlled the whole game, its tempo, its pace, field position etc..etc... Just like Dan Carter does.
Positive Rugby
Guest
Its no myth mate and its been completely stifled by the Kiwi coach.
Mukhtar
Guest
Campese sure speaks his mind. In a cynical world, folks say a lot of things for fame. Campese, seems the type to shout them even if he were in the Savannah. Campese's gripe is not original, but he is definitely not shy about voicing it; repeatedly. Folks in the ARU will no doubt ignore him, but will start to worry if things do not go to plan in June. What strikes me is the passion Campese has for the game, and the challenges rugby union faces in maintaining, let alone growing its support base in Oz. As most rugby fans are, Campo is worried sick over the 'safety-first' teams Deans has played over the years, which have struggled to assert themselves. More experienced Aussie fans have argued the Wallabies do not really have a history of 'attacking rugby'. Deans's methods are in line with the times - fellow Kiwi Gatland conquered Europe with this very attritional style of play. What confuses me is if Australia has the players to execute this game-plan. Also, does this game plan extract the max out of the players' skill-set. When I watch Ioane, Beale, O'Connor, Ashley-Cooper, QC, Genia, I see a lot of potential for fast-flowing, instinctive rugby; which somehow hardly materializes in Test matches. Regardless, these are uncertain times for the Wallabies and its supporters. I hope the Aussies discover their 'mojo'.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
Kinda like Campo?
Dan
Guest
Ha ha... Well done sir. That laxative comment is witty and aptly applied. Campo, you're a legend mate. However, please give the whining a rest. Your comments are so vindictive you've lost sight of the need for logical argument. As such... Your comments degrade the argument you're trying to promote.
Hahaha, I think he is too afraid to have a go at our predictable poop.
Aw, Come on Sandy, I enjoy listening to him repeat the same stuff every week. It is entertaining.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Emtpy vessels make the most sound.
Ra
Guest
Gary, big time soccer games attract 100 000 plus to their games week in week out, and they'll come back again next week even though the score was only 1 - 0
soapit`
Guest
i think its impossible to have delusions of grandeur if youve got a best player at a world cup under your belt
soapit`
Guest
it also should have more to it than penalties. a mix would be nice
soapit`
Guest
just watched the 3rd lions test from 2001. biggest difference was the teamwork and enthusiasm.
Champ
Guest
We should not be looking at the future when we pick the Wallabies, we should be picking for the present. It's the meant to be the best possible team from Australian rugby you can pick, not what will be the best is however long. At the moment GS is the best and should be picked for that reason. I can't imagine the ABs leaving RM out.