Half a step forward or a halfback?

Don't compare White to Genia, that's just riciculous...

most likely Link will only win 1 game this year............ if that's the case, then is a no brainer that he should go. Graham Henry went to Wales and lifted them in no time......... this is not the case with the wallabies and there's no sign of improvements after 5 games......... HENCE, I AM CALLING FOR LINK TO GO.....

I am worried about you Hamish, you keep talking to yourself. :-)

See, that's your problem - you use facts in your argument. New around these parts, are you? :)

“It’s one thing to kick the ball away in your own half – you don’t want to be caught in unwanted situations – but it’s another thing to be the cause of your own team’s possession deficit.” “However, when you are 30 and 40m from your line there has to be a hint of a chance you’ll run the ball otherwise the opposition just pressure the kick and run it back with reinforcements.” Unlike Spiro you have refrained from calling for White to be banished from Wallaby gold but can we take a moment to review some of your comments in light of the overall game something White is accused of not being able to do. Possession in the game was split 50/50 and in the first half the South African halves kicked 10 times and the Australian halves 11 times. South Africa average 34m per kick Aus 37m per kick. SA used their fly half to kick Aus used their halfback to kick. No one is critical of SA for kicking away possession. South African spent over 3 min in Aus 22, Australia spent 15 seconds in SA 22. Reviewing the game it does not appear to be how much it was kicked but the result of the kicks that had the greater bearing on the outcome. Whites first kick from inside his 22 was a box kick for contested possession chased by one player who was stepped around and SA returned the ball almost to the AUS 22 line. Was the kick unexpected, no as you have stated the SA were expecting the kicks but obviously it was not expected by the Australians. I am unable to recall White kicking from 40m from his line and indeed he did not kick once inside the SA half. The tactics which have been discussed at length over a prolonged period about field position and running I am not going to repeat but given the field position the Wallabies found themselves in kicking was the consensually agreed correct action, it is a bit rich to criticise in hindsight. The two tries scored by SA in the first half were the result of very, very ordinary goal line defence and the tactic of having backs contest kick off and ensuing ruck leaving forwards to defend the middle of the field. We kicked but we did not chase and we did not execute our tackles effectively that’s why we lost in Newlands and the result would have been the same regardless of who started in the 9 jumper.

A limp, lame argument. The blokes cited worked in day jobs because they were unpaid. Ask them if they would've preferred to be a full time player and see what they all say. You maybe right about this lot being poor decision makers. Or not. But if they are it sure has nothing to do with being a pro. See, for example, Higgers, Mortlock, Larkham or Pocock. Get a grip. Or have a Bex and a good lie down.

I've been critical of Nick Phipps for being too slow to the breakdown, but may be he's worth another look. The only other real options... Sheehan, McKibbin or -ahem- Luke Burgess??

True to the point and as it should be -- see Nick Far-Jones - statement after a Coach briefing. "Now that he is gone fellas, just come here and I will tell you what we are going to do" - or something along those lines. The Wallabies are weak on basics of passing ,kicking and tackling and scrimmaging - BUT - they are also short on Captains or Senior Leaders with the mental capacity and nous of Rugby to make changes MID-STREAM. Remember Rugby used to be played by Rhodes Scholars, Doctors, Engineers, Architects, Economists, Financial Planners and the occasional tradie. Now we have professional footballers --- and for the last 7 to 8 years in Australia no RUGBY BRAINS LEADING THE ON-FIELD TEAM. The times when Nick Far Jones, Lynagh, Eales, Ella - MADE DECISIONS!!!

I'm absolutely positive that White was told to execute the kicking game plan. The fault does not lay with him that the game plan was not changed because it wasn't working, although he should shoulder some of the blame. The responsibility is with the captain and vice captain, both Horwill and Mowen should have seen what was happening and they should have taken the initiative to change what was obviously a flawed game plan. Standing behind the goal posts after the second try would have given them both ample time to get into a huddle and grab White and say to him stop kicking and start running the ball. The alternative would have been for White to grab Horwill and Mowen and say to them "this is "crap" boys, the plan isn't working, tell me what to do, I'm new at this". Neither of these scenarios happened and that leads me to think that the leadership within the Wallabies is not what it should be.

"Agree true colors have come out, Link is an Ordinary coach, when at the Reds he inherited a team of dead beats sick of being dead beats. They were more motivated to achieve greatness more than McKenzie, he just directed a group of players striving for success and it worked." What a load of reactionary garbage. Link has had no time with the team other than game preparation where there is no time for meaningful changes to structure and systems or for the players to adapt to the new game plans. Every interview just about has the players pleading to stick with them and give them time. You're probably the kind of supporter who will be on here next year bleating on how great a coach McKenzie is as we take it to the blacks and boks.

Wow, its amazing how easily support can turn on these players. The one thing I would agree with is that no-one knows exactly what White was instucted to do & if he was given the permission to change the game plan without the approval or direction of his skipper. So often you hear coaches & captains say that "we didnt stick to the gameplan" or "we went away from the gameplan". So who decides on the field that when somethings not working to change it ? I find it hard to believe that in Whites 2nd test start that he had that latitude with Horwill & Mowen on the paddock to do so. I'm sure that the communication in the ranks is not clear at this point & 1 of the problems their suffering at present. But lets not shoot the players before the gain the experience necessay, White is I believe 1 of our best halfbacks & seems to have a good relationship with Genia & Ewen publicly backs them both so lets support them as they go through their teething process. So much stone throwing each week can't help Ewens cause.

Chip over the middle to Folau. I think it's been done and worked twice. So... yeah lets just hoof it to Kirchner instead.

Hi Mania That's a fair point about Folau, but there is a difference between him and some of the other new players. He is an "x factor" player, he has the skills and ability to do something other players can't do and turn a game. He's already shown that against the Lions, and he is (in my mind) undoubtedly a test class player who deserves his spot. That said, there are obviously concerns about his workrate, what is his best position, and learning fullback positional play on the job. But he, more than anyone, is suffering because he's playing in this current Wallabies side. Let's face it, how can we properly assess any backline player when the Wallabies in the first half refused to pass the ball into the backline, or create any 2nd phase play for the backs?

Agree true colors have come out, Link is an Ordinary coach, when at the Reds he inherited a team of dead beats sick of being dead beats. They were more motivated to achieve greatness more than McKenzie, he just directed a group of players striving for success and it worked. Now throw in a team down on confidence, lacking a little motivation and belief and "as it appears on the field" no motivation for success, and he is STRUGGLING to make it work. If this trend continues McKenzie will HAVE TO GO can't keep losing and make that acceptable, I wonder if the team has issues with Link and NOT buying into his vision. Players need to suck it up and get on with the task at hand, OR Link has to go.........maybe premature but true.......keep going like this and you only build a LOSING culture and that becomes the Norm, what has happened to AUS Rugby???

When a team's confidence is shot to pieces as is the case of the current Wallabies AND a player is new into the team, then the typical human response is to strictly adhere to the Coach's instructions. It was perfectly clear Nic White had been told to kick by Ewen. I suspect it took the instruction a little too literally and fell into the trap of ignoring instincts and empirical evidence that it wasn't working. We all know by watching the game he should have adapted and changed his approach by the mid-point of the first half, but he didn't because he lacks confidence and trusts in the advice he's getting. I'm not defending him because IMO a Wallaby should be good enough in their debut test to know how to read the game and adapt.

chillax. I didn't say that nicWhite was as good as FDP, HELL NO. I only saw FDP in the 2nd half but I reckon he's taken the best 9 in the world title off genia. I meant that whites style more emulates FDPs game more than genia. sheesh

Agree, come on Mania are there fumes circulating where you are now? Nic White NO WHERE near FDP or Will Genia give me a break hearing that is like eating garbage!!!! Delete Comment

Test rugby is a hard beast to tame. White may have been following the plan to the T, but SURELY he looked at the scoreboard after 20mins and thought that was a good time for adjustment if ever there was one. Heck, he runs the ball a fair bit and feeds forward runners at the Brumbies heaps! You'd think he'd do that by accident a few times even! :P

Allanthus - so shouldn't this also apply to folau? a great talent but isn't it a huge risk asking him to learn his craft in the test arena? whilst I think folau is learning its only a matter of time before a lesson he hasn't learnt will cost WBs the game. nicWhite can share equal blame for the kicking fest. him and link really screwed that one up. sure nWhite stuck to the gameplan but doesn't he have a desire to win? that desire should've made him abandon the tactic and try something else.

I guess part of White's problem is that he's a test newcomer, no doubt keen to do exactly as the coach tells him, plus he comes from a Brumbies side where he's been encouraged all season to kick often, plus he has a big boot on him anyway.... The thing about test rugby, it makes no allowance for any of this, particularly inexperience. White doesn't get any credits for being new to test rugby or following a plan, he's a test player pure and simple and he needs to assess the game and react accordingly. Same deal for Chris Sautia being exposed on the short-side. This isn't the arena for learning on the job, players need to have not only the skills but the instinct and temperament to perform at this level. If White does get another chance he needs to show a lot more nous and authority - look and act like he belongs.