I’ve been ashamed to see fellow Queenslanders turning on Ewen McKenzie for his selections and man management.
‘Link’ is better placed than anybody to deal with the Reds’ senior players. As Wallaby coach, he is also obliged to say if they aren’t up to it.
We all know what Will Genia and James Horwill are capable of. On their day, both are world class – in fact Genia is arguably the best 9 of his generation. But Genia and Horwill are not in form.
It may be down to hunger, freshness or a little of both. Whatever the case, McKenzie was right to drop them. The bench or the stands are the perfect places to rediscover how much a Wallaby jersey means, and to breathe life into tired legs.
There are other lower-profile casualties of the Reds fall from the summit. The Fainga’as, Jake Schatz, Ben Tapuai and Mike Harris have all been ordinary. None of them deserved someone else’s place in the Wallaby squad.
While a Rebel now, Scott Higginbotham was undoubtedly a favourite of McKenzie’s at the Reds. Yet Scott Fardy at 6 and Ben McCalman at 8 have kept him out of the side, probably due to work rate and discipline.
But let’s not pretend that McKenzie’s approach to man management and selection only has an impact on Queenslanders.
Benn Robinson was undroppable under Robbie Deans. Suddenly he is no longer is within the squad, let alone the starting XV.
David Pocock has barely been mentioned in the context of 2015. Admittedly he has been injured, but one wonders whether McKenzie has consciously decided his time has gone.
Adam Ashley-Cooper was right at the centre of the ‘Dublin Experience’. The indignity was almost too much to bare and even his old mate Drew Mitchell defended his valour from Toulon!
All three of those calls by McKenzie have led to positives.
James Slipper (a Red) has emerged as one of the Wallaby’s best players. His work rate is miles beyond Robinson’s and his scrummaging is getting close to parity.
Michael Hooper went from good to great without the spectre of Pocock hanging over him. As a Wallaby captain whose Energiser bunny-style plays right into McKenzie’s game plan, it is hard to see how Pocock could displace him.
Adam Ashley-Cooper has no doubt made his mum very proud and become the statesman of the backline.
When you add Sam Carter’s debut to remember following Horwill’s benching to that list, it is hard to argue with McKenzie’s calls.
How long did we all complain about Deans picking a team full of Waratahs when they were blatantly out of form? Remember the number of times we moaned when Rocky Elsom and Pat McCabe were picked despite carrying injuries? What about James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale being undroppable even though they carried on like brats?
McKenzie has changed all of that, and not before time.
It is too early to say whether those changes will bring Bill back or fill stadiums around the country again. But no matter what state you come from, you have to admit that McKenzie is on the right path.
wazza perth nz ex pat
Guest
Boo hoo...
Zero Gain
Guest
Not a fight, seeking an opinion. Tane defends Deans non stop on here but I bet he wouldn't accept a non Kiwi coach. I want him to explain that. By the way, your attempts at put downs are quite pathetic.
Chivas
Guest
Point is Doug, I was responding to the suggestion that Hansen should be criticised for one game. Point is the team still hasn't lost. So this rhetorical nonsense about Hansen ignoring SR form doesn't appear to be causing the AB's as many problems as some may wish. As for FOS's outrageous comment, put more Queenslanders in the side and see them get pumped regardless if who the AB's put on the park and how they play. Believe me you can have the bounce of the ball and all the 50:60 calls and it won't change the result. Criticising a coach when he hasn't dropped a game is about as wise as filling the a Wallabies with Queenslanders. So they started a bit rusty. Personally I don't even mind them dropping the odd game or two. The AB's are number one in the world and have been for the best part of this century. If you think that is down to dubious calls then perhaps you need a reality check. If you accept that it is not, then it must be a combination of players, coaches and systems. Do you seriously think some mad eyed Queensland supporter is up to critiquing them? I find the comment laughable. On this site, we hear how Moore is number one in the world, Quade is number one or thereabouts, Genia is the greatest player of his generation.... Where oh where is the silverware. Now EM is the master coach. Anyway, I hope the Wallabies do well and are at least competitive this season. As I have mentioned it is a long one and not determined by last weeks game. But certainly a respectable start to the internationals by the men in gold.
PeterK
Guest
Wozza - I did not mention all the players, Vickerman, Sharpe, JoC. And as you say Palu was better then. Smith then was better than Hooper now. Same with Giteau then and Toomua now. That said both Hooper and Toomua are better than Smith and Giteau now ie I would not want to recall them. Elsom before he was broken better than Fardy. Deans had a better squad for most of his tenure than Mckenzie has. Just Deans is not as good a coach for the Wallabies.
Wozza
Guest
I'm with you PeterK and thank god you're not a selector Hooperdoggy. Smith is probably still better than Hooper Toomua might be better than Giteau one day but isn't there yet. Elsom was far from broken then. Sharpe over Simmons Horwills form was all over his current form ditto Palu. And don't forget the 2008 scrum pushed the Poms into the Twickers turf. This team is building nicely but we'll know more after the RC. To say they're better than the 2008 squad, which came within a hairs breath of winning the BLED and TN is a colossal call. But I understand its forbidden vto ever suggest that an Australian could ever be better than Kiwi in anything rugby related isn't even if McKenzie has won more tests in a row than Deans and reminded the team what the try line is
wazza perth nz ex pat
Guest
Why are you trying to pick a fight (albeit via a keyboard) over a decision made by your own people - Deans had a good record in NZ and Oz recruited him because of it -- tough bikkiies... You must have too much spare time on your hands.... don't they have an exercises program for you in the nursing home?
Zero Gain
Guest
Tane? No comment? Why, because it will highlight why your defence of Deans is inconsistent?
DougRedsfan1
Guest
Well if you're happy with the All Blacks dropping ball, getting pushed backwards etc.. There may come a day when a dubious yellow card or 50/50 call doesn't help the All Blacks.
DougRedsfan1
Guest
Pretty cynical Jerry. He did win the WC in 1991, how many have you won?
The Bush
Roar Guru
I couldn't agree with a post more! Being generally against conspiracies (ie trying hard not to believe he didn't have a game plan), my strongest gripe with Deans was that he formed views of players too early and then stuck with them for too long, when they clearly weren't up to it. During his era some truly average players accumulated a lot of caps. I also think Deans prioritised characteristics in players that simply weren't as valuable as skill with a rugby ball, such as "impact", "enthusiasm", "attitude" (ie "toughness", reflected in being quiet and "no-nonsense"). This resulted, in my opinion, in Deans picking players to match a given formula, when he should have been coming up with a formula for the talent we did have/do have.
Chris Murray
Guest
Tane, I have no idea if you are right or wrong but your posts are full of aggression, for whatever reason. Your views would be a lot easier to think about without the bombs attached. Take care.
Gasparin
Guest
Personally, I prefer my eggs scrambled, or hard. Unfertilised chicken ovaries should never be runny. It's just not rugby. Greetings from the desert, Mr Cox.
Silver Sovereign
Guest
Belittle the Australian captain? Is he beyond reproach? what, are we to bow down to the great Hooper and never criticize him?
Silver Sovereign
Guest
Belittle the Australian captain? Is he beyond reproach? what, are we to bow down to the great Hooper and never criticize him?
jutsie
Guest
i dont know if deans was stubborn or just never had a plan B. he put all his eggs in one basket and when the players he built his gameplan around had dips in form/got injured he still selected them hoping theyd regain the form and slot back in to the team. it was the same with matchday where he'd rarely use the bench and the team never changed tactics.
jutsie
Guest
whenever I see tane and jiggles get into an argument it reminds me of this clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV1wJFfGjHE
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I think Link is going OK. He doesn't appear to have pets which is great and isn 't afraid to dent ego's. His approach seems vastly different to Dingo. Genia IMO should have been on the bench for Saturday and Horwill is really there by default. Links main priority IMO is getting the tight 5 right . If he does then he will win me over.
Bakkies
Guest
I still rate Smith ahead of Hooper.
Stin
Guest
Rubbish
Zero Gain
Guest
The mighty Reds will rise again. Link is going OK, so far. At least we have an Australian coach for the Australian side. Lord Tane, how about a foreign coach for the ABs? How would you and the NZ public feel about that? Deans is a very decent bloke and a good coach but he really lost it at the end, against the Lions. JOC at 5/8 was simply insane. I have not heard any complaining about the number of Qlders in the side, except for Genia not being there. He should be at least on the bench. I think Hooper is the wrong choice for captain, too young. His decision to gamble on a try instead of an easy 3 points showed that. Yes, I know we scored, but it was still the wrong decision.