After Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie and captain Michael Hooper had finished with their post-match media conference, McKenzie stunned everyone with his resignation, effective immediately.
The resignation certainly came from left field, we are yet to see what the ramifications will be among the Wallabies.
None of the Wallabies were told of McKenzie’s decision before they took on the All Blacks at Suncorp last night.
ARU boss Bill Pulver, and the Board, were told by McKenzie at 10am yesterday.
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» Ewen McKenzie resigns as Wallabies coach
» Who can coach the Wallabies?
» Pulver slams media after McKenzie exit
After McKenzie and Hooper left the media conference, Pulver took over, with unstinted praise for the outgoing coach, adding that a new coach will be appointed as soon as possible with the Wallabies due to leave on their end of year tour next Friday.
The only option can be Michael Cheika. the successful Waratahs coach, having taken the franchise to their first Super Rugby title in 19 years.
It must not be South African Jake White. or we’ll see the Wallabies kicking the soulcase out of the ball, instead of the McKenzie and Cheika way of running the ball, and encouraging the crowds.
The resignation, on top of the Wallabies losing to the All Blacks 29-28 with a converted try after the hooter, has left a really sour taste.
It was best summed up by ARU president David Crombie presenting Adam Ashley-Cooper with his 100th Wallaby cap post match, adding – “Wonderful century, bugger of a result”.
It certainly was a bugger of a result, the Wallabies were the first to score, and were only momentarily behind 12-10 at the 35 minute mark, but led by 10 with 10 minutes to go.
The Wallabies didn’t deserve to play second fiddle.
After losing to the Boks and Pumas in their last two internationals after leading deep into the second half, and a week of intense and devastating turmoil off the field, the men in gold gave it everything, a welcome return to what rugby fans expect of the jersey – the pride and passion returned, so too the intensity.
If replacement halfback Nic White ever kicks again, rugby fans will throw up.
With 100 seconds to the final hooter, and the Wallabies leading 28-22 in possession, White kicked into touch.
All the Wallabies had to do was go phase after phase, and the game was theirs, against all odds.
The White kick went into touch, All Black lineout feed, and the inevitable happened,
It reminded me of Mat Rogers finding touch in extra time of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. England feed, and the inevitable happened, Jonny Wilkinson landed the match-winning drop goal.
In short, both examples were dumb rugby.
But that’s that, and apart from White, the vast majority of Wallabies last night played out of their skins, none more so than outside centre Tevita Kuridrani, who ran strongly and displayed tough defence, both right out of the top draw.
Michael Hooper, James Slipper, Scott Fardy, and Rob Simmons were powerful up front, as was Matt Hodgson when he came off the bench.
Inside centre Christian Lealiifano enjoyed his return to the lineup, while Israel Folau went in search of the ball, and was very busy.
Ashley-Cooper made a couple of strong runs, but didn’t pass, while the biggest backline news was Will Genia’s powerful performance for Brisbame City against the Vikings in the Test curain-raiser.
It was the Genia of old, and he’ll be on the plane for the northern hemisphere tour, and back in the Wallaby jumper which he deserves to wear.
But nothing else can be said about last night’s game, as the sudden resignation of Ewen McKenzie bites..
The next move is up to the Board, and for once they can’t potter, a new Wallaby coach must be appointed well inside a week.
David Crombie could well have said it’s been a bugger of a week, and he’d be right.
Mike
Guest
"Under Deans we could not score more than 1 try a match trying to play unAustralian Rugby" Funny, I seem to recall Wallabies under Deans scoring five tries in a match against the Boks, and four tries in a match against the All Blacks, and seven tries against France.... And I also seem to recall Wallabies under McKenzie scoring 4 penalties but no tries vs NZ, 2 penalties but no tries vs France, 4 penalties but no tries against Boks... Lucky we have experts to tell us what "unAustralian Rugby" is. :) "People have to enjoy the style played otherwise they will turn off – not watch and revenue will dry up. Mckenzie had to DeDeans the Wallabies – not an easy thing to do." Errr right, and so that's why crowds have dropped under McKenzie? [The above may seem like an anti-McKenzie rant, but its not. He wasn't a bad coach and a lot of these things aren't to do with the coach anyway, or not entirely. Which just makes rants about Deans being unAustralian or playing a particular style all the more goofy.
AJH
Guest
the Win loss record is not the only thing - People have to enjoy the style played otherwise they will turn off - not watch and revenue will dry up. Mckenzie had to DeDeans the Wallabies - not an easy thing to do. Under Deans we could not score more than 1 try a match trying to play unAustralian Rugby.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Australia, wonderful place, shame about the people.
Chop
Roar Guru
William, Prior coaches were sacked and deemed failures with the same record, why isn't it a fail with McKenzie?
Chop
Roar Guru
If by factor in you mean completely destroy and rebuild the culture then I completely agree with you.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
So is the ARU.... Their lack of factual clarification is now bordering on the ridiculously negligent...
thereitis
Guest
Well said, Ziggy. I agree, especially wrt Hooper. He is not a fit person to represent his country after his shows of disrespect and disloyalty. What a terrible error of judgement it was to make him captain. Personally, I feel that the sooner he departs the team the better. The least he could do is (a) resign the captaincy and (b) apologise for his snide and disrespectful behaviour. I won't hold my breath. People like Hooper and his mates and supporters and cheerleaders should understand that they are destroying rugby in Australia. It hurts me to say this, but it is almost enough for an old rugby codger like me to ask for rugby asylum in NZ.
thereitis
Guest
-1
Justin3
Guest
I just havent seen it, hence the question. Can you cut and paste it for me? I would be interested in reading it.
WoobliesFan
Guest
X2 Lord is the worst type of journalist. Biased, nasty and disingenuous. His articles are pure filler and tabloid. I'll never forget his piece on The Roar about the Socceroos.....it was one for the ages......squirmish, bile, weirdly dumb.
WoobliesFan
Guest
David is a joke....a gutless coward. So is spiro.
WoobliesFan
Guest
Really good summary mate. Honed in on all the important points.
WoobliesFan
Guest
That ain't that trio anymore.....Quade has cleaned up his act. But I want the amigos to stay alive....swap Hooplah for Quade and we got a deal.
mania
Guest
cheika and larkham have already said no last week. this has to be jakeWhites job. was a bit suspicious when he resigned from sharks but this all makes sense. ABs team work was below par but luckily individual efforts got them through but WB's were the better team. WBs played awesome, dominating the contact areas, great woh ball in hand and mostly making their first up tackles. gotta suck to lose like that
Rabbits
Guest
Aren't lawyers human beings like us??
Ken
Guest
Easy to say resign so who would you volunteer to fix things mate
Ken
Guest
You are a disgusting coward most people on here agree you obnoxious troll ,take your own advice and shut your own mouth your coward ,full of innuendo and character assassinations but hey this is all the time I'll give to a troll coward.
Ken
Guest
He reported the text messages to the ARU and because he was seen as dobbing in a mate of Hoopers,AAC and the rest of the NSW click he was ostracised for doing what any decent man would have done ,this is a sick joke but the wallabies deserve the captain and vice captain they have because no one stood up and said no this is wrong.
Ken
Guest
Just shut up Lord your character assassination of Ewen is on record and your say your shocked ? ,you used rumours an innuendo like the trolls on here to tar a good man and now your shocked ,get a dog up ya.
Upfromdown
Guest
Deans did an ok job but could not take us to the next level. So I am happy he left as another year or 2 of 1 try matches would have been a nightmare. I appreciate people think we don't have the players but it is the coaches job to develop a game plan and players to implement it. Mckenzie got his chance and it did not pay off. Who knows if it was the media? Or Beale? Or the ARU? Or a supposed relationship? Or supposed poor staff selection? Or supposed team disharmony? Or his big game talking before he got the job and during it? But the result is a sum of its parts and not because of one thing. He did not cause his own demise but he did not help it either it seems.