The toxic internal dramas that led to Robbie Deans being dismissed as Wallabies coach just over a year ago are still very much alive and kicking.
Removing Deans only served the short term. The problem is that the short-term fix is neither the right one or the smart one.
The coach is not the issue – never was – and the way that Ewen McKenzie, a former World Cup winning Wallaby, has been treated by some aspects of the media and some players makes one wonder why on earth anyone would want this job.
The issue is a structure that has for far too long allowed some players to think that they are bigger than the organisation that employs them, while at the same time not giving the coach full and public support.
Sound familiar? Just ask Robbie Deans.
Last year people in some quarters wanted a change at the helm, suggesting that Deans, as a New Zealander, should have never been given the job in the first place. After the Wallabies were hammered 41-16 in Sydney by The British and Irish Lions, which added to a miserable run, one could be forgiven for demanding a change.
After all, Deans had time to make a difference and had not done so. Three wins from eighteen attempts against the All Blacks says it all. But was it really 100 per cent his fault?
Let’s not forget that Deans had to battle unrest and power broking within the player group, and off-field antics by some players that would embarrass a six-year-old.
In the end Deans was gone and the thinking was that any and all issues that the Wallabies had went with him. Right? Wrong.
Now the issues that plagued Deans’ time as coach have reared their ugly heads again, proving that the short-term fix is never the right move, and until the internal issues are fixed no coach can do this job properly.
The Wallabies have lumbered from one issue to another. It’s boring. It’s embarrassing. Financially it is killing the Wallabies brand, and in a fight against three other very strong football codes that is not a good thing.
Case in point, Kurtley Beale. This ongoing drama has been well documented so no point in rehashing what we already know, except to say that enough really is enough. The fact is if you or I had sent texts with the content that Beale’s included and they came to our employer’s attention it’s very unlikely we’d still be employed a week later. No hearing. No explanation required. Gone.
For the sake of Australian rugby Beale must go, the players who don’t like it can follow suit. Or they can stay, grow up, shut up and play rugby.
Future player indiscretions need to be dealt with quickly and the new coach must have 100 per cent genuine and full backing by the board and the CEO, especially when it comes to the playing roster.
If not I’d suggest in 12 months we will see another new coach exiting stage left.
Chris
Roar Rookie
Hi Everyone. Thanks for the comments. Good or bad!! Chris
Wal
Roar Guru
Sorry for the late reply Sheek. I wrote else where that Australian Rugby has to start looking at some long term solutions. I know you are not a fan of the NRC is its current guise but competitions like that and better school boy/age group competitions are the only way to change this trend. Get the Greg Inglis's Cam Smiths, and Buddy Franklin wanting to play Rugby when they are 10 . I also hold out great hope for the Olympics helping in this regard as well. I guess you shot my once in lifetime team down pretty well other than to say Kiwi's have very short life cycles. Seriously though any AB's fan worth their salt live in fear that this great team will one day cease providing us with so much joy and entertainment. I am very luck to be a Canterbury, Crusaders and AB's fan but am also old enough to remember Auckland NPC dominance or Canterbury's first to Super seasons or the 5 in row in 1998 to understand that sport can be a fickle beast.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Yeah Gregan started the player power bs. He should not have been a wallaby from2003-2007
Magic Sponge
Guest
The amigos
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Hi Sheek, a very good post...
sheek
Roar Guru
Since I've been following rugby, it's amazing how many 'once in a lifetime' All Backs teams have passed my way. First-up, there was Fred Allen's & Brian Lochore's team of the late 60s. Their reign ended when they were surprisingly done over in SA in 1970. It goes on. The 70s were not a particularly great decade for the ABs (by their standard) bit they still beat most everybody, including a grand slam in 1978/79. Then in the 80s & 90s, we had 1982-84, 1987-90 & 1995-97. Yes, the ABs lost the 1995 WC but they won just about everything else during that period. We then thought the 2007 model was very special, only to be usurped by the 2011 model, now we have the 2014-15 model that is threatening to be better yet. By comparison, the Wallabies have 1984-86, 1991-94 & 1998-2001. I admire the high consistency of the ABs & how they maintain their standard year-in, year-out. It's something to both admire & envy. By comparison, Australian rugby is so hit & miss, more miss than hit. We live in an unjust world, & it would be an injustice if the Wallabies won the 2015 WC. Of course, they could fluke it, & we will all be delirious, but it would regrettably send the same false message that it sent in 1991 & 1999. That is, we punch above our weight & therefore don't need to change anything structural in our national domestic set-up. The events of the past decade 2004-14, ought to have brought it home to Aussie rugby fans that we can't continue doing the same things but expect a different result. A nation ought to be rewarded for winning the world cup by observing due process, by developing their players & coaches through the various structures. Not by fluking it because they managed to pull it all together in one year, but played crap for another 10.
Sam Bright
Roar Rookie
Well said, short and to the point with no extra dribble or things to say "look how much I know". If only the ARU had a similar mentality to the author.
Rolando
Guest
I presume the toxicity includes instances of state based mistrust between players and administrations eg Qld v NSW and ACT v the rest. How pathetic. Presumably a coach who even appears to be aligned with one faction or another gets tainted. Pathetic. I'm a little concerned about Chieka. He wasn't circumspect in his comments to address McKenzie's concerns over Skelton's fitness. Will this mean that both the ACT and QLD players will eventually white-ant Chieka as well? Perhaps Chieka has the strength of personality to overcome that. I think whoever is national coach has to get a buy in from all state franchises, who must continue to support him. I thought that Deans had that. Could there have been a gradual loosening of that support from Qld while McKenzie gave the coaching role to Graham and positioned himself for a tilt at the Wallabies' coaching role? Therefore the ARU has to be, and be seen to be, absolutely non state biased, in its composition and its allegiances. An Australia- first ethic should help prevent toxic inter-state suspicions and conspiracy theories developing.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Red Kev : it was poor management by ARU> they extended his contract before RWC. why I dont know. when things fell apart at the world cup then they started questioning his appointment (again ). the issue is the fragmentation of AUZZY rugger support. evryone wants someone from their state torun the game , coach the team. when one state gets the job , others gang up on him. aru tried to get over tha hurdle by appointing someone with no state connections ; instead of being a solution itbecame a disaster cz everyone ganged up on him irrespective of performance ;) this works in most cricket nations other than OZ & ENG. they get a foreign coach to overcome the politics and other race / clan culture that divide the team. most of the time it works, while the team performs well. the difference in NZ & SA is that they have somehow managed to overcome the state or provincial bias to a certain extent - by selecting players from all over and by performing at a high standard and avoiding embarrassing headlines. SA under PDV had a good team with many of the current lot in it , but never had the public support they now have.
Chan Wee
Guest
Mowen was a good captain but he was never the best 8 OZ had. his leadership and ref management was adequate but he could never play against the likes o Read Vermulean Folatau .... had he played at 6 would have survived the public inspection but at 8 he ws over-exposed.
Common Sense
Guest
Deans job was questioned before he even got it.
pjm
Roar Rookie
There was very little chatter questioning McKenzie's job on performance.
pjm
Roar Rookie
It's not like you've got guys who have been there for 20 years. Most of the players in the Wallabies now have been there for about 3-4 years. The coach sets the culture and they have done. Each Wallabies side has been different under each coach, still bad but different. People are holding up McKenzie as a saint when he has a big part to blame in all of this.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Deans got 48 months before his job was questioned and another 18 before he was gone. McKenzie got 15 months. If Cheika doesn't win the Bledisloe in 10 months time he might not make the RWC either,
Garry Edwards
Guest
My laugh for the day: Kafer, Esteemed Journalist, Nah mate! That he aint.
wiremu
Guest
Deans had some close ones & with a reasonable kicker in the team the wallabies could have won a few more...... not to forget injuries amongst top players. Deans gave Quade Cooper his chances ... plus.. After Saturdays test against the All Blacks, why change such a good combination. Do we really need the likes of Beale & toxic Cooper in the side full stop... What a test Saturday, a few more runs like that & the Wallabies will be right there amongst the top teams. Real forward commitment, getting there share of the ball with backs running at the All Blacks instead of senseless kicking. I want to see more of this action
pjm
Roar Rookie
I can't remember the last Australian Captain who did it well. Some too passive, some too aggressive.
Tanami Singh
Guest
can't change the culture of a team/workplace overnight, even months, it takes years. You can change the coach/supervisors really easily but if the team/workforce is made up of a bunch of whingers you'll be back to square one in no time at all. Good luck Mr Cheika. you're gunna need it.
Stu. B.
Guest
Genia can't manage referees,disaster!
Old Bugger
Guest
Wal Do you think whoever gets the coach role would make some tough calls for his EOYT squad?? Perhaps just to get this group of players to concentrate on the team first before each other or as individuals, before themselves?? A couple of key players told to stay home and recharge the battery then return next year and show the new coach that they're ready to rocknroll for the team. Here's a bold suggestion - how about starting with the 3 leadership players who have publicly supported Beale's retention or something to that effect, through the media? The coach has nothing to lose and everything gain because I doubt very much if he would allow this EOYT to be a part of his first KPI ratings.....well, he shouldn't if he recognises it. The EOYT would be a free ride for the coach in this current WB situation.