When will the rugby stone-throwing in glass houses fraternity realise nothing is ever set in concrete within the 15-man code?
Nothing, nil, nought, zero, ziltch, zip.
The current Kurtley Beale affair is the perfect example, the 1984 Grand Slam Wallabies another.
After four hours of the code of conduct independent tribunal hearing last Friday night, and another two hours before the result was announced, Beale was fined $45,000 for a text message to former business manager Di Patston, and that was that.
It was also announced by the ARU, Beale was free to join the Wallabies on their five-match spring tour. Beale was expected to fly out to Heathrow on the next available flight.
But nobody had bothered to ask new Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who had already left with the team last Friday, if he wanted Beale on board.
Cheika said no.
That decision came from left field. Beale had been a major cog in the Waratah machinery to win their first Super title in 19 attempts. And Cheika was the only coach to recognise Beale as a 12 – Robbie Deans didn’t, nor did Ewen McKenzie when it was handed to him on a platter after the Super success.
I’m not going to second guess why Cheika knocked Beale back. No doubt the reason will surface at some stage, but in the interim that’s Cheika’s prerogative. He ticked all the boxes with his decision-making to win the Super title, and we would expect him to tick all the boxes with the Wallabies.
But I will make two predictions.
The Waratahs won’t retain their Super title in 2015 unless Beale is at 12, Israel Folau at 15, and both play the majority of the season with Cheika coaching the men in blue for the last time.
Prediction two. The Wallabies won’t win their third Rugby World Cup next year unless Will Genia is halfback, Beale at 12 and Folau at 15, with all three playing on all eight cylinders throughout the tournament.
In the meantime, unless there’s an injury crisis on tour, Beale will remain in Sydney preparing for a long 2015 season.
Let’s turn the clock back to a special era in Australian rugby.
When Alan Jones took over as Wallabies coach in 1984 for the Grand Slam tour he was faced with the legacy of the 1981-82 Slam tour that was butchered by the Queensland-led rift with NSW, and the ring-leader Paul McLean.
Mark Ella was clearly the best 10 on tour, but McLean played the first two Tests at 10. Eventually even the Queenslanders had to agree Ella was by far the best bet. But McLean “had” to be in the side, playing 12 against Scotland, but worse still 15 against England, deposing the world’s best full back Roger Gould.
Another shocking non-selection was the Sydney and NSW skipper-lock Mick Mathers, who led the dirt-trackers mid-week.
The Slam tour results – defeated Ireland 16-12, lost to Wales 18-13, lost to Scotland 24-15 and lost to England 15-11 when McLean missed four very kickable penalties.
That touring side should have won the first Wallaby Slam, it was certainly good enough had the right selections been made, but they blew it. Jones defused any repeat when he appointed Queensland outside centre Andrew Slack captain over the very popular incumbent Mark Ella.
That was a mighty tough call on Ella, but in the interests of the team, Jones appointing Slack was a masterstroke. Not only did Slack grow a leg as a Wallaby, but he showed outstanding leadership, while Ella proved yet again he was a genius by scoring a record-breaking try in all four Slam Tests.
Those 1984 Slam results – defeated England 19-3, Ireland 16-9, Wales 28-9 and Scotland 37-12, playing great running rugby to score 10 tries to one.
Emphatic. Just as Michael Cheika will be on his Wallaby watch.
The next five Wallaby games throughout November will be the litmus test.
RodMac
Roar Rookie
Let it go mate
44bottles
Roar Guru
Come on Rob. You're better than using the Stawman logical fallacy. https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/strawman
Sam
Guest
based upon the headline, how can it be so cut and dried that all of the 81 tour failures be laid at the foot of Paul McLean, or that he acted as a "ringleader"? indeed nothing is clear cut, including the overlap of the era of great players like Ella and McLean. If I could transplant the usually unerring boot of McLean, his ability to find touch and valuable ground for the forwards as well as his ability to know when to run the ball and swing it wide in a modern 5/8 then I'd have every coach banging down my door. ella was an attacking genius we will be overjoyed to see the like of again. Cooper comes within cooee but would never surpass. Maybe thats enough for the wallabies if they can get a aggressive and abrasive pack and some front foot ball. Perhaps the best opinion on this all would be winger Benny Moon, who played with both 5/8's. He would have told you the merits of both, and certainly watching him on the end of the brothers or queensland backline outside mclean, he never developed frostbite on his fingers. It doesn't have to be a zero sum game. Let's have both. even evan whitton begrudgingly praised mclean's silky hands after the 2nd test against scotland in 82. He then perhaps raised two the keeper with those same hands by retiring. McKenzie may just have done the same thing.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Yeah great call Bennelong, I think Hoiles is underrated and would have him at 6 for the wallabies. Higgers is doing little to cement his spot.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Hi Bennalong! I'm so happy someone (you) has drawn attention to the contribution of Stephen Hoiles to the Tahs' great season. I kept being disappointed he didn't seem to draw the kudos he deserved, especially when one considers the difficulties he underwent getting surgery for his foot. The AAC try at the Super 15 Finals was a quick pass from Hoiles from the base of the ruck. He came from a long way to get to that position.
Loyal Tah Fan
Guest
I'm pretty sure David doesn't actually read the comments on his ridiculous articles. As a tahs fan I think Beale was awesome for the tahs this year but definitely don't think he is up to starting at test level. I was one who doubted lilo at 12 in brizzy but was very pleasantly surprised. Beale is now 3rd or 4th pick 12
Loyal Tah Fan
Guest
#Justice4RugbyFans
cs
Guest
Thanks David, and Moose - yep, that's the player I've been watching, and good willing we'll see a hell of a lot more of him yet. I don't know who the bloke is that these other commentators are talking about, but they've obviously got his name wrong.
Magic Sponge
Guest
mark ella and glen and gary were absolutely rugby geniuses. mark was definetly the best player I have ever seen.
Rob G
Guest
I can't wait for EOYT to be more than i year ago. But id say in 5 years time people like you will continue to tell us all "remember 2013 spring your, cooper was brilliant" Why was he so rubbish in super rugby before he got injured???
Rob G
Guest
Wow, if there is one thing that is sure to get queenslanders screaming to mummy its point out quade coopers flaws. My mistake, he's the perfect 10 everyone.
bennalong
Guest
How great it is to read well thought discussion about our 12 options and the acknowledgement of the contribution Beale made to our Super 15 win. One which McKenzie specifically denied Beale and Foley reprising. Beale's aboriginality makes him a target one way or another but a look at a highlights reel will shut up the most belligerent of critics. I love Michael Cheika because he gave me my first Championship win after 19 years! But most of all I love his positivity, and the way he lifted players to their very best, from new boy Skelton, to oldie Stephen Hoiles, who deserved his rebirth and glory. I trust the Wallabies coaching job isn't necessarily a poison chalice, but this website gives me reason to doubt he'll get support from the Tah haters that seem incapable or unwilling to back the national team if the coach doesn't pick their choices. He'll have to pick winners early to silence the knockers.
bennalong
Guest
Mark Ella doesn't agree with you, but don't let that stop you.
bennalong
Guest
Another genius contributes.
bennalong
Guest
You can't even spell your own name. You obviously love adding to David Lord's comments, you don't have to say anything that requires rugby knowledge.
bennalong
Guest
It isn't hard to get Reds haters. Just talk about any members of Australia's Super 15 champions.
bennalong
Guest
Why bother with the pointless put downs fellas. Is this humour? Get on with rugby commentary.
Grahame
Guest
Niwdeyaj, I find your continual flaming, name-calling and sledging of others irritating and tiring. Most here on the Roar discuss the subject; and play the ball. You focus on playing the man.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Uncle, I also am a Christian Leali'ifano fan from 2012 onwards, having watched him play first five and second five for Waikato at the ITM Cup. I hid my disappointment in the 2012-2013 years when his promise seemed to dim beside Matt Toomua's confident playing. I knew it would be a matter of time, however, before his (Leali'ifano's) skills would be on display again. I thought it was a matter of finding a group of players that suited the rhythm he's attuned to, such as was played in the ITM Cup. However, I will say this for Beale: I rewatched the Super 15 Finals between the Tahs and the Saders and was struck by the seamless transition between Foley and Beale as they switched first five and second five roles throughout the game. It was as if they had automatic cue-ing. It was a masterclass, IMHO.
Don
Roar Rookie
Argyle you are right. Outside of his kicking McLean by all reports (other than David's at the time) was playing well. We scored more tries in every test than our opponents but we were beaten by penalty kicks. I'm sure Paul McLean didn't give away all those penalties so shouldn't be blamed for the losses. It certainly wasn't Bob Templeton's or Nick Shehadie's finest efforts in coaching nor management respectively. Mark Loane should have been tour captain rather than Tony Shaw too.