Yesterday I started my preview of Australia’s World Cup chances with a look at the backline and forward pack. Today I will delve into the Wallabies’ recent coaching carousel.
Australia have experienced some fairly turbulent times since the last World Cup, but they have a talented enough squad to lift the Webb Ellis Cup in 2015.
Following Australia’s disappointing semi-final exit from the 2011 World Cup, their then-head coach Robbie Deans came under huge pressure from fans and media alike. The pressure only grew In the years following the World Cup as the Wallabies continued on a slow regression, their lowest ebb being the 2-1 series loss to the British and Irish Lions in 2013.
Deans resigned shortly afterwards, allowing the highly successful Queensland Reds coach, Ewen McKenzie, to take over. Australia’s first few performances under McKenzie in the Rugby Championship in 2013 were abysmal, with some in the Australian media beginning to question the quality of Australian players as well as the depth of Australian rugby.
However, McKenzie’s new tactics and coaching methods soon reaped rewards, as Australia ended the Rugby Championship with a convincing 54–17 win over Argentina playing some highly creative, fast-paced rugby. They then enjoyed a successful tour of the Northern hemisphere at the end of 2013, with convincing wins over Italy, Ireland, and Wales, the only glitch being a loss to England.
2014 started out promisingly for Australia, with a resounding 3-0 series win over France in June, where Australia played a style of rugby that was becoming increasingly enjoyable to watch. However, despite starting the tournament well with a draw against New Zealand their fortunes changed for the worse in The Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies entered the second Bledisloe Cup match with plenty of confidence, however the match quickly turned from bad to worse. They were beaten 51-20 in an extremely disappointing performance that set the tone for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies went on to lose badly to South Africa and then suffered the embarrassment of becoming the first team to lose to Argentina since their entry into the competition.
The Australian camp then became the centre of media attention for off-field reasons when Kurtley Beale got caught up in an air rage scandal with team staffer Di Patston. The controversy grew when it was further revealed that Beale had escape discipline a few months earlier for sending offensive texts regarding Patston to another team-mate and accidentally sending the messages to Patston.
These controversies, as well as speculation about a possible affair between McKenzie and Patson, led to the head coach’s resignation following Australia’s narrow defeat to New Zealand in the third Bledisloe Cup game in Brisbane.
The obvious successor to McKenzie was Michael Cheika, the coach who had just guided the NSW Waratahs to a successful Super Rugby campaign. The Waratahs typically supply a large number players to the Australian side, including the captain Michael Hooper.
As a result, the core of the team already respected Cheika and had plenty of experience playing under him. As for the players from other states, his experience coaching in Super Rugby meant that he had plenty of experience coaching against them.
Although the beginning of his tenure has not been successful, with just one win from four against Northern hemisphere opposition, it is remarkable that he was able to put his stamp on the team within just two games.
As well as playing an attractive brand of rugby featuring free-flowing backline attack, Australia now have the hard-nosed aggression up front that is a trademark of Cheika-coached teams.
However, with just five games left on Australia’s schedule between now and the start of World Cup, Cheika has very little time to fine-tune his team’s performances.
What do you think of Australia’s chances at the 2015 World Cup Roarers? Are they a hope of putting it all behind them and turning in a good performance?
Mal
Guest
Hooper may not be captain for the future tests with past captains Pocock and Moore, even Horwill, fit and available, which would leave the 7 jersey open.
splits
Guest
England as well as the other 6 nations are at home and will be coming off season before entering the WC , so they will be primed and match fit a huge advantage Australia, NZ ,Argentina and SA wont have played for a while so its down to who can get up to speed and adapt the quickest I doubt Australia will make the semis...they may have fire power out wide, yet Falou and co never get the room against the ABs or SA or even England for that matter..While England are brutal in the fowards
Jack
Guest
What other test side would Hooper make the run on side?
Magic Sponge
Guest
I think Toomua is a dead set certainty for the 12 but agree Goodwin is a great player but left his run too late, The backs aren't the problem it is our soft forwards. If they get tougher we have a chance. But a few injuries and we are cactus and we don't have depthin the forwards, but if Moore and Pocock perform we are agreat chance. Cheers GaxMan
Sean Turner
Roar Guru
Sio is about the only prop who can scrum. Im done with any debate surrounding Kepu, doesn't offer enough and his scrum prowess is a myth. Jones, with time, could become a more than viable option, as he possesses the flair and aggresiveness needed to succeed at this level. He is a bit raw and low on skills, but that can be coached. Simmons and Horwill are the most overrated second row pairing in world rugby IMO. Please keep in mind Im just working with what is there, and there are honestly no combinations in which I think to myself "hey, that's a potential cup winning formula".
Sean Turner
Roar Guru
Sorry, but any side with simmons in it is doomed to fail IMO. If he starts, you can guarantee the opposition get at least a 6 point start through brain explosions, and a scrum back-pedalling at the rate of knots. Quite simply is not a test player. Agree with the rest of your post, and I have selected Genia and Cooper simply because I dont think there is really any other decent combination. There is a lot of hope involved.
Daz
Guest
Whoops you're right. But they came back pretty well in the third and the way they are so up and down tells me a lot of it is about attitude.
canadiankiwi
Guest
Two props who cannot scrummage at test level vs England and Wales? Same soft, lightweight second row that gets driven backwards in all phases of the game. You cannot play two Pocock and Hooper together as neither are lineout options, leaving you with only three jumpers- too easy to defend. Plus, the scrum already goes backwards at a frightening pace. Great backline though I wonder if the NSW supporters agree
canadiankiwi
Guest
Beyond the semis? Are you serious? The Wallabies have proven in 2013 and 2014 that they cannot beat England at Twickenham. This puts them in a QF (if their wonky scrum makes it past Wales in the pool match) against South Africa. RWC over.
canadiankiwi
Guest
NiedEyaJ. As an All Black supporter, I can honestly say that I have no fear of losing to Australia with Hooper lined up at 7. He is a very dangerous runner, in space, no doubt but he also forces the Wallaby pack (already suspect) to play 7 vs 8 in the tight. Hooper makes steals after he seagulls and stays out of consecutive rucks. He is not a team player, he plays for himself. If he was a team player, he would hit more rucks and carry less. Compare Hooper to McCaw. McCaw leads the ABs in most tackles and "first three to breakdown" almost every test match, while he still makes his one or two steals per match, they come after the hard yards. Hooper rarely tops the tackle chart and never tops the hit rucks chart. Yes he does the flashy stuff- steals and carries- just don't ask him to do the donkey work- it is beneath the captain.
Not Bothered
Guest
1) Sio 2) Moore 3) Kepu 4) Simmons 5) Fardy 6) Higginbotham 7) Hooper 8) Palu Sio adds strength in the scrum along with Palu and Moore. Fardy adds strength over the ball. Higginbotham and Moore add strength at the lineout.
Not Bothered
Guest
I think that all of them would be in contention under any coach, as they have been under the last 3. Im guessing that you are a QLDer not an Australian.
Not Bothered
Guest
Wow, did Hooper bully you at school? I say this only half in jest because your opinion is obviously tainted with an irrational hate for the man, or perhaps, as Ive said, he wronged you somehow? Or are you taking the p155 out of tro11s? Hodgson isnt going to get a run ahead of the captain very often. Hodgson is a good player and had a really good Super season but Hooper is an outstanding player and the captain. I suggest people get over it because, as you can see by Hoopers awards and continued selection by successive coaches, Hooper isnt going anywhere.
ric
Guest
think the draw was their first game in the season against the darkness, they lost in Brisbane after being flogged in Auckland
Not Bothered
Guest
Hodgson isnt going to be selected over the captain, get used to being disappointed there. Godwin isnt as good enough and is about 4th choice, no real mystery there I would have thought. You can be angry about Beale being selected on the bench ahead of Godwin but it makes sense. Beale has experience and utility value, Godwin doesnt have either really. Longbottom leaving is a big blow imo.
gaxman
Guest
Sorry Squirell, can't agree with u regarding Godwin. He is an excellent prospect. Even though he is fairly small he has shown some great displays of strength in super rugby. He has had a bit of a horror run with injuries. I saw him in a game against the Chiefs, when he had 3 defenders trying to hold him up (including Messam) rip and pull his way out to get the ball to ground, while still making several metres during contact. He is an excellent defender, good with ball in hand and a pretty good kicking game. The thing that impresses me most though is his decision making. He seems to be able to make the right decision based on the situation, a great skill to have. Players inside and outside him seem to play better when he's there. Wonder why that is? He is not an x-factor player, more like a Conrad Smith (I know they play different positions), he deserves a chance. I think, perhaps, his lack of game time worked against him. He is also better suited to 12 not 10, certainly at this stage imo. I'm going to reserve judgement on our world cup chances until we see what happens injury wise with a lot of players and give the new coaching staff a bit more time. However, it would be a miracle if we won it considering how things are currently. Clinging to hope like a cat to a tree with a ravenous dog waiting at the bottom, that things will get better, and fast.
Squirrel
Guest
They won't be in the side or 23 full stop. Keep dreaming
Jigbon
Guest
Hey Phil can you point me to where I can find the report on the possible scrum guru cheika is looking to supposedly sign
Dannyray
Guest
Kia - Couldn't agree more - particularly regarding the points on Argentina.... As for RWC form guides, I point to England in 2007 who were written off before the tournament, lost 36-0 to SA in the pool matches & then somehow managed to make it to the final......
Jibba Jabba
Guest
? Strong aussie dollar? Read the papers....