On Saturday night, at Allianz Stadium against the Reds, Waratahs fans will get their first indication of how Daryl Gibson will scrub up as coach.
The 40-year-old has huge boots to fill taking over from the powerhouse and well-performed Michael Cheika.
Gibson has 19 All Blacks caps and 77 games for the Crusaders under his belt as an inside centre, but more importantly, he’s had two years under Cheika’s watchful eye as assistant coach to embrace the Australian way of rugby.
The latter is vital.
Gibson hails from a land where just about every young boy grows up wanting to be an All Black. Rugby in New Zealand isn’t a sport, it’s a religion.
But rugby will never be a religion in Australia where kids grow up with many more options – rugby league, AFL, soccer, cricket, tennis, golf, motor racing, swimming, surfing, and being jockeys.
And that’s where John Mitchell and Robbie Deans failed to recognise the difference between New Zealand and Australian rugby.
Mitchell played 134 games for Waikato, Deans five Tests for the All Blacks and 146 for Canterbury. No question about playing ability.
Mitchell was the highly successful All Blacks coach from 2001 to 2003, but when he failed to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup he was shown the door despite winning 23 of 28 Tests with an 82.1 winning percentage.
So he became the first Kiwi to cross the ditch and coach an Australian Super Rugby side with the Western Force from 2006 to 2010.
To be fair, Mitchell didn’t have the cattle, but nor did he come to grips with the Australian way of rugby. The combination netted him a 24-win, four-draw, and 37-loss record from 65 games.
Deans became the first foreign Wallabies coach, and he started as though he was he destined to be the Messiah with two wins against France, and a win each against the All Blacks, Springboks and Ireland in his first five games.
But the wheels soon fell off.
Deans took another 10 Tests before he beat the men-in-black again, finishing up with a 2-1-14 record against New Zealand, and an overall record of 43 wins from 73 Tests for a 58.1 winning percentage,
Both Mitchell and Deans were very good blokes, easy to deal with, but lacked communication skills coaching Australians.
Now it’s Gibson’s turn on centre stage.
But it’s worth repeating that Gibson has the advantage over Mitchell and Deans with the two years he’s spent under Michael Cheika’s coaching.
If Gibson hasn’t got the Australian message by now, he’ll never get it.
And tonight we’ll see.
Again to be fair, Gibson doesn’t deserve to be without goal-kicking fly-half Wallaby Bernard Foley for the first four rounds with a shoulder injury, forcing Kurtley Beale into both roles when he’s far more dangerous in the No.12 jumper.
That’s in the hands of a rookie David Horwitz, making his Super Rugby debut.
At least Horwitz has Beale inside him and Rob Horne outside, two seriously experienced campaigners, as Horwitz is bound to be have rubber knees.
So that’s where Daryl Gibson stands among his charges at kick-off time. How he stands among Waratah fans will be known 90 minutes later.
Taylorman
Guest
How did the culturally hindered coach go against the Reds?
Taylorman
Guest
Aaah, those were the days digger!
Boom boom tish
Guest
.......his usual posts!
MJ
Guest
I know what his first job will be....give a rocket to the scrum coach and his forwards for having his 8 being embarrassed for 20 minutes by a 7 man pack. Heck Tilse did his side a favor by going to the bin to ensure uncontested scrums.
Digby
Roar Guru
Yip, http://aflnz.co.nz/
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Do they play AFL in NZ, serious question ?
Hugo au Gogo
Roar Rookie
The ability to not pass/kick both sides is a cultural thing...:-)
Hugo au Gogo
Roar Rookie
Though that little inaccuracy doesn't diminish your point about the senior unions needing to support the club system....better value for spectators with a warm up match; not bad for the players to play at the big stadiums; potentially raising the interest in club rugby...I'm sure there's more.
Cynical Play
Guest
I see what you're trying to do here Zero, you're trying to start something. You're trying to white-ant DG. I just substituted the name Richard Graham and suddenly it all made sense
Harry
Guest
Reds without their best forward in Gill and also missing current Wallaby forwards Slipper and Douglas. Rookies at 10 and 12. NSW by plenty.
ClarkeG
Guest
Yes but you are implying he will not succeed because he is a New Zealander. As I have asked elsewhere - why? It's an easy generalisation to make. I think Taylor asks a fair question. Can anyone expand on these so called cultural differences?
bear54
Go Tahs!!!!!!
ClarkeG
Guest
What Australian message has Gibson meant to have got by now? What communication skills does one require to coach Australians as opposed to New Zealanders – skills that Deans and Mitchell apparently lacked? What difference did they fail to recognize. Gibson has had an opportunity to embrace the Australian way of rugby – apparently it is vital but what is it? Rugby in NZ is not a religion in NZ. If the truth be known NZR have to work overtime to maintain playing/spectator numbers. All of those sports listed – AFL probably to a lesser degree – are all available options to kids growing up in NZ and many take those options.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Just arrived Chichibu. Full house! Great to see. Go Sunwolves.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Rugby is religion like in NZ. Just like other religions though the whole country does not follow it as a rule. Take the young fella who kept Dan Carter out of rep teams as a kid for example, he moved onto another sect & became Brendon Mccullum. To those who worship it's mighty important though!
Shane D
Roar Rookie
I have heard Dean's say the biggest difference he found between NZ teams & Australian teams when he came over was the basic skill level. Dean's was surprised by the lack of ingrained skill that top level Aussie players had. The ability to kick with either foot or pass off either hand in positions that demanded those skills was not up to scratch. NZ players at the same level of the game had these skills drilled into them well before hitting the higher levels of the game. That's not a reflection on the current skill level of Australian players but NZ rugby loving kids pretty much have a ball in their hands kicking & passing with mates at nearly every chance they get. Summer is time for touch rugby not cricket or surf life saving etc. Dean's had to revamp his training programmes to allow time to work on core skills. I can't see Gibson having these issues given he has been with the 'Tahs for a fair old while. He knows the players & what makes them tick.
Digby
Roar Guru
Why thank you very much. I am here all week...... :D
Digby
Roar Guru
Nah, in fairness it's more 80s.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Good one Digger... wouldn't call it subtle but all the same a clever observation :)
Digby
Roar Guru
Nah, there is enough Kiwis in the side to translate for him. No worries ;)