The Wallaby world has been brightened by the signing of skills coach Mick Byrne for the next four years.
The appointment will have far reaching ramifications, even more so than the signings of head coach Michael Cheika, attack coach Stephen Larkham, defence coach Nathan Grey, or forwards coach Mario Ledesman.
For the last 11 years, the 57-year-old Sydney-born Byrne has been the skills coach for the mighty All Blacks, and been widely acclaimed for making the best rugby team in the world even better with successive World Cups.
There are facets of play where the Wallabies are sadly lacking – the basic skills of passing, catching, support play, and defence.
It’s a terrible indictment, but those basic skills the Wallabies lack are endemically below standard.
But as of next week, the highly popular and highly respected Byrne will be full-time with the Wallabies as they set out to retain the Rugby Championship.
So how did an AFL ruckman become a rugby skills coach?
Byrne played 167 AFL games between 1977 and 1989 for Melbourne (56), Hawthorn (90), and the Swans (21), kicking 150 goals.
He was an integral member of the Hawthorn premiership team in 1983.
When he hung up his boots, he found a niche as a kicking coach, using his 200cm frame to advantage.
But it was soon crystal clear Byrne had a lot more to offer than just leather on leather, he had many more skills that suited rugby.
After successful stints in England and Scotland, the Aussie landed the plumb job with the All Blacks, and 11 years with one of the greatest teams in sport followed.
He turned down the All Blacks despite being offered a lucrative contract to move closer to family in Brisbane.
You would think the Wallabies would have mastered basic skills on the way to international status.
Not so.
Nor had the All Blacks to the skill level of today, but they have, thanks to Mike Byrne.
The icing on the cake, it’s very obvious Mike Byrne and Michael Cheika get on famously, judging by their appearances together on Fox’s “Rugby 360” programme.
The programme is ordinary, but Byrne and Cheika are such outstanding kindred spirits talking so many positives as to make it worth watching.
So the Wallaby future, which looked rather bleak after losing 3-0 to England, has suddenly become a whole lot brighter.
Buk
Guest
Thanks for the info Buzzard - a rather daunting list of names in the context of the Wallabies/Australian rugby.
Jumbo
Guest
Of course money, nzru makes all they're players sign a loyalty contract. Something the aru should look at.
larry
Guest
hahahahaha you referring to another piece of journalism as 'ordinary' is definitely the pot calling the kettle black. Back to the bar Lordy!
John R
Roar Guru
We call those the golden years around here! lol!
taylorman
Roar Guru
Sorry 1991 ha ha...
taylorman
Guest
close!...though its an aluminium box...combination is: no_repeat_1992_1999 ...But you didnt get that from me... :-)
John R
Roar Guru
Haha. I'm imagining a manila folder marked 'top secret All Black's stuff from Mick', kept in a glass box, marked 'break in case of emergency', hanging on the wall in Bill Pulver's office.
taylorman
Guest
good to see it hasnt changed since I was there :-)
taylorman
Guest
Gosh John dont suggest that...how is he then going to disseminate the hordes of false information we've sent him off with. I mean it took me 3 hours just to pack it all!
John R
Roar Guru
Pulver's already come out and said that Hayne won't be getting any cash from the ARU because he's not eligible for the Wallabies. They're meeting with him to talk about moving to rugby and if that were to eventuate, to help set him up with a Japanese club to subsidise his income.
John R
Roar Guru
The only upside to a demoralising super rugby season for our Aussie boys.
John R
Roar Guru
On a slightly related note. I wonder if there was some kind of non disclosure agreement in his contract with AB's? Surely something in there around intellectual property and all of that pertaining to the AB's program. Glad to have him aboard though, haven't heard anyone have a bad thing to say about him. Which is nice in this cynical day and age.
Boz the Younger
Guest
"Why are all these great players leaving our shores?" Money.
DB
Guest
One thing that I think is being overlooked is his insight into the Wallabies. Everyone keeps making the comment that he has an insight into the All Blacks and their players, game plans and strengths and weaknesses. All of that is true. But as a coach (and from all reports a very good one) I would think that he would have done a considerable amount of analysis into the Australian players and understands their strengths and weaknesses, not to mention our shape/structures of play and how to improve these issues. I often think (and this is a complete outsiders perspective) that we are perhaps not hard enough on ourselves as a team (internally) and don't have that definitive leadership structure (that is player driven and not obsessed with player power) that looks critically at our performances. It would seem that if such self-reflection was in short supply, Mick could certainly offer some insights.
Rock dog
Guest
"The programme is ordinary, but Byrne and Cheika are such outstanding kindred spirits talking so many positives as to make it worth watching. So the Wallaby future, which looked rather bleak after losing 3-0 to England, has suddenly become a whole lot brighter." Agree with you on Rugby 360.....BORING. Wallabies future could be a whole lot brighter by binning Bill Pulver and having the ARU work bottom up through grass roots rugby like NZ rather than top down looking for board seats in Sydney's CBD......
Buzzard
Guest
Tyrone, I`m not sure you get it ,. The NRL had and still have many former Aussie RUGBY schoolboys and first XV rugby players in their teams .. Off the top off my head current NRL players who played Australian SCHOOLBOYS or FIRST XV Rugby then went straight to the NRL are .... Cooper Cronk ( Storm) Tysion Frizell ( Dragons) Andrew Fifita ( Sharks) Tepai Moeroa ( Eels) Taane Milne ( Dragons) Lachlan Maranta ( Broncos ) Andrew McCullough (Broncos) David Shillington ( Titans) Kirisome Auva’a ( Rabbitohs) Curtis Rona ( Bulldogs) Luke Keary (Rabbitohs) Joey Lussick (Roosters) Angus Crichton (Rabbitohs) Jason Seage (Roosters) Tom Wright (Manly) And many more.. Got it now?? Understand? haha
Buzzard
Guest
Internal Fixation. You forgot to mention 95 % of Government primary schools and High schools play " Rugby League" , not Rugby union..
Buzzard
Guest
I watch the fox show and Chieka looks like a deer in the headlights...No idea what to do or who to select ... He is stuck with Foley Phipps Horne ( VC) and Hooper.and he knows he cant backflip and drop them..
Terry
Guest
Absoluelty pathetic...How can these backs not have these skills at their age??...I`m sick of Phipps and Foley continually kicking woefully...Byrne cant hep them..
terrry
Guest
He still won`t be able to help that pop gun boot Foley kick any further ...Until Checka gets rid of him at 10 we are no chance..