Turn the clock back to 1983 for an extraordinary slice of Australian rugby history when Alan Jones coached his only season of Shute Shield with Manly.
The peninsula club reached the grand final against the juggernaut Galloping Greens from Randwick, premiers for the previous six years.
I called that epic decider with Norm Tasker for Channel Seven which Manly won 12-10 to end a 41-year drought. Jones was hailed as a super coach.
The next year Jones was appointed Wallaby coach, replacing the well-entrenched Bobby Dwyer to become the only Wallaby coach to achieve the coveted Grand Slam in 1984, beating England 19-3, Ireland 16-9, Wales 28-9, and Scotland 37-12.
Not only did the men in gold chalk up 100 points to just 33, the mercurial Mark Ella created his own slice of history by scoring a try in all four games.
But Jones wasn’t finished yet. He went on to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup.
There was no Tri-Nations until 1995 with South Africa still in isolation, so the only Jones hiccup was the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 where the broadcaster made a rare mistake by trying to coach the Wallabies by remote control while keeping up his radio commitments – an impossible ask.
The Wallabies were beaten by France in the semis, and lost the third place play-off to Wales.
Jones was sacked with Dwyer regaining the Wallaby job on the way to winning the Wallabies’ first Rugby World Cup in 1991.
By any standards, Alan Jones’ record as Wallaby coach with 21 wins from 31 Tests for a win ratio of 67.74 per cent rates second only to Rod Macqueen’s 34 wins from 43 internationals and a win ratio of 79.07 per cent.
Macqueen coached the Wallabies to capture the Rugby World Cup in 1999, the Bledisloe for four successive years from 1998 to 2001, the Tri-Nations in 2000 and 2001, and the only series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2001.
The ARU’s trophy cabinet was full.
But Macqueen’s appointment came through regular channels, while Jones was from left field.
The Alan Jones experiment worked a treat, so why can’t a similar appointment work as Waratahs coach, currently in an embarrassing slump of major proportions.
Could Simon Cron be the answer?
The 40-year-old Kiwi born coached Northern Suburbs to their first Shute Shield win in 41 years, coached the Sydney Rays to a NRC semi, and was recently appointed the Australian under 20s coach.
Treading the Alan Jones path?
What have the Waratahs to lose, with Daryl Gibson obviously not up to it with just two wins from eight starts.
Cron can’t do any worse, and his refreshing attitude that he demands all his charges enjoy their rugby, and that ‘mediocrity has no place in rugby’ thinking is exactly the opposite to current Waratah thinking.
If Simon Cron can do an Alan Jones, Australian rugby would be well served.
Go for it.
AndyS
Guest
I see the Waratahs management have officially given Gibson their full support, so he's probably got not much more than a week...
Timbo (L)
Guest
Alcock tore it up playing for the force as well, but was invisible because of the colour of his shirt. Pockock is a world class 7 and did his best to play 7 and 8 at the same time. It got him injured 3 times Imagine how great he would have been with Higgers/Holoway/Naiasarani behind him. An extra lineout target and a ball runner would have completely changed the Wallabies forward dynamic. In my view both Alcock and Smith offer that,
piru
Roar Rookie
Disagree - The Force have always made guts and grit their trademark.
piru
Roar Rookie
lol, which Waratah players would make the Force 15 on this week's performance?
Brumby bill
Guest
Playing Skelton is as deluded as it gets....
Brumby bill
Guest
One Super title thanks to a last minute offside by McCaw.....enough said.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
OK E.J, As a Wallabies fan at what point during the RWC final did you say to yourself "we're gonna win this one" or "we've got them rattled now" or even "we might have a chance". I can't recall it - I cannot recall a moment when watching the final I thought the Wallabies were going to win. " Overachieving in an RWC should be celebrated." indeed when it happens. The 2003 RWC would be a great case in point. However when the Wallabies ride a huge streak of luck through the RWC to be convincingly thumped in the final then that should also be recognised. Not celebrated.
Gatesy
Guest
Geez, Lordy,' Leave Simon Cron alone - it took 41 years between Grand Finals for the Shoremen. Give us a break!! We want to win a few more. If every Shute Shield Club had a coach as good as him, the Waratahs could be coached by Blind Freddy!
piru
Roar Rookie
He's just as qualified to play prop as he is fullback - what could possibly go wrong?
AndyS
Guest
...and the law variations have produced an increased number of scrums per match. But parrots just say the darndest things though, don't they...?
Hype
Guest
How convenient ? Not judging chieko on last year?
taylorman
Guest
They were in touch briefly for a short, selective period. Perhaps polishing history isn't wise either, but I suppose facts are facts. Starting to agree on the coach thing though and liken it to the England situation. Looking at Gibson in the box he always looks resigned, and the obvious lack of effort from players like Folau means they've lost their edge, and probably need a boot. Still think they need an outsider so the politics can wash over the coach while he sets them on the winning path. Someone mentioned John Mitchell. Not the worst idea. He gets results quickly. Ends up being offside with e eryonevin the end but a short term two year contract might suit all.
taylorman
Guest
Not a bad idea. A significant change in the attitude of a coach might be all they need. Similar to England, in replacing a nice guy with a nut case who didn't really care about the history of the side....just that the team won. Gibson looks similar, trying his best but coming up short. Folau particularly looks disinterested and needs a kick, that sounds like a coaching issue. The team is not on the edge and are just going through the motions.
Viti
Guest
Whoa.....drop the over rated cattle and who ever the coach is gets vitrioalic write ups like this article...from the shute generals..... larkham is in the same boat... nothing said..?....outsider danger perhaps....take Hodge ...had to go to the rebels to showcase what is now history and there is a call to get him to the tahs being a manly boy ...Brumbies became a beacon for fringe players back then ..success..rebels thus far have taken nsw fringe players and have turned them around ....but they gravitate back to the tahs. One thing though is the Coach should grow some balls and drop half the team irrespective of the backlash from the establishment and blood some fringe players.
Bakkies
Guest
Of course Bob would state that. He has been senile since he coached the Tarts to their disgraceful performance against the Lions in 2001 where they were more interested in thuggery than winning the match and to the competition record losing result 96-19 a year later. How responsible is for the current state of the Sydney competition and is beloved Randwick?? Perhaps you can answer that.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The best NRC teams are teams that have strong scrums...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Sorry Sheek. I've got to disagree strongly there. Many people criticise the ex Wallabies on the ARU board on the basis of what experience have they got to be there. SoI have to ask the same rhetorical question about every one of those players. What meaningful coaching experience do they have? And the answer is almost none. With the exception of Chris Roche who has coached club rugby with Norths in Brisbane. Good players do not automatically equal good coaches. In fact often it's the opposite. Look at the NRL. See how superstars like Brad Fittler struggled as coaches. It's the players who were just grafters like Bellamy, Gould and Bennett who have been the most successful coaches. And that's because they understand getting the most out of players. I honestly doubt individually brilliant players like Campese and Ella would be any good as it's hard to articulate just turning up and being better in a manner that others can replicate. I think Larkham's struggles as Wallaby attack coach have shown this. Michael Foley on the other hand whilst a Wallaby, was by know means a superstar of his team. But he was a great forwards coach.
taylorman
Guest
Where I don't see the difference. In 2015 Kirwan side lost six matches within 7 points. Here the same things happening, they aren't winning the close ones, at all. What's changed? And Tanas roster for this year looks better than JK's. And if Kirwan had no pedigree as a coach what on earth did Tana have? How many World Cup wins? Tournaments? How many Super trophies, or even sides? What a joke that comparison is. He's done, and won, nothing. Oh, he might have done something with Counties....big deal. Who hasn't?
Imposter Johnno
Guest
Sorry Johnno, I didn't know the moniker was taken. I will change mine - I am a very recent member. I still say keep the coach and tough it out. It could take a while! Nothing worthwhile will happen overnight. Stay solid folks! However, the Reds match next week will be that much more interesting now.
Don
Roar Rookie
Yep. Ignoring that in Bob Dwyers last 2 games coaching the Tahs his side had 174 points put on them and only scored 20 odd in reply. Even good coaches go through times when they can't get a team "up." And Nick Stiles isn't doing much better than Richard Graham with better players and fewer injuries. The Force and Rebels are tracking as per most seasons. The Brumbies are worse than any recent season and have a Wallaby assistant and playing legend at the helm. But the abysmal Waratahs are all because of inept coaching? If that's the case then let's all agree none of our coaches are any good. Sack the lot of them! Or maybe this season can be the catalyst for major changes and centralisation of players and coaches via a new ARU management. Viva La Revolucion!