Former Wallaby Rod Kafer wants Australian rugby to shed its predictability and return to its innovative ways.
Currently a television rugby analyst, Kafer has also taken on an ARU coaching development position and will oversee a national coaching advisory panel.
He’s promised to deliver change.
Kafer says Australian rugby does not have an immediately identifiable game style and must determine what that should be.
“We played a running style of rugby. Is that still relevant today? We have to determine what is the right mechanism for the game at the moment,” said Kafer.
“Australian teams for mine were teams that were inventive and they were innovative, they were creative and that was our point of difference.
“Maybe we’ve just lost that a little bit, we’ve gone to being structured and predictable.
“My own opinion is getting back to that creative nature of the game and being the innovators is something that will probably stand us in good stead.”
He pointed out that teams like the All Blacks and the Hurricanes, who were lauded for attacking play and prolific tryscoring, actually kicked more than other Test and Super teams respectively.
“In Australia, we think about kicking as not something that we wish to promote in the game but for me it’s a core part of an attacking philosophy and a strategy of being creative,” Kafer said.
He will supervise an elite coach development program aimed at improving the capabilities of Australia’s top coaches, with the intention of generating winning teams at Test and Super levels.
Kafer said the national coaching advisory panel would be operating by September.
He will look to include people with knowledge of different areas like health rehabilitation and psychology.
Kafer recognised the need to change the mindset of Australians playing against New Zealand teams, who have recently dominated the Bledisloe and Super games.
“We start to self-perpetuate this idea that it’s difficult to beat New Zealand teams,” Kafer said.
“Everybody talks about it, in the media, we talk about how tough it is and it starts to leech into players and the way they perform and they feel that pressure.
“When we feel pressure our skills start to break down, we drop the ball, miss tackles and we lose matches.
“We’ve got to increase our capacity to deal with pressure and to deliver skills under pressure.”
Uncle Eric
Guest
And the facts are Jock?
BeastieBoy
Guest
We need mongrel in the forwards. We don't have it. just look at those nice guys of ours. You should be scared to go up and just say say hello. We can't fix it right away.. but we have too. Rod Kafer is spot on. We have lost the innovation we were famous for. Anyway won't be fixed overnight but has to be on our To Do list with so many other things that have been left to flounder.
John R
Roar Guru
Marto is my boy
Link
Guest
You have an unhealthy obsession with MARTO.I`d see a specialist if I were you.
superba
Guest
Bob W that you may have heard from SA commentators . It is the South African mantra .
Kelefua
Guest
Quite enjoy Kafer's analysis of the game & he does seem to have plenty ideas on how Aussie rugby can improve. I guess the challenge for him is transferring that via the coaches he'll be involved with. Worst that can happen is the idea doesn't work out but at least ARU are trying something. Although as some Roarers have said before those hefty paychecks may be better used on grassroots.. ie. introducing the game to states schools & more assistance at juniour levels. In saying that I guess to make the game attractive for the young the senior teams need more success in the now. It's a tough one.
Jock Cornet
Guest
Tell me the price son. How much is this position worth. The problem that prevents quality coaches is the huge costs to do the ARU courses and get involved.
Wombat
Guest
I'm sorry, but after listening to Kafers commentary for the last few years I don't believe he has ideas or solutions for Australian rugby that would strengthen the game.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
One of finest in another sphere you had it all Stan except charisma ! Good to see you still going and I agree with your comments .
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Kafer would have been a good appointment at school boy level working on basic skills with young players and coaches . I don't believe he has the qualifications or the status for the Job they have handed him . Chekko has identified the game he wants to play and the the players he thinks will play it . Good luck to him , that's why they pay him big money . I don't think that he is much of a National coach nor do I like his direction . If I am right and the evidence suggests that I am , by adapting his methods across the board the whole structure of Australian Rugby will continue to go backwards . His methods aren't working . It is therefore imperative that provincial coachs march to their own drum or become part of the failure . Daryl Gibson is an example of a coach with no traction , Chekko demands that the players play his way , he continues to pick them , they adore him and won't listen to Gibson . Larham is part of the problem , McGahon has tried , Styles doesn't have it and only Wessels provides any hope but not under the direction of Kafer or Chekko .
John R
Roar Guru
Righto Marto.
Link
Guest
2014 Kane Douglas hahaha.He was the least effective in that 2014 pack. best rated in order are 1 JACKPOT 2 HOOPER 3 PALU 4 SKELTON 5 KEPU 6 DENNIS 7 TPN 8 DOUGLAS
Bakkies
Guest
Jones is nearly 74 time to move him on from coaching. Leave to busting the ARU knuckleheads on his radio show
Phil
Guest
I think the drop kick went out of Aussie Rules a long time ago,CH!Seriously,though,you would expect we could kick a bit better in general play given the exposure to AFL.We even have an ex player on the coaching staff in Mick Byrne.
Phil
Guest
His league coaching was an outstanding success,wasn't it?He coached the Wallabies 30 years ago!If there are not better alternatives than him around then Australian rugby is in a worse state than it even looks.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Just read where Chekko has maintained his poor form on selections . Full of Tut Tah flat tyres and young Reds but no Cooper , Higginbotham , Hodgson , Hansen , Coby Faingaa or George Smith nor can I see Mafi or Ross HP both would be in my top 23 . Form apparently doesn't matter . I don't mind the youth but have doubts about the value Robertson , Simmons or Douglas .
Mossie
Guest
Jones was a very successful coach. One of the best.
Dr Katz
Guest
My understanding of his role is far simpler (I'm a simple plonker). Harness the good knowledge and spread it around and down. For example, pick the colonels (laurie fisher) brains on all things scrummaging and get the skills required at the top level down to the lower level coaches so they can start coaching it. I'd like to think the aim is to have top level players get to the ARC, Super and National level being able to catch, pass and tackle! (something a pile of them cant do at present).
John R
Roar Guru
Coleman is like a way batter version of 2014 vintage Kane Douglas. I hope he rubs off on the rest of the pack the way Potgieter did on the Tahs pack.
Tooly
Guest
Let's get this right he wants to develop an Australian style and yet get rid of being predictable , opposing aims . We have the Australian style " Running Rugby " we are not equipped to play it and it has become an excuse for lack of skills , ability and success . When you have a lot of players with ability and good coaches you play pretty much as you like as do the ABs they are adaptable . When you don't have the player the only thing you can do is find the very best coaches who may be able to pull off a miracle . Eddie Jones with England , Jake White with SA and the Brumbies , Joe Schmidt with Ireland and Townsend with Scotland . Anyone who has managed to listen to Kafer for long on Fox will not only be intrepid but will know that this job is beyond his ability . A self promoted expert with limited ability as a player and none as a coach is to oversee the coaches at the franchises . Kafer is embedded with Chekko and Chekko is our problem .