Time and time again the axe gets called in a knee-jerk reaction to the abysmal state of particular aspects of Australian rugby.
Recurring themes currently include, but are not limited to, the merit of maintaining Bernard Foley and Michael Cheika. While I am not foreign to the matter of making outlandish claims immediately post-match, I do want to argue the case that these problems do not realistically have a solution – so how are these issues addressed and remedied?
I cannot recall the last weekend that I flicked through the online smorgasbord of opinion circulating the web without entangling myself in an article calling for the head of Foley and for someone else to take his place.
Ordinarily, this could be a fair claim, but who should step in?
Matt Toomua has been on the bench for the Wallabies, but his injections have seen him run into defenders with limited impact, usually back toward the ruck.
Compounding this, he still has obligations with Leicester and so his services are not guaranteed for all matches.
Perhaps he would provide a bit more oomph with a starting berth, but I have seen nothing yet to instil me with the belief he is the solution to an overhaul.
Quade Cooper is too hot and cold. Watching him steer the Brisbane City side against Western Force on Sunday afternoon seemed just about right; entertaining enough to enjoy the spectacle, but too risky and inconsistent to see in a Super side, let alone at the international level.
Reece Hodge and Kurtley Beale have played as fly-halves briefly at international level, but neither find that position to be their best or most effective platform, in particular Hodge.
The remaining options are youngsters who have been unconvincing at Super level as it is. There is no one that immediately comes to mind to fill the void and, as a result, the desire to remove Foley may exist, but the ability to suitably replace him remains near impossible.
A similar story exists for Cheika.
How many times has his resignation been called for? The notion comes out after every loss.
Sometimes it is warranted judgment, but very rarely does a genuine replacement get a mention.
If an adequate successor lied in waiting, perhaps Cheika may not still sit in the hot sea, but as it stands, it is hard to pick a silver medal with only one participant.
Michael Cheika seems to be always under fire (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Looking at the Super Rugby sides has never been fruitful for the Wallabies and the coaching role. Cheika boasts a title with the Waratahs from 2014 and since his induction has only experienced one ‘good’ year with the men in gold.
Ewan McKenzie had a similar situation when he came in relatively fresh off the back of a Reds premiership in 2011, only for his reign to be cut short and fairly underwhelming despite the initial prospect of promise and hope he offered.
Even more to the point, the most successful Super Rugby coach in history, Robbie Deans, still could not find the missing key for the Wallabies.
Looking overseas is not out of the question, but who is going to want to come over? Lucrative offers already exist in club rugby in European nations and some of the names often touted as ready-made replacements may not want to tarnish their international record by taking on an organisation that is as shambolic as the Wallabies and Australian rugby.
I am not endorsing that passion is lost and that heat-of-the-moment comments are rebuffed completely.
I like the constant discussion it sparks and the responses in support and in retaliation. However, these arguments need to be backed by a solution and not just an outline of what is going wrong.
Something drastic is surely brewing as, so often quoted, the definition of insanity would be to keep doing things the same and expecting a different result.
So, whom would you bring in? How and where do we find and implement a new pivot in which to direct this backline and a new coach to steer this side and install some faith back into the gold?
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Ice melts unless you keep it static and in a secure environment. It also disappears quickly when exposed to other liquids.
piru
Roar Rookie
Hi Cliff - he's actually older than I thought, I had taken him for 19 or 20, he's 23. You could be right, the EOYT would probably do him a lot of good. Actually could be the catalyst for him to get some time at super level and for a proper run at the gold 10 jersey.
Nein
Guest
No bud, Foley let his opposite score 4 tries. Foley must go.
Nobody
Guest
1998 we beat them 3-0. and we have held the Bledisloe 5 years in a row 1998 -2002
Stu
Roar Rookie
"How do you solve a problem without a solution?" Simple; irrespective of whether he's a good coach or not, while Cheika is head coach, half the team are totally guaranteed their spots, regardless of their continued appalling performances, and no experimentation happens. Unacceptable. SACK THE COACH immediately, and commence an entirely new approach to team selection straight away, with a new coach who has no bias to anyone. Conservative selection entitlement is a cancer in this country. How much more obvious does it need to be? Can you imagine the NZRU simply accepting loss after loss after loss after loss after loss after loss after loss...?! Surely this is a comedy?
Dontcallmeshirley
Guest
What do mean ? He is "the ice man"!
Frisky
Guest
I have just viewed a recording of the game. Foley stopped a certain try a runaway Jordie Barrett and created the Wallabies second try which gave them some false hope for a very short time. He played as well as anybody aussie on the field. I am not normally a fan of his, but this criticism of him seems misplaced.
MA
Guest
Why is it when we are talking about Cooper it is always: "Cooper is too hot and cold" yet it is ok for Foley to be "room temperature and cold"? Foley make so many mistakes every game. His whole style of play is one constant mistake due to his poor positioning. But Cooper can do many brilliant things yet the commentary will be all about the couple of mistakes. I would much prefer a 10 who has a 'hot' even if it comes with some 'cold' than a 10 who has no hot but still produces plenty of 'cold'. This whole article is predicated on the premise that we have no one to replace Cheika or Foley. The reason we have no one to replace Cheika or Foley is because Cheika and Foley are both still there. If Foley broke his leg tomorrow would the Wallabies forfeit? No we would play another 10 and we would probably still lose but we would play on and we would start analysing what the new 10 brought to the game and if our coach knew how to build a game plan (which he doesn't) then a new game plan would be built around the new 10. Foley is a loser. This is now undisputed. Nothing can be gained by continuing to play this loser.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
A very probable good solution. Please text Cheika immediately. But do not be disappointed if the answer comes back; "I know what I am doing. We need more turnovers"!
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Did he change? Or did he motivate only? The answer is still not 100% certain and based on 2015 to 2018, I would say the latter because his statics stink.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Agreed!! But I possibly did not word myself correctly. I was trying to push the issue of why Toomua and TPN for the RC. RWC, then there might be a good reason to spend the money. TPN, I do not really see any improvement. It robs us of blooding the younger No. 2s. Toomua might be worthwhile as we do need back up for No. 10. I have never liked Beale as a No. 10 and Hodge is not the answer.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Stillmisit. I think Banks is a better FB option than Maddocks and also a better winger fit then what we have.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Piru, I accept your point and it is very true - "forgotten about rugby players". But would the EOYT hurt him? Blooding him as a backup. Also there is the old saying - was it Gibson or Bennett - "If you are good enough you are old enough".
Stu
Roar Rookie
Boggles the mind indeed, plus some other boggly bits..
Stu
Roar Rookie
Hmm.. Perhaps you were just focused on the Kiwis romping all their tries in then mate, and not actually watching the Aussie snoozefest? Even Will Genia agrees with me: https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/wallabies-vicecaptain-will-genia-bledisloe-cup-defeats-down-to-players-not-working-hard-enough/news-story/67600f8508635518bc828f023506310c
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Cliff: Looking at youngsters, I thought that Maddocks has great potential at 15 and could also do a Larkham and morph into a 10? I watched him play in Aus U20's and he is big and fast with good vision and hands. Still, we are clutching in the dark to some extent. If you don't give them a go in Super rugby then how would you know? Not impressed with Mason although he is OK and would like to see a youngster given a chance as there are few alternatives in the current players. BTW Why is Nic Stirzaker not getting a look in following his injury, I thought he would be the backup to Genia but he has taken a short-term contract with Saracens.
Paul
Guest
I agree Fionn, Matt is a confidence player who if given a decent run at No.10 is very consistent, a test match player . Chieka does have his favourites and has never given Matt a decent go pushing him into the centres. Toomua has a defence that rivals some forwards as seem in the lions tour. Kurtley and Matt can swap during a game and Kurtley likes his space. Matt has always had the more balanced punching power through the line. I think he should be used more to put more pressure on Foley at least. Plus it gives other up and comers hope they may get a chance too.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
He played a lot of his good rugby at 10. I know you don't rate him but the last time he played there for the Wallabies was in 2013 and he actually performed pretty well. Either way, he isn't competing with an in-form Quade this time. If he was then it would be obvious that 10. Quade, 12. Toomua would be the way to go.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Well said, mate.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
If Foley is king this weekend then it will just be kicking the can down the road. We know what we get with Foley, and it isn't good enough. Perhaps he performs better against a few matches against lesser opponents, but if Australian fans are interested in the success of the Wallabies rather than just the success of their personal favourites we need change.