Welcome to another sorry Sunday for Wallabies fans after the side slid to an eighth loss in their past ten internationals matches.
Not surprisingly the local press continue to heap pressure onto coach Michael Cheika.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Tom Decent said, “A 23-12 defeat to South Africa that will only give Michael Cheika doubters more ammunition to call for change at the top”.
The Australian‘s Wayne Smith said, “The pressure continues to build on coach Michael Cheika”.
Fox Sports’s Christy Doran said, “Michael Cheika’s job on life support”.
I’m not saying that the buck shouldn’t stop with someone, and the head coach is the most obvious culprit. However, I wonder when or if the quality of the playing group will ever become the focal point of discussion.
(Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
1. The players
How many of our best 30 would make a World XV right now? In fact how would make the second or third World XVs? Not many.
In the cold light of day only David Pocock, Israel Folau and Will Genia would be certain of selection. Pocock would be near impossible to leave out of the first XV, Folau might make the seconds and Genia the thirds.
The Australian rugby public is continually fed calls of how many Wallabies are ‘world class’. This couldn’t be any further from the truth. We do not have a single prop, hooker, lock, blindside flanker, genuine No.8, fly half or outside centre who is world class. As such it is almost unreasonable to expect consistent and prolonged success.
2. The captain
Our Wallabies appear rudderless in terms of on-field leadership and sadly we have few alternatives. Hooper is sitting on a winning percentage record as captain that is now below 40 per cent. The press call for Cheika’s head at every opportunity, but I’ve yet to see a ‘Sack Hooper as captain’ headline.
While Hooper was one of our best on ground in Port Elizabeth, it may be that he needs to be relieved of the captaincy in order to find the form of 2015 that had him a shoo-in for a World XV selection.
Pocock and Genia are the only options, but each has drawbacks. Against the Pumas on the Gold Coast the Wallabies, under Pocock’s watch, lacked the poise and clarity that might otherwise have helped them to claim victory. That same poise and clarity was again missing in Port Elizabeth under Hooper.
Genia hasn’t led the side since 2013 and would need to change his prickly style in order to extract the best from his teammates.
(Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
3. The game plan
The Wallabies appear to have a plan A. I say ‘appear’ because it is clear they don’t have a plan B or a plan C, so one must assume they have a plan A. Sadly, we have stuck to plan A for so long our opposition know what they are going to get from us. They also know we won’t change, either because we can’t or because we are too stubborn and won’t.
If we do have a plan B, it is the captain’s call to make. Unfortunately any such call or any such change is not obvious from a tactical perspective. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Welcome to our plan A.
4. The defence
When was the last time you saw the Wallabies 10-12-13 look up and see the opposition’s 1-2-3? Not very often. However, the reverse situation is where the Wallabies are finding themselves on far too regular a basis. Just last night Handre Pollard took advantage of such a mismatch to set up the try for Faf de Klerk.
Surely Nathan Grey must go. There have been numerous instances this season where we had four defenders on the short side marking two opposition players. Not surprisingly the point of attack is shifted to the open side. See Beauden Barrett’s second try in Wellington for details.
Bob Dwyer pointed out recently that the Wallabies have too many ‘walkers’. If four or five are walking at any point in defence, how are the other ten going to stop 15?
Also, we cannot keep hiding Kurtley Beale or Bernard Foley in defence. Too often either or both are seen hugging the sideline on the short side. Heaven forbid we win a turnover, because when Genia looks up to find Rob Simmons at fly half the opportunity is already lost.
George Gregan has often said that winning is infectious. Sadly, so too is losing. Our Wallabies are forgetting how to win and it is showing. Two insipid second-half performances in the past fortnight attest to that.
Will removing Cheika as coach change things for the better? Maybe. Given that is the only possible response to the question, any discussion of a new coach for the 2019 rugby World Cup is mute.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Look outside the squad, to NRC.....
No.24
Roar Rookie
So who are the players that Cheika is not selecting that wouldn't be out of their depth?
No.24
Roar Rookie
That is fair but who are the alternatives? Who isn't in the squad but is knocking down the door for selection?
No.24
Roar Rookie
They may not get a free pass on the Roar but they get a free pass in the press. Why is that so?
P2R2
Roar Rookie
From someone who has seen the great heights of previous WB teams to what exists now shows me that 'how the WBs play the game has not changed from 1991/1999/2003/2015...why? The ABs took a long hard look at their game after the Cardiff game in 2007...and made the changes they felt were needed, they were honest about it and the collective decision was unanimous. I watch the WBs playing and it is nothing...the 2 games vs the ABs this year show that...wiped and butt kicked off the park...and that is sad - maybe Cheika can't change, and if he can't how can the player group expect to change also....too many dynamics and politics going on in Aussie rugby... What I sense would be by far the best outcome is for the NZRU to get off its stuffy arse and have a Trans-Tasman competition....as the old adage goes, hold your friends close and your enemies even closer....but wouldn't it be great for the game, let the Jappies go North (it will be their loss) and the opportunities and achievements/results of the game will come to fruition accordingly.... but I won't hold my breath...
Supercoach
Guest
Simple, because the coach picks the cattle!
Cadfael
Roar Guru
To me, the obvious answer is that he selects someone else. He hasn't. He continues with virtually the same playing group.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Never a fan of switching coaches but after Deans, it was silly to give Cheika a long contract. Not only Cheika has to go but his assistant coaches as well. Also, return to a selection committee with the coach having input.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Your article just proves the point. Cheika’s coaching, game plan and selections are all wrong. The captain he selected is not up to the job and is not even the best 7. The players playing out of positiion. Or playing a weird game plan. Coaches like Grey not developing the defence. Players like Pocock, Genia, Folau and Kepu should have formed the nucleus of a good team. Instead, it revolves around Hooper, Foley and Beale. I’m happy to call out players past and present like Hooper, Foley, Hanigan, Mumm, Skelton, Horne, Phipps, Robertson, Beale, Simmons etc. Cheika didn’t make them play poorly but he kept picking them. He’s got to wear the blame for that.
sheek
Guest
Piru, Ha, ha, very good. Lucky you're not on my email list. When I'm halfway through a bottle of red, I start sending my old mates youtube video clips from the 60s & 70s. Actually, pretty much anything that takes my fancy at the time.
Bite Me!
Roar Rookie
Hate the fact I cannot edit posts!
Bite Me!
Roar Rookie
Funny, spent 30 years as an educator, always got told if my kids did not perform that I hand failed! Players, like then students, come with a certain skills set - if they lacl basic skills ity is my job to provide them - if they lack knowledge it is my job to provide them - if they lack analytical skill it is my job to deveop those skills in them - if they lack the ability to perform under presuusre it is my job to deveop these coping skills in them! A coach is an educator - they are there to develop cohesian, increase the skill level, develop the needed tactics and motivate their charges! If they can't - then find another career! Time for the inadequate coach to move on! Cannot develop and grow a team - then you have no place coaching a team!
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
During the painful ( for Springbok supporters at least ) period of Alistair Coetzee as coach it really bugged me how in every post match press conference , usually as the losing coach of course , he placed the blame publically on his players and seldom took direct responsibility . This despite his technical deficiencies being glaringly apparent . The were often highlighted even here on the Roar . Yet Coetzee persisted . Selecting players clearly out of their depth at Test level then blaming them when they fell short . It was maddening .
piru
Roar Rookie
Sheek it's a little early to be on the turps mate
piru
Roar Rookie
"because most Aussie fans have eyes" Many of them even have two
sheek
Guest
Let's just shut the game down now before it becomes an even greater laughing stock of the world. What talented players there are can go to Australian football (the indigenous game), soccer (the world game) & rugby league (representing both former rugby codes). Or hopscotch if they can't make it in any of those other 3 codes. The only major tweak rugby league requires to make it almost perfect is to return to serious scrums. Not to the pedantic length of union scrum resets ad nauseam but at least genuinely competitive.
No.24
Roar Rookie
Higginbotham had his shot at redemption just last year and didn't take it. Played two Tests, the second a less than stellar effort against Scotland.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
add Marx and PSDT to the AB's and you have an unstoppable team.
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Cliff, Toomua for Captain and at 10 because he is our smartest player who has a sharp rugby brain? I know he probably is a better 12 than 10, but he is by a mile the best 10 available that we currently have, and there's no other player in the squad with his rugby brain.
Armchair Sportsfan
Roar Rookie
In answer to the headline.... ...because most Aussie fans have eyes and (while the players are far from blameless) it is patently obvious to any serious rugby observer that this is a poorly coached side.....