The echo chamber that is Wallaby rugby

"Which leaves potential suitors Jake White, Sir Graham Henry, Wayne Smith and Robbie Deans as possible 10-month coaches. But why would they want to coach the Wallabies?" Henry, Smith and Deans are not "suitors". I'm puzzled why you even mentioned them. Henry has said he isn't remotely interested in coaching full time again, even at Super rugby level--the Blues asked him. He's seventy-two and enjoying retirement and helpingthe coaches of his local team: Auckland. Wayne Smith has battled cancer and, again, said he isn't interested in full time coaching again...if he was, he'd still be with the ABs. He is also on record as saying he wouldn't coach any team against the All Blacks--the reason he turned down the England job that Eddie Jones now holds. Robbie Deans wouldn't touch Australian rugby with a bargepole. Which leaves Jake White, someone who applies for every coaching job available. Coaching the Wallabies doesn't appear to be a particularly attractive job.

Not making it out of our pool would remove any doubt Jabba. We can start again and rebuild the game from scratch.

Its already rock bottom, how lower do you want to go ??

Maxy, there are quality players right across the the team - the biggest failure is the coaching and team management

Boy did it take you guys awhile, I figured that out as soon as i watched the 2015 World Cup final when his players (kefu etc) were running around trying to maim players off the ball instead of play the game.. that was an indication of the mans character and skill set right there ...

What many of the current crop of Wallaby players fail to realize is that once you get capped for your national team the hard work really begins. Many think in being capped they have reached the pinnacle and can now take their foot off the gas. This mindset is as a result of RA not making the required changes across their organization to adapt to the age of professionalism. Look at how the AFL and NRL have evolved in a highly competitive market, by comparison, RA is managed like an amateur old boys network. In the modern world where rugby players are salaried employees its hard to comprehend how, on average, the highest paid players are close to being the most underperforming. The players and coaches to a certain extent, whether they realize it or not, know there is very little competition for their jobs and the vast majority of them, without having to try too hard, could secure gainful employment at close to 80% of the RA salaries. As such they have become complacent knowing their jobs are secure as long as they wish to keep plying their trade in Australia. As a result, the balance of power in rugby in Australia rests with the players and they often times they exploit it to their advantage which in turn disadvantages RA. Case in point is Michael Hoopers new deal, which is shameful when one considers the reality of him not being the best number 7 in the country. Don't get me wrong Hooper is an exceptional talent but he shouldn't be starting for Australia, let alone be the caption as he clearly lacks the tactical nous and leadership capabilities the role demands. Moreover, he shrugs the hard stuff especially when the going gets tough. The money being spent on Hooper could have been used to fund developmental initiatives that would allow rugby to build for the future. The same could be said for Folau. Folau is highly paid put doesn't play like he is....most games he appears to be in cruise mode and only injects himself when he sees the opportunity to improve his personal stats. The talent is there but the talent is complacent and refuses to work hard. What is even more painfully obvious is that it doesn't appear, Pocock aside, that most members of the team are going close to emptying their tanks in games, which is inexcusable at this level of the sport. Until the power balance in RA is reversed through the hiring of competent professionals who can bring the right mentality to the organization and instill a winning mindset Australia will continue to underperform on the international stage. The Wallabies will be able to put in the odd good shift here or there due to their athletic capabilities but don't expect consistently decent performances any time soon.

The Force farce fiasco killed any prospect of centralisation. After the betrayal of WA in 2017, who will be naïve enough to trust Cameron Clyne with your future.

Nick, Thanks again for an interesting and insightful article, I want to sadly bang on the money! I’m almost stupified that nobody actually responsible for doing something about this mess is even getting close to acknowledging the issues our team is facing. I’ve been following the game for most of my 50 years and love it, but have never felt such dispair over the sport despite many ups and downs over the years. Is there any cause for optimism at all? I sadly feel like not, the chances we address this mess seem to have passed. The damage to the long term health of the sport, seems like it’s the last thing we need :-( Any advice or words of encouragement, I feel like giving up. But seriously thanks again though for making the effort to post here, I alsways look forward to your articles. Bill

Nick, two should charges by the same player in different games. Do compare Rassie's comments after SA lost to Michael's. Without a doubt - none whatsoever - the non-penalty against SA was a worse decision with a greater adverse impact on the result. Rassie says they need to change their tackle technique whereas Michael feeds us the same old drivel. Echo echo echo The Wallabies WERE NOT hard done by with that decision. They were steamrolled in H2. The Springboks WERE hard done by as a penalty gave them a chance to win the game with a VERY lockable penalty yet they reacted with class.

Why would any top Coach, regardless of where he comes from want to Coach the Wallabies? It's been tried before, but the Australian Rugby theory is such that any Coach of the Australian Team must be Australian and True Blue, no other Coach will do, they demand it, the players that is! ~ The inner circle of the time a few years ago got their heads together with the prime task of undermining the Coach at the time! They succeeded and a top International Coach one Robbie Deans was given his marching orders with the usurpers rubbing their hands in glee at their prowess in removing this Coach who had the temerity to tell them as Australians what to do and how to play the game, properly that is, they demanded the next Coach be Australian and that's when McKenzie came in, but they also got rid of him! A couple of those players are still in the Wallaby side today and the Australian Rugby powers that be are now scrounging around for a National Coach to possibly replace the incumbent of this moment, Cheika, ~ the problem is such that the Coach they arranged to get removed, was a New Zealander and now it's very obvious that through the treatment of Robbie Deans by the ARU of the day, there is no Kiwi Coach that will touch any team in Australia, be it the Wallabies or Super team! New Zealand Coaches are regarded as the cream of the crop in International Coaching, but not one will touch Australian Representative Rugby because they are all very aware of the pitfalls of the job and the fact that Coaches get manipulated by the Board who allows the players to form groups some of which seemingly have the ability to sway certain people in high places! There are New Zealand Coaches plying their wares all around the World and even with all the very, very, best being overseas, there are still many top Coaches at this very moment in New Zealand, more than capable of Coaching Australia, ~ it won't happen from any New Zealander, bet on it! The ARU treated the Kiwi Coaches , Deans and Mitchell like crap, and they haven't forgotten that!

Go Topo. Who said he was too old!

I disagree with your last sentence Cliff, and I think StuM is on the money. All the talk about getting Guys in to "advise" Cheika has a fatal flaw...Cheika won't listen to anyone. When he was approached by ARU to "save" Aus rugby after the disgraceful link fiasco, he had them over a barrel and demanded he had total control over every aspect of the Wallabies, including being sole selector of players and assistants.

In this instance, I think the shoulder charge *was* a penalty nine times out of ten.

“Will Michael Cheika and his coaches deliver success at the 2019 Rugby World Cup”? The simple answer is “No” In reality the future is not as clear and cut than this. It would be more realistic to state their RWC campaign will be a high risk one with low probability of semi finals or better.

Hi Nick, MY ARMS ARE UP and READY. A new modern and radical approach is needed: An emphasis in Human Resources Management is badly needed to deal with players' indiscipline away from THE COACHES!!! (I said it first). Three older Heads will do this Job (Disciplinary Team, on-going!) TOPO "The Alex Ferguson of Rugby"!!! - I will pick another 2 or 4 capable and competent coaches, and direct the traffic with them (5 heads one Boss, better than 3=0) . Not that difficult really. The Wallabies are psychologically and emotionally beaten up by the opposition and their Head Coach! TOPO

StuM, each skill coach; backs and attack, defence, forwards, and base skills are all responsible for their own component and deliverables. They have failed, completely failed in attack and defence and skills. Our forwards have gone backwards in both lineout and scrum since Ledesma has left. Cheika may have final say but I doubt that he overrides their inputs.

Nick, as I always keep saying - we do have the cattle; flawed cattle but we have the cattle. I do not expect the Wallabies to be No. 1 ever - unless for short periods. But to strive for No. 2, No. 3 and be competitive in all games is possible. I believe that, taking into account injuries - and those from overseas who are available (although that selection path by Cheika has not delivered top players this year) - we could put together 2 or 3 players in each position that could develop into a sound and competent 23. Just look at your list above. What is lacking the process of coaching; skills, rugby nous and aspects of each player's position and team concepts. We do however lack in leadership. But we are woefully lacking in coaching ability!

It's a pragmatic solution Stu but I think it could easily be misinterpreted as change when it's just rearranging the deck chairs. Personally if we can't get anyone externally, I rather we retain Cheika and hit a true rock bottom so we can rebuild from the grassroots up.