Dave Wessels has come out swinging at former Wallaby Morgan Turinui, who says his time as the Melbourne Rebels coach is up.
Turinui said Wessels had not done enough with the talent in his Super Rugby side since taking over as head coach for the 2018 season.
Speaking on the Rugby Ruckus Tight Five podcast, Turinui, who was attack coach in Melbourne for a season in 2017, said he hadn’t seen any improvement since with the team failing to make finals.
Wessels admitted his team had under-achieved but questioned whether Turinui, who played 20 Tests for the Wallabies between 2003 and 2005, was well-positioned to comment.
“The reality is that we haven’t played the way we wanted to play … whether or not I take Morgan’s comments too seriously is probably another question,” Wessels said on Thursday.
“Morgan won one game when he was in Melbourne and he’s criticised our attack; his attack scored 21 tries and we scored 56 the year after he left.
“He was just a member of staff that we didn’t keep on.”
Turinui also criticised Wessels’ development of young players such as Jack Maddocks and Hunter Paisami, saying they are “killing it” after shifting to NSW and the Reds respectively.
Wessels felt those comments were inaccurate, pointing to Maddocks becoming a Wallaby while at the Rebels before his move to the Waratahs this season.
“I felt that was quite harsh,” the 38-year-old said.
“Before I met Jack Maddocks he’d played two or three Super Rugby games and by the end of it he was one of the leading tryscorers in the competition and was a Wallaby.
“Hunter was going well as a development player for us until he had an unfortunate incident in a nightclub and we had to release him.”
Wessels said he regularly sought out feedback from senior coaches such as England coach Eddie Jones.
“We’re on a journey as a coaching staff – I’ve certainly never given anyone the impression we’re the finished product,” he said.
“I’m a lot better coach than I was three years ago and I think we’re building something really special.”
Meanwhile, the Rebels announced their line-up for their round-two Super Rugby AU clash with the Reds at Brookvale Oval on Friday night.
The biggest change is Campbell Magnay starting at outside centre, relegating Test back Reece Hodge to the bench.
Wessels said they were managing workloads for the pair and he expected Hodge to still get plenty of game time.
Rebels: Dane Haylett-Petty (c), Andrew Kellaway, Campbell Magnay, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Matt Toomua, Ryan Louwrens, Michael Wells, Richard Hardwick, Josh Kemeny, Michael Stolberg, Matt Philip, Pone Fa’amausili, Jordan Uelese, Matt Gibbon. Reserves: Efitusi Ma’afu, Cameron Orr, Jermaine Ainsley, Trevor Hosea, Esei Haangana, Frank Lomani, Rob Leota, Reece Hodge.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
"What did he achieve?" Had a team that worked with him, believed in themselves, and with another couple of years would have been a real threat to any team on their day. That is good for mine. Do remember Wessels only had one year aith the Force, Jacko. And in that year the Force lifted from 16th to 12th place....so improvement shown clearly.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Jacko: Have a look at some of the games They were a very gutsy and creative team without the stars. Some of the plays were interesting, now you get little apart from truck it up and kick for territory.
Rich1234
Roar Rookie
Honestly, it’s handbags at 10 paces between a coach and his ex assistant. Not sure MT achieves much in his criticism and not sure that DW does much in his defence. The point I would make is that I think DW has been lauded a little too much and achieved very little at this stage. Some have suggested he has a clean break and finds a bigger/better team as a head coach. I think this is ridiculous. He either works smarter and makes do with what he has got and gets the plaudits for that or he takes a step back and finds an assistant role under a senior coach somewhere else. McKellar at the Brumbies has now moved way ahead of DW in terms of the way he has handled himself, results and the way in which he has built a team and they play. Cheers
Olly
Roar Rookie
At the end of the day, his best response is to say nothing and start winning. A win tonight would be a good result but looking at the Rebels team, they should be the favourite not the underdog...just start winning and all will be forgiven.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah not gonna lie. Big fan of it myself Olly
Olly
Roar Rookie
I agree. He had good scrum and lineout but the performance was not great. Looked better due to poor performances across the country.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
They are only part. But so what he didn’t get selected. Was Hodge a better winger? If not then how can you judge his form on Cheika’s selection?
TC
Guest
Morgan. Average player, average coach obviously, alright pundit. Gets the game, just not necessarily good at the game.
Innocent bystander
Guest
He played 7 tests in 2018 and none in 2019. That doesn’t look like improvement to the selectors. Not sure he scored a try in second half of 2019 but stand corrected. Tries , however , are only a part of the footballing equation.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Turinui is clearly playing a bit of politics etc and bites his lip alot. His comments are almost always constructive rather than destructive hence the lack of cheika criticism at the levels we are happy to throw around but there is no doubt he said certain aspects of WBs gameplan etc was poor. Equally with Wessels, he started his comments out not to have a shot at the man but rather what the rebels needed to be successful and rebuild. And in his mind that's a new coach. And I think if most people had a think about it, they'd probably agree.
Jacko
Guest
You are welcome to gatland....
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
About the same as under McGahan. The Rebels had a decent squad and should have made finals. They lost too many games against average teams though. That’s what Wessels should be held accountable for.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah I feel Wessels has his guys too, and is reluctant to deviate. Ok when it’s working, but it hasn’t been. An example is his continued reliance on Ainsley and Faulkner despite the scrum hindering the Rebels with both of them. Another factor is I feel he tries to pander the big names in the backs to fit them in rather than just picking his best backline.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How have they performed worse than both teams? Neither won more than 7 games in the seasons leading up to 2017
Jacko
Guest
what is it that shows he was a good coach at the Force? What did he achieve?
Olly
Roar Rookie
I love the comment, fastest man over 2m :laughing:
Olly
Roar Rookie
A bit better then both teams but have performed worst then both teams....he has promise as a coach but has been rushed and it shows. How they have maintained that terrible def structure reflex poorly on the head coach and remember, he is the head coach and takes responsibility for the program. Let's not do a Chieka and hold onto a coach who is clearly no delivering. It is professional sport after all.
Olly
Roar Rookie
He won't progress unless he learns from another coach and there is no career path for him here as he is clearly not the next Wallabies coach. Up to him, stay at his current level and have an uneventful career or take the step backwards to move forward.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
You can still be nice and have a tough edge when you need it :angry: :boxing:
Highlander
Guest
Aaron Mauger ?