There’s a scene from the Tom Cruise hit movie Days of Thunder when Cruise’s character (Cole Trickle) states that “There’s nothin’ I can’t do in a race car”. To which Robert Duvall’s character (Harry Hogge) replies, “Well there’s only so much I can do with a race car!”
Trickle couldn’t finish a race because the way that he drove continually wore out the tyres. There was no question that he was fast – but the way he drove was in excess of the car’s capabilities.
The pivotal part of the movie – highlighted in this clip – came when Hogge challenged Trickle to drive however he wanted for 50 laps. Then on a new set of tyres – the way Hogge desired.
The final part of the scene showed Hogge standing over two tyres, one looking like it had driven over a river of lava, the other looking like it had just done a warm-up lap. Hogge pointed to the melted tyre and said: “His way”, then he pointed to the pristine tire and said: “My way and my way was six seconds quicker!”
I’ve mentioned in previous articles Dr Cliff Mallett from the University of Queensland.
Mallett was head coach of relays in the 2004 Olympic Games. In those games Australia won its first men’s track relay medal in over 50 years – a silver medal in the 4×400-metre relay.
Individual athletes have high ego orientation. As national coach, Mallett had to manage athletes from all over the country. It wasn’t just the athletes, he had to manage their coaches also. They were pretty healthy in the ego department as well! Most coaches on appointment talk about bringing everyone inside the tent. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, it’s easier said than done.
Mallett though succeeded and needed to because he had limited control over their individual training environments. How? Firstly, through ascertaining the motivations of all stakeholders, he was then able to leverage in order that relay preparation was incorporated into daily routines. Individual athlete preparation is significantly more sophisticated than that adopted in professional rugby.
As anyone that watched the recent Amazon documentary on three Australian swimmers vying for selection to the Tokyo Olympics will attest, foot position on the blocks, faulty turn technique and even breathing on the last stroke to the wall can be the difference between first and eighth. I also recently heard on a podcast that if the number one high jumper in Europe did just one more weights session than prescribed, his whole season would be destroyed.
Also consider that in 2015, Mick Byrne spent one session per week during the Super Rugby season with every New Zealand Super franchise coordinating the skills development required for the All Blacks’ World Cup campaign. The skill sets within that team are still the best of any team in history.
Fast forward four years and Michael Cheika asked the same of Australia’s four franchises (the Force were out at this stage). The response from all: ‘Not in a game week!’
(Photo by Warren Little – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
So, referring back to Mallett, his ability to integrate relay-specific training into individual athlete programs required significant skills in the understanding of motivation then subsequently in negotiation. Further, in doing this over 12 months out from competition – and with timing of peaking down to the minute – there was no guarantee that athletes would qualify and be selected for the relays if they did qualify. This highlights even more the Everest-like undertaking.
Once the team was set the strategy then moved to modelling and forecasting based on every possible variable to establish the benchmarks for preparation and performance. With those set, it was then about ensuring the environment was maximised for achievement.
After qualification for the final, the coaching group recognised that while they had the right athletes, the running order was wrong.
Mallett consulted with the other coaches then brought the athletes in. They were a few hours from the final and he told the athletes who would run the final. Then he said to the whole team: “We want you guys to sit down over the next 20 minutes and work out the running order”.
The coaching staff came back in the room 20 minutes later and the athletes had chosen the exact same running order that the coaches desired.
A few hours later they came back with a silver medal. Mallett has since said that based on comparison with the other teams, that with every part of the preparation maximised and each of the runners executing their best, a silver medal was all that was possible.
Given the magnitude of the moment, it was a brave move. But the environment created with the coaching and athlete group over a 12-month period was salient. A key component was ensuring that everyone had a voice and to enable that culture, it was mandatory that ‘debate, disagree and commit’ ensured that no opinion was overlooked.
This required huge EQ from the head coach, and this is something that Mallett, an expert on motivation, had and has in spades.
Mallett more recently was given kudos for Paul Green’s initial success with the North Queensland Cowboys.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
It’s no simple irony that the ‘debate, disagree and commit’ mantra keeps arising in high-achieving environments.
How do both of these stories (one fictional but topical, and the other very real) relate to the current state of coaching in Australia?
1. If there are issues with the interdependent system or individual and collective capabilities aren’t maximised, the system and individuals within it will always fail. Coach expertise is reduced to the lowest common denominator and in terms of player output, if we can compare the human body, the vehicle for performance, to a race car, it’s similarly affected. If the alignment is out, range of motion compromised, or protective mechanisms aren’t enabled, it doesn’t matter how good the driver (coach or coaching team) is.
a. The ability to train at intensity for duration is compromised
b. You can’t maximise skill, power, speed, and endurance
c. Injuries increase – particularly when players are put under load they aren’t ready to handle
2. Alignment doesn’t just refer to the body. It refers to organisations, teams, coaching and playing groups. There are many factors that affect alignment. In this article I’m going to refer to two: the right people and winning and keeping the room. With both of these, a culture of continuous individual and group improvement can emerge.
Which leads to the Waratahs and news that Darren Coleman has been appointed head coach of the Waratahs.
I had stated in a previous article that he was one of the coaches that should be considered for the role.
He is someone of high integrity. Leading in to 2011, Coleman was promoted from the academy to attack coach by then-Brumbies head coach Andy Friend.
It’s been well reported that a number of senior players that wanted Friend removed manipulated the board to have the decision vetoed. Despite accepting and signing a new contract, Coleman was forced to step back into the academy role.
Despite the bitterness he must have felt, Coleman remained loyal to the team and the coaching group. He didn’t kick stones, he just focussed on coaching as well as he could at the Brumbies. He supported both Friend and Stephen Larkham (who was given the attack role) in his continued capacity as academy coach.
After Friend was removed and despite being a loyal colleague and friend, which I’m sure added to the bitterness, he continued remaining loyal to the team and the interim coaching group. When potential head coaching suitors were being canvassed, he didn’t contact them to try and shore up a role in the new regime. To be fair, none of the coaching staff did – they just focused on doing what they could to get the best out of the season.
It’s also clear Coleman can win and keep a room. He’s done it consistently for over 20 years in countries spanning from Canada, Italy, Japan and obviously Australia. In a recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald, examples of how he held the Warringah club together after significant tragedy and his care for lower-grade players at Gordon abound.
Darren Coleman has been appointed as Waratahs coach (Rugby Australia)
A room can be lost with one action that doesn’t match words. It can be lost through imparting someone else’s cultural framework or through accepting and or modelling actions and behaviour that don’t match the organisation’s desired culture.
In line with Mallett’s case study in motivation, there is the interview with Ewen McKenzie I referred to in previous articles. He clearly talks about culture and the coach as the custodian of it. But a key component of success and continued buy-in (keeping the room) is that the culture is developed with the group so that they own it. Success is then governed by continually referring back to it – through actions and selection as an example, to make sure it’s important in terms of the group’s way of doing things.
This was also a key part of Mallett deferring decision making to the athletes at a pivotal time. He couldn’t defer selection to them – because that would have turned into a blood bath, but because the culture they had developed ensured that decision-making was about what was best for the collective outcome he was confident that the team would come up with the right running order. More importantly though, through debating it, ensuring clarity around the decision, they owned it.
It was then an easier mindset shift to execution.
Recall David Parkin’s ‘sacrificial acts’ that underpinned Carlton’s success and its influence in the initial cultural discussions with the Crusaders.
These actions owned and modelled by the coaching and playing group often drive why players buy in. Through it, they believe that they can get better with you as the coach and that assists in keeping the room.
However, it’s almost impossible to both win and keep the room if the right people aren’t in it.
Much has been said about the Waratahs’ playing list and from all reports, it’s pretty set for 2022. This is where one of Coleman’s clear strengths will be blunted in the short term: recruitment. However, to be as successful as he has, building a high quality culture is clearly a strength and this article has highlighted the environment as salutary to success regardless of expertise.
While the list is young, it is talented.
When he took over the Brumbies, Jake White jettisoned over 270 Test and 800 Super caps of experience for a young and fresh list. Eighteen months later they played in a Super Rugby final. The key: staff!
The employment of Laurie Fisher and Dean Benton in terms of individual development expertise was crucial for the success that followed in the short term and since.
Dean Benton maximised the efficiency and the output of the race cars, which allowed Fisher to develop key skills to maximise that output. White was the talisman and the ‘El Cid’. It also allowed Larkham space to develop in the backs role.
Marketing guru Simon Reynolds wrote a book in the late ’90s called When they zig, you zag. One of the recommendations he had in the book was ‘hire slow, sack fast’. He went on to point out that organisations spend little time and money on recruitment, while often years and insurmountable amounts of money trying to fix recruitment mistakes.
Coleman will need to decide whether the expertise and values he needs exist currently in the organisation or whether he needs to hire externally. He’s just entered the honeymoon period of the role and he’ll find new best friends coming at him from everywhere.
His first challenge that could easily define the next 12 months will be sifting through all of that and assembling a staff that can take the current group excitedly forward.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Thanks for such a comprehensive reply, Leahry.....only reading it now, thus late response.
Leahry
Roar Rookie
Chester, It's been a while and good to hear from you. Probably the easiest way to explain this is using another couple of former colleagues of ours as an example - Ben Serpell & Peter Ryan. I highlighted in the previous article that Serpell was able to achieve arguably World's Best Performance & Injury Resilience outcomes at the Brumbies over a sustained period: "Serpell’s influence during this period can’t be underestimated. While head of athletic performance from 2016 until the end of 2019, the Brumbies were able to achieve two seasons where player availability for training and games was above 95 per cent. Additionally, during the season, individual players improved across all physiological markers. Arguably the world’s best metrics across any sport, let alone a heavy collision sport. This is a key measure (outside of traditional win-loss) of ‘programming’ effectiveness. The other is injuries. During this period, the Brumbies were the best prepared and least injured." Yet he was part of the Waratahs Coaching Group this year - the Waratahs had a horrific injury rate and didn't improve athletically. He resigned mid-way through the season citing that he was accountable for areas of the program that he had no control over. He was then picked up by the Wallabies within 48 hours. The other is Peter Ryan. In Peter's first year as part of the Brumbies (2015), the Brumbies had the least number of tries scored against them in the history of Super Rugby. Second year they dropped off - but less than 40% of training was allocated to defence. Now this is where the argument from a number of coaches regarding the type of training comes into play - a point I'll come back to. The following year defence and attack were split equally across training and the Brumbies were back up to No. 1 or 2 in the competition (across a variety of measures). The following year 2018 - they defensively dropped off again. Pete's argument during that year again was that defence time had dropped off again to below 40% - and this was from the start of pre-season. I actually spoke with Dan about this and his reply was - we do defence every session. But Pete wanted more time doing individual or small group work - every year he had this - the defence was up there with the best in competition. Dan's included 15v15 as 'Pete's' defence time. So when well over 85% of time is spent in 15 v 15 - there is argument that plenty of time is spent on defence. But they don't tackle in 15 v 15 - it's 2 handed touch or with pads. Despite Pete's success he had limited influence over training times in 2018 so resigned. Was picked up by the Reds - but was let go after COVID hit. Now Rennie actually stated in a recent interview that none of the Australian teams defended particularly well - which I agree wholeheartedly with. Even when the Brumbies didn't allocate the training time that Pete wanted - they still never gave up the amount of points per game that they have since he left. In line with that and back to Mick. The All Blacks generally did 100 minute sessions. 70 mins was team based skills while 30 was Habit Change Progressions - Mick. When Mick first started with the Wallabies he campaigned for similar time - but rarely got it. He also initially was given latitude to develop an attacking kicking game to open up space for ball in hand attack - which started to bear fruit in 2017 & they got superb skill development - despite limited time on it during that season - leading up to defeating the All Blacks in the last game of the Rugby Championship. But then on the European Tour - got thrown out the window. In the All Black environment the Assistant Coaches had defined roles. The Head Coach provided the overarching vision, facilitated debate and provided the final decisions on everything etc. - Ian Foster delivered the Attacking Structure, Philosophy and Tactics and Mick delivered the skills to enable it. Wayne Smith delivered the defensive philosophy tactics and analysis & again Mick delivered the skills and techniques to enable it. Mike Cron delivered the scrum technique and tactics and Mick & Mike paired up for the line outs. Within the Wallabies environment - the Assistant Coaches didn't want to have anybody else delivering their skills component so there was conflict there already. But that's not an issue - I've pointed out that you need that conflict - the issue was that Cheika conversely to Henry and Hansen - never really rated the importance of the skills and never came in over the top with - this is how we're going to do it. Now with that occurring at International level - it filtered down also to the Super Provinces and again - they didn't want the Wallabies Coaches coming in doing any work with their players. It's a territorial thing in Australian Rugby and it has been there since the inception of professional rugby. Famously John Connolly used to hunt (then Wallaby Assistant Coach) Jeff Miller away from any trainings that he would turn up to. It's also happening now in Strength and Conditioning/Athletic Performance. There are traditionalists whose training comes from Weight/Power Lifting backgrounds and there's 'Movement Based Strength' or 'Strength and Coordination' proponents like your Serpell's, Benton's and Pryor's and even now Damian Marsh - despite the research and practical outcomes from the MBS and Strength & Coordination far outweighing that of the traditionalists. If you're on one side of the equation - it's almost like religious fundamentalism - you're at war with the other side. I've mentioned in previous articles that Environment (Strategy, Leadership & Culture) trump everything. It enables World Class expertise or limits it. I highlighted in a comment above that Cheika has always only been good for 1 - 2 (at the most 3 year stints). He's an exceptional change manner - but there's no long term strategy or view. The Wallabies changed the way that they played defensively and attackingly every year. 2017 they wanted an attacking kicking game - 2018 they didn't and in 2019 was ridiculous - they never kicked. In the video that I provided of Mick Coaching the Crusaders players - in Super Rugby season with Toddy Blackadder and the other Crusaders Coaches assisting - he talks clearly about the All Blacks missing 6 tries in 4 games because they couldn't get the final pass away - which required more work on a different passing action - that allowed for players to be a genuine triple threat. https://vimeo.com/571034493/b608c31a1a When the Wallabies played Ireland in Australia one of the final plays of the 3rd test showed the Wallabies in a 5 v 3 situation which required execution of the passing techniques - that Mick highlighted to the All Blacks way back in 2015 - yet they tried a block play and the ball went over the side line. This was evidence of the lack of alignment in the Coaching Box - structure vs. Skills. Later that year they were getting pumped by Argentina in Beunos Aries for what looked like an insurmountable total to come back from at half time. I have this directly from one of the players - 'we threw away the structure and just went out and played - looked for space and used their skills'. They came back and won the game - using the skills that Mick had been trying to drum into them. Sean Fitzpatrick wrote a book a number of years ago stating that in the second half of a test match against Australia in 1994 - they worked out how to play - which led them into the 1995 World Cup. That match was made famous by George Gregan's tackle on Jeff Wilson in the dying minutes. The Wallabies second half performance against Argentina should have been the same - but on the European tour - back to 3 phase structure, incessant block plays and 3-4 losses. At the end of that tour the Board fainted on getting rid of Cheika - the payout would have been too much. So really they had to get rid of either Mick or Bernie and they needed a change in Athletic Performance. Bernie was the lucky one - he got the get out of jail free card. But again less than 12 months out from a World Cup and changing their attack structure again - never selecting the same halves combination for subsequent tests - changing their centres for the last game - was always going to end in tears. Now in terms of Australian Player skills - Mick did his best in a severely constrained environment - but I'd argue particularly given our international results last year - the basic skills have significantly dropped off. And with Australian team giving up over 30 points a game in defence - only yielding 2 wins against Kiwi teams - I can see why the Wallabies Coaching staff are smashing the Wallabies players at the moment - they are having to make up for significant deficits due poor skills focus during super rugby. Rennie has come out being quite critical - one area is of Australian Forwards inability to utilise footwork. This is no different to things Mick was trying to put into the Wallabies over 4 years. But and I can quote this verbatim - in providing feedback to one Wallabies player in one of the few times he was allowed into the Super environments - a provincial assistant coach was sitting in on the meeting. The feedback was - 'We need you to work on your pre-contact footwork'. The provincial Coach said 'Stop right there - I don't want you Wallaby f.....s coming in here and talking your footwork rubbish to 'my' players. I want my players to hit the hole and hit the hole as hard and as fast as possible!' 'What if there's no hole there mate!' 'I don't care' was the response. That is why Mick wasn't as effective in the Australian Environment as the NZ environment. And it's not isolated to Mick - the Current Wallaby Staff would privately be stating the same - hence (and I stated in the previous article that it was deserved) having one of the Head Coaches as part of the Wallaby environment can at least circumvent this - if he takes what he has learned back next year.
Leahry
Roar Rookie
Tooley, Apologies but I have to pick you up on a few of the comments. Firstly I’m not sure who your information regarding Mick Byrne’s role with the All Blacks is from, but they may want to go back & check a few things: 1. Mick Byrne was skills coach for Scotland for 2 years leading in to the 2003 World Cup. After that he spent 2 years with Saracens. He was brought in as a ‘Full-Time’ Assistant Coach with the All Blacks just prior to the 2005 Lions Series - and that was as Skills Coach. The first part of the role was ‘yes’ to integrate an attacking kicking game into the All Blacks - but it was based on a presentationRare that a kicking coach is ‘full-time’. So he didn’t come from straight from the VFL 2. As you can see in the video at the following link - he is clearly coaching skills to the All Blacks Players & some of the best players in the World are both responding and contributing. These were key skills as was the explanation to beat linespeed defence in particular. https://vimeo.com/571034493/b608c31a1a Andy Friend - In all the articles I have highlighted the environment as the the overarching factor that can make or break a coach. In previous articles I highlighted that Bill Bellicheck was slated to ‘never be a Head Coach again after being Sacked by the Cleveland Browns’ and that Graham Henry’s reputation was ruined after moving on from Wales in early 2002. Henry was a controversial selection for the Lions over Clive Woodward and if subsequent biographies are anything to go by - wasn’t accepted or rated by the English members of the squad. Particularly when a number of them weren’t selected - they became toxic in that environment. Both Coaches went on in different environments to prove just how good they were. Back to Andy Friend - there’s a reason why Jake White jettisoned over 800 Super rugby and 270 test caps of experience. While some of those players may have been slated wrongly - a lot of them were toxic in any coaching environment. I’ve included an interview I conducted with Stephen Larkham to market some coaching courses that we were running overseas in 2014 and talks about that difficulty in coaching that playing group. Link below: https://vimeo.com/571020327/72db4efdc2 Andy is a good coach but his influence was undermined by the then Brumbies playing group in 2010 leading to his sacking in 2011. You’ve got to remember that Andy in his first year 2009 managed the playing group superbly through the tragic death of Shaun Mackay almost making the Super Rugby finals. Since the Brumbies, Andy reinvigorated the Australian Men’s 7’s team only to be dumped as he was just starting to get them to hit their straps - they’ve been forgettable since. Connaught were also a basket case when he took them over after Kieren Keane was let go - and they have been on the steady improvement since making finals I think in every year he has been coach. He has also just signed a 2 year extension. I agree with you regarding RugbyAU decision making. They’ve been poor for 20 years, but not choosing Jake White as Head Coach of the Wallabies wasn’t one of them. While Jake did a fantastic job at the Brumbies - I don’t believe he would have been any more successful than Ewen McKenzie or Michael Cheika with the Wallabies in terms of the 2015 result - runner up in the World Cup. Cheika is very good in 1 - 2 year stints - but has no plan past that. Jake is similar - very good for 1 - 2 years but again no plan past that. The catalyst for the Springboks winning the 2007 World Cup was bringing Eddie Jones in which reinvigorated the program and acted as a buffer between Jake and the players - he also had a very good Captain in John Smit. Friction, particularly between himself and the Bulls players, largely because of Jealousy around Heneke Meyer was beginning to grate away in the last few years of his Springbok tenure: https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/springboks/victor-matfield-on-scuffle-with-jake-white-20111113 Because he had a clean slate at the Brumbies and a very good Staff - it worked. But cracks were appearing at the end of 2013 as Clyde Rathbone who was his Springbok U21 World Cup winning Captain - reported on Jake’s issues (on this platform) straight after he resigned from the Brumbies. https://www.theroar.com.au/2013/09/27/rathbone-my-take-on-jakes-resignation/ Those issues played out the following year when he was sacked by former good friend John Smit as Director of Rugby with the Sharks, and were well reported in Tendai Mtawarira’s autobiography. These have followed Jake since, including a falling out with Eddie Jones. A massive falling out with senior players at Montpelier. Was replaced at Toyota by Steven Hansen. Has just taken the Bulls in one year to win South Africa’s version of Super Rugby. But I believe that will probably play out again. Jake is a change manager and a very good one. If he is allowed to make the changes that he wants - can fundamentally achieve incredible success quickly. But and Andrew Fagan (former Brumbies CEO) would attest to this, he’s someone that you would sign just on that basis, then move him on with a clear succession plan at the conclusion of year 2. Like Cheika who again can do miracles in 2 year cycles - they are essentially change managers. Had Jake been around when Ewen McKenzie resigned from the Wallabies - then like Cheika would have done a wonderful job 12 months out from the World Cup. But, and a sin bin to the All Blacks in the Final was the only thing that stopped that being a 40 - 50 point smashing - the runner up medal would still have been the same result.
Leahry
Roar Rookie
Tooley, Apologies but I have to pick you up on a few of the comments. Firstly I’m not sure who your information regarding Mick Byrne’s role with the All Blacks is from, but they may want to go back & check a few things: 1. Mick Byrne was skills coach for Scotland for 2 years leading in to the 2003 World Cup. After that he spent 2 years with Saracens. He was brought in as a ‘Full-Time’ Assistant Coach with the All Blacks just prior to the 2005 Lions Series - and that was as Skills Coach. The first part of the role was ‘yes’ to integrate an attacking kicking game into the All Blacks - but it was based on a presentationRare that a kicking coach is ‘full-time’. So he didn’t come from straight from the VFL 2. As you can see in the video at the following link - he is clearly coaching skills to the All Blacks Players & some of the best players in the World are both responding and contributing. These were key skills as was the explanation to beat linespeed defence in particular. https://vimeo.com/571034493/b608c31a1a Andy Friend: In all the articles I have highlighted the environment as the the overarching factor that can make or break a coach. In a previous article https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/05/29/a-tale-of-two-coaches-and-super-rugby-part-1/ I highlighted that Bill Bellicheck was slated to ‘never be a Head Coach again after being Sacked by the Cleveland Browns’ and that Graham Henry’s reputation was ruined after moving on from Wales in early 2002. Henry was a controversial selection for the Lions over Clive Woodward and if subsequent biographies are anything to go by - wasn’t accepted or rated by the English members of the squad. Particularly when a number of them weren’t selected - they became toxic in that environment. Both Coaches went on in different environments to prove just how good they were. Back to Andy Friend - there’s a reason why Jake White jettisoned over 800 Super rugby and 270 test caps of experience. While some of those players may have been slated wrongly - a lot of them were toxic in any coaching environment. I’ve included an interview I conducted with Stephen Larkham to market some coaching courses that we were running overseas in 2014 and talks about that difficulty in coaching that playing group. https://vimeo.com/571020327/72db4efdc2 Andy is a good coach but his influence was undermined by the then Brumbies playing group in 2010 leading to his sacking in 2011. You’ve got to remember that Andy in his first year 2009 managed the playing group superbly through the tragic death of Shaun Mackay almost making the Super Rugby finals. Since the Brumbies, Andy reinvigorated the Australian Men’s 7’s team only to be dumped as he was just starting to get them to hit their straps - they’ve been forgettable since. Connaught were also a basket case when he took them over after Kieren Keane was let go - and they have been on the steady improvement since making finals I think in every year he has been coach. He has also just signed a 2 year extension. I agree with you regarding RugbyAU decision making. They’ve been poor for over 20 years, but not choosing Jake White as Head Coach of the Wallabies wasn’t one of them. While Jake did a fantastic job at the Brumbies - I don’t believe he would have been any more successful than Ewen McKenzie or Michael Cheika with the Wallabies in terms of the 2015 result - runner up in the World Cup. Cheika is very good in 1 - 2 year stints - but has no plan past that. Jake is similar - very good for 1 - 2 years but again no plan past that. The catalyst for the Springboks winning the 2007 World Cup was bringing Eddie Jones in which reinvigorated the program and acted as a buffer between Jake and the players - he also had a very good Captain in John Smit. Friction, particularly between himself and the Bulls players, largely because of Jealousy around Heneke Meyer was beginning to grate away in the last 2 years of his tenure https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/springboks/victor-matfield-on-scuffle-with-jake-white-20111113 Because he had a clean slate at the Brumbies and a very good Staff - it worked. But cracks were appearing at the end of 2013 as Clyde Rathbone who was his Springbok U21 World Cup winning Captain - reported on Jake’s issues (on this platform) straight after he resigned from the Brumbies. https://www.theroar.com.au/2013/09/27/rathbone-my-take-on-jakes-resignation/ Those issues played out the following year when he was sacked by former good friend John Smit as Director of Rugby with the Sharks, and were well reported in Tendai Mtawarira’s autobiography. These have followed Jake since, including a falling out with Eddie Jones. A massive falling out with senior players at Montpelier. Was replaced at Toyota by Steven Hansen. Has just taken the Bulls in one year to win South Africa’s version of Super Rugby. But I believe that will probably play out again. Jake is a change manager and a very good one. If he is allowed to make the changes that he wants - can fundamentally achieve incredible success quickly. But, and Andrew Fagan (former Brumbies CEO) would attest to this, he’s someone that you would sign just on that basis, then move him on with a clear succession plan at the conclusion of year 2. Like Cheika who again can do miracles in 2 year cycles - they are essentially change managers. Had Jake been around when Ewen McKenzie resigned from the Wallabies - then like Cheika would have done a wonderful job 12 months out from the World Cup. But, and a sin bin to the All Blacks in the Final was the only thing that stopped that being a 40 - 50 point smashing - the runner up medal would still have been the same result.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I needed to read the article through a second time and am prompted to look at a few of his other ones. This parochialism did extend with Byrne as he continued to be criticised by pundits for failing to magically fix the skill gaps in adult players. The other point about who owns the culture is a good one with very wide application to all organisations. The person at the top can shape culture, cancel it, guide its development but can never control it. Their job is to make sure that it is being lived and built on every day by everybody.
Simon
Guest
Boss, Another good read. My question. Mick Burn features in few of them. Never met the bloke. What makes him so good? Or is a myth with a good manager? Wallabies skills went backwards on his watch or was that because to your point - he didn’t get access to the super teams? Simon
Leahry
Roar Rookie
Yep it's a good point. One thing that characterised the game back then though was 8 forwards from both teams in the ruck/maul and backline vs backline. Forwards in particular back then didn't have the full range of skills - in terms of playing like a first receiver, being able to change direction - defending/defence that we saw from the All Blacks playing in 2015 World Cup and since. Further in the 70's because it was generally back line vs back line for attack and no formal detail in defensive systems - there was more space on the field. Backlines generally aligned and played deep to give themselves more space and time to move and execute their skills. I'm not denying that they were a skilful team, more to say that the way the game was played back then didn't require the skillsets across the board that are required from each player in the game today. Comparatively, the 2015 All Blacks had players that could carry, change direction, execute a wide variety of passes and were able to do that close to a fast moving defensive line and do it without telegraphing the option. Most teams these days play similar attack system - but with a key distinction - if a forward is going to carry. They move, catch and run like they're going to carry. If their going to pass - they move/moreover don't move and pass, particularly if the pass is to go behind 1 player to another runner. More often in this case the passing player catches statically and turns their whole body in the motion of the pass. That's poor skill - because it telegraphs to the opposition and there is no option to do anything else. Not that defences are reading it that well at the moment. However, the All Blacks in particular in that World Cup were taught to catch and move in a way that they could execute all of those options - without telegraphing and so all options were available to the last moment. Now they didn't always get it right - but that was the focus. Now that was just the forwards. When we get to the backs - Carter, Nonu, both Smiths could play close to the defensive line with 3 options available to them - pass, run or kick, and were trained to get to the required option within 1 step. Of the players in the world that can do that at the moment - only Mounga. Nonu was the most interesting out of that bunch - because when he started his professional career - was just a runner. By the time he finished - was a general triple threat - which comes back to the coaching. Now do I think that players in 1971 could adjust if they were playing in the same era - yes absolutely. There's also argument that the 1984 Wallabies Grand Slam team was up there as well & they were led by the mercurial Mark Ella who again could easily have adapted to todays game. The Wallabies between 1999 & 2001 were reasonably skilled as well. But... and if I compare Stephen Larkham to Dan Carter - Stephen took 3 steps to execute a pass and there were clear differences in the way he moved if he was going to execute all 3 options. But the way the game was played back then - he could get away with that. Although later in his career - couldn't. So I agree very difficult to compare each team. But if we take a snapshot of the skills then and the skills required from each player now. Then due to the differences in the game - now wins. But if they were in the same era's - could they have adapted - yes and may have adapted quicker than the current players - because of the wide variety of sports backgrounds of of previous generations - Yes as well.
Marlin
Roar Rookie
Very interesting, Leahry, thank you. As a long term observer of NSW Rugby I hope he can do it but there are some fundamental problems in the organisation with both staff (office) and players. Good luck to him - and them - next year.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Mick Byrne according to my information was employed by Henry from the VFL in a minor role to improve kicking and contests for the high ball. What else could he coach except forward passing ! Andy Friend was forgettable. Jake White employed good staff and accepted responsibility. R A have made a lot of mistakes ; missing him was the beginning of the long slide. NSW are lucky , there is not much dead wood left apart from Hooper as Captain. Ideal for a new coach.
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Another great read and so well written. Thank you again Leahry for these very interesting articles. It was always a mystery to me why there was no improvement in skills with Mick Byrne's addition to the fold. I suspected it was a lack of buy-in by admistration or the player's themselves. I guess part of the selection process must be to determine if a player buys in and will do the extra hard yards themselves to improve or not otherwise you are just wasting resources and effort. Your contributions have been a great addition to the Roar and something to look forward to. Cheers.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Interesting and well researched read. Thanks and hopefully DC can lift the biggest weight in Oz rugby atm.
AJ
Guest
Reading your article I cannot but think about some of the club disasters that have occurred like the Reds mid 2000's and particularly the current Broncos :shocked: . Hope that someone is sifting through the wreckage looking for that black box for some definitive analysis rather than rumours and opinions. They are tearing themselves to pieces.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Really interesting article, Leahry. Thanks. "Also consider that in 2015, Mick Byrne spent one session per week during the Super Rugby season with every New Zealand Super franchise coordinating the skills development required for the All Blacks’ World Cup campaign." Yes, good use of expertise. Do wonder about this claim though.. "The skill sets within that team are still the best of any team in history." We are talking rugby teams, I'm assuming ? It's a big call to make, given how hard it is to compare across different historical periods. What parameters were considered in coming to this conclusion ? I would have thought the skill sets of the 1971 Lions team that toured New Zealand were right up there for consideration in making a call on "the best of any team in history."
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Hire slow and sack fast. Very much the case Coleman needs to identify who won't be part of the solution. Like any downsizing, how he does it will significantly impact the culture he is building and from what I read he will make sure it is handled in an appropriate way. Interesting story about Byrne and Cheika. Parochialism has been the biggest burden for the game in my lifetime, within districts, regions, states and the country. A problem the professional era has brought with it, that there are now five states instead of two. Any proposed RA constitutional restructure which does not bring all professional rugby under direct RA control (similar to NZ) is fiddling while Rome burns. Having said that, any proposed RA constitutional restructure which does not open the RA Board to accountability, nomination from anyone and broader voting rights for the rugby fraternity is a bit like adding petrol to speed the process.
hugo verne
Guest
A pleasure to read good style combined with expert analysis.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Great piece. It deserves more than one reading.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Cracking read Leahry, I’m really enjoying your stuff. It seems DC doesn’t have a support team in tow, and the existing staff have their issues. As you point out, his coaching team may well define his success. I hope he’s given the resources and time to get it right
Harry Jones
Expert
Enjoyed the read.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Great read Leahry. Brad Thorn has a real dream team of experts assisting him in Queensland but it took a few years to assemble them... Will NSW give Coleman the same backing?