I could be wrong, but before he started, I got the feeling he was genuinely targeting this year as a chance to win the Bledisloe. I hope they are still doing all they can to win it back. Likely just deflecting poor performances anyway with focus on world cup talk etc.

Australia really needs to win a Bledisloe series soon. I would almost take it over the WC….

Just get on with it already! I mean, why are they kidding themselves? They clearly want to pick as many overseas based players as they can, but they think they have to do it by salami slice.

Either you truly believe in the basis as to why the national team should be made up of players from your own Super Rugby system, or you don’t.

Once you have abolished that principle, why does the number matter?

They’re just caught in these two worlds and I just think they need to decide which way they want to go.

If you ask me, I think Australia should just pick everyone who is available.

I don’t understand why there was an expectation both externally and from McKellar himself, that he had some kind of hold on the top job.

You can’t become the Wallabies coach because a few people think you’re a good coach, but majority of people can’t really know for sure?

McKellar clearly has plenty of promise, but he has won one title in a season that only two teams could realistically win, and out of five teams.

I would agree that this should be mutually beneficial and hopefully Dan can continue to learn more by going abroad like he is.

No worries, thanks. Haven’t seen any reporting in UK news that seems overly different to what we already know here, but might have missed the exact articles you refer to. I guess Eddie coming on board in some capacity (As reported) could mean the same thing as Rennie being gone anyway, even if stage managed to sound less brutal…
Again, not pro either situation, and I’d feel for Rennie, but can just see it playing out as Jones taking over completely.
To echo what other people have said, can anyone really see Jones taking a technical role or Rennie being happy about it?

What do you mean? That Rennie could be gone? I just have a feeling that this could be the start of the process that either leads to his resignation or sees him let go. Temptation must be there after poor results. Not saying it is right or wrong as would be torn on such a move.

I think Rennie is in trouble here…

Very predictable outcome for me. NZ finally found a way to finish off Australia after being in similar positions in recent ODI games.

I know they deserve credit for winning last year, but I think Australia have been an average to poor short form team for a while now.

For me, Australia still seem far too revered for a team that is incredibly inconsistent and streaky.

I think they’re guilty of playing arrogant, lazy and foolish cricket; especially against NZ.

Once again, Finch hits the ball in the air straight to a fielder. Warner got out with a lazy shot. Stoinis always gets bogged down and then hits the ball in the air to a fielder. You really have to question the IQ of this cricket team sometimes and they can be made to look incredibly average.

I couldn’t understand the field placings either as there were gaps everywhere and it seems like the Aussie bowlers just run in, bowl and make no adjustments. Compare that to NZ and there was a clear plan. NZ had two slips at one stage I think Australia still couldn’t pierce their field. NZ know they don’t have to do anything spectacular with the ball to have Australia in trouble, and it seems to work all the time.

Australia are a low IQ team and I think the opposition knows it. But they keep doing the same thing over and over again, and don’t seem to learn anything or adjust.

There is no flow to their batting and I would be dropping Stoinis (who’s bowling is absolutely woeful) for Green.

Also interested to follow Jason Gilmore as a coach. I don’t think it was just the supposed extra talent at his disposal that made his junior wallabies stint successful. They looked like a team that was clearly well coached. The same can be said so far of Australia A program.

Wouldn’t read too much into his time at the Waratahs as a head coach; pretty ludicrous situation being a co-coach.

Just think he could be a glimmer of hope for Australian coaches.

Well again, I don’t think I said or did anything catastrophically wrong did I? I just made a comment without enough context and not to undermine original point. Anyway, doesn’t matter.

Yes mum. Sorry mum (;

Two Cents, agreed. There was never any disagreement to begin with. My comment about playing in NZ was not to correct anything that had been said. My fault for being lazy though haha

Key takeaway for me is that Australia don’t learn anything and expect different results doing the same thing over and over again.

We think our mentality is noble, but other nations can see it’s foolish.

I don’t think our coaching is particularly of a high IQ, and doesn’t even truly understand what the real issues are. That’s one of the biggest concerns for me actually.

It really doesn’t matter how hard you try if you keep doing the wrong thing.

Ok, I will accept that. Technically my argument was not related to the original discussion, and was more of a sub plot of original suggestion. I apologies for getting it wrong on that basis, but still stand by the admittedly flippant comment more so relating to envy of NZ’s rugby superiority in player development. But I don’t feel like I’m catastrophically wrong about anything either, besides making a technical slippage that didn’t line up with main point to conversation. I wasn’t disagreeing with the original comment is my point, but it may have looked that way.

Samu has likely improved, but main observation for me is finally having increased opportunity coupled with a clearly defined role. I do realise that point has also been made by original poster so not claiming to say anything interesting or original.

Well hang on, did I say it was *only* because of that? Perhaps there was flippancy in my reply to the original post, but you’ve added lots extra there. I am guilty of not reading the whole conversation properly, but I don’t think I meant to imply what you suggested I was trying to say.

I wouldn’t disagree with your second paragraph at all.

Who knows if Cheika is getting better though? Argentina look as inconsistent and at times feeble as the Wallabies. You would hope Cheika would have learnt some lessons from his stint, but I think people should just cool that declaration a bit.

Of course Rennie is a good coach, James. He would have been exposed long ago if he wasn’t, and any sensible person can see he’s doing his best and the Wallabies at times can look very good. But I do think he seems to revered at times, and that might get in the way of rightful criticism. If he’s as good as people claim at this level, then he certainly hasn’t over achieved at all would be my main point.

Australia’s issues are as much a failure in coaching as anything else I’d say. In recent times anyway. Certainly had some great coaching in the past and there are many ways a coach can truly arrive at the international level for sure!

I wouldn’t consider it a stretch. That was the origin of his name coming into recognition in the first place. It’s not to say that he hasn’t improved in Australia, but like many more who who go overseas, he likely become a better player in the NZ system. Has likely been confusion in how to use him properly and maybe underutilized at times also, but I think he’s always been this good. Straight forward fact; Samu became a better rugby player in NZ.

Probably because of his stint in NZ.

Main basis for Rennie appointment was on success (Also strongly linked to Wayne Smith) in Super Rugby almost a decade ago now. Chiefs were only an average team in his final years and I don’t think his time in Scotland was overly impressive.

Glasgow seemed to play with a similar looseness that the Wallabies do (Although this is true of all recent Wallabies teams). So dangerous on their day but ultimately lacking in areas when it came down to it.

As much as I agree that rugby in this country needs to examine itself before anything else, I would argue they have gotten their last three coaching appointments wrong or at least were lacking in a bit more due diligence.

During this time the Wallabies haven’t sacked any coach. It’s only been fan outrage and selective media where this chorus builds.

Biggest disappointment for me was not winning the England series. But when examining it all a bit closer, there was nothing remarkable or unremarkable about the RC? Australia are no better than going 50% against Argentina away. Australia did well to beat SA and then lose to SA. Nothing out of the ordinary there. And there is certainly nothing out of the ordinary about nearly beating NZ at home, and then getting destroyed at eden park one week later. Fairly standard campaign for only an average rugby nation.

I would agree with this.

Also Interesting that many say Australia should continue an attacking brand of rugby that requires high skill levels, at the same time as saying we don’t produce highly skilled players.

It feels like the Wallabies are just kind of no where and it reflects in the performances.

I don’t think Rennie even knows how he wants to play.

Even more reason to find a coach who knows how to play within limitations.

Wallabies need thinking coaches.

Excellent article and very well written.

This was also my main concern in the aftermath of what happened.

If Australia walks away feeling the victim of a poor decision, instead of actually learning from the very simple and basic mistakes that lead to NZ having the opportunity to score so close to their own line, then Australia will never learn a thing. And doesn’t learn a thing either.

Once again, it was just such and easy turnover and NZ didn’t have to do anything spectacular to score the try.

When this happens, it is often cited as simple All Black brilliance, but I just feel like Australia are a bit lazy, careless and lacking in awareness in these situations. I think back to Dunedin a few years ago and thinking the same thing. Or when NZ scored a try in the last game we beat them in Brisbane. Like I say, it is often said to be All Black brilliance but Australia need to get better at closing these games. I would say there’s a psychological factor at play here too.

I do understand the reaction though, and the selective nature of the call is the big issue, but if Australia walks away thinking they the reason they didn’t win was because of a referee and not attention to detail and discipline in the closing moments, then as usual they’ll be far to pleased with themselves and not learn for next time, or look to put right their issues.

Agreed. Feeble defense has been an issue for a while now. Link to playing style is a consideration but ultimately can surely do better than leak tries like they do?

This is the thing. The biggest concern for me about Rugby in this country is the mentality that drives the style, and the stubbornness to change. I would be surprised if there was pressure on Rennie to make sure he plays in a kind of “Australian way”.

But Australia just keep doing the same thing over and over again, and this is one of the reasons our coaches are not that good.

I truly believe that foreign coaches see things that most Australian coaches don’t.

Speaking of unfolding narratives, I guarantee you Australia will just go out guns blazing in the Bledisloe Cup, The All Blacks will put 50 points on them, the media will then say how good The All Blacks are, and Australia can still be proud it plays “the Australian way”. Next year, there will be the same talk of how the current campaign will be different, the same results will happen and it will continue over and over again without learning a thing.

Australia needs a kind of “Operation Get Bledisloe” mentality that involves planning and a genuine determination to win it back. Much in the same way Ireland appeared to come to NZ with a plan on how they were going to get the job done.

But they just do the same thing every single time, and it plays right into NZ’s hands.

I find this issue another failure within Australian rugby when you consider the amount of intellectual property that exists with AFL and even league.

We are sitting on a gold mine when it comes to catching (marking- AFL) and kicking, are we not? I would have thought Australia would be leading the world in these skills.

Same is true of league style defence etc.

Rhys, I agree. I think one of the big reasons White was so keen was that he could see things Australia was doing wrong, that most of our coaches, likely can’t see. His time with the Brumbies was a great example of how much more well rounded Australian teams can be. I think he wanted the challenge because he could see how to fix us.

Rennie has been awful. Too often, Australia just leak tries. I am honestly fed up with this “Australian way” mentality. We need to play more within our limitations and get the basics right. Australia can’t stay in games with their defense. Good teams find a way to grind it out when they’re not setting the world on fire, but Australia have some pretty embarrassing score lines when things are not going their way.

Is Rennie’s record even that impressive? Some suggest it was the link with Wayne Smith that was a factor in the two titles he won. But since then, Chiefs and Glasgow struck me as only average teams?

Look, I expect to be told I look a bit silly. Under every coach, we same the same thing. It is likely true that Australia is only an average rugby playing nation, and considering the endless injuries, there was nothing overly remarkable about this result. But I think the evidence over the three seasons, taking lots of things into account, points to Rennie so far being extremely underwhelming.

I want to see Australia plan a way to win back the Bledisloe this year. I would be putting all my focus onto that goal. I would honestly rather Australia win back the Bledisloe than win a world cup. But the thing is, I can’t remember a time when Australia went in with a game plan to beat NZ. We just keep playing into their hands and they keep putting 50 points on the board. If I was Rennie, that would be my major goal before anything this season.

I believe Australia needs a coach that gets back to basics and plays more within limitations. Jason Gilmore is a coach who doesn’t seem to get talked about enough.

Sorry, It’s just the same old story over and over again.