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The national coaching appointments of Darren Lehmann and Ewen McKenzie is a breath of fresh air.
Lehmann’s first challenge starts tomorrow night at Trent Bridge in the first of five Ashes Tests in England – McKenzie has to tread water until August 17 to do battle with the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship.
Both big asks.
Had Mickey Arthur still been coach of the baggy greens, the feeling among Australian supporters would be negative.
Lehmann has given those supporters something to believe in.
McKenzie takes over today, with Robbie Deans sacked yesterday after that horrendous 41-16 defeat by the Lions last Saturday.
And McKenzie will give Wallaby fans the same positive feeling from the get-go.
There’s a lot to like about ‘Boof’ and ‘Link’.
Both are physical heavyweights, both were successful on the international stage as players, both are highly-respected by all current players, both believe the only way to win is to play hard, and enjoy yourself.
But if any players want to push the misbehave envelope like David Warner, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, and James O’Connor, they had better duck as the hammers of hell will descend upon them.
That’s why Lehmann and McKenzie are perfect selections. They have no time for prima donnas. No time for smart arses. Just give your all, all the time – or on your bike.
Respect the baggy green cap, or gold jersey, every waking minute of every day.
For some unfathomable reason South African Arthur and Kiwi Deans could not get that message through to their charges.
They wouldn’t stand any nonsense if they were coaching their own countries. So why was it different coaching Australia?
Blowed if I know. It doesn’t make any sense.
Anyway, that’s all in the past. This is a new beginning, and with it comes much hope.
I reckon Lehmann will be as successful as Bobby Simpson and John Buchanan, and there can’t be any higher praise.
And McKenzie has the potential to be another Rod Macqueen, by far the most successful Wallaby coach of the professional era.
Why?
Simpson, Buchanan, and Macqueen were sticklers for excellence, and they drove their troops.
Not in any dictatorial way, just getting through to each individual in a different way.
Some didn’t like it, with the world’s greatest leggie Shane Warne continually at loggerheads with Buchanan.
But Warne still fired during the Buchanan watch, so who won the point?
Buchanan.
And while I have the chance, here is an ideal time to press for Lehmann and McKenzie to be sole selectors.
It doesn’t make sense to have outside selectors have any say in who should be picked, when it’s the coaches neck that is constantly in the noose.
He wins, he’s safe. He loses too often and it’s the exit door as both Arthur and Deans found out.
Every professional coach in a professional sport has to be the master of his own destiny.
Darren Lehmann, and Ewen McKenzie, deserve that status.
Long may they reign.