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By Lee Stace

Poor coaching is not the only issue plaguing the Wallabies’ class of 2012.

YOU CAN blame the coach all you want, but at the end of the day Australia simply doesn’t have the players at present to challenge the All Blacks.

Many of them are handy footballers at Super Rugby level; a step up, however, and they seem to struggle. You only have to look at the Wallabies’ limited and somewhat peculiar tactics during their 0-22 loss to a far-from-perfect New Zealand side at Eden Park last Saturday for proof.

So far the media has torn strips off coach Robbie Deans. They have said he is standing on soil far shakier than the stuff back in his native Christchurch after yet another loss on the big stage to his countrymen. His record since 2008 against the All Blacks now stands at three wins and 14 losses. Terrible.

Deans has to take some responsibility for that; wear some of the blame for his questionable selections – for instance, how can he justify having so many players from the Waratahs in his run-on XV given their dreadful Super Rugby season? – and a game plan which is focused on stemming the flow of the All Blacks and kicking the ball away.

But what the back-to-back losses against the Kiwis have highlighted are the limitations of some of the current Wallaby players at international level. They looked bereft of ways to break down the All Blacks in both tests.

So much so that it is debatable whether someone as tactically astute as Ewen McKenzie, the man many are pushing to take over from the embattled Deans, could do any better with the current cattle representing his nation.

Deans always had an uncanny knack with the Crusaders of being able to get the best out of middle-of-the-road players. He has found the going a lot tougher across the Tasman due to the fact that that same group of athlete over there is nowhere near the standard he was used to mentoring back in New Zealand.

In fact, Deans has probably boxed well above his weight to achieve the victories he has against the All Blacks and Springboks during his tenure, not to mention the Tri Nations title and No 2 ranking in the world.

But I urge you to ask yourself the following questions: if the current Wallabies team fielded a second-string side, say against England, Scotland or Samoa, could you say for certain they would win?

What about New Zealand and South Africa? If they did likewise against the same opponents, would they get the desired result?

It was obvious that things were going to be difficult for the Wallabies in 2012 during Super Rugby.

Three of the five worst teams in the competition this year were Australian: the Waratahs (11th), Rebels (13th) and Force (14th). Australia provided just two of the top ten teams, and only one of the six finalists.

As the weeks rolled on, it became painfully clear that some of the Australian players currently earning a crust in Super Rugby would struggle to crack the wider training squads of the New Zealand teams.

Some will argue otherwise and will no doubt launch a personal attack or two this scribe’s way.

The truth hurts, I suppose.

Posted Comments

Lee Wood

31-08-2012
17:14:26

Quite correct Peter, but the politics that I sense run like a vicious rip underneath Australian Sporting Control, will undermine that happening, and Rugby Union will ( solely due to consistent Wallaby under - performing and a media that crucifies rather than cajoles ) slip into a mass of indecision, poor attendances, and declining youth grade sign - ups. Nothing breeds success in Australia quite like success --- and at this rate, you won't see that Bledisloe for another 10 years, if not longer.

Peter Truscott

31-08-2012
15:24:35

Quite apart from our lack of junior and club player development in Australia, we are at a severe disadvantage in having 4 football codes. The AFL in particular have developed masses of superb athletes with a strong junior and club support system which enjoys liberal financial support. Many AFL players would make superb rugby players yet when was the last time rugby 'bought' a star from AFL? It just could work! Maybe we should start by buying Andrew Demitreau (?) to run Australian Rugby . . .

Peter Truscott

31-08-2012
15:18:00

The comment that we 'don't have the cattle' is absolutely correct. Quality players have excellent skills, mostly learned at junior level. John O'Neil thinks that 'grass roots rugby' begins at Super 15 and has ignored our junior development for years. He probably thinks that our future Wallabies walk straight out of the GPS Schools like Joey's, Iggies and their Queensland counterparts. We need to put more effort and money back into developing our juniors and club players. Find a CEO who believes this and within 10 years we will be back to being competitive with the ABs.

Vixy

31-08-2012
11:30:52

Perfect opportunity for a comeback from Matt Giteau maybe? He was a mint player. And im a staunch kiwi supporter but credits due where its due.

Dave Mitchell

31-08-2012
09:49:04

Ever since Deans has taken over as coach he has had problems with Players and a lack of depth to select from. Mckenzie who a lot of oneeyed Ossies are crying for, would not have a made any difference to the current situation. Until Australia start up a setup similar to the ITM Cup their situation will not improve.Australia have not been winning may tests since neutral Referees have mostly been involved in the past 15+ years. We will have Deans back here any time he is welcome and his Coaching record proves it.

Keith

30-08-2012
23:55:17

The Wallabies are selected from a pool of just 150 players (5 Franchises x 30 players), the All Blacks move up from a pool 480 NPC players and the Boks from a pool of 400 (Currie Cup players). There is no rugby played Oz S15 and Oz club rugby (57,000 senior players). This is entirely the fault of the ARU and as rugby gets more professional around the globe the Wallabies will become less competitive. No pathways in Oz; from 57000 players only 150 get a look in, all thanks to the ARU!

Perthgirl

30-08-2012
19:40:24

John O'Neill never should have cancelled the 3rd tier comp in Australia after 1 year just to save a bit of money. It is costing us now

Derek

30-08-2012
19:29:46

The amount of past and present All Blacks that were coached by Deans at the provincial level speaks volumes for his capabilities. But sadly you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. The ARU needs to change before any success will come to the Wallabies. The catch 22 is, if they sack Deans, the Wallabies will become more successful anyway as a direct result of him going to coach the 'Tahs and them becoming more successful (and actually *justifying* having so many players in the international side).

Aussie Jack

30-08-2012
17:44:27

I feel for Robbie Deans. Has the coach of the bloke that came second to Usain Bolt come under fire, he's probably highly thought of. That's what the Wallabies are up against.

Russ

30-08-2012
17:35:09

Nobody did that good in Super Rugby. Not doing great at International level? And we still think having no national competition is a good idea. Bite the bullet Jono - 10 team national competition - 2 teams in Super State. This will keep Super players in their Sate. Maybe in the future look to introduce teams from SA, NT and Tassie. Yes I know it simple, but we obviously need something grow the game!

Jim

30-08-2012
17:24:31

I don't like the term cattle, lacks style, that said you make some sound points. I don't blame the coach at all, I do however believe the loss of, Horwill, Pocock, McCabe, Palu, perhaps Leliafano and James O'Connor didn't do the cause any good. We have a small squad of quality plyers to do the job, ut take out five or six of them at the same time and we struggle.

jon

30-08-2012
16:36:32

the brumbies showed that the players are there in aus, maybe not for 5 super teams yet but they will never have the depth of nz or s.a. due to league and afl. Deans is responisible for the selection choices mentioned but the shocking performances of beale and cooper could hardly be the 'middle-of-the-road' players he isn't getting the best out of as he was at the crusaders. It would be more accurate to say the middle of the road aussies are doing ok. the stars are underperfoming under deans.

Gavin Fernie

30-08-2012
16:34:58

I have been watching Wallaby teams since 1953 when John Solomons brought a Wallaby team to South Africa, and played some thrilling rugby against the Springboks. All the way through to Bob Dwyer's superb squad crushing the Springboks at Newlands in 1992, each Wallaby team, with the possible exception of the 1969 Touring team, batted way above their weight against the Springboks with their massive player base. Even recently, they beat the Springboks 4 out of 5 times. What has happened in the last decade to bring about the steady decline in the on the field skills, and Wallaby attitude????

30-08-2012
16:34:48

The Wallabies are dreadful at all set pieces. That is a coaching issue. Rugby is about momentum. If unable to do the simple tasks consistently well, how can we gain momentum to dominate possession and territory to win games? Its all about skills and execution thereof! The Wallabies should be driven into the ground at training so in games set piece execution is automatic and All Black like! Its not rocket science! Just study what the All Blacks do and replicate.

30-08-2012
16:23:19

I think I speak for a lot of Aussies (possibly even a majority), when I say that you are absolutely correct. We've never had the depth (mainly due to the existence of NRL/AFL), that you guys have, but we've been able to compete with the AB's (& sometimes dominate them), when we've had a healthy best XV. We've simply had too many injuries and fond that the layer underneath is nowhere near good enough. Perhaps this terrible period will have longer term benefits, but we need a 3rd tier comp, and everyone moving in the same direction. Cheers MG

Schulz

30-08-2012
16:08:47

I am a staunch Wallabies supporter but you are absolutely right - truth hurts. Look at what Jake White managed to achieve with the Brumbies within one season with his South African determination, an iron fist and most importantly player fitness! Time to wake up and get physical...

karena

30-08-2012
16:07:48

do you not think you could give some credit to the all blacks for the win instead of blaming the aussies for the loss!!!!

Lee Wood

30-08-2012
16:07:35

If they were to watch the ITM rounds so far, they will realise that we probably have 2 other All Black teams waiting for their opportunity to rise to the Black Jersey. In comparison, if we watch the Shute Shield on any given week of any given year, we see a quality of lower grade rugby that would look at home at the local park on a Sunday afternoon --- after a big Saturday night had been consumed! The problem in Australia is most definitely the gap between grass roots rugby and the top tier of International performance. Too Far!

REDS05

03-09-2012
20:45:46

Finally some sense. Mr Deans should be sacked not because of the result but his blatant fabouritism to NSW. Brumbies beat nsw twice and yet only have Moore as their sole squad representative. NSW lose eight in a row and they have 9 in the starting XV. The hallmark of those crusaders team was their mental toughness and their ability to win the tight games on the bell. Deans hasn't developed that mentality with the Wallabies and considering the majority of the players are from NSW never will. It is financially unviable to run an ITM competition here in Ausralia.

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