Robbie Deans: Wants a five-week break
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans wants Australian teams to take a five-week mid-season break next year to prepare players for the Test series against the British and Irish Lions.
Deans believes that any shorter break during the Super Rugby tournament will be "a recipe for disaster."
Australia Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill said his organisation had already begun negotiations with its New Zealand and South African counterparts in the hope of expanding the mid-season break from three weeks to five to accommodate the Lions series.
Deans said "anything short of that is negligence."
Super Rugby was halted for three weeks this season, for the first time in its history, to allow Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to play June test matches.
Australia was forced to cram in a Test against Scotland on a Tuesday so as to fit a three-Test series against Wales into the three available weekends.
Scotland beat Australia 9-6 - their first win in Australia in 30 years - and Deans said the Wallabies could not afford to reproduce such a packed program against the Lions.
"That would obviously be a recipe for disaster," said Deans.
"The Lions series is an important moment in every rugby player's life, once in every 12 years they get this opportunity.
"We need to do the right thing by the playing group and ensure that they get the preparation that's required to win.
"Anything short of that is negligence."
The Lions will play nine matches in Australia in June and July next year, including matches against all five Australian Super Rugby teams.
O'Neill said he expects the southern hemisphere rugby group SANZAR to decide within two weeks how long next season's Test break will be.
He said it was possible Australian teams might return to the Super Rugby tournament later than their New Zealand and South African rivals.
"The window here in Australia needs to be wider that it necessarily will be for South Africa and New Zealand because we have the Lions arriving early June and they are here till early July," said O'Neill.
"We need a five-week window."
Comments
KiwiJoe says...
Makes you appreciate the Crusaders efforts last year even more, Wobbly Wannabes, proper old style Aussies would turn in their graves...
Posted 19:53 27th July 2012
GoWalesGo says...
APV1
They're still 3rd in the world mate
Posted 19:30 27th July 2012
APV1 says...
@ ruckingkiwi - the problem is, as the old expression goes, "You can't polish a turd".
Posted 15:54 27th July 2012
GoWalesGo says...
leinster_goy
Don't be so cocky mate. What makes you so confident?
Posted 15:21 27th July 2012
Ramage says...
@ trinuts dont try that tactic sorry but the rules have changed since that Lion's tour. But as for people getting their own way its usually O'Neill who does so watch the weak Kiwi and Saffa administrators roll over and once again give the little Napoleon his way, once again.
@ Leinster Goy for your prediction about the Lions to happen then it would mean that there are no Irishmen in the team. The Irish dont have a very good record down this part of the world and are often sent home with their tales between their legs. After this years results down here the Irish were by far the worst performers of the 6 Nations sides.
@ jaystarr and Stellenbosched I am with you on your posts. Its time the weak Kiwi and Saffa administrators got a backbone and looked down on the little man and used the word No.
Posted 15:01 27th July 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
....Bwhaaaa ha ha ha Just Kidding!!!!, but you sure did read my post didn't you!!!
extend the window and support SH rugby, it's a Lions tour for god's sake.... The Aussie's would do the same for NZ or SA trust me ;)
Posted 15:01 27th July 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
You know what, SANZAR should be discarded! Yep you know what if the Aussie's are the pile of "S" you all claim we are then why bother! "F" super rugby and "F" the rugby championship, besides you've got Argentina in there now anyhow! You all hate us so whats the point of pretending to be mates???? Personally i think all Aus's rugby players should either play Rugby League of Aussie Rules and we'll be insular, so the supeiror rugby nations of NZ, SA, Eng etc etc can all 'GO AND "F" THEMSELVES!'
Posted 14:58 27th July 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Cant blame Robbie for trying, he realises it's a bag of shite he's got to polish into a test team.. guess he hopes with a 5 week break we all may forget it's rugby season and head to the beach.
If all else fails maybe Quade can help get that window open a little more John?
Posted 14:16 27th July 2012
tha_mai says...
Robbie and ARU - are they just a bit 'slow'?
Did they forget to write it on the calendar maybe?
The proposed fixtures schedule for this tour was made public two years ago, 26 July 2010, and the test dates and venues were later confirmed in November 2011 (not changed from 2010 version). There was always going to be three tests on consecutive weekends.
And now they've realised 'doh there may be a conflict'
Bit like the whines over the Scotland match they agreed to . . . forward planning not a strength it seems.
O'Neill says 'we need a bigger window'
Posted 13:11 27th July 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi ruckingkiwi,
3nuts. Love it!!! Also explains his take on the world.
Hi JayStarr(aka biltongbek???)I agree SA and NZ are always compromising for Australia, and the Aussies don't ever appear to do the same. At this rate the Super Rugby competition will need a Christmas break by 2015.
Posted 12:42 27th July 2012
leinster_goy says...
great idea. we want you aussies to be well rested before the B&I lions hand you your arses on a silver platter
Posted 12:30 27th July 2012
JayStarr says...
I understand the Aussies' position, but how much further must South Africa and New Zealand bend over backwards for them!? I can't help wondering what John O'Neil would've said if this was South Africa making this request and it didn't fit in with his plans...
I'll say SANZAR should see what they can do with the schedule - maybe give all the Aussie teams a bye the week before the June test window - but that's it. Because what must the NZ and SA players do in all that time? Lose abosulutely all their momentum so the Aussies can stand a chance..?
It's not our problem that the Aussie depth is so poor that they can't afford to take their Wallabies out of their Super Rugby teams for a couple of weeks. They've already forced us to dilute the Currie Cup (the oldest rugby commpetition in the world) - now they expect us to ruin it completely..?
I'm sorry, but I think it's time to say HELL NO to Australia. They seem to be very good at it with requests that don't suit them.
Posted 12:24 27th July 2012
Trinats2 says...
ruckingkiwi:
Not sure they will have the same injury woes as this year, or the suspensions !!
Deans is a kiwi and use to getting his own way (with the Crusaders)
gotta forgive him for that !
And wasn't it NZ who wrapped their stars in cotton wool prior the Lion series in NZ.. Aus will be fine, just need to take out O'Driscol with a spear tackle to win the series !!!
Posted 12:13 27th July 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
The Aussie teams be knocked out by then anyway :)
Just joking 3nuts, I'm sure NZ will have no problem with the extended break.
Posted 11:23 27th July 2012
Trinats2 says...
If Deans loses another game in charge of the Wallabies he wont have to worry about the Lions ! He should only be focused on the next game.
Posted 10:35 27th July 2012