Robbie Deans: Gets ARU backing before crucial year
Embattled Wallabies coach Robbie Deans looks likely to keep his job and be in charge for the British and Irish Lions tour next year after rugby chiefs said there was "very little chance" of change.
Deans has been under pressure since Australia's poor Rugby Championship campaign this year, although a European tour that saw them beat England, Italy and Wales handed him breathing space.
The media have blasted his tactics, which saw the team end the year averaging just one try per Test, but Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chairman Michael Hawker defended Deans' performance.
Hawker admitted he was concerned by the lack of tries "but we have been missing some of our most spectacular running backs", he told The Australian.
"Having Quade Cooper and Will Genia and James O'Connor, all international-quality players, out of our backline does make a difference, just as New Zealand without Dan Carter and Richie McCaw would lose something."
Deans, who has been coach since 2008, still has to undergo an end-of-year review by the board, which includes former greats John Eales, George Gregan and Brett Robinson, but Hawker suggested his job was safe.
"There is no view to moving the incumbent on until there is reason to," Hawker told the newspaper.
"There is very little chance of a change."
The Wallabies face the Lions in three Tests at home next year, starting in Brisbane on June 22, followed by Melbourne (June 29) and Sydney (July 6).
Comments
Trinats2 says...
Wally:
you cant compare S15 coaching with international, i agree, you just have to look at Deans for that !!!
What the Link does is adapt to situations, Deans lacks in this department. look where he has taken this very young Reds team in the past few years. Even this year with all their injuries (sometimes 3 forced cahnges in the one position) they still managed to top the Aus conf. For a front row, he reads the game very well. The fact he is aTah is his only flaw !!!
Also agree about the kiwis, but doesnt stop me winding them up. One day we will be no1 again, and I can see not too far off with the likes of McCaw and Carter leaving. Just as we dropped from no1 when Gregan and Larkham retired. Sure the kiwis will have class players coming through, but it will not be the same. (Unless McCaw starts a how to cheat clinic ! Lol)
Posted 22:38 16th December 2012
Wallaroo says...
@Jamie, your post is measured and well articulated. I am one of the Aussies that would like to see us pay a lot more attention to building; if this required a drop in performance for a period with the RWC so be it. Truth is most Aussies would gladly accept this if that was the case. Our biggest issue is we don't really know if that is what's going on behind the scenes. IMHO our media is our worst enemy, the measure of depth we have gained as a result of injuries, etc has not really been factored into their assessments. (Read Fatflankers post).
@Trinats2. Mate I see what you saying albeit I disagree as one cannot compare S15 coaching to Test coaching. They are distinctly different beasts. Honestly mate I believe it is time for us as a nation to stop behaving like a bunch of spoilt brats and realise how blessed we really are. Deans has held us at the no. 2 spot despite every adversity possible. An attitude of gratitude goes a long way.
Honestly mate, the Kiwis despite being a bunch of whingers (lol) deserve no. 1 and there is not a team around that is going to take that position from them soon.
In respect to jonesy2, TVaddict hit the nail on the head, he is not representative of anything Aussie. He should have his Australian citizenship (if he has one) revoked.
Posted 15:23 15th December 2012
new_j4a says...
@jonesy2, the POM prop is right...almost everyone on here thinks that you are an idiot....
Posted 01:16 13th December 2012
Trinats2 says...
A good attacking coach could have had this team, even weak from injuries, ranked No1 !!!
Deans starts each game not to lose it, McKenzie starts each game to win it, that's the difference.
Hopefully Eales, Gregan and Robinson sees this.
Posted 22:12 12th December 2012
georgesmith says...
R. Deans must go and so does the ARU chairman. G. Gregan should be new chairman and J. Eales the new coach,
Posted 21:17 12th December 2012
TVaddict says...
@JamieTheProp
I agree with you. Don't take jonesy2 personally, he's always talking rubbish on here and making Australians look like a right bunch of plonkers. Luckily he's not actually representative of anything Australian.
Posted 19:24 12th December 2012
JamieTheProp says...
@ Jonesy2 - I'm not even justifying that with an answer.
I have a sneaking feeling that most of the posters on here would see my views as measured and based in a real understanding of the game I've played for over 25 years.
Yours appears to be based on what you hear on the news and a general attitude towards anything English.
What you don't seem to realise is that we are used to be hated by pretty much everyone else in the world and it really is water off a ducks back.
And don't you realise that props are the most intelligent people on the field?
Posted 14:30 12th December 2012
piriaka says...
I agree, Jamie - rugby is not a significant sport in Aussie, and given Aussie is No. 2 in the rankings, what else can be expected? Especially given the attrition rate through injury - and the fool like Cooper.
Posted 13:42 12th December 2012
jonesy2 says...
i think he is the right man for the job but he needs to employ steve larkham asap to run the attack. with a full compliment of players not to mention the young talent that will be no doubt be discovered this super rugby season, the wallabies should have a great 2013.
JamieTheProp -- dont want to have to keep telling you, but you shouldnt comment on things that you simply know nothing about. i realise youre probably an english prop and on the retarded spectrum of the english population (i have come to realise that up to over 50% of the population of england are mentally challenged and up to 99% of them are sports fans) and dont possess the mental capacity to understand basic concepts but this is why i say you just shouldnt comment.
Posted 13:35 12th December 2012
Fatflanker says...
Not perhaps as young as England but nonetheless this is still a young Aussie team with plenty of potential to hit their straps come RWC 2015. Deans now has a deeper pool of tested talent to draw from, (although first -rate prop stocks are still waiver thin...come on ARU - get onto it). He will benefit not only from players returning from injury but also from substantially strengthened franchise coaching at ACT and NSW. The Oz franchises will perform considerably better next year and, while I don't expect the Wallabies to take the Lions series against what is shaping to be very potent opposition, they will be competitive and should take at least a game.
Posted 12:23 12th December 2012
metalboru says...
Deans has done a fine job. The ages-old lament in Wallaby land is "If only we had the forwards ...". Well the pack put in some stirling work over the year to keep the team competitive, bar a few notable exceptions. So if the injury merry-go-round eases up to allow a settled back-line configuration I'd anticipate a more fluid attack next year. Not sure I'd welcome QC back, though.
Posted 11:46 12th December 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
We all figured that out after he drew with NZ and beat England. The away win in Argentina was impressive too. Oh and Wales are under Australia's thumb.
Posted 10:03 12th December 2012
JamieTheProp says...
I don't understand the abuse that Deans gets!
He doesn't have the quality of players that have been available to past Wallabies coaches, he has suffered with an incredible injury list and has to deal with idiots like Cooper.
Give the guy a chance - judge him when he has a full squad to pick from! He has retained the ranking spot for Australia - won the majority of his games against good NH opposition and has only really been overshadowed by the All Blacks (and in the last 2 years who hasn't).
You have to also ask the question - who out there is better and available and will be able to work magic with the players available?
Maybe like England Australia need to step back, take stock and work out how you improve the international team from the ground up? Blooding new players, working out how central contracts are paid and encouraging the health of the game at grass roots level (where in Australia there is huge competition from Rugby League and Auusie Rules).
But would the average Australia fan allow Deans to do this?Would they accept a drop in performance now to build a future for the team? I'm not sure.
Or is it just that Deans isn't Australian? Well - could be worse - he could be English.
I'll be honest - I know you beat us in the Autumn but for the first time in many years I'm happier being an England fan than I would be an Australian fan - we are building a future on firm foundations while Australia are going backwards - are Australia fans willing to accept what it will take to build a future (after so many years of not having to bother because you are at the top of the game).
We shall see
Posted 08:56 12th December 2012