Australia

Ramage says...

Trinuts my recollection was that he was sacked fron Stade France, wasnt that why he returned to Australia.

Posted 16:02 31st August 2012

Trinats2 says...

connaughtabu:

No more of the Tullamore dew for you !!!

If you think this will be the same Wallaby team to rock up next year you are dreaming. Even in the WC just before kick off V Ireland, Pocock and Moore were ruled out against Ireland.

This second string team only let in one try against one of the greatest.

Posted 12:54 29th August 2012

TheTruthHurts says...

@connaughtabu, you typical NH supporters always get excited about things way too early a year is a long time, this time last year Aus won the Tri-Nations. another year and maybe the rot will be well and truly cleaned out, so don't get to excited just yet fella! At the moment yes the Lions would win... but they are not playing now and i truly feel Aus will go through the pain now and be stronger for it come next year!

Posted 15:48 28th August 2012

rugby_rockstar says...

hypothetically, you could bring in NZ RWC winning team of Henry, Smith and Hansen to coach the Wallabies and they'd still be in danger of losing to The Boks and the Pumas.

Thing is that in 2004 Henry could call on rock hard old school forwards like Jono Gibbs and Keith Robertson to sort out the weak underbelly that had developed in the All Blacks under John Mitchell. Australia just don't have those sort of players waiting to to come in. It's an ARU issue to sort out, its about putting the structure / attitude in place to allow promising rugby union forwards to start coming though. They've been so busy trying to compete with Rugby League by playing an entertaining game that the bread and butter union skills have slid further and further behind the rest of the world. players like Eales, Wilson, Kefu and co became World Championsby getting their hands dirty. David Wilson was a real dog on the floor and I mean that as a glowing compliment.

Posted 14:22 28th August 2012

markmassive says...

I'm English and this is how I would put out the Wallabies

1. Alexander

2. Polota-Nau

3. Robinson

4. Timani

5. Horwill (captain)

6. B. Robinson

7. Pocock

8. Higginbotham

9. Genia

10. Cooper

11. Mitchell

12. Ioane

13. AAC

14. O'Connor

15. Beale

Little bit different but lots of pace and some steel in the cetres. Any thoughts?

Posted 12:31 28th August 2012

fattysock says...

@Armchair General

You say that Deans is better than Henry, but only equal(ish) with Hanson, Smith and Gatland.

So out of those 5, you're saying that Henry is the WORST? Based on what exactly?

Posted 10:31 28th August 2012

hellovanite says...

15 Beale/Mogg

14 Mitchell/Turner

13 AAC/Tomane/Cummins

12 O'Connor/Barnes/McCabe

11 Ioane/Morahan

10 Cooper/Lealiifano/O'Connor

9 Genia/Holmes

8 Higginbottom/Samo

7 Pocock/Hooper

6 Horwill/Dennis/Schatz

5 Timani/Simmons

4 Sharpe/Douglas

3 Slipper/Kepu

2 Moore/Polota-Nau

1 Alexander/Robinson

There are others but I think before injury Lealiifano was the best 10 in Aus and O'Connor wasn't far behind. Also I think Horwill would make a great 6

Posted 09:44 28th August 2012

ArmchairGeneral says...

Oz could well end up 2nd.

Regardless, Deans is a great coach. Better than Henry and up there with Hanson Smith and Gatland if not above them.

Posted 08:06 28th August 2012

Trader2 says...

You guys (Trinats, georgesmith, Wallaroo et al) if you think changing the coach will solve the problem, forget it. As has been pointed out you are and have been for a while No 2 in the world under Deans, not a bad effort, no Aussie coach with the exception of whoever they were from 98-02 has ever been able to consistently beat the AB's ever. Who would replace him, Link? well maybe but his credentials are not that fantastic, Jake White yes he would be good but after sacking a Kiwi there is no way the ARU will take on a Saffa. As Glen Ella recently said "ten more years" when referring to the BC, changing coaches now will not improve that one. If the Wannabies lose the next 4 on the trot then you probably have a case, in the meantime you could still finish 2nd, a position you guys are used to.

Posted 02:07 28th August 2012

fattysock says...

It's funny. There are a lot of comments now regarding Deans refusal to drop the deadweight and start promoting youth.

This is exactly what he was being praised for when he took over the reigns. O'Connor, Beale, Genia, Ioane... and Cooper... are all his finds. Pocock as well if memory serves me (I'm not so good on the rest of the forwards).

Even last season, after you WON THE TRI NATIONS everyone was all praise for Robbie... "This is a good young team. We might not win in 2011, but this team will be unstoppable in 2015" etc etc.

But now all of a sudden everyone is terrible and they should all be dropped for ANOTHER crop of youngsters that no one has even heard of before?? Really??

When they aren't injured, the backline of Genia/Cooper/Ioane/JOC/AAC/Mitchell/Beale is pretty formidable. Probably only matched (but not necessarily bettered) in world rugby by a fully fit ABs backline. Not to mention that the average age of that backline is just 25... and really only Mitchell and AAC are possible doubts to make it to 2015.

I'm not saying that it's perfect... but a lot of people have changed their tune recently (including the Henry Hater kiwis who wanted him following 2007). Aus may have just lost to the ABs again... but we aren't the #1 team in the world for nothing - generally we beat most teams. Don't forget you have the wood over the Boks in recent years, and just swept the 6 Nations champs 3-0!

And just to put some of his recent failures into perspective...

-Deans failed to win at Eden Park, just like every Aus coach for the last 20+ years.

-He failed to win in NZ just like every Aus coach for the past 10 years.

-He failed to win back the Bledisloe... also like every Aus coach of the past 10 years.

-He failed to win the WC, just like ever Aus coach since 1999. At least he made it past the QF this time.

Posted 16:43 27th August 2012