Deans: Fighting for coaching future
Australian newspapers said Monday coach Robbie Deans's future was on the line after the Wallabies' shambolic loss to the Springboks in South Africa at the weekend.
The Springboks ended a run of five losses against the Wallabies to inflict a crushing 31-8 win in Pretoria on Saturday and push the Australians down to third place in the four-nation Rugby Championship.
New Zealander Deans was already under scrutiny following comprehensive defeats to New Zealand in the southern hemisphere tournament and hollow home wins over South Africa and Argentina.
The Australian media said Deans was fighting for his coaching future in next weekend's final Test against the Pumas in Rosario.
"The coaching future of Robbie Deans will go on the line in Argentina when a second-string Wallabies side takes on the Pumas," reported the Daily Telegraph.
"The unnerving knowledge that the Broken XV in the casualty ward is a far superior line-up to the Wallabies flying into a wild Argentinian ambush is not how Robbie Deans planned to fight for his coaching future.
"Not after five seasons of triumphs and crashlandings in the big-ticket arenas of Sydney, Brisbane, Durban, Bloemfontein, Twickenham, Murrayfield and, of course, Auckland with that cursed Eden Park patch."
Former Wallaby captain Andrew Slack said the "messiest" fortnight in Australian rugby's professional history had pushed Deans's tenure as national coach close to breaking point.
"Nowadays is it perform or perish," Slack told the Australian Associated Press.
"People will be looking for a scapegoat and rightly or wrongly the responsibility for the performances rests with the coach.
"There will be a lot of pressure on Robbie heading into the (Argentina) game.
"And if it is a game they lose, that pressure will only intensify but I think even if they win that pressure will still be there."
The Sydney Morning Herald said "disruption and decay" were everywhere.
"Australian Rugby has endured the most dreadful of weeks. And next week could be even worse, with the Wallabies heading deeper into the horror tour from hell," it said.
"Disruption and decay are everywhere. (Flyhalf) Quade Cooper dumps on them, the Springboks smash them and now they head to Argentina with the fear that without enough fit bodies they could be decimated by the Pumas."
The Australian newspaper said Australian rugby was deteriorating fast and called on new ARU chairman Michael Hawker to act.
"If he doesn't hit the button for the crash cart now, the game will soon slip beyond the point of saving," the paper said.
"The defibrillator paddles have to be applied and the first jolt needs to shake loose Robbie Deans from the coaching position.
"There is not the slightest doubt that Deans has given his all over the past five years and tried to make the Wallabies work.
"But clearly they're not working and that was obvious at Pretoria long before injuries reduced the team to a shambles midway through the second half."
Comments
JayStarr says...
I'm actually feeling sorry for Deans. The sooner he gets out of that poisoned Australian rugby union the better... Let them find another scapegoat.
Posted 12:34 01st October 2012
JayStarr says...
Yeah... With a coach like Ewan McKenzie those injuries would've never happened!! Fire this silly coach with 7 Super Rugby titles and hire the one who has delivered only one and a half good Super Rugby seasons... Why? Because we're Australian and we're smart like that - just look at the Waratahs!
Heaven help...
Posted 12:31 01st October 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
It is ridiculous for Deans to cop the blame for this, the injuries are huge and the entire ARU structure needs to be ripped apart and re-built, grassroots and proper player management and develpment needs to be a priority!
Reduce the OZ super rugby franchises back to 3 teams or 4 Perth & the Force have future potential if nurtured properly..
Rebuild infrastructure in grassroots, keep the players by developing them ans stop them from going to the other codes!
Develop proper forward play in regards to scrumming etc.. get in NH, Saffa's who ever can advise and help solve this eternal achilies heel once and for all!
Have a comp relative to the ITM & Currie cups, to bridge the gap from club to super rugby and international exposure etc...
Make Rugby in OZ relevant again, gets the sponsors and have a recruitment drive and get juniors playing the game and develop them....
How this ever was left to fester for so long in the status quo is beyond me!!!????
Posted 12:25 01st October 2012
Bones7 says...
man for man that Aussie squad at the weekend was one of the weakest I've ever seen. The forwards were very average. Hooper and Douglas could go on to have good careers but are still very raw. Samo and Sharpe are well past it and the props and Dennis are average at best. Polota-Nau is probably the only forward they had out who looks decent and even then he can be erratic. The Beale/Barnes swap I think was a desperate attempt to get the backline moving with the personel he had available. Ashley-Cooper is brilliant, and with the right ball so are Ioane and Shipperley, but the simply fact of the matter is they don't get that ball nearly enough. The forwards are persistantly lazy, walking early in games and not offering themselves as ball carrying options often enough or on both sides of the ruck to keep defenders guessing. Missing the likes of Moore, Timani, Horwill, Higginbotham, Pocock, Genia and Cooper is going to make any squad very weak. Deans can surely only shoulder a very small percentage of that responsibility.
Posted 11:56 01st October 2012
daibok says...
Ridiculous, he's done a good job considering lack of depth and injury problems.
And isnt McKenzie the coach who chose to move Genia to 10 despite having a stand in 10 on the field in the Super semi?
Posted 11:52 01st October 2012
missionary says...
How well did the Boks play? I guess you can only play what is in front of you but that was a very average, broken Aussie side. They didn't actually play overly bad. But Deans deserves a rocket for his rotational policy of the props - and got stuffed because of it. That is bad coaching. Subbing your starting prop early, with the intention of bringing him back on - well he deserved what he got. Rules are rules. Only 7 subs Robbie. Not bad luck, bad management.
Both games will be exciting this weekend. Nothing hanging on it except pride - for all 4 teams.
Posted 11:51 01st October 2012
metalboru says...
Amidst the predictable hysteria at least some folk have kept both eyes open. The injury toll is the worst I can recall in many years watching the game. Add to that the lack of a decent domestic comp, 2 more super teams than can be supported, key players off peak form even if still on both legs. Not to mention QC's contributions. Sheesh, it's a wonder they managed to ward off Wales, Boks & Pumas.
There is some good news amidst all this. Hooper is a star in the making, the much maligned front 5 have made progress, even without Horwill, Moore and so on. Beale showed skill and heart on Sat. The likes of Douglas and Shipperley will be better players for their exposure to rugby at this level.
Personally I admired the way they kept going. In fact in the 2nd half they had a good deal more of the game than you could expect in the circumstances. You wouldn't get that in a poorly-coached side.
Good luck lads, you deserve it.
Posted 11:51 01st October 2012
sirtidychris says...
Sheessh ! the guy is trying to make lemonade from a bag of moldy lemons, even SCW, Graham Henry and Jake white combined couldn't forge a rugby championship winning side out of a squad so depleted by injuires and full of average players (with a couple of egomanical premaddonas).
Posted 11:38 01st October 2012
Ferdie says...
letsgoboks - 2nd in the rankings? That would be SA I believe. link on another PR thread to IRB site from before this test saying if SA won by 15 or more points they would move up to second.
Posted 11:35 01st October 2012
Waz4before says...
Deans has never been popular ("god" last year? not a chance!!) the results last year just kept him out of trouble but he's failed to develop a coherent team. So he needs to go now, but the problems in Australian rugby do go deeper than the head coach but he's lost the faith of several players (Cooper's not alone) as well as fans so time to move on Robbie - and for once the media is reflecting what most fans are thinking!
Posted 11:26 01st October 2012
SACanuck says...
Don't think Deans should take it personally. Remember these are the same folks that fired Eddie and yet according to all Austrailians he was the reason the Boks won the 07 WC. Hard to fly like an eagle when you are surrounded by turkeys!
Posted 11:23 01st October 2012
Ramage says...
Are these the same journalists who every year at the start of the Super Rugby season come out with their pens and predict the Waratahs will win the competition. Yet year after year as their predictions become hollow words they turn on the players and coaches seeking the coach be replaced and scathingly attacking the players they predicted would win.
Remember all the stories Australian journalists wrote about the Swimming team before the Olympic games in London and how the poisonous pens were out in force as gold medal after gold medal went down the plug hole.
I believe they will rid themselves of the John O'Neill appointment and as the CEO is on his way out perhaps they should turn their attention to his failings as the CEO and look at how little he has done since his return following his earlier sacking. The problems in Australian Rugby have been developing for a long time and go deeper than the position of coach.The ARU have sat on their hands as far as developing the game and should be made to be accountable. Melkdave makes some very pertinent points and the sacked ex coach of Stade Francais will face the same problems Deans has when he is slid into the top coaching job. The press will get the head of Deans on the platter but the problems facing OZ will continue.
Posted 11:16 01st October 2012
heart_of_oak says...
In recent matches, we've not been seeing a full strength Australia. Given the lack of depth of test quality players, when they lose key players to serious injuries, it's having a serious impact on them. It'd be very hasty and I think misjudged, to get rid of a good coach. With the key players out, would a new coach do any better than Deans ? When the top quality players come back, would a new coach do better ?
I think Australia's real longer term problem is the lack of depth and they should look at this rather than at the national team coach.
Posted 11:11 01st October 2012
Trinats2 says...
Why wait until next week, start now. Fly Nucifora over to Argentina, the team need a boost and a leader. And when they return (and to 2nd place on IRB) McKenzie will have them for a couple of weeks before NZ in Briso. It may not be enough time for McKenzie to turn it around, but he would give it a shot. With Deans there is no hope.
Posted 10:46 01st October 2012
froggy73 says...
I remember R.Dean saying last year just after the world cup something like: Australia will be number 1 in 2012. I believe he should change his target to a more realistic one, like trying to keep the 3rd place.
Posted 10:44 01st October 2012
letsgoboks says...
I think we should all point out a very obvious point - The Australian team are sitting 2nd in the rankings... That's not too bad?
Posted 10:41 01st October 2012
bloemboy says...
I rate Deans. It may be a blessing if the Wobblies are thrashed this weekend as there are many teams that would welcome him aboard. He has done what he can, but if the talent isnt there, then the best he can do is import a few Kiwi, Polynesians and Saffas to make up for the lack of home grown talent that can deal with a few bumps here and there. Go Argies, HM needs a decent assistant coach.......
Posted 10:40 01st October 2012
melkdave says...
Its always the same with the press,only last year R.Deans was a god ,and the wallaby team was unbeatable,as they had their 1st 3Ns championship in a decade..according to the newspapers.Now his fighting for survial,because its definatly his fault Australia have so many players injured ,and a lack of depth concerning quality players.Its his fault the players had a dreadful S15 campaign,and some have lost form.How fickle supporters and the media are,from HERO to ZERO from circumstances he has absolutly no control over .Personnally i feel R.Deans has taken alot of undeserved stick from the australian media ,and public,and he must be thinking DO I REALLY NEED THIS CRAP.Mark my words if he decides to go or is sacked ,australian fans will soon realise just how good a coach he is.E.McKenzie the favourite to take the national coaches job,isnt as good as the australian public think he is.The Reds are a tad predicable even with a fit Q.Cooper,Remember one good season ,doesnt really amount to much in rugby,All the australia teams where off the pace by a big margin this S15and if itwasnt for the new format ,none would have been challanging for the championship in the playoffs..E.McKenzie if he does take over,will have exactly the same problems R.Deans has now .A long injury list ,lack of quality in depth,and a poor front 5 in the forwards,espically the frontrow props.
Posted 10:35 01st October 2012
jmanngod says...
fact is that Aussie's troubles are much bigger than Deans... Their talent is spread too thin. Oz were much better when they had 3 Super teams moving to 4 then 5 has been too much. I doubt z will ever be a force again under the present set up. And even though I'm a kiwi - I think that is a terrible situation.
Posted 10:16 01st October 2012
tha_mai says...
if he goes after Argentina, they have just two weeks till the test v All Blacks in Brisbane.
Will take a miracle worker!
Referring to the team as second-string. Is this a permanent thing now, or since they have dropped to third in the rankings, just a case of Oz over-hyping and talking themselves up again?
Posted 08:56 01st October 2012