Robbie Deans: Poor win-loss record
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Former Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock believes Australia coach Robbie Deans was safe from the axe because it would be too hard to replace him before the British and Irish Lions tour.
Embattled Deans has been under pressure since Australia's poor Rugby Championship campaign, and Australia's 33-6 thrashing by France in Paris last weekend only made matters worse.
The media have blasted his tactics and bemoaned the Wallabies' inconsistency under his leadership. They next face England at their Twickenham fortress on Saturday in what could be another bloodbath.
But Mortlock said with the British and Irish Lions three-Test series of Australia looming next year, it was too late to replace Deans.
"I think it's extremely difficult when you take into consideration the Lions - which is the biggest thing for Australian rugby outside of the World Cup - is happening three-quarters of the way through the Super Rugby season next year," he told reporters.
"The reality of initiating something like that (sacking him), it would be pretty detrimental to the team and to anything we're trying to build toward the Lions."
Deans overtook Bob Dwyer as the most-capped Wallabies coach in the weekend's game against Les Bleus, having been in charge for 68 Tests. But he has a poor win-loss record, steering the side to just 39 victories.
Comments
fraserpark says...
its never too late change is good change brings results have the courage to bring in change hey ruckingkiwi forget wales ireland etc they dont count theres no glory in beating them triumph over the all blacks thats what i want as a fan
Posted 02:47 19th November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Johnnybegood,
Makes you wonder why those knowledgable Australians would attempt to have 5 super rugby franchises then, wouldn't you think?
Posted 19:29 18th November 2012
firepower says...
@rugby_phile i totally agree with you mate. Deans was a good coach but he coached a hopeless Wallabies side.
Posted 21:17 16th November 2012
Johnnybegood says...
All these knowledgeable scribes when having their two bobs worth regarding the standard of australian rugby haven't taken into consideration that the talent pool in Australia is split across 3 codes ,union ,league and rules compared to other countries where the is little or no competition for talent.Look at the number of participants actually playing rugby in the various countries and Australia punches well above its weight. As for Dean's he's doing the best with what he has got. The cupboard is pretty bare at the moment.
Johnnybegood
Posted 10:33 16th November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
NZ have always dominated Australia so let's take results against them out of the argument. Against other rivals; South Africa, France, England, Wales, Ireland, Argentina, Robbie and Australia have an above 50% record, which is above their historical average. I imagine they would have done better should they have had all their players injury free but that is sport and that's where the lack of depth, domestic competition, importing talent etc argument comes in.
I don't particularly like Robbie but I respect his results as a coach, his record speaks for itself but his and the Crusader success is largely built on the back of mistake free phase play set up by a dominant forward pack - all things he is struggling to find with the Wallabies, i.e. a dominant forward pack, mistake free, stringing phases together, doing the basics well. Australia can be world beating 10% of the time but it's the other 90% that Robbie is trying to change, Robbie coaches a style of play where a team wins 90% of their games by playing consistent, predictable mistake free rugby, Australia have traditionally played risky rugby, great one week but poor the next two. Robbie should probably coach England or SA. As for next year, Nick Mallett reckons a coach only needs 3 months to get things right, so I wouldn't worry too much about the Lions just yet.
Posted 20:20 15th November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
NZ have always dominated Australia so let's take results against them out of the argument. Against other rivals; South Africa, France, England, Wales, Ireland, Argentina, Robbie and Australia have an above 50% record, which is above their historical average. I imagine they would have done better should they have had all their players injury free but that is sport and that's where the lack of depth, domestic competition, importing talent etc argument comes in.
I don't particularly like Robbie but I respect his results as a coach, his record speaks for itself but his and the Crusader success is largely built on the back of mistake free phase play set up by a dominant forward pack - all things he is struggling to find with the Wallabies, i.e. a dominant forward pack, mistake free, stringing phases together, doing the basics well. Australia can be world beating 10% of the time but it's the other 90% that Robbie is trying to change, Robbie coaches a style of play where a team wins 90% of their games by playing consistent, predictable mistake free rugby, Australia have traditionally played risky rugby, great one week but poor the next two. Robbie should probably coach England or SA. As for next year, Nick Mallett reckons a coach only needs 3 months to get things right, so I wouldn't worry too much about the Lions just yet.
Posted 20:20 15th November 2012
APV1 says...
@ BigRugbyBalls - and now aren't we the pillocks..?! You can't spell "Japanese" and I can't even manage "Yours".
Doh!
Posted 18:22 15th November 2012
APV1 says...
@ BigRugbyBalls - thank you for that. I was trying to think up an amusing quip regarding that typo, but couldn't. Your was perfect!
@ jestnation - try this
--. . --- .-. --. . ... -- .. - .... .. ... .- .-- .- -. -.- . .-.
Posted 14:32 15th November 2012
jestnation says...
Nice try @APV1 but if you analyse the pattern of full stops and commas it's actually morse code for "Deans Out Now"
Posted 12:52 15th November 2012
BigRugbyBalls says...
@davediablo
"@ George Smith ...by including Nationality in you argument you expose yourself as a zenophobe."
He has an irrational fear of Japenese Buddhism?
Posted 10:28 15th November 2012
tweedledee49 says...
@all of you, leave georgesmith alone. You would all behave the same way as lil georgey here, if you came home from school one day and found Sharpey in your mommas room too.
Posted 10:16 15th November 2012
rugby_phile says...
@Trinats2. The bunch that won 2 WCs were champion sides with top players that could scrum and pass and unfortunately is now history. No comparison to this ruble.
As somebody posted earlier the malaise has even spread through to your Super 15 sides who struggled this year. What I am getting at is getting rid of Deans wont fix anything, he is inheriting what is being passed up to him and its obviously not good enough.
The fixes lie elsewhere, and believe it or not from a selfish point of view, I don't want Oz to go down the sink, not healthy for either us or world rugby.
But I feel until your lot get real and start addressing the real problems such as the lack of a third tier competition and non development of local talent in sufficient numbers and quality, blaming the coach is basically burying your heads in the sand.
My honest and humble opinion.
Posted 10:11 15th November 2012
ferdie says...
Trinats2 - some facts on the 2011 tries scored by Qantas Wallabies - 11 v USA, 10 v Russia. Take those two out and it was 23 tries in 11 matches (16 against) - twice as good as this year's 12 tries in 12 matches (and 19 against) but hardly as spectacular as you make out.
"new combos ever week" have you noticed 14 chages to the All Blacks team this weekend? Some teams manage quite well using their squad.
Posted 10:01 15th November 2012
Trinats2 says...
rugby_rockstar:
Short sighted ? "Five francises is a joke. "
last year Aus had the same 5 super rugby teams, yet the Reds WON the comp.
France have the best domestic comp, yes they beat Australia, but they still had the best domestic comp last time they played and they lost to Aus 59 -16 (ish)
Mate, we have been hearing Aus have no talent for years and years,it's not new. yet with our no talent we have still managed to be right up there !!!
Aus have had bad run of injuries this year and yes it contributes to the form of the team, not easy with new combos ever week, but it's the style of play and "toxic" environment, the "safe" selections andnon use of the bench that has Deans in hot water. Not just the results. I saw a stat, 14 games 44 Trys last year for Aus (Cooper was fit !) and 12 games for 12 Trys this year !! even an U10s coach would have addressed this early on. Deans is on a spiral downwards and taking the Wallabies with him.
Next coach in will get all the rap, as it's only upwards it can go.
Posted 21:03 14th November 2012
melkdave says...
@APV1
LOL yeah that is a rarity,of a post LOL
Posted 18:47 14th November 2012
melkdave says...
Oh god not annother article about Deans,this one implying his only safe because ,its to late to sack him before the Lions tour Just look at the players he has to work with atm,given the amount of injuries to the best aussie players ,his done bloody well.A draw against a inform ABs ,2nd in the RC ,a series whitewash against Wales and still atm a top 3 ranked nation this year.My god just what does this poor man have to do to prove himself to the australian fans.If i was Deans i would have resigned just before this tour and left the ARU and a ungratefull nation right in the mire.But then im a spitefull bas£$% who doesnt suffer fools very well.Im pretty sure Deans wouldnt be unemployed longer than a couple of days ,Ireland i hope would have swept him up asap.Ewen McKenzie imo ,isnt a great coach ,like Deans ,their records speak for themselves,and i cant wait for him to be appointed ,as it would only accelarate Australias downward spiral in the IRB rankings imo.
Posted 17:47 14th November 2012
APV1 says...
@ jestnation et al
I've found it! The Holy Grail of posts on Planet Rugby!
There I was, browsing amongst the various threads available and, before I could draw breath, I stumbled across this little gem. This, and I appreciate that this is hard to believe, is a post from Mr George Smith himself, which doesn't mention Nathan Sharpe!!! I know you'll think I've made this up, so I've copied and pasted the post and here's the link to the article:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3887_8240981,00.html
Now I challenge anyone else to find another example. I'll donate an extra £10 to my MoVember pot for all those who can (Smiffy himself and any future posts excluded, naturally!).
Brace yourselves, here it is:
"georgesmith says...
The Fiji Rugby Union needs to be careful with the situation because in the end, it is J. Qovu's call whether to play or not. Let's hope this mess doesn't put into jeopardy J. Qovu's future with the great club because then FRU won't help his family with a single penny. FRU needs to stop crying over players because it doesn't have the dollars to afford quality. I hope J. Qovu comes quick to say he wasn't paid by the club.
Posted 23:43 10th November 2012"
Remarkable. I feel a bit like Attenborough, but even more impressive.
Posted 15:57 14th November 2012
Rosco1971 says...
Deans record is not great but he hasn't had the cattle. Good point was made that every year Australia play NZ and SA at least twice. Not too many teams in world rugby, especially with the injury toll oz have, would even compete. The argies didn't win a game either this year in the RC and then went and beat the 6 nations champs. There overall win v loss won't be great but no one is calling for their coaches head. While there is no doubt the oz v French game was a shocker for oz, it was always on the cards. The French are a very very good side and they took apart a second string oz side. No real surprise. I remember the AB's touring there in the 80's and struggling to win.
I would not be surprised if Australia with a full team next year knock off the Lions.
Posted 15:26 14th November 2012
APV1 says...
@ ArmchairGeneral - that's what it is! I knew there was something Smiffy was trying to hint at, but his subtlety was just too much. Thank Goodness for your insightfulness.
Oi! Smiffy! You're a nob. Stop wasting space and oxygen and do one.
Posted 15:23 14th November 2012
atg77 says...
Actually Dean's record is pretty comparable to the last four Wallabies coaches except Rod Macqueen, who had 79%. I don't think he's a bad coach, I think its just a reflection of the dwindling interest in the game down there.
Posted 14:33 14th November 2012