Robbie Deans: Still the right man...
Australian Union CEO John O'Neill publicly backed Robbie Deans on Sunday after the media went into meltdown following Australia's defeat to Scotland.
Deans has a 54 per cent success rate from his 27 matches in charge, but have won only two of the last ten internationals and even admitted he was expecting a backlash and review as he prepares for possibly the hardest of all the tour matches against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
"We have every confidence in Robbie Deans being the right coach for us," O'Neill said to The Australian.
However, O'Neill added that after the northern hemisphere tour, a review of the season would be held to work out what improvements had to be made to ensure the Wallabies end their slide in time for 2011.
Deans may stay, but changes below him are almost inevitable - including a close examination of some of the players who have been making Deans' job a tough one.
"The results are clearly disappointing and not acceptable," O'Neill said.
"We have two more games to go on the tour (Cardiff Blues and Wales) and rest assured we will be reviewing every aspect of this tour.
"David Nucifora, myself, Robbie Deans and the ARU board will have a good, hard look at what is going wrong.
"It will be an objective, balanced assessment of the pros and cons of this entire season. It will take in all of the Test matches starting from June and finish off with this tour.
"Everyone has to front up - the player group, the management group and the ARU administration - because I'm not sure what more we can do in terms of providing any more support."
The media was merciless on Sunday, with most saying the team was at its lowest ebb in years.
"It may be the worst Test loss by Australia since the 1973 crash to Tonga in Brisbane," the Sunday Telegraph's Jim Tucker said.
"Certainly, no Test played by the Wallabies since has been frittered away with such dominance of possession, territory and genuine chances."
The Sun-Herald's Greg Growden said it was the Wallabies' worst defeat of the professional (post-1995) era.
"The Wallabies had untold attacking opportunities to defeat a second-rate Scotland team who basically just defended and defended all night to win this game," Growden said.
"This is one of the most inexplicable moments in Australian rugby history and without doubt their worst moment of the professional era."
World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer said Australia's lack of technique in most aspects of the game was apparent against Scotland.
"I think we're really struggling," Dwyer said.
"I think one of our giant problems is we don't have a second row of top international class.
"We haven't got any and apart from that our attack has gone to pieces, it's poor in the extreme."
Wallaby great Tim Horan said the Australians appeared unable to finish teams off.
"I certainly think that the Wallabies have a foundation and are close to a World Cup-winning team," Horan said.
"But they just can't seem to finish teams off, that's a critical factor in a Test match going forward.
"I just think we're not backing our counter-attack as much as what we should be."
Comments
Mexted08 says...
Islandpower facts please !! look at the records who was the co coach and some would say mostly called the shots during the 2003 RWC Robbie Deans !! this is a on top of playing a fullback at centre for the crucial semi final against OZ refused to have anything to do with Andrew Mertains who was still in fab form , so no poor Robbie Deans ...... Bo ho
Posted 09:29 24th November 2009
Mexted08 says...
SUPAC if the ARU spent the money on the grass roots level and stopped spending a large amounts on over rated rugby League players and poaching young Saffa and NZ players from the world youth rugby cups (Have a look at the QRU junior academy for a start ) then they should have a level playing field, Australia has a larger amount of registered players then NZ does however having played in the sub districts levels in Bris and Sydney then going to play at the top club level I can tell you there was far more raw talent and skills in the lower leagues then the top level clubs ! however as these players play in the unfashionable sub leagues , and there are plenty of teams running round every Sat/Sun it appears that no one from NSWRU or QRU can be bothered to "Find " these players that need to be brought on board and put through training and incentives to knock the edges off. In turn I hope the NZRU never allow a "OZ" state to play in our NPC........ long may the ARU drop the ball...........
Posted 16:19 23rd November 2009
biglenny81 says...
Robbie deans is an excellent coach. But lets not overlook what Andy Robinson has done in the last few weeks. He's taken an average squad asked them to play to there strangths and taken a win from the worlds num 3 team. The test for Scotland now is whether they can build on this and beat the pumas next week with a view to extending their form in to the six nations.
Posted 16:00 23rd November 2009
IslandPower says...
Mexted08 that was mitchel(who happeneds to coach the western force) that selected a full back (leon mcdonald) at center, deans has never coached the all blacks. He is still a very good coach, i blame the players more than anything, also the playing pool in australia has always been less than that of NZ or south africa, most people play aussie rules or league instead of union over there.
Posted 14:17 23rd November 2009
abrad says...
There are a lot of similarities between Australian rugby woes and England rugby woes. Two main differences are: 1. Deans vs Johnson...no contest, my vote is with the former.
2. Australia has a relatively young team and can only improve. England seems to fumble the use of its available talent. Wilko is in then out then in then not so hot. Compare that with Aussie sticking with Giteau on his on and off days. With Johnny Wilkonson , I was surprised Martin Johnson's post match comment he should have played flatter. Wilko would have done so if that conversation happened pre-match. Deans is light years ahead of Johnno when it comes to coaching / management. well done ARU for standing up for Deans.
Posted 13:55 23rd November 2009
SupaC says...
Robbie Deans was a top coach with the Crusaders because he was able to build a team by bringing in players from All over NZ to compliment his team. As the Aussie coach he hasn't been able to search far and wide for the players he needs so he has to work with what he has, and the cupboard is pretty bare in Australia at the moment.....
Posted 13:30 23rd November 2009
Mexted08 says...
Long may Australia fumble and bumble keep on rolling Deans ......... remember the 2003 world semi vs a poor Australian side and you selected a fullback at centre .........outplayed and not up for it sounds a bit like this team really ?
Posted 11:59 23rd November 2009
Vagabond says...
Poor Robbie Dean deserves better than this. He is a first class coach and does not deserve this blemish on his career. Shame on you Wallabies, Robbie and the Australian public deserve much more than this.
Posted 20:10 22nd November 2009