Australia

Nicholas41 says...

There was me thinking it was just that the NZers were better players...

Posted 11:20 23rd August 2012

tha_mai says...

Poor form imo from Alan Jones - next we'll have old Bob Dwyer also in on the act - what timing, a ratings boost maybe for his radio show/media circus, two days before a crucial test - The Alan Jones Team Morale Booster?

A few years too late to notice Deans is from NZ, cheap ratings attempt bringing up that one. What next - criticise the overseas-born players in the team - are they un-Australian also? My suggestion, to quote him, would be that he "shut up and stay at home in bed".

Posted 10:33 23rd August 2012

TheRoof says...

Thank you George Smith. The Crusaders would welcome him back with open arms if you lot don't want him. Win win for everyone

Posted 10:01 23rd August 2012

KiwiLad says...

There is a problem here for certain.

I am not sure it was the wisest thing to do, Having a X All Black player and Crusaders coach in charge of the Wobblies.

Having said that, The coaching panel this side of tha Tasman during Robbies tenure have been world class, and Robbie has the propless, depthless, Quade inspired Wobblies at number 2 in the World, That in itself is quite a feat.

McCaws ABs will go down as one of the greatest of AB teams, so perhaps the job done by Robbie is not so bad after all.. Pigs ears, silk purses and all that.

Posted 09:22 23rd August 2012

cuw3100 says...

Mr. Jones has a good point about Crusaders. Still I feel RD is not the sole reason for OZ struggles. It may be due to small talent pool, injuries and out of form seniors.

1. Small talent pool - despite being a continent with 20+mio people OZ are not primarily into rugby union. AFL is the main passtime and the system encourages many other sports. Compare that to NZ where rugby is the prime sport , vocation etc.

this was evident in the recent S15 ; of the top 10 teams only 2 were OZ and even they were at 6 n 7 LOL. and 2 others were 13 , 14.

2. Loss of form - the above result may also be due to poor form among the players. so the same players will be due for national duty as well and the will be no better at a higher level of intensity.

3. Injuries - several key players are either injured or coming back from injury. With the above 2 facts combined this is a killer blow to OZ team. horwill, palu, o connor and even pocock n cooper are all vital for a team that lacks really good players in comparison to NZ or SA.

IMHO the sole reason for this is the expanded and prolonged S15. Not only OZ but even NZ and SA are suffering due to injuries.

The franchise system was supposed to be an elite tournament above level of domestic regional/ club championships. it used to be so when it was only the S12.

however with more teams coming in the elite status has been diluted and the competition is rather lackluster and too long. the powers that be have sacrificed quality for quantity and the results are not only obvious but seems to be affecting international matches as well.

for example even though NZ and SA won they were not that good for 80 minutes. in the NZ OZ match second half was a nine all stalemate. again IMHO this may be due to tiredness among players after a long season.

Posted 08:54 23rd August 2012

rugby_phile says...

Sorry Alan, Deans can't make a silk purse out of sow's ear, he is a good coach and we'd have him back. I'd love you to take your parochial aussie hat off and pick an Anzac team, lets see how many Aussies make it. At the moment the stock he is working with is rubbish with very few exceptions, and before anybody gets upset, I said at the moment, the aussies have a way of bouncing back. However I feel things will get worse before they get better, and the coach can do nothing about it.

Posted 08:42 23rd August 2012

PREEST says...

I must say I do agree that Deans tinkers with the combinations too much. He hasn't really settled on any real combinations since he's been in charge, especially in the backs. The injuries haven't helped his cause, but there is no consistency. I think Deans needs to settle on certain combinations, and let them take their course. If Deans has an unsuccessful Rugby Championship, I can't see him coaching Australia for much longer than the end of the year.

Posted 08:37 23rd August 2012