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
davodiablo says...
@ George Smith ...by including Nationality in you argument you expose yourself as a zenophobe.
While you're kicking out the coach why not have a go at the kiwi's in your squad and then see what you're left with.
Posted 14:23 14th November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
hahaha, Well at least the Anti-Deans brigade now have a time table to work on.
I'll say it again, ARU, you need to look at how thinly you've spread your super rugby talent in the name of cash over product. You are getting into the situtation where no national coach is going to be able bring success because the set up is not allowing the players to play at a high enough standard. Aussie rugby floats at Super rugby level. there is no quality competition proping it up so you need to make the super rugby francises as good as you possibly can. Five francises is a joke. you haven't got that much talent to go around. so you've got five watered down sides that can't compete with NZ and SA and so problems are passed up the chain to the wallabies like a No.9 behind a defeated pack.
The majority Oz players are so good as far as attitude goes. They just need a better support system. Don't go down the english route where everyone just blames it on the national coach. Woodward won a world cup but its the lions tour thats remembered, then you got Robinson, Ashton, Johnson. then nobody who had a reputation to protect would have anything to do with the england team because they know the head coach is the guy who gets blamed. Even lancaster is getting rumbles of discontent over his selections.
There's two ways you can get a world beating test team. The rarest method is when you get a crop of incredibly tallented players that come together by plain luck like the 1970's welsh team and the England side of the early 2000's.
The best method is the NZ one where they have domestic set up that plays seriously good quality rugby at domestic level AND cross border level. NZ don't have to wait for a miricle founding. Players are brought in and Henry / Hanson get the credit. Deans isn't a bad coach. He's just trying to do his job with both hands cuffed behind his back.
Posted 12:46 14th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
@Georgesmith: reading between the line... I think you don't like Deans and Sharpe.
Posted 11:58 14th November 2012
APV1 says...
I do wish journo's would stop describing stadia as "fortresses". There's no such thing. I can't think of a single stadium in which a team hasn't been beaten. I could well be wrong, but "a fortress"..? Really?!
Posted 11:26 14th November 2012
jestnation says...
I find it interesting that georgesmith could turn a thread about Swedish clock design in the 14th century into an attack on Nathan Sharpe.
Posted 11:18 14th November 2012
OzinLondon says...
rugby-phile
There is certainly an element of anti-kiwi rubbish from some quarters but an Aussie coach would be getting just as much flak for the results that we are seeing.
I have long been a Deans supporter and I am amazed that people keep forgetting the injury list we have (its not like we have much depth at the best of times) and that the Wallabies win-loss record simply reflects the fact that we play the ABs and SA several times a year.
However, I was in Paris on Saturday night and I honestly don't know what the Wallas did at training last week. It was woeful and Dean's steadfast loyalty to McCabe (clearly a good guy who gives 100% but is not an international IC) is mind-boggling.
I don't think Deans has any idea what to do and it is reflected in the way the team plays. I'd like to think that with everyone back on deck we will look back on this year as a chance to blood lots of players and add some depth but I fear the rot will continue until Deans goes.
Posted 10:52 14th November 2012
Trinats2 says...
rugby_phile:
His record speaks for it's self, not the fact that he is from another country. I felt the same with Eddie Jones. There is someone else in the frame before McKenzie, actually heaps after Deans results,I might even get a call up !!!
This hopeless bunch who can't pass or scrum don't do too bad considering it's not a top 5 sport in Aus, they do after all have 2 RWC titles, same as you !!! (and won both away from home !)
Posted 10:33 14th November 2012
Spartacus says...
Has everyone forgotten the mess Australia were in? The backs continue to carry a pack that that does not feature many players good enough to be picked by any of the top 10 international teams. Dont blame Deans - he cant magic props out of his *rse!
@georgesmith - what did N Sharpe really do to you to make you hate him so much? Come on tell us the real story. Otherwise there will just be speculation about him hhaving had relations with your family members etc
Posted 10:20 14th November 2012
Mime says...
Lol they won't sack him till some of the first time players make a come back. Why would they lumber a new coach with the hospital pass that is the current Ozzie team?
Posted 10:09 14th November 2012
meneer says...
I suppose Deans was also responsible for the poor super rugby showing, not even a home advantage (after some help with the points system) could save the defending champions.
Posted 10:09 14th November 2012
hellovanite says...
Kiwi coaching clown... Yeah right!
Of course it's not like Kiwi's are any good at rugby....
Posted 10:08 14th November 2012
PREEST says...
I don't like Deans, after the way he treated Christian Cullen when he was assistant coach to John Mitchell for the ABs. He obviously puts personal differences before the team. Another example is Matt Giteau, he is still in fine form, but because of Deans he cannot represent his country. I think they should sack Deans, and he can come back to NZ and get a local coaching job, because at the end of the day, the Wallabies aren't winning enough and you have to start with the coach.
Posted 09:52 14th November 2012
latehit says...
George Blah Blah Smith - why are you still posting the same old same old? Sharpe did not loose the French Game - the Wallabies are just dead average. Please sack yourself for this website.
Posted 09:26 14th November 2012
Waz4before says...
I would have thought Ewen McKenzie at the Reds would be a good choice and available; he's moved upstairs from day-day coaching so not a great disruption to the Reds.
Posted 09:10 14th November 2012
pog_mahone says...
Please don't sack him, the IRFU would hire him.
Posted 08:41 14th November 2012
rugby_phile says...
Time Deans went home or to Europe and left them to it. It is sad but this is very much anti-NZ sentiment, envy at the success of the ABs and unrealistic expectations. Sick of the whole saga, let them get McKenzie in and see what he does. Its not Dan's job to teach this hopeless bunch the basics like how to scrum and pass a ball. Jeeez give me a break.
Posted 08:37 14th November 2012
georgesmith says...
I can read between the lines. What a professional S. Mortlock. A real captain-courageous for the Wallabies unlike the likes of N. Sharpe. S. Mortlock a legend.
If the Wallabies can't win now then are they expected to beat the Lions next year. R. Deans must go and E. McKenzie, who is an Australian and not some Kiwi coaching clown, should start from next year. Ennough is enough.
Posted 08:28 14th November 2012
Herbman says...
Makes total sense
Posted 07:26 14th November 2012