Deans must prove himself in Europe

[theforceguy]

Robbie Deans rightly says the Wallabies will benefit from the adversity of their rocky Rugby Championship campaign but the question still remains whether he'll be around to reap it next year.

Injury-ravaged Australia's scrappy yet highly-admirable 25-19 win over Argentina in Rosario on Sunday guarantees Deans will stay in control as coach for the last five tests of this year.

After a third Bledisloe test against a full-strength All Blacks side aiming to equal their record winning streak of 17 on October 20, he will then take the Wallabies to Europe for a four-match spring tour.

The results and their play - against France, England Italy and Wales - will then determine whether he can fight another day and lead Australia against the Lions next year.

A 3-1 return should keep him safe while a failed 1-3 campaign is unlikely to be tolerated. The last time a depleted Australian squad went to Europe and won just one test, in 2005, Eddie Jones was sacked.

Behind the four-yearly Rugby World Cup, Lions tours are the biggest, most-anticipated events on the rugby circuit and the Australian Rugby Union will be desperate to ensure they have a team brimming with confidence.


Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie isn't campaigning for the top job but he is an obvious successor who has proven he can orchestrate immediate reversals of fortune.

With an unprecedented amount of injuries robbing Deans of more than half of his best 22-man squad, a host of rising rookies have gained valuable test experience in the 10 tests thus far this year (six wins, four losses) to ensure depth will be stronger in 2013.

"Obviously we've experienced a fair amount of adversity but we'll get the benefit from this time," a beaming Deans said after the gutsy Rosario win.

A 3-3 record in the Rugby Championship and a second-place finish in the tournament shouldn't be sneezed at but also shouldn't be celebrated.

The fact remains the Wallabies never challenged the All Blacks in their two opening matches - continuing a frustrating decade-long Bledisloe Cup drought - and that was before the bulk of injuries hit.

Since then they split their matches with the erratic Springboks and scored tense wins over Argentina.

The spirit shown in the weekend's success over the Pumas made a mockery of disgruntled playmaker Quade Cooper's claim the Wallabies house a "toxic environment".

In Cooper's place, close amigo Kurtley Beale has stood up brilliantly and now he looms as the main man to rejuvenate them at No10.

Michael Hooper has remarkably filled the big boots of David Pocock while fellow rookies Sitaleki Timani, Kane Douglas, Nick Phipps, Liam Gill, Ben Tapuai and Mike Harris have taken their chances to look like test players
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news...ectid=10839246

[Alison]

I think there's a name missing in that list of fellow rookies...

[Burgs]

Timani wasn't a rookie either was he?

[Sheikh]

... while fellow rookies Sitaleki Timani, Kane Douglas, Nick Phipps, Liam Gill, Ben Tapuai and Mike Harris have taken their chances to look like test players

And not all of them have succeeded!

Harris was good, Timani, Douglas and Gill were too eratic (OK, they are rookies, to be expected) I didn't see enough of Tapuai to call, but Phipps should be culled from the Wallabies.

[sittingbison]

...A 3-3 record in the Rugby Championship and a second-place finish in the tournament shouldn't be sneezed at but also shouldn't be celebrated. The fact remains the Wallabies never challenged the All Blacks in their two opening matches - continuing a frustrating decade-long Bledisloe Cup drought - and that was before the bulk of injuries hit. Since then they split their matches with the erratic Springboks and scored tense wins over Argentina...

FFS glossing over the actual problem.

The Wallabies have played like yoplait the entire international season. Worst I can EVER recall. They lost to Scotland, should have lost all three against Wales but squeaked home from losing situations thanks to Pocock, thrashed by ABs without scoring, should have lost both home games against boks and pumas after being 10 points behind late, got flogged by Boks and should have been a 50 point margin with six missed kicks and three botched tries, then somehow displayed enormous character to win away in ARG - but the game was one of the lowest standards in memory.

It is by a whisker that we are not 1-9 at this point.

...Michael Hooper has remarkably filled the big boots of David Pocock while fellow rookies Sitaleki Timani, Kane Douglas, Nick Phipps, Liam Gill, Ben Tapuai and Mike Harris have taken their chances to look like test players

Hooper looks like a test player. None of the others look like test players yet. Gill looks the goods but has played what, 10 mins total? Harris has a great boot but drops sitters and has been played out of position (a Deans speciality). Taps showed a bit of silk, but combined it with a decidedly greedy attitude - did he pass it once to Cummins? After all it is his passing ability that gets him in front of AAC and AFinger. Timani and Douglas have only one aspect - physicality due to their 200+ height and 120+ weight, and neither has yet thrown that bulk around with intent. Phipps? FFS hes started throwing grubbers.

[GIGS20]

My issue?

It seems every time we underperform in a series, Deans has to 'prove himself' in the next one FFS a 3-1 record in Europe will save his ass? what the hell is that. I reckon he should get the arse if he doesn't win every single one of them with entertaining rugby!

Let's not forget, he's been in charge of this team for five years now and he's taking it backwards!

[zed]

FFS glossing over the actual problem.

The Wallabies have played like yoplait the entire international season. Worst I can EVER recall. They lost to Scotland, should have lost all three against Wales but squeaked home from losing situations thanks to Pocock, thrashed by ABs without scoring, should have lost both home games against boks and pumas after being 10 points behind late, got flogged by Boks and should have been a 50 point margin with six missed kicks and three botched tries, then somehow displayed enormous character to win away in ARG - but the game was one of the lowest standards in memory.

It is by a whisker that we are not 1-9 at this point.

.

Yes they have played like shit. But you can't ignore the lack of quality players Deans has at his disposal as a primary factor in their poor performances. I mean compare our backline to the ABS

Mike Harris; Nick Cummins, Ben Tapuai, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane; Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps

15-Israel Dagg, 14-Cory Jane, 13-Conrad Smith, 12-Ma'a Nonu, 11-Hosea Gear, 10-Dan Carter, 9-Aaron Smith

There is a huge difference in the calibre of those two back lines. No disrespect to the Wallabies, but none of them are even close to their All Black counterparts. You have to be realistic, they are a far better team and have much better players. With the players we have we will lose against them 9/10. Doesn't matter how good our coach is. Yes we are playing like shit and have been for a while, but it's a minor issue. Addressing our game plan isn't going to win us World Cups. We need to address the lack of quality players we have first up.

EDIT

I'm not saying that Deans shouldn't go, I think it's time for a new coach.