What were you thinking?

Graham Henry is not a bad coach and has been reasonable successful all things considered. However, he is his own worst enemy at times.

Why?

- He way overthinks things and second guesses himself. He often ignores logic and is too controlling. Relax man. Just pick the best players in their respected positions and get on with it.

- He is guilty of selecting "utility" players over specialists.

- What the? Why were players like Hosea Gear, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Rene Ranger and possibly Sean Maitland overlooked for the World Cup? He selected 5 fullbacks and only 1 specialist wing. Ridiculous. Robbie Fruen and Wyatt Crockett could possibly count themselves unlucky too. No back up to Richie McCaw a schoolboy error also. Adam Thompson ain't no back up Mr Henry.

- SBW. Enough said.

Another WC approaching and the wheels are falling off. Mind you, the nuts and bolts were coming loose some time ago.

Please ignore if the All Blacks win the 2011, Rugby World Cup.

Robbie's SOS call to John O'Neill

Robbie Deans calls John O’Neill post match…

Dingo: Hey John, Robbie here.
JON: Hey Robbie, whats up?
Dingo: Not sure if you aware but we have lost Rob Horne for the season.
JON: Sorry, you are going to have to speak up. Bloody dogs barking.
Dingo: Just wondering if you could buy us a couple of League players?
JON: What? I’m not made of money you know.
Dingo: I’m getting low on stocks to be frank.
JON: Who’s Frank?
Dingo: Never mind, we’ll just have to make do with what we’ve got.
JON: Did you get up in the end? I went to bed at half time.
Dingo: Nah, but we almost won the 2nd half.
JON: Ok, got to go mate. Let me know if you need anything else.
Dingo: Will do. Cheerio.
JON: Who was that dear (JON’s wife)? Oh, it was Robbie. Bloody clown asking for some League players of all things.
Dingo: I’m still here John.
JON: Ooops, sorry Robbie…bloody iphone.

The Wallabies only have themselves to blame

There were some strange twists and turns in this match and it's hard to imagine that this would have been the All Black's highest score against the Wallabies had Daniel Carter kicked the final conversion.

Going into this game there were genuine hopes that the home side might be able to end the visitors 7 game winning streak against them but all that came to a screaming halt at about the same time the Wallabies failed to find touch from a penalty just after Owen Franks was yellow carded.

The Wallabies inability to capitalise or take advantage of certain situations is severely lacking. It was only 1 kick but it needed to find touch. The fact that it didn’t, let the All Blacks off the hook, and was perhaps a turning point in the match.

Another example was when Drew Mitchell scored off a charge down only to have the same thing happen at the other end moments later. The few times that they were in a position to capitalise an unforced error would release the pressure.

Poor old Rocky Elsom. He couldn't win a trick. First he complains to the referee that the All Blacks were slowing the ball down only to have it backfire when Drew Mitchell was red carded for doing exactly that. He inadvertently got his own man sent off!

There were also some puzzling decisions throughout the match. Had the officials managed to get Sam Whitelock’s number he would have been yellow carded for a highly effective and perfectly legal tackle. Seriously, the referees are just getting a bit to eager to hand out yellow cards.

Another questionable decision was when the All Blacks were penalised for collapsing the scrum 5 metres out from their own line when it was clear the ground gave way underneath them. How was it their fault?

Although neither coach complained, the surface wasn't really good enough and questions have to be asked about it's playing future.

The other questionable decision was to play Matt Giteau at ten considering how well he has played all year at 12. What was Robbie Deans thinking? James O'Connor looks lost on the wing and is much better suited to fullback. They could do worse than give Kurtley Beale a start next week and perhaps give someone like Lachie Turner a run on the wing.

Wallabies hold serve against tired looking 'Boks.

The Wallabies outplayed the Springboks last night and deserved their win. In fact, the score line probably flattered the visitors because the home team failed to convert a couple of half chances into points.

The ageing Springboks looked cumbersome at times and the new laws haven't done them any favours. You could say that the home team has simply held serve in the opening 3 games of the Tri Nations but the Rugby proud nation of South Africa will not be happy with their team's performance.

They look battered and bruised and in desperate need of some time off to freshen up. Whether they can or not remains to be seen.

Some of the more senior players of the team look to have lost that spark and there must be question marks about their ability to last through until next year's world cup.

Shute Shield is alive and well!

We enjoyed a day out with the locals yesterday and watched a thoroughly entertaining game between Randwick and Sydney University in the premier Shute Shield competition.

For a family of 4 it cost just 20 bucks to get up close and personal with the action. This represents great value when you consider the number of Wallabies on display.

The standouts were Drew Mitchell and Kurtley Beale and unfortunately for Sydney University they were both playing for Randwick. Drew Mitchell scored 1 of the tries of the season when he twisted, turned and accelerated his way through at least 5 or 6 defenders. He looked sharp, surprisingly big on the field and was physical.

Kurtley Beale was all class and if he struggles to get a start in the Wallabies then they must have 1 of the best backlines in the world. His try in the 2nd half was electric. He picked up a bounced pass about 20 metres out from the goal line and within a blink of an eye he was gone. Just like Drew's try it looked even more impressive in person than it did on TV.

Just for the record Randwick won and we all got to mingle with the players post match. Terrific stuff!

Crystal Ball Gazing 2011 Rugby World Cup

Its early days but I can't help sense that the All Blacks are making the same mistakes all over again leading into next year's World Cup. Here are a couple of reasons why...

First it was the signing of Sonny Bill Williams because although it doesn't guarantee his inclusion in the World Cup Squad not selecting him would be an expensive mistake.

Secondly, Graham Henry's selections are still erratic at best and he just can't seem to make up his mind. The rotation policy was supposed to be dead and buried but it appears to be rearing its ugly head again.

Thirdly, their experiment with converting players into unfamiliar positions is a strange one indeed.

Fourthly, the NZRFU has just announced a huge bonus for all players involved in winning the World Cup. Just what they need, some added pressure!

Last but not least the All Blacks starting XV isn't that strong. Sure they appear to have plenty of depth and there is probably little difference between their 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams ranked teams but they have few truly world class players and the timing of the World Cup for some players is not favourable. Players like Tony Woodcock, Kevin Mealamu, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith and Mils Muliaina are a handful of players that might be past their best by the time of the World Cup. Unfortunately, they make up a core group of players deemed necessary to win the World Cup. An interesting dilemma for the coaching panel nonetheless.

Prediction: South Africa v France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final. Remember, you heard it here first.

Is the writing on the wall for Robbie Deans ll?

Basically a follow up to the previous article I wrote questioning the security of Robbie Dean's coaching position.

It would be fair to say that since his appointment in 2008 he hasn't lived up to expectations.

Personally, I don’t buy into many of the excuses being offered. When the results are not forthcoming or meeting expectations people will automatically go searching for all sorts of reasons why. Some are valid, some not, but in most cases, excuses nonetheless. When your team is performing, hardly anyone talks about structure, lack of depth, injuries etc.

I have previously written an article (click on the title) that highlights how well the Australian teams went in the Super 14 this year. Had the Australian sides finished near the bottom of the ladder then it might go part way to explain why they were struggling at International level.

But the fact is, they didn’t. They had 3 sides in possible finals contention up until the last round and the Force even managed to topple the Crusaders and Stormers. Possibly the only thing that has carried through from the Super 14, is the defensive quality of the Wallabies but the rest has fallen away. Possibly the only excuse that might be relevant is the number of first choice players currently injured.

I would give Robbie Deans until the end of this year's Tri Nations and if they finish 3rd he's out. If the ARU signed on Robbie Deans to coach the Wallabies through until the World Cup next year, regardless of results, it's an oversight.

If Kevin Rudd was guaranteed to remain PM until the next election, regardless of his performance, the Labour Party would have almost certainly lost. The writing was on the wall for Kevin Rudd the moment Tony Abbott started to look good. That all disappeared when Julia Gillard was elected however.

The question remains, is the ARU bold enough to follow suit?

Is the writing on the wall for Robbie Deans?

There may still be time for Robbie Deans to redeem himself but just get the feeling he is biding his time and appears to be going through the motions.

The turning point dated back to 13th September, 2008 when the Wallabies lost to the All Blacks 24-28. Had the Wallabies won this game, it would have proven to the ARU they had made the right choice. Self belief would have skyrocketed and their decision somewhat justified. However, they fell short and have never been the same since.

I hate to draw parallels but it's hard to go past the recent happenings to a certain former Prime Minister. For example, calling Robbie Deans 'Dingo Deans' reminded me of Kevin Rudd being called 'Kevin 07' when he was elected and we all know what happened to him.

This kind of hyperbole is an illusion in some ways and disguises or masks reality. Both politics and Rugby needed some sort of saviour and both Rudd and Deans were unfairly held in that regard. Kevin Rudd's undoing was that he failed to realise he won an election, not a popularity contest. Not sure the same could be said for Deans but despite numerous bungles, back flips etc they both still managed to last 3 years in power.

Some will say it Rudd's exit was sudden but you get the feeling the rest of the party saw the writing on the wall sometime ago and it was just a matter of when.

One gets the feeling that Deans is in a similar situation but that doesn't necessarily please the fans and nor should it. Things can turn around pretty quickly and has a habit of making us look foolish but there are too many signs that would suggest the Wallabies are far from ok.

Lighten up guys!

A patchy performance from the Wallabies but at least their defence was reasonable. The 1 positive is that they have only had 2 tries scored against them in 4 tests this year, which given the amount the amount of injuries they have had, is a fair effort. If the Wallabies could get their full strength side on the field they might be a chance.

They were dull in the first 1/2 half and were guilty of kicking too much ball away. They had plenty of opportunity to counter attack (a hallmark of a Dean’s coached Crusaders) but too often, chose to kick.

The Wallabies have a talented backline but it’s being wasted, because apart from from Quade Cooper and perhaps James O’Connor, they are not backing themselves. They are too hesitant, lack confidence and it results in players dropping passes, knocking on etc.

At least Kurtley Beale provided some spark when he came on but is lacking confidence also, hence his grubber kick instead of backing himself. Still early days though and given his time again, I'm sure he would have kept ball in hand.

You get the feeling that the players don’t have the backing of their coach at times and are too scared to express themselves in case they make a mistake.

The mood in the camp was highlighted by the post match press conference. Watching it reminded me of a visit to the morgue. What’s wrong with these guys? Again, nothing upbeat, nothing positive and it looked like they were slowly but surely being dissected. Defibrillator anyone?

Lift your game fellas!

Watching the game on Fox between England and Australia on Saturday night left the impression that the Wallabies aren't the only ones that need to lift their game.

The Fox commentators were not at their best and given the way the men in gold were playing it might have had something to do with it.

Phil Kearns in particular, calling the French referee, Mr Romain Poite, “POITE!” over and over was the icing on the cake. It may have been funny the first time but not throughout the whole game.

Going a bit deep here but we are living in times where people are becoming more sensitive (rightly or wrongly) to these types of things and everyone has to adjust accordingly. In other words, if you are not willing to move with the times, you may be left high and dry.

If you were having a chat down at the local club, then fair enough but you are commentating to a global audience and with that comes an added responsibility. At times, you guys don’t appear to have recognised this and/or made the necessary adjustments.

Personally, I don’t mind a bit of bias commentating and your team is quite humorous generally (at Super 14 level anyway) but at International level it probably requires a little more tact.

The referee actually had a good game and I'm not sure what your issue was Mr Kearns but Mr Poite made you look a bit foolish in the end. Let's hope you learn from it.

Do the Wallabies have an attitude problem?

Above all else, I think attitude contributed largely to the Wallabie’s loss. England had it and the Wallabie’s didn’t. If that’s the case then questions have to be asked, why? Obviously it’s easier to adjust your attitude when you came off a loss because the only way is up and the opposition tend to rest on the laurels a little but that doesn’t excuse it.

Ask anyone trying to lose weight and they will suggest it’s much easier to lose it, than it is to keep it off. Losing the weight is half the job but keeping it off requires hard work and discipline. This is where the Wallabies appear to be falling short. They work hard to achieve wins then struggle to maintain it ie keep the weight off.

Perhaps, lack of hard work AND discipline is the problem.

Kurtley Has To Be There!

There is no doubt in my mind that Kurtley Beale has to be in the Wallaby backline. He is a special player and now is the time for him to shine. With James O'Connor knocking on the door and also brimming with talent he has to be in there somewhere too.

Unfortunately for the Wallabies, both are currently playing fullback and 2 does not go into 1. O'Connor's preferred position is fullback and has to be picked there for the Wallabies. Beale is a naturally gifted 10 and although many will disagree that's where he belongs.

He has played well since moving to fullback for the Waratahs but that's because he could play anywhere and be a standout. The reason he didn't live up to expectations early on was partly because of the way the Waratahs were playing. Excuse the term but during his first couple of years with the Waratahs they were winning 'ugly' and this style of play didn't suit him. He wasn't happy or able to express himself and it showed. Now that they have opened up a little, Beale has thrived.

Quade Cooper is a real talent but unfortunately for him he is not a Beale and has to graciously step aside. The Beale's of this world are once in a generation type players and there is no way they can leave him out. O'Connor to fullback and Beale shifts to 10 in the Wallably backline.

The All Blacks for example, can rest easy if Cooper is chosen at 10 but not Beale. Beale makes all the difference. He is the 1 player that would make them nervous and have defences 2nd guessing.

The rest of the backline is up for debate but would have 9. Will Genia, 10. Beale, 12. Matt Giteua, 13. Rob Horne, 11. Lachie Turner, 14. Drew Mitchell and 15. O'Connor.

Wallabies defeat Fiji 49 - 3

The Wallabies rolled the Fijians last night and probably spent more time ducking missiles than anything else. To their credit the Wallabies held their nerve and after a slow start finished strongly.

Lucky enough to score just before half time, the men in canary gold, went into the break 14 - 3. After the break however, they looked like a different side. They were full of running and scored 5 tries to 0 in the 2nd half. In the 1st half they were guilty of not committing enough players to the ruck and had a tendancy to drift sideways on attack. Once they straightened the play they had the Fijians at 6's and 7's. The big advantage this year is that the Wallabies have plenty of players in their backline that can straighten the play. Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Digby Ioane, Rob Horne etc all like to straighten the play and it paid dividends last night.

The forward pack is a concern and with the loss of another front rower in the form of Ben Alexander to injury they are starting to look a little thin on paper. They have cover but it will be put to the test next week against England.

Players to stand out for the Wallabies were Cooper, Kurtlley Beale and Nathan Sharpe. Most of the backline played well for the home team and most importantly their defence was solid. This could prove to be a silver lining this season because the statistics showed that collectively the Australian Super 14 teams this year had the best defensive record.

After a bit of hype surrounding Rupeni Cau Cau before the match it was disappointing that he never lived up to it. In fact he was hardly noticed but to be fair he wasn't given much opportunity either.

Neemia Tialata Signs Cop Car

After originally declaring on Twitter that he 'just got pulled up by a cop to sign the bonnet of his car' regular twitterer and the incumbent All Black front rower, Neemia Tialata (twitter.com/neyza3), had to later admit to his concerned followers that 'he didn't pull me over it's my Cop/Trainer mate that wanted me to sign his car.'

Not entirely sure of the facts but it looks like the NZ Herald is now running a story on Sunday about this picture of him signing his mates car. Apparently Jerry Collins did something similiar a few years ago. Tialata wasn't particulary happy and said 'no more pics because some people like to take it too seriously & waste news paper/news space! Booo #media, a big thumbs down..!'

Looks like I have managed to waste a bit more space but let's see what happens.

Bring Back Buck?

The All Blacks don't seem to have a specialist number 8 of any great quality at the moment and I have an idea.

Many may argue that converted number 8, Kerian Read is the answer but I am not convinced. Don't get me wrong he is a handy player and is obviously well respected by his peers but just don't think he is the long term answer at 8 for the All Blacks.

There just doesn't seem to be anyone else putting their hand up at the moment. Short of making a comeback myself maybe it's time to bring back Buck? Fit or not just get him on the field. His presence alone might be enough to strike fear into the opposition.

If Wayne 'Buck' Shelford was playing you could rest easy because it was almost inevitable that the All Blacks would win. In fact, apart from being a member of NZ's first and only World Cup winning side, he captained the All Blacks undefeated from 1987 to 1990.

He encompassed everything that was great about Rugby. He showed great leadership, respect, toughness and most of all, was humble. Qualities that may elude some of the players running around these days.

However, it got me thinking, is there anything else you would like to bring back from the good old days or Rugby that's perhaps missing in the modern era?

Rugby Terminology Is Becoming Americanised

With the embers, from the recently completed Super 14, still smouldering it might be a good time to reflect on a subtle change that appears to be taking place. Is it me or is there a hint of ‘Americanism’s’ or ‘Americanisation’ associated with Super Rugby these days?

Perhaps it’s stating the obvious, and to quote Jerry Seinfield, “not that there’s anything wrong with that”. It just seems to be more obvious of late.

Many might argue that it’s just part and parcel of the professional era and modelling a successful formula is a no-brainer. But since when did we start using words traditionally associated with American sport to describe rugby?

The following are just a few examples that seem to becoming more noticeable of late, and there are most likely others that have surfaced also.

‘Franchise‘ has replaced province or State; semi-finals are now considered ‘playoffs‘; and the word ‘conference‘ is now used to describe the three competing countries.

Just wondering if this is a deliberate ploy, or like ‘creeping moss’, has crept into the game over time – or is that ‘ball game’ over time?

Culturally, it seems to be a shift in the way rugby is now described, and those that still prefer a meat pie smothered in tomato sauce over a hotdog with ketchup may become an endangered species at this rate.

The Wallabies Need To Straighten Up

If the Wallabies are to achieve a greater level of success they need to straighten up. For too long they have moved laterally to try and gain some sort of competitive advantage and it’s not working.

I am not just talking about on the field, but also off it.

On the field, they tend to drift sideways on attack, making it easier for the defenders to capitalise. Passing to their right is not their greatest skill set and combined with too much lateral running they are easy to pick off.

They need to straighten up on attack, run the angles and improve their basic passing skills.

Off the field, they have been guilty of too much sideways movement also. Many may disagree but I think the recruiting of league players in the past seven years has in fact lowered the standard of the Wallabies.

Individually, some of these players have been successful and even stood out but it comes back to that old adage ‘a champion team will always beat a team of champions’ and this hasn’t been the policy of late. The most successful teams in the past have been those built from within.

I appreciate these players draw crowds but surely in an ideal world this money would be better spent on developing grass roots rugby or rewarding those that have come through the grades?

It could yet prove a master stroke, but moving laterally to recruit a coach from overseas is more of the same. Understandable if there is no one better but surely that says more about the coaching structure from within.

A house built on sand will always be vulnerable no matter how good the finishing touches look.