Kiwis, English cop Aussie rugby blame
BY MICHAEL COWLEY
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Finally some answers for those Australian rugby fans who have been depriving themselves of sleep, just to get a dose of frustration … it's the English and Kiwis who are to blame.
The mentality and fear of the English team is responsible for ruining the game as a spectacle, and the Wallabies' inability to score tries and entertain is because they are being coached as All Black wannabes.
Justifiably after last weekend's debacle against Scotland, former Australian coach Eddie Jones described their attack as ''not too flash'' and he feels the reason is because the New Zealand style of attack coached by Robbie Deans does not suit Australian players.
''I think we've lost that instinctive way we play, and we stand wide and we're lateral and we play like a New Zealand side,'' Jones told Sky Sports Radio. ''Robbie has a way of coaching, and I think he's a very successful coach, but I don't think his style of attack suits the Australian players and that's something he's going to learn over the next period of time.
''You've got to learn instinct. Whilst some players are born naturally with it - the Giteaus and the Carters - the others, you've got to coach into it and it's the structure you put around them to allow them to play.
''It's about the way the game is at the moment. Most sides play rugby league defence, that's quite obvious, and you can't play an old-style rugby union attack where you stand deep and you stand wide and you expect to beat them on the outside. You just don't beat defences on the outside. You've got to work the defence, take the ball to the line, ask questions of the defence, and that's where I think we've really lost it in terms of our attack. You can see with Australia how many times players get run into the sideline.
''I think [Deans is] a very good coach; he does need to change his methods a little bit, the Australian players are different to New Zealand players. New Zealand players have generally been the best in world rugby because they have been physically stronger and faster than anyone else.
''Australian sides traditionally, while physically we go OK, our point of difference has been that we've been tactically and strategically a little better than other teams. I think at the moment we've lost that a little bit.
''I think Robbie can learn that. Some good things have happened and there's no reason to change the coach but I think he does need some help.''
Jones also noted rugby was not attracting the best players: 15- and 16-year-olds were going to league, AFL, and soccer instead and the depth of quality was suffering.
''While we've got some good players there, we probably just haven't got the quality to be consistently right at the top of international rugby.''
So that's Australia's problem found. Now the game and its descent into boredom? It's not the rules, let's point the finger at the English.
Well, that's the opinion of International Rugby Board chief executive Mike Miller after being lobbied by the English Rugby Football Union to tinker with the laws to swing the pendulum back in favour of the attacking team … and yes, he is British.
''I think there are more issues in England, based around the style of play and the number of matches,'' Miller told The Guardian. ''A lot of it comes down to mentality, particularly from the managers and coaches … people need to look at themselves and what they're doing. Everyone bears the responsibility of having an attractive game that people want to play and watch.
''Having watched the autumn internationals [in which England registered one try in three games], the main issue is the kicking. It's the fear factor, particularly the fear of making a mistake in your half.
''Rugby is meant to be a flowing game. There are still some countries who can move the ball and score tries and others that can't. You have to ask yourself: is it the game, is it referees, is it the laws or the individual countries themselves?''
- © Fairfax NZ News
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in reply to : #36 & #42 . I thought the asst. coach only carried the bags . The buck stops at the top . Surely. My memory maybe failing but i do remember when the all blacks won the world cup . The boks wernt in it . 2011 not far away, time for redemption been a long wait .
Peter fox i think you have the short memory. In 2003 Deans was Assistant coach in that world cup loss. shhhh
Ha ha ha. Typical I say. When the going gets tough blame everyone else but not yourselves. The biggest problem the Aussies face, is that rugby has to compete with other codes, especially Soccer and League. They do not have the same competition structures that NZ and South Africa have.
Perhaps the tinkering of the rules over the last two years have had an impact on the way the game's played now.
Richard #28...contrary to what Mr Henry himself would have you believe...there is a rugby world out there that doesn't revolve around 'the Great Redeemer'....
@ peter fox #35 Right; because a NZ fan would accepted only winning 4 of the last 14 games they played against South Africa and Aussie. They won 1 test against South Africa. They played very well that night and South Africa were a bit off their game, proving that anyone can beat anyone on any given day. But NZ would never accepted the Aussies W/L record.
Give me 80% or so of test wins over a world cup any day.
A few points yes these one off tests are meaningless friendlies whose only purpose is to bring in money. That said we can spruce it up, how about a mini world series? We have the Sanzar nations playing in europe so why not a tournament between them and the top 3 6 nations teams or as a mate suggested a grand finale involving a Sanzar team vs Europe, just a thought. As for the current deadly dull and boring, boring, boring game I have a couple of suggestions as well. A few years ago players were given the count of 3 to release the ball this allowed surport players to get to the ball carrier and as a result the game flowed a return to this rule might signal a return to running rugby and my other idea elv, elv, elv, elv, elv. elv, elv, elv, elv, elv.
What the hell would Eddie Jones know about coaching attacking options. He took over the Brumbies and the Wallabies from Rob McQueen who built two great teams. He then failed to develop depth or introduce anything new to Australian Rugby. He's the wannabe and regarding deans trying to coach attacking methods that are employed by NZ teams (who win). He was employed to build a team that could win a world cup. If you keep doing what you've always done you'll get the same results you always have. Give Robbie and the young guys he's developing a chance to put their plan in to practice.
"Australian sides traditionally, while physically we go OK, our point of difference has been that we've been tactically and strategically a little better than other teams"
good to see that old myth of the ockers being intelligent players continues to be peddled out ...
I see Deans' biggest fan (Rattue) has, like the rat he is, deserted the sinking ship - and now reckons it's time for the super coach to be dumped - can't see it happening though as I reckon old possum head was silly enough to write him a water tight 4 year contract with no out clause - Robbie's certainly doing a bloody good job wiping rugby off the Australain sporting landscape ... come 2011 it'll be a very poor relation to the NRL, AFL and HAL ...
Wales by 15+ on the weekend
Tony #31, i think you've got a few things wrong. NRL (that's League)games with half empty stadiums? you obviously didn't see the final, or any of the semis for that matter. And where is it played in Europe? Northern England, Wales, France...that's about it.Rugby a poor cousin behind AFL and ..soccer? try League.Rugby is struggling internationally - the English crowd booed their team for winning a boring game. I believe too much whistleblowing and grandstanding by refs, and too much kicking from players is killing it as a spectacle, while the IRB and their silly power games are inflicting fatal internal injuries.
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