Deans contract extended

[MrMouse]

Deans selected players on their Super 14 form and showed loyalty in persiting with them.

I disagree strongly with that statement.

 

[Gagger]

What's the ideal number of players he should have dropped or promoted? Obviously there isn't one and we'd never know what 'any other coach' (which one??) would have done, so these arguments are always pretty ropey IMO.

Having said that, do I reckon absolutely any coach could have fostered the talent he has? Fuck no.

Beale, Cooper and JO'C are all perfect examples of young kids who would've been dumped following some of the fuckups they've had on Dingos watch.
Take Corey Jane's owning of JOC (James O'Connor) in the test this year. Most international coaches would have ended the experiment there, and stuck in a more conventional defensive winger.

What it does look like to me though is that he's built a balance of supporting (especially new) players having a go, while keeping (especially established) players on their toes. There seems to be a big cultural shift as well, with a lot fewer night club style incidents, even with the younger heads around.

As for the win/loss - it's already on the way up and was in the 60's this year. I suspect that's what's driving the signing talk

 

[daz]

Just moving slightly sideways with this discussion, Giteau has said that his "18 month plan" was to return to the Wobs after his stint in France. As far as I know, this was said before the Deans extension was known, or if Gits saw this coming, the 18 month sabbatical ties in rather neatly with a 2 year Deans extension.

We can also make a pretty good guess that Giteau and Deans have different viewpoints; Gits seems to want absolute freedom, while Deans seems to want Giteau to, you know, contribute something.

What odds that if Deans stays until 2015, Giteau will be making a slight re-adjustment to that plan?

I've got $20 to say Gits will be speaking pretty good French by the time 2015 rolls around....!

 

[daz]

As for the win/loss - it's already on the way up and was in the 60's this year. I suspect that's what's driving the signing talk

I'm willing to put my nads on the line and predict that the w/l % will improve significantly year on year.

The dawn of a new golden era is upon us, brethren. Let us pray:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of New Zealand and England in 2011 and 2015,
I will fear no set play: For Deans art with me;
Thy Pocock and thy Cooper, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a try-fest before me in the presence of mine IRB qualified enemies, especially the fucking Poms;
Thou annointest my head with Gatorade; My William Webb Ellis cup runneth over with Champagne.

Amen.

 

[fanlynne]

I am not doubting (nor I suspect is wj) the fact that we are ranked second, just noting that I, and expect quite a few others don't think we deserve to be in that position.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

That's gold Daz.

 

[Red Rooster]

Bob Dwyer originally played KB (Kurtley Beale) at 15 in some Tahs games in 2006? from memory.

Link recruited him from Joeys and played him at 10 when Rogers went back to League in 2007. He was also at 10 in 2008 when the Tahs went to the final