John O’Neill has cost Australia the Tri-Nations

[fatprop]

http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/09/02/john-oneill-loses-the-tri-nations/#more-22947

John O’Neill has cost Australia the Tri-Nations


There’s one man who has had a bigger negative influence on the performance of the Wallabies than anyone else this year. Who is it?

Al Baxter, Robbie Deans, Richard Brown?

Of course not. It’s the man running the whole show, John O’Neill.

Let’s look at four crucial plays O’Neill has made which have had such an effect on the Wallabies.

1. Firing Lote Tuqiri
Very few journalists have mentioned what a devastating and disturbing effect this must have had on team morale and confidence.

To jettison such a senior member of the team just before the start of the season has had the expected effect on the side’s enthusiasm and quality, in contrast to the vibrant and dynamic beginning to the last Tri-Nations.

In addition, a superb wing (when on-form) has been lost.

2. Roughly negotiating with Dan Vickerman
How were the South Africans able to dominate Australia so much in the line-out and out-muscle them in the loose? The absence of a world-class lock, that’s how.

‘Neill negotiates with players as if they were normal employees in a company. That is, roughly.

Rugby players need to be handed more delicately.

And it is this tough approach that persuaded Vickerman to leave.

3. Refusal to buy a rugby league fullback
It has been blindingly obvious for some time that Australia lack a top running fullback. James O’Connor and Adam Ashley-Cooper are centres out of position.

Two were potentially available this year - Karmichael Hunt and Billy Slater - and the ARU didn’t seriously bid.

O’Neill now thinks that it doesn’t make good sense to buy league players, and in general, he may be right. However, in this critical case an exception should have been made.

4. Letting Tahu go
Stirling Mortlock gets injured and who is the brilliant strike runner to replace him? Ryan Cross.

There is no brilliant strike runner because O’Neill hasn’t done everything to keep Timana Tahu.

The absence of these four players has hugely weakened the Wallabies.

O’Neill has a hard approach to negotiating, which may be good for the administrative side of the game (though his failure to suggest a Super 18 instead of 15 would suggest not).

However, when it comes to players he simply seems to be unaware that:

a. There is a lack of talent available in Australia. Losing or not acquiring three or four top players really does matter in a way it wouldn’t in New Zealand.

b. Negotiating with players involves using kid gloves and backing down sometimes in a way unnecessary with office workers. Otherwise, they get unhappy and go.

By all means, keep O’Neill for the general administration of the game.

But for all matters relating to players, someone else should be given responsibility as soon as possible.

 

[Scarfman]

What idiot wrote that? Roy Masters?

We don't need any more leaguies, thanks.

 

[Novocastrian]

What idiot wrote that? Roy Masters?

We don't need any more leaguies, thanks.

It's one of the reader submitted 'opinion pieces' on the Roar and while you get some decent ones, a lot of them are drivel like this. It's the sort of thing you'd expect to read from Chiselhead on here, or Chief Rugby Correspondent Jabba the Hut on Rugbyheaven.

 

[cheezel]

3. Refusal to buy a rugby league fullback
It has been blindingly obvious for some time that Australia lack a top running fullback.

That's a bit keen. I wouldn't particularly feel that confident with any league players playing fullback for the wallabies.

 

[Sully]

The 2 we have had up in Queensland have gone alright.

 

[PaarlBok]

Thanks for that link Fatty. I was google all over the net to get some Brisbane views on the Bokke day to day preparation and info and cant find any.

Interesting read tho"Mitchell present the wrong teams jerseys" :lmao:

 

[PaarlBok]

This one is classic

12. “The Springbok coach looks like Isaac the barman off The Love Boat.”
I’ll pay that. And I cannot help but think that he is no fool, neither. I think if Mrs Emu could listen to some of his press conference coach speak, she would say “What is he talking about?”

But I think PDV might have us all fooled.

:yay

 

[JJJ]

The trouble with negotiating "delicately" with players is that it's always going to boil down to the bottom line. So "delicate" is always going to mean "more money". That in itself might not be so bad -- if you could do it in a bubble. But as Al Baxter (or was it Dunning?) made known to the media the players are always aware of who's getting a better deal than they are. Ioane and McMeniman have also shown they are keenly aware of what their teammates are being paid. So if you give more money to one player the others are all going to want a raise as well, or they'll walk. The ARU doesn't (I assume) have the money for that. It can't even finance an Australia A program, let alone a national comp. So I'm guessing it was a choice between risking having Vickerman leave or risking having a number of other players leave had they met Vick's demands. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Likewise buying a League fullback would probably have been out of the price-range the "average" Wallaby player makes. I wouldn't want O'Neill's job, that's for sure.

As for Tahu and Tuqiri, I don't know what the story was there. I'm sure Tuqiri wasn't giving value for money, but we don't know that was the reason he was sacked. With Tahu who knows? I haven't heard anything about his reasons. I'm guessing he was showing solidarity with Tuqiri.

Vickerman is a huge loss though. He was probably the most influential forward we had last year, which is saying a lot considering George and Rocky were playing really well. If O'Neill hadn't been committed by the previous regime into spending so much money on Lote, he could probably have afforded to retain Vicks.

 

[Moses]

I reckon you could pick up any league player in the NRL for JOC (James O'Connor)'s salary

 

[louie]

I reckon you could pick up any league player in the NRL for JOC (James O'Connor)'s salary

or have kept the arc

 

[Newb]

I reckon you could pick up any league player in the NRL for JOC (James O'Connor)'s salary

or have kept the arc

or bring back Australia A to get serious on development. another JO'N stuff up.

 

[louie]

have to say newb thoese are the two things that have really fucked me off i the last few years.
1. because of development
2. because it means i watch less rugby

 

[Lindommer]

or bring back Australia A to get serious on development. another JON stuff up.

The scrapping of both the Australia A program and the ARC competition were decisions taken by the ARU board due to its worsening financial position. They WERE NOT made by JON. That's from the horse's mouth.

Like most sensible rugby supporters I, too, would like to see both these initiatives reinstated. If we can afford them.

 

[louie]

Wasn't the ARC canned because it had a 1 million lose?

for the amount JOC (James O'Connor) is a getting we would be much much much better off putting that money into an arc type comp.

one isn't better then few

 

[rugbywhisperer]

true but that is one year's costs - from where does the next year's money come - we don't sign JOC (James O'Connor)'s every year (thank goodness he says with raised eyebrows and relief in his heart)

 

[Moses]

So many holes in that argument, where to start?

Wasn't the ARC canned because it had a 1 million lose?

No. The ARC lost 4.7 million in the first year and had a further 3.3 million loss forecast the second year.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22942541-23217,00.html

for the amount JOC (James O'Connor) is a getting we would be much much much better off putting that money into an arc type comp.

one isn't better then few

There's more to player value than the points they score on the field. JOC (James O'Connor)'s a good player, possibly a bit young to command that salary in comparison to others, but some cash was freed up by Gits departure and JOC (James O'Connor) will help the Force chase the pink dollar. Good luck to the kid, I believe the majority of his cash is coming from 3rd parties, not from the ARU regardless.

 

[louie]

thanks moses. honestly thought it was just 1.
we still at least need an Australia A

 

[disco]

1. Firing Lote Tuqiri
Very few journalists have mentioned what a devastating and disturbing effect this must have had on team morale and confidence.

To jettison such a senior member of the team just before the start of the season has had the expected effect on the side’s enthusiasm and quality, in contrast to the vibrant and dynamic beginning to the last Tri-Nations.

In addition, a superb wing (when on-form) has been lost.

When on form in brackets really helps this comment, so he was good back in 2004 & showed some spark in 06/07 but was otherwise shit in 08/09.

3. Refusal to buy a rugby league fullback
It has been blindingly obvious for some time that Australia lack a top running fullback.

Yeah league fullbacks usually shine in super rugby but have a knack of going missing in test rugby.

The only thing JON has done to piss me off the year is offer Fag boy JOC (James O'Connor) a shitload of coin & Digby Ioane & MMM nothing, otherwise he's doing his best to save a sinking ship.

 

[disco]

4. Letting Tahu go
Stirling Mortlock gets injured and who is the brilliant strike runner to replace him? Ryan Cross.

There is no brilliant strike runner because O’Neill hasn’t done everything to keep Timana Tahu.

Tahu wanted to go & he was more injury prone than Mortlock, I wouldn't start Tah before AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Cross or Ioane anyway.

 

[fatprop]

If aus wanted a wing that was safe under Bok high balls, strong enough to stay on his feet until support gets there and great in defence etc. you could do worse than Lote