Mind Games? More clues to bench.

[Gagger]

Deans winning coaching mind games


October 29, 2008

SUPERCOACH Robbie Deans has won the opening round of his latest Bledisloe Cup bout with arch rival Graham Henry, hoodwinking New Zealand into playing master flyhalf Dan Carter out of position on Saturday night.

New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith conceded one of the chief reasons Carter had been picked at inside centre - which accommodates Stephen Donald at five-eighth - was to give the All Blacks two playmakers, as they expect the Wallabies to have.

But in a potential selection masterstroke Deans is tipped to name powerhouse skipper Stirling Mortlock to oppose Carter, rather than recall the ball-playing Berrick Barnes.

Barnes is expected to be eased back from a shoulder injury via the bench, with Deans opting to retain the more robust Mortlock-Ryan Cross midfield combination.

At best, Carter can expect plenty of heavy traffic heading his way at Hong Kong Stadium.

Even if the tactics ultimately fail, Henry - who beat Deans to the All Blacks coaching job last year despite his team's dismal World Cup failure - will not be happy to have been outwitted by his Wallabies counterpart.

Judging by his subtle dig at the announcement of his All Blacks side, Henry is already agitated by Deans delaying the release of his Wallabies team until Thursday.


"We always announce the team early to give the other guys a chance. They announce theirs on Thursday. We announce ours on Tuesday," Henry said.

"Maybe that needs to change, but that seems to be the case these days."

Before this season's first Bledisloe Cup Test, Deans admitted to having barely spoken a word to Henry in recent years.

This latest episode in their coaching rivalry is unlikely to improve their relationship, but it has certainly spiced up what has been an otherwise low-key build-up to the historic trans-Tasman encounter.

Deans suspects Carter's positional switch may force the All Blacks into altering a playing structure which helped them successfully defend the Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations trophies this year.

Carter - widely considered the game's premier flyhalf - seemed hardly enthused at being bumped out to the centres.

"It's quite surreal actually," Carter said.

"It's where I played a lot of my football in the first couple of seasons professionally, but it's a new challenge because it has been so long.

"I'm really looking forward to it. The coaches have made it clear that it's not going to be a permanent move, so that's good because I'm probably more settled in the No.10 jersey.

"But I think that 30 minutes in Brisbane where Steve came on, he made a real difference and I think he really deserves his chance at having a start."

Donald's effort to help the All Blacks rally from 17-7 down with 25 minutes remaining to a 28-24 victory over the Wallabies last month, plus the right foot-left foot kicking options he and Carter give the side, were the other two reasons behind the backline reshuffle.

Deans' other noteworthy selection will be the naming of 20-year-old debutant David Pocock on the bench, which will, along with George Smith and Phil Waugh, give the Wallabies three openside flankers in the match-day 22.

Anyone convinced?

 

[RugbyReg]

Great for Pocock. Can't wait to see him on the field.

Would've preferred a better balanced bench though.

Smith, Waugh and Pocock makes 3, sure but let's not forget where Richard Brown played most of his footy before this year.

 

[whocares]

I hope Deans puts Pocock on before he goes to Waugh.
The problem with this bench of 2 #7's is that Robbie has to either have 2 of them on the field at once which didnt work last time
Or he could not use all his bench which didnt work last time.

 

[Gagger]

Smith 180cm
Waugh 175cm
Pocock 181cm
Brown 189cm

Is this the smallest back row in world rugby?

 

[Virgil]

Do you guys really believe he will pick Morty at 12 again?
Besides even if he does, Carters defence is superb.
And it goes both ways, does Mortlock have the agility to handle Carters jinking running?

 

[Spook]

Do you guys really believe he will pick Morty at 12 again?
Besides even if he does, Carters defence is superb.
And it goes both ways, does Mortlock have the agility to handle Carters jinking running?

Last time you disrespected morty you were punished. In saying that, Morty is a 13.

 

[Spook]

Waugh won't be in the 22 surely? There is no need for him if Pocock is rated better by Deans and co..is he? :nta:

 

[RugbyReg]

Wayne Smith was hinting as much today Spook, but I don't know who else they will pick unless they pick a whole front row on the bench, which I don't see the point of.

 

[whocares]

Pocock the Wallabies selection bolter
October 30, 2008 - 6:14AM

Western Force flanker David Pocock will be the biggest selection shock when the Wallabies squad is named for Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup clash in Hong Kong.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has already told the Zimbabwean-born 20-year-old that he has won a place on the bench.

With a shortage of second-rowers, utility forward Dean Mumm is expected to start at breakaway and serve as the back-up lock, necessitating the selection of two openside flankers on the bench.

John Eales Medallist George Smith is again expected to start, with his long-time rival Phil Waugh likely to be named on the bench alongside Pocock.

"There's so many guys who go on a spring tour and never get capped and obviously being on the bench doesn't mean you always get on, so I'm just hoping to get on at some stage to do my best," he said.

Pocock grew up idolising Smith and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and says he can't believe he will be making his debut with one of them against the other.

"I mean, there's George and Phil and they've got over 150 caps between them so you can't expect too much," he said.

"They've both said congrats. They've been really good to me since I joined the Wallabies four weeks ago and shown me a lot of stuff.

"There's no sort of rivalry you would expect. It's all a 'whatever's best for the team' kind of thing at training.

"They're both great guys off the field. They both play their rugby hard on the field and they've got massive respect from within the team just through their achievements.

"So it's been really good for me to see how they train and how they go about their business. I've learnt a lot."

Likely Wallabies team: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Ryan Cross, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Peter Hynes, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Al Baxter. Reserves: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, David Pocock, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Berrick Barnes, Lachie Turner.

 

[Virgil]

2 open sides on the bench, just how desperate is Deans to nullify McCaw?

 

[RugbyReg]

2 open sides on the bench, just how desperate is Deans to nullify McCaw?

how desperate? He also has 2 in the starting side.

 

[whocares]

2 open sides on the bench, just how desperate is Deans to nullify McCaw?

I think its more of a lack of other options.

 

[Scotty]

Do you guys really believe he will pick Morty at 12 again?
Besides even if he does, Carters defence is superb.
And it goes both ways, does Mortlock have the agility to handle Carters jinking running?

Good point - Carter has just as much (maybe more) chance to carve up Mortlock that Mortlock does to Carter. But I'm not sure Deans is seeing Carter's one on one defense as the weakness - more the new combination. I also doubt that Morlock will be running directly at Carter - more likely targeting Donald and the channel between him and Carter.

 

[Mainlander]

Do you guys really believe he will pick Morty at 12 again?
Besides even if he does, Carters defence is superb.
And it goes both ways, does Mortlock have the agility to handle Carters jinking running?

Good point - Carter has just as much (maybe more) chance to carve up Mortlock that Mortlock does to Carter. But I'm not sure Deans is seeing Carter's one on one defense as the weakness - more the new combination. I also doubt that Morlock will be running directly at Carter - more likely targeting Donald and the channel between him and Carter.

This will be an interesting battle of chicken between the two coaches.

When will Deans send Barnes out?
When will Henry commit Nonu to the fray?

The losser sends his out first.