Private Fantasies for RWC 2011

[RedsHappy]

I have noticed our heavy focus upon selection choices for the coming 2011 Wallabies, and thus the team composition look-forward for the RWC.

OK, selection is king in most domains, no argument. But as I looked back over the Wallabies' actual delivered goods over the 2008-10 period, I yearned in my own private world for a fantasy of changes to the managerial system that has major impacts upon those delivered goods, a managerial system you may know that I have had cause to critique. For me, the play and players heavily reflect the calibre of the system that leads, strategises and teaches them.

We have the 2011-ready players to win this RWC, but IMO the managerial system must be urgently upgraded for this potential to be realised via the holding of Bill.

Here are my 'managerial musts' if we are, well, truly serious about the RWC - do you fellow posters have any, and do you agree with my fantasies?

1. Changes are urgently needed under RD. Williams has been a serious disappointment in all respects as forwards coach and, as Bruce Ross' analysis showed, RWCs are in major part won by forwards, set-piece, defence, and sustained, precision kicking excellence. We need Foley to be reappointed as RWC forwards coach, with the great Alec Evans for scrums (and general forwards wisdom supply), and perhaps bring in the Reds Wrestling Coach (no kidding, they have one) for improved breakdown technique.

2. A world-class kicking coach and analyst must be appointed full-time by June. None of this 'appointment with the doctor via video link' nonsense. We have a very wobbly kicking capability today, it must become more consistent and reliable by at least 3 front-line kickers likely to be in the RWC team. If I had just one guaranteed-to-happen wish, on proven criticality factors, it would be this one.

3. The Wallabies - unlike virtually all other top sports' teams, incl. the ABs, have no mental skills and/or sports psychology coach. Team mental strength and culture will be key for a RWC, immediately modernise the support capability and appoint a specialist in this key area.

4. Tactics and game plan modalities. RD needs additional challenging, variation options and hard experience from a coach who is strong on imaginative games plans and tactical ploys for varying conditions and oppositions. And someone who knows our best players well. Link must be brought in as Game Tactician under RD.

5. Choices. We absolutely must pick a full RWC squad solely on recent performance and proven attitude, not on past love affairs, reputations, ARU ring-ins, or anything similar. Everything must be 100%, as-actually-delivered-results, merit-based.

6. Including the choice of Captain. I am not an Elsom fan as Captain and I am not even sure of him in the team as of today. Appoint for recent real achievers and proven motivators: Sharpe, Horwill, or Genia for Captain from the first 3N Test.

7. Defence. Crucial, and ours has been slowly rotting for years. If Blake is good enough - not sure - OK, bring him back in, but maybe even better to grab a defence-oriented Aus coach from the NH on special assignment to urgently get the Wallabies back to pre-2004 defence standards, and soon.

8. Stop this JO'N/ARU HQ pandering to RD - 'you must stay for years more'. This will risk a subtle lack of the essential performance anxiety needed. RD must know - this, the 2011 3Ns, the 2011 Bled, the RWC, this is your time son, this is the time for the delivery the fans rightly expect after the investments made and patience shown to date.

Now I feel better. We can all dream to sooth.

 

[Reddy!]

My wish list is a fit Quade Cooper, he is the most important player in the team, without question.

 

[Nusadan]

My wish list is a fit Quade Cooper, he is the most important player in the team, without question.

And a tackling one, for that matter...

 

[Joe Mac]

My wish list is
1 Mortlock (if fit) is given the 13 jersey and the captaincy
2 Full time kicking coach- completely agree with you here
3 A fully fit TPN, Pockock
4 Our good srummaging form of late continues and we smash the english into the dirt in the semi finals, winning the game through scrum penalties. This would be better than winning the WC IMO.
5 Quade Cooper learns to tackle


A little off topic but has it occurred to anyone else that Genia has shaved his head to look like Gregan going into the WC? The Kiwi's still replay over and over the footage of him saying "4 more years" after the World Cup in 03'. Even without a sports psychologist that is pretty clever if that is why he did it

 

[Gnostic]

RH - the only things I will say is:-
1) that none of the current kicking coaches are worth having. Perhaps they are interfering too much in the kickers style and making them uncomfortable or something but percentages are actually dropping.
2) Spot on re forward coaches.
3) The over arching tactics have to come from the head coach and the basic skills and training for the execution of said plan should be imparted by the assistants. I do not think the RD would accept this level of input and I have a feeling that no other head coach like Link (and possibly not even Foley) want to be associated with the Deans Wallabies.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

My wish list for the Wallabies this would look something like the following:

1, Solidity in the scrum, preferably some dominance to go with it. You've got to have stable set pieces if you want to consistently get over the gain line and run the fancy backline moves. My poor old heart sinks every time we get a scrum penalty against us and we aren't going to win anything this year unless we can keep the thing up, straight and going forward.

2, Total dominance in the lineout. We are already good here, but I want this as a weapon to be feared by the opposition. We should aim to steal some opposition ball as well and unleash the counter attack. Sharpie has at times been doing it by himself, so someone else (or preferably two others) need to provide options there. Horwill is the obvious front runner to partner him at present.

3, Security at the restarts. We are occasionally sloppy here and I would like for the boys to be really switched on for the full 80. It's a sure fire way to give away the pill in doing otherwise.

4, Hardness at the breakdown. This means not getting turned over through poor body height and lack of commitment of numbers in the tackle. The counter rucking we showed against France was something I'd like to see more of too.

5, Secure Midfield Defence. QC (Quade Cooper), this means you laying tackles mate. It's more than that though, it's keeping the line intact and not losing shape in defence. Staying organised in other words.

6, Accurate Kicking. This has killed us and by my reckoning cost us at least 3 very winnable test matches over the last year. It's basic stuff guys.

I believe if we can get the above fundamentals right (I'm big on that concept) and hopefully execute them better than our opposition, the results will surely follow. We have devastating attack out wide with the right amount of opportunity, but you have to do the graft first.

 

[#1 Tah]

My fantasy/wish is for the tournament to be considered a success and grow the game worldwide.

being there would be nice too.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Did anyone else see the NZ article a couple of days ago where there was a team of 3 or so performance analysts going around to each of their world cup candidates giving them an appraisal on their form thus far and feedback in relation to where the selectors and the coach were seeing them gearing towards the RWC. Seemed like a good idea, from our end could someone go tell Quade to put his head down and tackle, and TPN to go have a rest?

 

[Bruce Ross]

My first wish would be for the Wallabies to achieve parity with the other major contenders in strength and power. It could still be done but won't.

If it were, some of the Hornet's points, i.e., solidity in the scrum, hardness at the breakdown and secure midfield defence, would almost automatically be covered. And these are the things that win World Cups.

 

[Groucho]

Did anyone else see the NZ article a couple of days ago where there was a team of 3 or so performance analysts going around to each of their world cup candidates giving them an appraisal on their form thus far and feedback in relation to where the selectors and the coach were seeing them gearing towards the RWC. Seemed like a good idea, from our end could someone go tell Quade to put his head down and tackle, and TPN to go have a rest?

Regarding TPN, Hickey is running perilously close to seriously damaging the Wallabies chances with his continued selection of an obviously unfit TPN. So what if TPN 'wants to play'? That is ludicrous on every level.

 

[drewprint]

Regarding TPN, Hickey is running perilously close to seriously damaging the Wallabies chances with his continued selection of an obviously unfit TPN. So what if TPN 'wants to play'? That is ludicrous on every level.

They really should give him a rest this week at least. Poor guy.

 

[#1 Tah]

They really should give him a rest this week at least. Poor guy.

ha
ha
ha

 

[lily]

Hasim El - Masri.

 

[RugbyReg]

Two lesbians probably, sisters.

I'm just watching

[video=youtube;L42-yKY1vRM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L42-yKY1vRM[/video]

 

[Bruce Ross]

A classic, Reg

 

[farva]

My wish list is a fit Quade Cooper, he is the most important player in the team, without question.

Id suggest Pocock or Sharpe is the most important player.

Sharpe is the only player who could run the lineout last year (Horwill is back at least now, but he is broken 805 of the time). Pocock is such a machine that we need him on the field.

Beale, Barnes, Giteau and JOC (James O'Connor) could all cover for Cooper. Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) both start in the Wallabies and are both the creative players that Cooper is.
Id still like to see Cooper on the field though.

My wishlist is for an injury free campaign, someone to stake their claim at 12, the scrum to get back in shape and for us to compete aggressively at the ruck.

 

[Gnostic]

Interesting that so many are saying Horwill is a lineout saviour. Can I ask who is calling the lineouts for the Reds? I know the answer and it isn't Horwill. He is a very good lock but I don't know about him as head of the lineout. Sharpe is the best in Oz by a long way. As unpopular as it may be Mumm is probably second in this regard (but that would be it on his current form).

 

[farva]

He can call the lineout though cant he. If not as well as Sharpe.
How is Hand going with the Brumbies lineout? Ive been overseas and havent had a chance to watch too much this year.
But I agree, Sharpe is vital to the team, as he is a real lineout leader.

 

[qwerty51]

Sharpe cannot be our most important player when he cannot scrummage.

 

[Maroon Army]

Beale, Barnes, Giteau and JOC (James O'Connor) could all cover for Cooper. Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) both start in the Wallabies and are both the creative players that Cooper is.
Id still like to see Cooper on the field though.

Quade Cooper is in a league of his own at the moment and I'd be saying the same thing about him if he were playing for any of the Aussie teams.


I also wish to have Berrick Barnes back at full health and playing inside center.