I have posed the question before. Would the All Blacks and New Zealand supporters accept an Australian as their coach? Would an Australian coaches heart lie with the AB's if they were to coah them.
No thanks. I didn't even want Robbie Deans for NZ in 2008, although I didn't want him going to Australia either. I think the Wallabies problems are systemic, the ARU appears lethargic and lacklustre, so does Deans and the players themselves.
I don't think Deans has done a particularly good job, sometimes when you don't have the best team on the pitch you need a coach that will lift them up regardless; via passion, enthusiasm and grit. Even better, with a superior game plan. That's doesn't seem to be 'Dingo's' style. Deans seemingly rigid view of his 'systems' doesn't appear to fit with an Australian side or the players he has. I don't think he has faith in his players, certainly not the 22 as he doesn't use his bench. His selections at times have been puzzling, how this would alienate senior players, emerging players and form players I can't imagine.
His handling of the new breed of so called back line superstars, I've always laughed when
some people have touted "best in the world", has been questionable. Who's the best 10? Who's the best 12? and so forth. He's had a couple of years to solidify a starting back line, where is it? You don't have a world class 10, the most important cog. You don't have a centre partnership that's either balanced or good enough, you have two good winger's (one injured) and a world class fullback that people want moved to 10. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) somehow squandered a quality career at 13, how'd that happen?
I'm not going to try and dissect the forward pack, because I simply don't watch that much Australian super rugby. I know you need to put the aptly named
floppy cock (quoting a forgotten G&G Member) Sharpe out to pasture. Tell Simmons to smarten up and tell Higginbotham to stop running around like his ass is on fire and start being accurate.
Perhaps one of the biggest conundrums is that the Wallabies are not that far off being a quality test side, you've beaten the Saffa's frequently and you can match it with the AB's most days. You just don't have a clear out-and-out best 15. A depth problem doesn't help either.
Conclusion: Get rid of Deans; just do it already. Either post-Wales if you lose the series or post Rugby Championship so you can use the Northern tour. Take Mackenzie out of whatever hog-wash role he'll have post S15 this year. Once O'Neill is gone (finally) it will happen anyway. Or keep doing whatever it is you're doing so it'll make the AB's life easier.