Opinion has been divided on Deans since day 1. No surprise the critics are baying now.
But in saying that I find myself agreeing that the Wallabies under performed. While I loved seeing their character and defence vs Boks, no one could be so deluded as to think that game showed all black beating form. The Irish game was woeful, and the second half of the Russia game an embarrassment.
I've seen so many different views as to why they were outplayed on Sunday. Many here say it was a stifled attack. Others, a poor tactical plan. Others an outplayed forward pack. Some even blame Quade.
Spiros' view is they're a young (read: inexperienced at RWC) team.
I think he has a point, but I can't help wondering how McQueen or McKenzie would have prepared the team for last Sunday.
I more than agree with this. When you have a young/inexperienced team the VERY FIRST thing you have to do is set out a series of guidelines and limits so that youthful exhuberance does not run away with the show. That was the basis for the Reds win in the Super comp this year. There was clear structure on which to build the play of what was a very young and talented team.
The reason there are so many views on what caused our loss is that there were a number of contributing causes. All of those you listed are in the top five. In the forwards, we turned up to play with intensity. Unfortunately the other team had even more intensity. The NZ team knew this was the last big hurdle and played with a forward intensity we could not match. And yet our efforts in staying close on the scoreboard kept us in the match. Digby's run in the first half showed that there were vulnerabilities there that could be attacked. But we didn't do it enough to break down the defense and change the momentum. Instead we kicked (badly) for field position.
On the backline, what Deans did instead of instilling a plan of attack was to take the principles he had been building for the team and threw them in the trashcan. Out went the glorious running game that had the NZ team quaking with fear, to be replaced by two defensive centres who had no passing or running skills. Then Cooper was allowed to operate further away from the gainline so he and Genia could kick away any and all possession that didn't get swallowed up by the forward pods. Our backline play, although we had no Kurtley, was what made us so distinctive and what made us such a threat. Deans essentially neutered it.
I don't belong in the Dean's as traitor school. When examining a disaster, 99% of the causes will be down to incompetence and mistakes, only 1% might even be a conspiracy. Dean's failure was one of hubris. He so believed in his own abilities that he chose poor assistants who would not challenge him and he would not change tactics he had chosen even when they were obviously not working.
Sadly its time to move on. Our WC is basically over and despite a Wales test in November so is this year's international program. JON will not change Dean's appointment (another overly-stubborn leader who won't address mistakes) so its time to look forward to Super 15. Hopefully some grounds for optimism, especially with the the Tahs and Reds having so much potential this year.
