Deans targeted as rift triggers clean-out

[Burgs]

Deans targeted as rift triggers clean-out

Greg Growden Chief Rugby Correspondent
Wednesday, August 1, 2007

SERIOUS rifts within the Test coaching and playing ranks have prompted the Australian Rugby Union to intensify its bid to improve a flagging Wallabies culture by having New Zealander Robbie Deans appointed as the next Australian coach.

High-ranking ARU officials confirmed to the Herald last night they knew of, and were deeply concerned, by the reported schisms within the Australian team management.

The issue came to a head when defence coach John Muggleton walked out of the John Eales Medal dinner last week after being snubbed by ARU president Paul McLean in a speech.

The ARU powerbrokers are also aware of an intensifying lack of confidence several key players have towards three members of the coaching staff. They are also concerned with the behaviour of several Wallabies team officials.

The ARU knows of several players lacking respect for important team officials, and is aware that some frontline players do not want to deal with officials in the High Performance Unit.

ARU officials also confirmed that former rugby league great Andrew Johns being involved in Wallabies training has "seriously irritated" one member of the Wallabies coaching staff, who feels threatened. Another concern at ARU headquarters is that, like the 2003 World Cup campaign, Wallabies officials appear to be distancing themselves from the ARU. The relationship between several high-profile Wallabies officials and ARU figures is extremely tense.

This prompted ARU officials to last night tell the Herald that a clean-out of the Wallabies managerial and coaching staff, and a revamp of the HPU unit, is imminent. As well as head coach John Connolly, who is scheduled to depart after the World Cup, other casualties are inevitable.

Although this clean-out is anticipated to happen after the World Cup, which starts on September 8, there are some within the ARU who believe changes could even be made before the tournament because of fears the problems could derail the World Cup campaign.

No matter what, the 2008 Wallabies staff will be vastly different to the one involved in the team's training at Manly Oval yesterday.

ARU chief executive John O'Neill told the Herald that the union was "very keen" to secure the services of Deans. "We need to undertake major cultural change [at the Wallabies]," O'Neill said.

It is known the ARU has recently talked to, or is about to talk to, a number of former Test players including Jeff Miller, Brett Robinson, Rod Kafer and Pat Howard, seeking advice on how to improve the Wallabies structure. Western Force coach John Mitchell may also be involved with the Wallabies if Deans becomes the head coach.

O'Neill told the New Zealand Herald recently that despite Deans signing for another season with the Canterbury Crusaders Super 14 province, he was still looked upon as a serious candidate for the Wallabies position.

The Herald has been told that Deans's renewed Crusaders contract has a get-out clause, which allows him to take up another coaching position following next year's Super 14.

"I would like to think Robbie Deans would be a candidate - he would be outstanding," O'Neill told the NZ Herald. "He has had a long, successful record, he has been there and done that. I think he has got the right make-up, personnel, man-management skills and culture we want to re-establish in Australia.

"If he was our choice, it would not be a barrier for us if Robbie coached the Crusaders in the Super 14, in fact it would be good for him to be ticking over because coaches are like players, they need to keep involved."

Also, in O'Neill's recently published autobiography It's Only a Game, he explains that before departing the ARU four years ago, he wanted to sack George Gregan and Eddie Jones as captain and coach of the Wallabies, and replace them respectively with Phil Waugh and Deans.

Connolly attempted to downplay the rifts, but did admit that the team had two meetings yesterday over the matter.

When asked if there was dissent in the coaching ranks, Connolly said yesterday: "We don't think so. There's always at times creative tensions when you have 45 guys on tour for six months. You're always going to have ups and downs. And we've definitely had some robust discussions."

Asked if the players lacked confidence in the coaches, Connolly said: "Not really. We've never experienced any negative feedback whatsoever, in any great degree. We've got a team meeting this afternoon and the four coaches are all going to get up and have a hug in front of the team. A love-in. We might even do it topless."

[The EnForcer]

Is Growden on some sort of crusade? The only place I have read anything about any internal management problems is through his reporting. Man, he irritates me!

PS Does anybody know if he is a pom?

[Burgs]

BRAY EXCLUSIVE: Ex Wallaby Endorses Deans but……….

Gordon Bray, Rugby Exclusive

Speculation that Robbie Deans is the Wallaby coach in waiting gets a fence-sitting yes/no vote from former Australian test flanker Chris Roche.

Roche is better qualified than most Australians to run the rule over Deans’ credentials as a future Wallaby coach.

Earlier this year, the Brisbane lawyer spent a week in camp with the Canterbury Crusaders, observing the Kiwi coach’s methods and philosophies.

“It’s not rocket science,” Roche revealed. “The Deans’ mantra is all about trust, respect, honesty, discipline and loyalty from individual and team.”

Those qualities speak volumes as far as Roche is concerned because they are the key ingredients of a culture that has set a revered benchmark at Super Rugby level over the past decade.

“I asked Robbie what he saw as his greatest strength as a coach and he said probably the fact that he brought a set of values and experience to the table from another era,” Roche said.

A familiar ring perhaps? Co-incidentally, as Australia’s most successful Wallaby coach, Rod Macqueen’s philosophy was also based on old fashioned, traditional values.

He managed to transform much of rugby’s more noble amateur ethos into the rigours of the professional era. Namely the mateship, integrity and true spirit of teamsmanship across all levels.

“Robbie has set the highest standards for himself and the Crusaders team. There is no grey area when it comes to expectations of one another. It’s all or nothing,” Roche said.

The Crusaders have a card system with each individual required to monitor his standards across areas such as level of effort, commitment to training, diligence and behaviour.

“If a player is not 100% up to speed in any area he is answerable to the group because he has let team mates down,” explained Roche.

“You are not asked if you have let the group down. That information has to be volunteered by the individual.”

Roche also told me there is no room for egos in the Crusaders’ camp.

“You are talking about a very special culture that is based on integrity, honesty and discipline,” he said.

“With little separation between teams at Super 14 level, success comes down to unflinching commitment and the little things, the attention to detail that can give you a cutting edge over your opponents. That’s where the Crusaders excel under Deans.”

So to the burning question. Would Deans make a good Wallaby coach?

“Absolutely because he would bring that culture to the table. No problems with the playing style either. They use the full width of the field and their support play is second to none,” Roche said.

But should a Kiwi or non-Australian coach the Wallabies?

“At the end of the day you want the best person for the job. If we have an Australian candidate with the sort of qualities Deans stands for, and I would hope we do, then the job should go to that person.

“If not, Robbie is your man. Full stop.”

[hopep]

ARU chief executive John O'Neill told the Herald that the union was "very keen" to secure the services of Deans. "We need to undertake major cultural change [at the Wallabies]," O'Neill said.

Heres a tip John; take all the 'sydney' focused board members and raffle them of to the Boks, who seem desperate for info on how the "ARU Should Be Run" and then employ smart people with a business brain - even non-rugby people.
Then tell all the coaches and players to "STFU" and only talk AFTER they've won a world cup.

[JediKnight]

The information about the club culture at the Crusaders was confirmed to me by a Christchurch taxi driver a couple of weeks ago. Many players spend time in the community with disadvantaged children and there was the situation when one Crusader player was heading to Europe (I forget which one) and he specifically ensured that another player from the team took over his 'mentoring' commitments with a young disabled fan. All this is done without making a big deal of it in the local/national media - they just get on with it.