Robbie Deans concedes Lote Tuqiri's sacking affected chemistry

Bret Harris | October 26, 2009

Article from: The Australian

WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans has admitted the sensational sacking of former Test winger Lote Tuqiri adversely affected the team and may have contributed to the disappointing results in the Tri-Nations tournament.

ARU chief executive John O'Neill tore up Tuqiri's multi-million-dollar contract in July for off-field misconduct.
The Wallabies had just completed the first phase of the international season, beating the Barbarians, Italy (twice) and France.

While Tuqiri was not selected to play in any of those first four games, he was part of the 30-man training squad.

After Tuqiri's sacking, Australia went on to win just one of six Tests in the Tri-Nations.

Asked whether the Tuqiri affair affected the Wallabies, Deans said: "There's no doubt some of those elements add to the challenge.

"It affects the chemistry. There's a lot of long-standing connections in the group with Lote, myself included.

"I enjoyed the man. If we had had the ability to avert it (Tuqiri's sacking), we clearly would have chosen to not have to deal with that, but that's the way it is.
"It's part of it. It's part of the challenge."

Tuqiri's sacking may have contributed to five-eighth Matt Giteau's form slump in the Tri-Nations.

Giteau and Tuqiri had been national teammates for seven years and become close friends.

The termination of Tuqiri's contract followed the departure in previous seasons of two of Giteau's other good mates for off-field misbehaviour, halfback Matt Henjak and winger Wendell Sailor.

It is understood Giteau felt he was made a scapegoat for the Wallabies' poor performances, fuelling speculation his relationship with Deans was strained.

While Giteau denied he was unhappy, he admitted he was disappointed to be overlooked for the vice-captaincy when Deans changed the team's leadership after the Tri-Nations.

Deans replaced Stirling Mortlock with Rocky Elsom as Australia captain, while the vice-captaincy was given to inside centre Berrick Barnes. Giteau had five years' seniority as a Wallaby over Barnes and had been touted as a future Test captain.
But Deans believed Giteau already had enough responsibility directing the team.

Ironically, Giteau received the prestigious John Eales Medal, which was determined by player votes, two days before the team embarked on the tour of Japan and Europe on Saturday.

Deans was confident Giteau had gotten over his disappointment and had prepared well for the tour.

"He has been fantastic," Deans said. "He is training very well. He is training as well as he ever has.

"It's interesting. You are sort of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

"He was asked a very straightforward question. Would he have liked the vice-captaincy? And he said yes. Well, there's no harm in that. He was just stating the way it is. And as he said, everyone likes the endorsement, so to speak.

"We made a decision based on our reasons which have been well communicated and we don't believe it would be in Matt's best interest to be burdened with that.
"It's only one man's opinion, but it happens to be ours, which means he didn't get the job. It's not a big deal.

"We expect leadership of everybody. He is a critical member ... he is possibly the most important member of our group.

"There's nothing wrong with him expressing the fact that he would have liked it. No problem."

Giteau's form in the Tri-Nations led to speculation he would be switched from his preferred five-eighth position to inside centre with Barnes wearing the No10 jersey as playmaker.

While Deans is tinkering with the inside backs combination, Giteau will remain the chief playmaker.

"Clearly, there was going to be a transition period in so far as a vast amount of historical leadership had departed, which tends to happen post-World Cup," Deans said.

"Gregan, Larkham, Latham. Critical decision-making people. Those shoes, and they are very significant shoes in terms of players who held the reins for a long time, are going to have to be filled. Matty is filling one pair."




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