Wallaby Coaching Staff
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Teh Other Dave
Alan Cameron (40)
TWAS - Again, it comes back to discipline. Inaccuracy in attack (although we looked threatening and gave NZ headaches), poor kicking in general play, and some moments of lack of footy smarts.
On the topic of footy smarts, I'd be intrigued to know if any voices gave Hodge warning that he had no time to fire off his kick.
I realise this is a thread about the coaching set up, but I think that test sums Australia up as a football team, and reflects on the coaching setup. The team has the raw material to be a better football side, and always seem to be heading in the right direction, but just can't quite take that next step.
On the topic of footy smarts, I'd be intrigued to know if any voices gave Hodge warning that he had no time to fire off his kick.
I realise this is a thread about the coaching set up, but I think that test sums Australia up as a football team, and reflects on the coaching setup. The team has the raw material to be a better football side, and always seem to be heading in the right direction, but just can't quite take that next step.
Larkham positioning himself/being positioned to follow Cheika? WTF? Stephen's got a long way to go before he's considered the heir apparent to TGC, he needs some solid success in a major competition for starters. Call me critical but I'm of the opinion Larkham's record at the Brumbies to date is singularly underwhelming. I'd suggest a stint overseas to hone his craft before aiming for the gold clipboard, somewhere where his father can't give him a legup.
Read here: http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/...h/news-story/f3aad69758d9b7aa24387b9d5ab19830
Read here: http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/...h/news-story/f3aad69758d9b7aa24387b9d5ab19830
amirite
Chilla Wilson (44)
The traditional path to Wallaby HC is: Overseas role, then Super Assistant, then Wallaby Assistant, then Super Head, and then Wallaby Head. Larkham hasn't followed this path but he's held all of these jobs.
That being said, I feel like this article is taking him out of context. I don't think he's positioning himself for the role short-term.
That being said, I feel like this article is taking him out of context. I don't think he's positioning himself for the role short-term.
dru
Tim Horan (67)
But he does appear to be targeting the role once you drop your words "short-term". Note that with his chosen pathway short-term cant be before 2019, so probably after RWC. Not so short term.
Start with the roles he has had previously, then add the pathway in front of him, imo we will want to see evidence of vast improvement before he is an obvious successor. I still think he should have proven himself much more effectively at the Brumbies first. Otherwise head overseas.
I dont like this pathway at all.
Quick Hands
David Wilson (68)
I don't even think that he's reached underwhelming level - he's got a way to go before he even gets to that point. Lamentable is the word I'd use.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Gee, I rarely read the Roar but Spiro's article today really has hit the nail on the head and raised some interesting issues.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
I generally don't have much time for Spiro's rants and this one is pretty much the same, excepting what I am beginning to think. Larkham may well take command is the Wallabies fail again on the EOYT.
Spiro however makes some big clangers, "The silence suggests to me that the ARU board is out of its depth on matters relating to rugby practice and governance." was my favourite. When has the ARU ever shown it has been competent? Just in recent years we have the ridiculous selection process for Deans which saw him selected even though he was interviewed after the applications closed, and then re-signed PRIOR to the RWC 2011 despite having at best average results and an unfathomable selection policy. Move forward and we have the Patston/Beale matter which was managed less effectively than most volunteer organisations manage matters of that nature and resulted in the sacrifice a long term servant of Australian Rugby.
Now we have a assistant coach 'annointed' to be the heir apparent despite have absolutely no senior coaching success to his name except perhaps being named Australian coach of the year in a year when the Australian sides performed the worst they have in living memory as a collective, his team included. Even Stephen Bradbury would be embarrassed at winning that title.
All that said I seriously think Cheika is in serious danger on this tour, of either being forced to resign or of getting rolled by Larkham/ARU on the basis of his performances both on and off the field. If that happens it could well be the end of the Wallabies for a few years because on actual outcomes I don't think Larkham has any idea at all at Super Level let alone test level.
Spiro however makes some big clangers, "The silence suggests to me that the ARU board is out of its depth on matters relating to rugby practice and governance." was my favourite. When has the ARU ever shown it has been competent? Just in recent years we have the ridiculous selection process for Deans which saw him selected even though he was interviewed after the applications closed, and then re-signed PRIOR to the RWC 2011 despite having at best average results and an unfathomable selection policy. Move forward and we have the Patston/Beale matter which was managed less effectively than most volunteer organisations manage matters of that nature and resulted in the sacrifice a long term servant of Australian Rugby.
Now we have a assistant coach 'annointed' to be the heir apparent despite have absolutely no senior coaching success to his name except perhaps being named Australian coach of the year in a year when the Australian sides performed the worst they have in living memory as a collective, his team included. Even Stephen Bradbury would be embarrassed at winning that title.
All that said I seriously think Cheika is in serious danger on this tour, of either being forced to resign or of getting rolled by Larkham/ARU on the basis of his performances both on and off the field. If that happens it could well be the end of the Wallabies for a few years because on actual outcomes I don't think Larkham has any idea at all at Super Level let alone test level.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Hit the nail on the head? You have got to be joking.
Spiro is a NZ fanboy, they can do no wrong in his eyes. And he loves to put the boot into Australian rugby, any chance he gets. Always has some "higher ground" that he claims his target should be following.
His claim that Eales should be coming out in the media to "correct" Cheika is just so ludicrous I can't get my head around it. Pure Spiro.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Why? This is a problem I've always had with Eales, Gregan and Horan having both commentary jobs and board/selection jobs. They have a total inability to be critical. Indeed Eales despite the numerous previously listed failures has never made a single critical comment in his role as a commentator, he is just a positive spin media outlet using ex-player profile to spin the party line. He has no credibility.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Because he is an ARU board member, anything he had to say HAS to be said behind closed doors. His job for Fox requires him to be statesman-like and Wallaby promoting - which he does well.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Through out the Patston/Beale matter he sat there like a pimple on an arse contributing nothing of substance to either job. He continues to do the same whenever questions on selection, behaviour, tactics basically anything that requires more comment than a fan boy blind support comment. As I said he has no credibility and cannot be quoted on anything to do with the running on the team, unless you want an advertisement instead of genuine comment.
That said he is not alone, I challenged Greg Clarke on this very point personally, and gave the basic response of the non-critical posters do here, if you don't "support" the side it is disloyal and "un-Australian". He did manage to become very offended when I suggested that from a professional commentator such an attitude of uncritical thinking did nothing for his credibility or for the team. As I said Horan and Gregan were also the same.
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
I just briefly read it.
Did Larkham really say his ambition is to be head coach at the next RWC?
So there will be friction in the coaches box !
I remember reading when he was backs coach for the Brumbies, he went to the board requesting they instruct the head coach not to talk to the backs,as they might get mixed messages......
If he could get a gig with the AB's we could be world champs
Crap. Spiro's article is a classic example of a journo's wankfest: as if quoting other journos should ever cause any of us to take notice. Spiro's starting to overestimate his importance in the wider rugby world in his dotage.
Larkham WILL NOT BE THE NEXT WALLABIES COACH until he shows continued success in a major competition.
amirite
Chilla Wilson (44)
Spiro is a terrible journalist, in the vein of Greg Growden. Pretty much all the specialist rugby journos specialise in ripping our game a new one in every which way in their columns, and then on the side they write these passionate books about how much they love the game. Strange. At least Georgia Robinson just roles out paint-by-numbers 'news of the day' stories.
On a side note - I'm surprised people feel like they can write Larkham off. The Brumbies have been largely successful in his time there, with the exception of 2016 when they were completely capitulating behind the scenes. Easily explained away.
The Wallaby back line was also excellent last year. This year they had a bit of a rebuild, so that can also be explained away.
Now, I'm far from saying give this man the key to the Wallabies, but I won't write him off either.
I also think Nathan Grey is an excellent coach, beloved by the playing group, but I've had more to do with him.
On a side note - I'm surprised people feel like they can write Larkham off. The Brumbies have been largely successful in his time there, with the exception of 2016 when they were completely capitulating behind the scenes. Easily explained away.
The Wallaby back line was also excellent last year. This year they had a bit of a rebuild, so that can also be explained away.
Now, I'm far from saying give this man the key to the Wallabies, but I won't write him off either.
I also think Nathan Grey is an excellent coach, beloved by the playing group, but I've had more to do with him.
Dalai Ninja
Ward Prentice (10)
Exactly. Spiro's formula is to feed the trolls. He picks some populist trope (Cheika out!), invents a narrative as fact (Cheika WILL be sacked!), and flops out some universally unacceptable alternative as the obvious solution (Larkham in!). It gets everyone clicking. It must make the bean-counters at the troll-fests he writes for very happy.
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