Wallaby Coaching Staff

[Brumby Runner]

Wallabies need to recruit the former all blacks kicking coach who has now based himself in Brisbane, then the Wallabies need to hire a world class S&C Coach to oversee Wallabies fitness programs from Super Rugby to Test Rugby level.

It might not pay dividends until June 2017, but let's get started today.

I agree TOCC but begs the question of why were there such deficiencies in fitness and kicking skills amongst the Wallabies? Something like four weeks together before the last test and a number of training camps leading into the June break. Must have been obvious to someone in the team management/coaching area.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Stuff reaping the dividend in June 2017. Eyes on the prize.

We need to be working towards 2019 RWC. We have some very talented young athletes already in the program, or on the fringe of joining the program (despite repeated failures at U20 time). We should be moving to mould that bunch with a group of wizened veterans into a Mob to regain Bill and the Bled. 2019 isn't too far away.

@TOCC is right that we need to get started today, but the thing we need to get started on, and our vision, needs to be long term and strategic.

 

[TOCC]

Well it depends, what was the nature of those camps, were they there to do full fitness and skills testing or some other form of training?

And whilst I can't speak toward the technical aspect of kicking, when it's comes to S&C it's very much a niche part of professionalism which requires a specialist in the field to conduct the testing/interpret the results.

If the Wallabies don't have a S&C Coach, who is doing the testing, who is looking over the statistics and data been provided and who is making the decision on what's an acceptable fitness level..

 

[Brumby Runner]

Stuff reaping the dividend in June 2017. Eyes on the prize.

We need to be working towards 2019 RWC. We have some very talented young athletes already in the program, or on the fringe of joining the program (despite repeated failures at U20 time). We should be moving to mould that bunch with a group of wizened veterans into a Mob to regain Bill and the Bled. 2019 isn't too far away.

@TOCC is right that we need to get started today, but the thing we need to get started on, and our vision, needs to be long term and strategic.

Agree 100%.

We saw some good prospects in the June test matches; Kerevi, DHP, Coleman, Arnold, while others like McMahon came on in leaps and bounds in the third test.

Cheika however has said there are others around the squad who he intends to try out in tests later in the year. Who would they be? I'd say Hodge, Ala'alatoa, Houston, Ready, Robertson and Powell might all be in the mix. Any others?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Well it depends, what was the nature of those camps, were they there to do full fitness and skills testing or some other form of training?

And whilst I can't speak toward the technical aspect of kicking, when it's comes to S&C it's very much a niche part of professionalism which requires a specialist in the field to conduct the testing/interpret the results.

If the Wallabies don't have a S&C Coach, who is doing the testing, who is looking over the statistics and data been provided and who is making the decision on what's an acceptable fitness level..

And if those things aren't happening, why? Surely, all the coaching staff would have been aware either of the lack of those systems being place or the lack of fitness in some of the players they selected. It doesn't appear to have had any action taken to try to rectify those deficiencies. If that is the case, the entirety of the coaching group probably need to take most responsibility rather than just seeming to blame the players for not being fit enough.

 

[Quick Hands]

So is the English Premiership now a better place to prepare for international rugby than Super rugby?

England are starting to reap the benefits of their well-funded development programme. Four 20s world cup finals in a row tells me that they are doing something right.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^^ They may be doing something right but did they tank the 6N U20? They finished 5th with only Italy behind them with some very uncomplimentary scores being registered against them along the way.

Did some of Eddie's magic rub off on them after 6N U20, because there weren't massive changes in their roster between 6N U20 and the U20 RWC.

 

[Joe Blow]

Surely someone should be helping our goal kickers to become more consistent and surely there must be some ex players available to help with this and kicking in general play?
There is just too much at stake not to, as we have just found out.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^ I thought that was the role of Chris Malone, on loan from the Waratahs for National Kicking Coach duties.

 

[Quick Hands]

^^^^ They may be doing something right but did they tank the 6N U20? They finished 5th with only Italy behind them with some very uncomplimentary scores being registered against them along the way.

Did some of Eddie's magic rub off on them after 6N U20, because there weren't massive changes in their roster between 6N U20 and the U20 RWC.

Perhaps, but I'm looking more at the trend rather than any one off. Four 20s RWC finals in a row tells me that they are doing something right.

Three 5 v 6 playoffs in a row tells me that there are things that we can improve.

 

[Quick Hands]

^^ I thought that was the role of Chris Malone, on loan from the Waratahs for National Kicking Coach duties.

He seems/seemed to think that there isn't a problem.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/r...s-accuracy-not-a-problem-20150918-gjqati.html

I'd suggest he's been asleep at the kick-coaching wheel, or has been given other things to work on as well.

At the Waratahs he looks after attack as well as kicking.

http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs...icleID/15593/NSW-WARATAHS-APPOINT-MALONE.aspx

Note that they left Manly 1996-98 off the resume. Surely an oversight?

 

[Scrubber2050]

Lot of discussion on fitness

Slipper, Moore, Holmes, Sio, TPN, Simmons, Coleman, Carter Hooper, Fardy, McMahon, Poey, Phipps, Foley, Folau, DHP, Horne, Kerevi, To'omua all looked pretty fit to me.

I think Keps was a bit underdone (understandably)

Players can always be fitter. Reckon the fitness argument it is a pretty lame "excuse"

 

[Braveheart81]

The hallmarks of the Tahs 2014 title and the Wallabies at the RWC in 2015 is that we were clearly fitter than our opposition (except maybe NZ).

It allowed us to play that up tempo game and also dig ourselves out of trouble defensively when up against it (i.e. against Wales).

That definitely didn't seem to be the case against England.

Sure the players are largely very fit, but it wouldn't seem they are at the same peak they were at previously.

It's probably a post RWC reality. Hopefully Cheika has them working hard in the lead up to the Rugby Championship.

Unless something dramatic happens it seems unlikely more than one Aussie team will be playing in the finals and it will be very surprising if we're playing in the Super Rugby final.

 

[Strewthcobber]

If Cheika's game plan relies on having the players for long enough to develop their fitness to a level that much higher than Super rugby is preparing them for than he needs to change the plan, or get more involved with the super Rugby teams.

He will only ever have the direct level of influence for long enough in wc years.

Coach the team you have not the one you want

 

[Joe Blow]

Kafe seems to think that having a couple of part time coaches is hurting the Wallabies prep. I agree.
If we are shipping 44 points to England in one test then our defense is obviously not up to scratch. Time for a full time defense coach.
If we have 75% possession and an almost equal amount of territory, as in the second test, but the opposition scores more tries than us, it once again reflects a sub standard defense as well as an ineffective attack.
Larkham and Gray have a done a great job for the Wallabies and continue to be outstanding servants to Australian rugby but it is probably time for a change to full time people in those roles, whether it be them or someone else.
Steve Larkham seems to agree that he is being spread too thin.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/3...y/news-story/327f112f2bf8457b36e962906e37800a

 

[MarkJ]

Richard Graham and Michael Foley are looking for jobs - and both are former Wallabies assistant coaches I believe

 

[Scrubber2050]

Richard Graham and Michael Foley are looking for jobs - and both are former Wallabies assistant coaches I believe

Let the Tahs have them

 

[boyo]

Let the Tahs have them

That's not very charitable of you.

 

[The torpedo]

Let the Tahs have them

Or better - we hypnotise the entire RFU, convince them that RG is the GOAT coach & to install him as coach-for-life!!!! (and he can never get sacked/resign)

 

[TOCC]

Nathan Grey obviously isn't happy that he could lose his part-time job

Meanwhile, Waratahs defence coach Nathan Grey has dismissed former Wallabies playmaker and Fox Sports analyst Rod Kafer’s call for Australia’s assistant coaches to be fulltime.
Grey and Wallabies attack coach Stephen Larkham, who is the Brumbies head coach, juggle their national and provincial responsibilities.
“That's Kafe’s opinion. He is welcome to it. He’s a voice in the media and he can really say whatever he wants,” Grey said.