Ewen McKenzie Resignation

[tragic]

Personally I am disappointed that he chose to walk out on his national team responsibilities, at such short notice. It does not say much for his strength of character.

Or perhaps it says loads about his strength of character, morals and sense of natural justice...

 

[Bardon]

Wow this is shocking news, it's hard to believe he's gone. Wasn't a perfect start but he was moving in the right direction. It was never going to be a smooth upward trend but there were signs that Aus were a real threat with ball in hand again. Next step probably would have been sorting out the consistency of performance, especially in the pack.

If it's confirmed that it's the result of player power I'll seriously have to think about who I cheer for as my second team for the RWC.

 

[Highlander35]

Fiji. Because it's fun.

 

[Ulrich]

Really? Kicking from hand has been discussed ad nauseum here for a reason. Since Mark Gerrard left Australian rugby there has not been a reliable long distance kicker in the Australian game. It goes hand in hand with the stupidity of the "running rugby" myth that is always touted.

I know people will now put forward Mogg and White as effective kickers, but the fact remains that their kicking has far too often been inconsistent to be polite, and the other aspects of their game have massive flaws.

Now because some of us have been harping about the lack of specialist kicking coaching in Australia for years now and this hasn't been addressed, I seriously doubt if we have the kickers to cover White's likely game plan.

OK.

If Jake plays a kick-oriented game and Australians can't kick, how did the Brumbies reach the finals?

There are many kicking coaches around the world. At least 2 or 3 in SA and I'm sure Jake can lure one of them over to the Wallabies.

Don't underestimate the folk he employs. The woman who helped the Boks in his time with hand-eye coordination and timing etc. is regarded as world class and her influence had a direct impact on the way chasers would chase kicks and on intercepts and defensive timing.

The team also had one of the most respected psychologists involved in his period which helped with mental aptitude. Something I'm sure the current Wallaby crop could do with.

 

[refugee]

I really do not understand the comments made here and elsewhere about perceived state ( or franchise) bias.


Link was brought up in Victoria and played rugby at Scotch College.

He played senior rugby for Randwick, represented the state and his country.


He moved on to the Brumbies. He became an assistant coach for the Wallabies, was apparently offered the head coach gig but rejected it because he did not feel he was ready for it.


He coached in France.

He coached the Tahs.

Finally, and I am sure I have missed some of his rugby career, he coached the Reds.

Given that background, why on earth would he have had a bias for or against any province? As a professional coach he is judged by results on and to some extent off the field, just as Jake White or Michael Cheika are and would be.

Personally I am disappointed that he chose to walk out on his national team responsibilities, at such short notice. It does not say much for his strength of character.

Leave his character alone.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Personally I am disappointed that he chose to walk out on his national team responsibilities, at such short notice. It does not say much for his strength of character.

That's a slur.

 

[louie]

OK.

If Jake plays a kick-oriented game and Australians can't kick, how did the Brumbies reach the finals?

There are many kicking coaches around the world. At least 2 or 3 in SA and I'm sure Jake can lure one of them over to the Wallabies.

Don't underestimate the folk he employs. The woman who helped the Boks in his time with hand-eye coordination and timing etc. is regarded as world class and her influence had a direct impact on the way chasers would chase kicks and on intercepts and defensive timing.

The team also had one of the most respected psychologists involved in his period which helped with mental aptitude. Something I'm sure the current Wallaby crop could do with.

Ulrich do you have any links to articles detailing what JW when at head of SA? sounds fascinating.

 

[Gnostic]

OK.

If Jake plays a kick-oriented game and Australians can't kick, how did the Brumbies reach the finals?

There are many kicking coaches around the world. At least 2 or 3 in SA and I'm sure Jake can lure one of them over to the Wallabies.

Don't underestimate the folk he employs. The woman who helped the Boks in his time with hand-eye coordination and timing etc. is regarded as world class and her influence had a direct impact on the way chasers would chase kicks and on intercepts and defensive timing.

The team also had one of the most respected psychologists involved in his period which helped with mental aptitude. Something I'm sure the current Wallaby crop could do with.

Tell me then who are the high accuracy and distance kickers that he would call on to execute the plan? That is the point I am making.If there was 18 months before the RWC no worries there is time to upskill in some facets. But there is not.

It is the point I made at the 2011 RWC when Deans went for a conservative territory game plan and then played Cooper at 10 and left Gerrard in Australia.

I would also state that the game is dying here and winning the RWC in dire style will do nothing at all to resurrect the game.

 

[tragic]

OK.

The woman who helped the Boks in his time with hand-eye coordination and timing etc. is regarded as world class and her influence had a direct impact on the way chasers would chase kicks and on intercepts and defensive timing.

More importantly is she attractive and thin, or alternatively does she mind being ridiculed on social media?

 

[louie]

Gnostic first explain how the brumbies got the final?

 

[Bardon]

Ulrich do you have any links to articles detailing what JW when at head of SA? sounds fascinating.

Here's a BBC article where Habana talks about Dr Sherylle Calder.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/simonaustin/2009/06/habanas_secret_weapon.html

 

[louie]

thanks heaps Bardon

 

[Pfitzy]

OK so have we wrapped this shit up yet? Link has made his decision. Whether you agree or not, its done.

I'm eager to get to the next controversial thread: "The Investigation", or "What Kurtley Did And How He Avoided Getting Fired For It"

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Good point Pfitzy, I think I'm done venting.

 

[It is what it is]

Pulver is a rugby nerd who loves being around the star players - he isn't going to take the players on. He wants to be the good cop - therefore he needs the coach to be the bad cop.

Spot on QH, Pulver is "The Fan".
Pulver needs a respected person between himself and the Wallaby coach.
Just because O'Neill placed Nucifora into that role between himself and Deans, doesn't mean it was the wrong structure.
It was just the wrong person in Nucifora.

 

[Ulrich]

Ulrich do you have any links to articles detailing what JW when at head of SA? sounds fascinating.

Hi,

Sure:

• Dr. Sheryll Calder - Visual Performance Coach http://www.ssisa.com/pages/specialised-health-services/visual-performance-skills
• Dr. Henning Gericke - Team Psychologist. Nicknamed the head doctor amongst the Springbok players or "Kopdoktor".
• Jake White was the first Springbok coach to employ a full time Sports Psychologist for the Springboks in the form of Dr Henning Gericke. - http://www.conferencespeakers.co.za/speakers-2/henning-gericke-dr/

I'm sure you'll find a bunch more on them if you googled them.

 

[louie]

thanks Ulrich great stuff fascinating

 

[Viking]

OK so have we wrapped this shit up yet? Link has made his decision. Whether you agree or not, its done.

I'm eager to get to the next controversial thread: "The Investigation", or "What Kurtley Did And How He Avoided Getting Fired For It"

Can't wait for the new coach to be appointed. Will be lots of discussions around that

 

[It is what it is]

Yes, of course he did. But in all of RD's time, or any coach I can remember, there has never been such a poisonous campaign of personal vilification run against a Wallaby coach.

You think there might have been a paragraph in the job description which mentioned it?

Dean's issues started internally.
He reported to Nucifora who not only appointed Dean's assistants but also coveted his Wallaby coaching job.
What an unhealthy climate, when your boss is setting you up for failure and wants your job too.

 

[It is what it is]

Jake Ball worked with the brumbies. Same kickers are still in Aus rugby.

IF Link had gone on the EOYT he would have had a nice break away from the Australian media.

.....and had to deal with the Fleet St gangs.