Too late to fire Deans
Nov 14,2012
Former Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock believes Australia coach Robbie Deans was safe from the axe because it would be too hard to replace him before the British and Irish Lions tour.
Embattled Deans has been under pressure since Australia's poor Rugby Championship campaign, and Australia's 33-6 thrashing by France in Paris last weekend only made matters worse.
The media have blasted his tactics and bemoaned the Wallabies' inconsistency under his leadership. They next face England at their Twickenham fortress on Saturday in what could be another bloodbath.
But Mortlock said with the British and Irish Lions three-Test series of Australia looming next year, it was too late to replace Deans.
"I think it's extremely difficult when you take into consideration the Lions - which is the biggest thing for Australian rugby outside of the World Cup - is happening three-quarters of the way through the Super Rugby season next year," he told reporters.
"The reality of initiating something like that (sacking him), it would be pretty detrimental to the team and to anything we're trying to build toward the Lions."
Deans overtook Bob Dwyer as the most-capped Wallabies coach in the weekend's game against Les Bleus, having been in charge for 68 Tests. But he has a poor win-loss record, steering the side to just 39 victories.
Comments (3)
Nov 14, 2012 at 14:21:08
One would swear he has the same political pressure as a South African Coach has. But in all fairness he has an abundance of talent on call but he just lacks vision. Australia Should have broken the record by now and won Three World Cups. That is what keeps us above them through all our bullshit we still fight for more. England are going to smash them.
Nov 15, 2012 at 09:00:27
against the ABs in Brisbane, with the home crowd behind them, the Wobblies played such negative rugby that even when there was opportunity to win the match by a drop goal, they relied on the ref to give them a penalty - such was their negative mentality - not surprised at all that the French blew them off the park with their positive rugby.
Nov 14, 2012 at 10:59:12
He had it better when coach of the Crusaders - should've stayed there and added more Super Rugby titles under his belt. Instead, his once impressive coaching reputation has gone down the toilet....