Dingo the coach for all seasons

How quickly things can change. After an emphatic win against the Springboks in Brisbane, Robbie Deans was hailed as a master coach who showed us all the fruits of his youth policy, with a standout performance from all players, young and old.

Adam Freier, Sydney Morning Herald

And now we should sack him?

Every person on the planet has the right to his or her opinion but lately some are using them as headline-grabbers rather then providing actual solutions.

The Pauline Hanson style of comment wears thin on us all but please, I urge you all, read through the rubbish. We don’t need a new coach or new players.

There is talk of problems in the Wallabies camp. But imagine if the door was left open for Robbie to return to New Zealand and take his knowledge with him. Now that would be a problem.

When has a rugby team in Australia ever persisted with a coach?

Ewen McKenzie at the Waratahs, David Nucifora to Laurie Fisher to Andy Friend at the Brumbies – and the merry-go-round at the Reds.

TREND NEEDS TO CHANGE

More than ever, this trend needs to change. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater would be the last thing on the agenda for our game’s leading team.

How is it entirely a coach’s or player’s fault when the ball bounces awry or a referee’s interpretation goes against your team?

In past two turbulent months of the Wallabies, the common theme has been agonisingly close matches.

The past two matches have definitely been ones that got away – there were so many opportunities to win each game. There is no need to unduly apply the blowtorch to the team or the staff. They already do that themselves.

Twenty years ago, when the Wallabies were in a rut, there were no blogs, internet or 24-hour sports news channels. Yet some rugby experts say, “This is the worst Wallabies team ever.” It’s probably the most debated topic because there are so many avenues for criticism.

Today we can just log in, disguised as “Mr Rugby Grump”, and tear strips off players and coaches.

Every hit, no matter how small, starts to form a crack – we are lucky that the team has held it together for this amount of time.

OVER-ANALYSIS

The over-analysis of our coaches, players and young Wallabies is quite remarkable and sometimes even personal.

Taking out a coach is only one piece to a massive puzzle, which Australia is starting to put back together ever so slowly.

The picture will be beautiful but we need to make sure that the game is healthy everywhere, from our Wallabies to Wallaroos, from Sevens to Subbies. Concentrating on one team isn’t the way we will bring back Bill, again and again.

Deans is a coach and is passionate about all things rugby.

He will lead us to the next World Cup; there is no doubt in my mind. He is a coach that shares in all the players’ highs and lows. All who doubt him and criticise him are very game to think that there is a better solution out there.

I am reassured by the fact that I know what’s to come, that the injured players will heal.

THREE DEEP EXPERIENCE

I am comforted by the fact that there is now an internationally experienced playing roster three deep for nearly every position, including the front row.

Patience is a hard thing to ask for at this point. The resilient followers of our great code are some of the most passionate and loyal sporting fans we could ask for, so I urge you, sit tight, ride this out. The Wallaby ship is on course.

Deans hasn’t forgotten how to be a great coach.