Worst coach in 36 years keeps job
Posted by Christopher Sheil on Sunday, November 6, 2005
What on earth does Wallaby Coach Eddie Jones need to do before he gets sacked? With unfair dismissals about to break out all over the nation, Australian workers need to know the secret to how Jones has kept his job, despite being a comprehensive failure. With the trophy cabinet empty and now six lost test matches on the trot, we have to go back to 1969 to find such an abysmal Australian rugby performance. Coach Jones has created a team that can’t scrum, can’t line-out, can’t run, can’t kick, can’t pass and can’t catch. Not that this apparently worries the Wallaby brains-trust, who just keep shoveling a six-figure salary into Crazy Eddie’s bank account week after failed week. There is nothing to say about the latest debacle that I haven’t said before, except perhaps to mention that letting Justin Harrison go and not playing Mat Rogers at fly-half and replacing Morgan Turinui at half-time were coaching mistakes particularly keenly felt in the early hours this morning. The Wallabies don’t even look like a Wallaby team anymore, having lost the atmospherics of the national team that was not once but twice world champions. Such is the woe that I’m now half hoping we get flogged by the Poms next Sunday morning, for the sooner the disastrous Jones era is put firmly behind us the better.
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26 Responses to “Worst coach in 36 years keeps job”
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I reckon Wayne Smith’s thoughts on positional and selection changes (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17160750-23217,00.html) are pretty well spot-on. The only change he fails to canvas is the central and essential one, namely sacking Jones. I wonder why almost all the rugby pundits refuse even to canvas getting rid of Eddie? Are they all brain-damaged retired front-rowers, does Eddie have a dirt file on them, or is it just badly misplaced old school tie ra ra loyalty? Or even the fact that there is no obvious, outstandingly credentialled replacement? But surely the “better the devil you know” rationale has well and truly been exposed as a threadbare cop-out. I tend to agree that it would be good if the Wallabies get flogged badly by the Poms next week, to force the ARU’s hand on sacking Jones. It seems like they’re not going to bite the bullet until the team gets even closer to rock bottom than it already is.
BTW What about the selectors? Do they simply defer to Jones, or should they be sacked too?
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 10:31 am | PermalinkWell then, you should have been doing the sensible thing that morning and been watching the league international on the other channel. Excitement, great skills, passion on both sides, an almost pulled off comeback, only settled in final five. The choice is clear.
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 2:22 pm | PermalinkAmanda
Rugby league is a sad joke. Static, unimaginative and played, apart from New South Wales and Queensland, by only a miniscule minority of people in the north of England and a few Kiwis unable to make the All Blacks. The fact that the dregs of England and New Zealand are now beginning to give the Australian rugby league team a run for its money says a lot more about the current standard of the Ausralian rugby league team than it does about the standard of “international” rugby league itself.
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 2:52 pm | Permalinkamanda’s correct.
you can’t coach if you do not have the cattle.Mind you the rugger buggars haveneither at present.
How come no-one has said anything about the huge diference between his coaching style with the brumbies and the wallabies
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 3:09 pm | PermalinkSmith’s right about Rogers for Giteau, and I noticed that Zavos also has Giteau going to half-back off the bench today - a move I’ve long been blogging for. This is just the good big vs good little man thing, and Giteau is almost exactly Gregan’s height. He could be a revelation at half-back. He’s also on the money about Chisolm I reckon (oh for Justin Harrison, and a bit of real mongrel).
On the other hand, I reckon Smith’s wrong about Morgan Turinui, who I thought played well till he was replaced. He showed his nice hands in particular down the touch toward the end of the first half, and had good defence - plus he knows how to run straight (and the bloke who Smith wraps up for his hands spilled a shocker when he made a break after he came on, as I recall). And I’m blowed if I know why the commentators are raving over Lote at centre - exactly how many turnovers did he achieve? Was it 2 or 3 in the first 20 minutes, and I didn’t see him break the line once. I reckon he’s a winger who often runs sideways and needs room to wind up. Drew Mitchell is still a perhapser for mine - good in flashes, but the All Blacks picked him like giant nose in the game before last.
No, whichever way you look at it, it’s the coach. He can’t bring the talent and confidence forward, and never has been able to since he arrived, and now they don’t even look the goods. It just doesn’t make sense to me to figure that the solution is to suddenly drop or play most of the Tahs reps out of position, who just a few months ago were part of what was clearly the second best provincial team in the super 12. And Ken, you’ve sure got me on the conspiracy of silence over Jones (which is just as befuddling as the conspiracy over not picking Hewat - not even for Australia A, after he had been awarded man of the match - for krissakes - in the previous Australia A outing - I mean … all I can think is that he must have been caught screwing Eddie’s wife).
Re the other selectors, I don’t know for sure, but my impression from the way Eddie always talks is that they are not much more than the Crazy One’s sounding boards.
As for you Amanda, I reckon you must have been playing Neli Diamond too long too loud over the weekend.
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 3:11 pm | PermalinkHow come no-one has said anything about the huge diference between his coaching style with the brumbies and the wallabies
Homer, I think the difference is that the Brumbies have always coached themselves. They have a democratic player tradition which was implanted from the founding of the team. They even won the super 12 a couple of years ago after formally sacking their coach mid-season. Insofar as Eddie gets credit for his time there, I’m now convinced it is a case of false pretences.
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 3:15 pm | PermalinkRugby league is a sad joke. Static, unimaginative and played, apart from New South Wales and Queensland, by only a miniscule minority of people in the north of England and a few Kiwis unable to make the All Blacks.
Change a few of the nouns and you could be talking about blogging.
Neil Diamond incidentally is a yaw … union fan, at least by association. His chick is from Brissie and I distinctly recall, during his tour this year, she bought him a Wallabies jersey.
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 3:31 pm | PermalinkCS,
the brumbies did play a diferent game to that they palyed before with rocket.
mind you rocket was also a lot more conservative as OZ coach indeed boring yet he had quality cattle.
Neil phoned her once mandy and said the line is terrible indeed your crackling rosie!
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 4:01 pm | PermalinkWhy not bring back that other Jones, Alan (The Parrot)? Had a pretty good record before all the diviseness started appearing, I believe.
If nothing else it might remove one of Ratty’s main mouthpieces.
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 5:18 pm | PermalinkWhat do rugby league, Alan Jones and Neil Diamond have in common? Jones has allegedly been known to loiter in them.
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 5:39 pm | PermalinkNeil’s woman would have to be from Kentucky surely?
not even allegedly Ken if we are to believe the UK legal system, no even on hot August nights
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 6:32 pm | PermalinkThings to Do Before I Die:
#265 Derail a thread about rugby union into a thread about Neil Diamond.
BIG TICK.
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 8:27 pm | PermalinkBehave Homer. Sir Rod commands respect (despite Ken’s Manly beach experience - early days Mr Parish). Yet you’re right in that Kentucky has quite unusual age of consent rules, as I vaguely recall. Just notin’
Bring back the Parrot Don? It’s a measure of how despiriting the present rugby moment is that not even I would protest, much. Someone has to change the goddamned chemistry. Respect is what is called for. Respect for the game. Respect for the players. These guys are playing like every game is some kind of factory shift, not a special event. Jones has flattened the meaning of the game, I suspect. Rugby is a game of heart and guts, as well as skill and discipline, and Jones does not seem to be able to see this. His press comments alone betray his basic pseudo-professional managerial cynicism - which is alright as part of the general rugby conversation, but not as a part of the coach’s makeup.
And this thread is not derailed Ms Floppy. No ticks, whatsoever. Life ambition still to be achieved.
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 9:57 pm | PermalinkI want to add what I think may be an insight from someone who saw every Tahs home game live this year. Eddie Jones has ruined Rocky Elsom. The guy had a famous season for the Tahs. He’s an unusual player, in that he has the intimidating physicality of Owen Finegan, can jump in the line-out like Giff and is also close to the speed of George Smith. He was the best or near best player in match after match for the Tahs this year, albeit allowing for the occasional howler of a mistake (OK, I’m not starstruck: exactly how many kangaroos are in the top paddock is the big Rocky question; and it’s still early to call whether he is to have a big career). Yet, as an enthusiastic rugby spectator, it is terribly sad to see how Jones has reduced the admittedly imperfect running Tah’s giant that is Rocky Elsom to an overtrying uncertain shadow. It’s hard not to think that Rocky’s occasional immaturities amount to a weakness that Jones has preyed upon and exaggerated. The coach’s job must be to bring out the best, not magnify the worst.
Posted on 07-Nov-05 at 11:22 pm | PermalinkI thought a diamond was a girl’s best friend?
mind you he would have to travel East West to visit her!!!
you think you have it bad. My wife’s colection consists of Neil Diamond and Abba!!!
Now steady Edddie should have to listen to that rubbish
Posted on 08-Nov-05 at 6:55 am | PermalinkI notice Michael O’Connor is also now calling for Gits to get a go at half-back, at:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17171233%255E2722,00.html
If this happens, which is looking increasingly likely, I’m claiming bragging rights going back to July, at:
http://larvatusprodeo.redrag.net/2005/07/05/530/
Also, Wayne Smith today handily includes the all-time record that Crazy Eddie Jones is shooting for:
“…the dark days from 1956-58 when Australia lost nine Tests in succession and the war-interrupted decade from 1937-1947 when it lost 10 consecutively.”
at: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17159089%255E2722,00.html
Posted on 08-Nov-05 at 3:04 pm | PermalinkAmanda could be onto something here. You could threaten the team with either winning, or listening to non-stop Neil Diamond. Nothing like a bit of positive reinforcement. Or maybe just bring in Neil Diamond to replace Eddie Jones, so you can threaten them with live performances?
Have to admit it can’t get much worse.
Posted on 08-Nov-05 at 3:15 pm | PermalinkWorse still, you could threaten them with being locked in rotation in a room naked with Alan Jones, and then with an endless tape loop of Hot August Night at high volume with nothing to use as earplugs.
Posted on 08-Nov-05 at 3:50 pm | PermalinkSounds like a good night out for your average rugby player, Ken.
Posted on 08-Nov-05 at 5:19 pm | PermalinkSpeaking of the devil, this is only the second issue on which I can ever recall being in agreement with Comrade Parrot:
“If someone doesn’t do something, Australian rugby is headed for the very pits,” the top-rating breakfast radio host told his 2GB audience in Sydney.
“There is a comprehensive coaching failure. We had 60 per cent of the ball (against France in Marseilles), we didn’t score until the 80th minute, and by that stage France were headed to the dressingroom.
“There’s only one reason we’ll beat anyone now and that is if the opposition is worse than it was on Saturday.
“We could play France 10 times in the next month and we’d lose 10 times. (But) this is not a personnel issue.
“Can someone explain to the supporters of Australian rugby why Eddie Jones is a protected species.
“It must be a mystery to everyone.
“For God’s sake stop blaming players. The Wallabies haven’t lost their way, the coach gives every impression of never knowing the way.
“Ask some of the staff who’ve left the coaching staff whether that isn’t true or not.”
Alan Jones said he did not support renewed calls for the sacking of skipper George Gregan and an overhaul of the side that fell to France in the first of four Tests ‒ with England, Ireland and Wales to follow on the next three weekends.
Instead, he believes, the blame should be laid at the tactics devised by the current coach.
“You have to ask yourself what is going on,” Jones added. “There is only one problem with Australian rugby and that is the way they are playing, which is the way they are being coached.
“The All Blacks thumped Wales at the weekend. They played the ball in the air (in the forwards), which is maul ball, which is harder to coach.
“And then when the ball moves through the backs there are no forwards in play.
“You watch the Australian rugby team play and every person that gets the ball goes to the ground straight away. They’re coached to do it.
“It never was rugby and now it’s being exposed for what it is. It still isn’t rugby.
“My view is the job should be advertised internationally and we’d have a lot of good Australians, whom I believe would be the best candidates, would apply.”
(from: http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17171488%255E10389,00.html)
Posted on 09-Nov-05 at 10:23 am | PermalinkI am watching N o direction Home since i taped it last night.
perhaps they should listen to Bob Dylan live!
Posted on 09-Nov-05 at 10:31 am | Permalinkwhat an awful voice
Homer, it saddens me to learn that all my worst fears about your musical taste are true. My commiserations.
Posted on 09-Nov-05 at 10:40 am | PermalinkWords fail Homer. Seek help.
Posted on 09-Nov-05 at 10:44 am | PermalinkChris
Yes I agree with Jones (Alan) too. I hadn’t focused on the (rolling) maul point until now, but he’s quite right. The current Wallabies almost never create mauls, they must be getting coached to go to ground and create rucks as a matter of course, which in turn allows opposing forwards to lurk out in the backs in defence without any risk at all that the opposing pack will drive through the middle and score or make big ground.
Posted on 09-Nov-05 at 10:45 am | Permalinkyou blokes aren’t serious.
Dylan could write a good song but he couldn’t sing if his life depended on it.
you need to go down to Maggies Farm
Posted on 09-Nov-05 at 1:07 pm | PermalinkYou seem to have a problem with a singer who pushes the envelope in distinctive ways, Homer. His voice is unique, and it is stunning to remember how strong it once was before it turned into the current gravely mix of mango and courvoisier. To the end of of my last response to you, I now add “urgently”.
Yes, it’s a very good point Ken.
Posted on 09-Nov-05 at 3:34 pm | Permalink