Redsman

You have a problem with Deans? He achieved a higher winning percentage than Ewan and has a Tri Nations in the bag! Ewan will never win the RC and has achieved precious little. A win against a passive Welsh side, a win against a deflated and fatigued Argentine side and a win against the most ordinary Ireland side in over a decade! You sound like the Boks supporters of the 2000-2003 era, clinging onto those little scalps for encouragement that things are not as bad as they seem. Dingo kept the Wallabies punching well above their weight, Ewan has already been shown up badly! Lynagh is in my corner. Everybody in the game to this very second rates Australia as a rabble. The Rugby Championship looms next as the veil of delusion is ripped off in spectacular fashion.

 Deans was probably a good coach in Canterbury with the player roster and resources available not to mention the cultural insights because he is a Kiwi / Ex-AB...

He didn't have the knowledge / experience and understanding of what it takes to make a group of AUSSIE rugby players tick.

Initially he was OK but his decision to get rid of Smith / Giteau and numerous others just shows that his man management and decision making was severely flawed.

On top of this the culture within the Wallabies sank to an all time low under his tenure and star players were exited - he appeared to be grasping at straws..... not to mention some of the IDIOTIC decisions made by him in selections......

Anyway in answer to your taunts re Ewen (that's how its spelt btw) he started the season off the back of a Lions loss with a team culturally in tatters and anyone with insight knew that it would take until the EOYT for the wallabies to gel... I believe that they are now getting there too.

I absolutely look forward to the RC next year and I think the aussie forwards will be bolstered next year with more size and aggression which will be needed to take the saffa forwards as for our backline - I can only see it getting better with Folau easily the game premiere FB after half a season in his life at that position.

One to watch this year and I REALLY HOPE Ewen is too is a Lock from the Tahs called Will Skilton - 21yo, 210cms, 135kgs..... this is the type of unit the wallaby forward pack can build some aggro and go forward around...

I think Tahs will actually put it all together this season and potentially give the Aussie conference a good shake up...

Anyway that's my reply for you - no doubting the saffas are on the rise and the AIGs have peaked IMO and unlikely they can retain their form for too much longer....

RE Dean's sole Tri-nations crown - The fact is it came off the back of the Reds success in S15 with Ewen as coach - giving them (reds wallaby players) the self-belief and determination to take down the AIGs - so by default DEans' success there could be attributed to Ewen's work that season with the S15 champions.....

Aussie rugby culture is very distinct as it is an elite private school boy game exclusively and having gone through that system myself - unless you've been through it I don't see how a foreign coach could begin to understand what and how the mind ticks of this type of individual....

In summary Dean's failure was really down to the lack of his understanding of the Aussie private school rugby culture and his arrogance around dismiss ing players in their prime - eg George Smith and Giteau.

Think what you all like - bring it on. I know we're building and it was Link's second season with Reds when he tore up all comers ESPECIALLY the cream of NZ Super rugby and their cheating ref Bryce....

Ceradyne are you one and same as sun Tzu? If so why do you feel the need to duplicate your identity??

 Im not arguing that NZ rig every thread of world rugby - Just take a look at the kiwi reffing @ RWC - speaks for itself.

Antoher FACT is that they cant win a solitary RWC outside of their cheating rigged muddy homeland......

Aussies won 2 overseas Saffas 1 even Poms 1 AIGs = ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kieren REad is a good player and probably deserved the award - it doesn't take away from the fact he is definitely good at cheating - perhaps he should win the award for that too....

How about we talk about the World League player of the year who is AT BEST ordinary against the Aussies there - couldn't even SCORE A POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Clearly its all about marketing and AIG obviously have a bit invested considering they probably underwrite the kiwi earthquake commission..........

Don't expect you to see the big picture though as kiwis generally pretty content to self-praise till they lose and then start beating down on the wife.....

Redsman

I sympethise with your point of view on the issue of team building by the Aussies - bit have reservations about some of the comments made by you.

*   I think Higginsbotham is a star loosie and his return will strengthen the loosie combination of the Aussies.   Skelton is no answer at lock though despite his weight and height - a very average player.

*   I like the Aussie backline - especially Folau - but it depends what Cooper can do under pressure .

*   The centers available to the Aussies are not the best around.

The Aussies can if injuries do not interfere - field a good team next year, but I do not think they will be able to beat the AB's.   Insofar as beating the Springboks is concerned it will only be possible if Meyer continues with his hara-kiri selections.   Selecting Bakkies Botha,  Jacque Fourie, Morne Steyn, Gurthro Steenkamp and Willem Alberts and we are toast.       

I think Higgin is an excellent outside running loose forward - but question his ability to get down and dirty - essentially his physicality at the breakdown.

Compare his shape to any of the Boks loosies and you'll see what I mean...

I actually REALLY like the combo QC and Toomua are forming in the centres and I think Kuridrani will only get better as well....

Remember we need to add Kurtly back in there and even potentially JOC and the depth of back started to get pretty stacked....

Skilton only played 6 games at most in S15 and made an impact both visually and at the breakdown - he is a big physical unit and more than anything this is what I think the Aussies need particularly against the saffa pack -

I view the saffas as more of a threat as they are on the build and the forward pack is massive.... kiwis getting old and mccheat will be extremely old by next RWC...

Anyway be interesting to see what is done with Pocock next year as who do you use Hooper or Pocock or both ????????  

Nice to see Redsman having the courage to make some posts, lol

I notice he only surfaces when the season is over but that's a safe strategy because then he has zero risk of the results (AB thrashing Oz & everyone else around) embarrassing him.

Beeno, be careful with who you align yourself. You are better off being with us reality-based kiwi supporters. We are a forgiving lot so you are still welcome

Cloudy: we are having a few laughs aren't we - beeno is a riot & now we have boklogic, redsman & a few assorted others serving out some good banter.

Nukefree, Wardad, hakwa, you & I and others serving out wisdom & guidance tempered by tolerance of course.

First storm of the year here. Not bad though just light snow with heavy winds. Strange but I am looking forward to winter - not so fond of the sun going down at 3:30 pm though  

How are you doing?

Yes, the Chiefs are looking good. Tough ask to win 3 in a row but they have a good chance.

Poor Stormers have little chance of course, well at least the have a new jersey to wear, that shoud cheer up the cheer-less  Sharks should chomp them Stormers again next year i reckon.

Seb, your piciture did not display. We are waiting with anticipation, lol

 No, it does not apear.

Not sure why you can't see Beeno's.

Ahh a touch of civility from some kiwis living outside of either of Australia or NZ...

As for the rest... well I know you kiwi cats / hyenas love hunting in packs because you don't have either the backbone or intelligence to stand your ground on your own....

AS for sun in NZ cloudy brain ....? I think that's a bit of an over-exaggeration and quite ironic.....

Anyway Beeno - thanks for your commendations...

I admit at times I may get a little defensive and no doubt cutting to the kiwis but when  the solitary poster standing up for a team that's been destroyed by idiotic kiwi coaching of course I need to state the facts as they are...

did I mention the kiwis SUCK @ Rugby League.... at least in Rugby we can score trys against the kiwis..... Kiwis cant in Rugby League.........