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Stephen Donald: Rugby Australia are missing the bigger picture
Following his scrutiny of Rugby Australia’s decision to fire Dave Rennie, former All Black first-five Stephen Donald has doubled down on his criticism of the governing body.
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Earlier this week, Donald called Rennie the best coach he’s played for, going on to call out Rugby Australia for turning on Rennie as they have done with Kiwi coaches in the past.
Donald also criticised RA for avoiding confronting their real issues, such as player development. While the criticism initially compared Australia’s and New Zealand’s player development in more of a physical skillset context, this time Donald elaborated on the mental side of the rivalry as an example of Australia’s shortcomings.
He began by expressing disillusionment over the timing of the decision, as well as the reasoning behind it.
“I think that’s been a little bit lost in all of the hype, the hoopla, that we’ve obviously said, ‘Well look, what’s he working with?’ Donald told SENZ Breakfast.
“What we’re saying is that I can’t imagine Dave Rennie and the echelon coach that he is, where he sits, that he’s the reason.
“Therefore, you take another step back. What has Australia done this for? Because surely they don’t believe – (Andy) Marinos and (Hamish) McLennan – surely they don’t believe, ‘Oh, it’s clearly the coaching’.
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“The boys haven’t gone to him and said, ‘Hey, we need to get rid of this guy from across the ditch, he’s a terrible coach,’ that surely has not happened. It can’t have happened.
“So therefore what have they done this for? Obviously Eddie’s Australian, he became on the market, sure, sign him up for after the next World Cup, but it’s just the most bizarre thing unless you are literally just wanting your game to be on the front page or back page of the Herald in Sydney in January, which it now is.”
As a former Super Rugby player, Donald’s understanding of how international winning momentum and confidence is influenced by players’ success at club level is to be noted, and he drew on that experience to inform his criticism of Rugby Australia.
Beaver says Rugby Australia is overlooking the bigger issue by firing Dave Rennie… pic.twitter.com/MThW7FysKv
— SENZ (@SENZ_Radio) January 17, 2023
“A couple of years ago, what was the stat? They won two from 25 as far as against Kiwi Super teams and then this year they won seven or eight or you know something like that and it was a slight improvement,” he added.
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“I think there’s a massive belief issue to get over because when games go down to the last 10 minutes and five minutes, if you didn’t go into this game genuinely thinking you believe or it hasn’t washed over you in the previous seven minutes that, ‘Hang on, we will beat these guys today,’ then you can almost see it in their eyes that it’s been a gallant performance but (they’re not) going to quite make it.
“There’s a whole generation of Aussie footballers that, and we’re just talking about the All Blacks here, playing the All Blacks, that at times (fail) to actually believe that they’re going to get the job done.
“That’s something you’ve got to get over.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
1 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
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