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Wallabies’ Coach Performance Analysis

Wallabies’ coach, Eddie Jones, has been in charge for 3 games now, conceded over 100 points and lost all 3. His flamboyant almost comical press interviews, represent a coach clinging to overtime.

Ex Wallabies and the public are “not amused.”

Eddie can handle these losses under the guise of experimenting, and when he looks at the World Cup group, a beleaguered Wales, and a reckless Fiji, are not South Africa or France.

I still feel there is a competent Wallabies team in the squad, easily capable of a quarter final slot, but no further. But who are the best 15 to win the group?

The cry from former Wallabies is all about combinations, who plays with whom? Followed by “we are running out of time.”

Certain players have not improved or added to their skill set. Valentini still has no footwork, so an offload is impossible to enact. Korobeit, needs a weekly one on one, on the laws of the game!

The previous coach told me he was working on developing the skills of many players in the squad. I believed him. You might not think this should be the case at international level. Many have the skill set, but occasionally, it lies dormant.

Consistency of performance, always in the 95-100% zone requires carefully thought through training sessions, that both educate and challenge the players.

“Players want coaches to keep them in the hot performance zone.”

For a country steeped in attacking history, the Wallabies are now a shadow of years gone by. Time in possession is irrelevant, they just don’t score tries consistently.

The word coming out of the dressing room is that the former coach had got it right, the current one hasn’t.

A player has arrived at his current place in the team/squad through good performances in his chosen position. Six weeks before a world cup is not the time to ask him to perform another role. AND you must have a good technician in the back row, good at retaining possession and Jackling the ball.

Fitness…yes fitness. This Wallaby squad is a 60-minute team at best, then it is hanging on. Am I right? Does anyone feel the same? Big is not necessarily best, mobility certainly is, and Scot Barrett is your best example.

The Wallabies struggle to defend multi-phase play and look decidedly tired afterwards.

Match commentators are waxing lyrical when a player does one good thing.  They are creating a performance off one good thing. 

The Argentinians might be the team to watch at the World Cup. They had the better of South Africa in the second half, and but for an intercept and missed penalties, deserved to win. Most of South Africa’s lower body tackling however was murderous and kept them in the game.

Borthwick will have taken note for sure. In pools C and D Fiji could beat Wales and Argentina could beat England.

Pick the Wallabies team to play the All-Blacks next week if you dare.

Coaching thought: “Have a look at players as they turn up for training. Do they look up for it? You may need to change the session or start off.”


About Mike Penistone

Mike has coached at all levels of the game, from under-7's through to elite international players at the highest level, in both the northern and southern hemispheres. A few notable positions include serving as Head Coach for Great Britain Students (Rugby League), Head Coach at Nottingham RUFC and Head of Elite Player Development at Leicester Tigers Academy. Mike also served as the U21's Coach at the NSW Warratahs and Director of Coaching at Eastern Suburbs Sydney. He continues to coach across the globe running his consultancy. Check out his website: here. View all posts by Mike Penistone

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