Rugby...

['Dale]

Geez, those Crusaders are a dangerous team.

 

Quality.

[Capricorn]

McKenzie is hte new wallabies coach. No surprises there. Just how far has Deans fallen. Given things over at the Crusaders, I thought he would turn Aus rugga around. He sure did, properly on its head. jeez.

 

Sydney - Australian rugby chiefs are to fire national coach Robbie Deans and replace him with Reds' Ewen McKenzie on Tuesday, reports said on Monday following the Wallabies' series loss to the British and Irish Lions.

Deans will be sacked six months before his contract ends, as the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) seeks to rebuild after the national team's 41-16 thrashing by the Lions in Saturday's series-deciding third Test, the Sydney Morning Herald said.

ARU chief Bill Pulver met Deans on Monday, and reports said McKenzie had beaten off competition from the Brumbies' South African coach Jake White to take over the Wallabies.

News Limited said McKenzie, an Australian who is director of coaching at the Reds, would be unveiled as the new national trainer on Tuesday.

An ARU spokesman would not confirm the reports. "We won't be commenting on speculation," he said.

McKenzie said in March that he would quit the Reds at the end of the Super Rugby season, saying he was ready to move to "the next level". After joining in 2009, he guided the franchise to a first Super Rugby championship in 2011 in addition to back-to-back Australian conference titles.

Deans, a New Zealander, has been in charge of the Wallabies for five years and is contracted until the end of the year. But the ARU is reportedly keen for a fresh start ahead of the Rugby Championship next month.

Earlier Monday, British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland rallied behind his fellow Kiwi, highlighting his achievements and expressing empathy for his plight.

"I've got a huge amount of respect for what Robbie's achieved in rugby," he told reporters.

"I know it's been really tough for him being here. There's a lot of people split about whether he should carry on the job. There's been a lot of criticism.

"It's tough to have a Kiwi involved coaching an Australian side. I admire him for what he's achieved in rugby."

He added that he and Deans, the Wallabies' first foreign coach who has been in charge of a record 74-Tests since 2008, chatted after Saturday's game.

"He said he might get to see us in November but that depends on what happens in the next few weeks," said Gatland, who is also the coach of Wales, referring to the Wallabies' European tour later this year.

"I do feel for him and want to wish him all the best. I hope it works out for him."

Peter McGrath, the ARU chairperson when Deans was hired and re-hired in 2011, also had words of encouragement, saying he had not received enough credit for his achievements.

''I personally think Robbie is a fantastic human being and has done a great service for Australian rugby,'' McGrath told the Herald.

''We were number five in the world when Robbie was appointed, we rose to number two and now we are number three. The board have to make a decision about how you get to number one - that is their task.''

Australia's next Test is against the world champion All Blacks in Sydney on August 17 - their opening match of the Rugby Championship, which includes South Africa and Argentina.

Deans has had a chequered history with the Wallabies with a 58 percent success rate - winning 43 Tests and losing 29.

The team's failure to win on Saturday in what was deemed their most important match since the 2003 World Cup final means Deans still lacks a defining moment as Wallaby coach.

His high point remains the 2011 Tri Nations triumph in the weeks before the World Cup in New Zealand.

He is better remembered for being in charge of shattering defeats to Scotland (twice), Samoa at home, a 53-8 rout by South Africa in Johannesburg and an ill-fated World Cup campaign in New Zealand two years ago, when the Wallabies never recovered from a 15-6 mugging by Ireland in the group stage.

[flymango]

McKenzie is hte new wallabies coach. No surprises there. Just how far has Deans fallen. Given things over at the Crusaders, I thought he would turn Aus rugga around. He sure did, properly on its head. jeez.

 

I think we can count our lucky stars that they didn't appoint Jake White.

[fabes]

Eina bulls

 

Lekker Stormers

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

So playoffs are Crusaders vs Reds in Christchurch and Cheetahs vs Brumbies in Canberra.

Any predictions guys?

Mine are Crusaders over Reds by 12 points and to be patriotic Cheetahs over Brumbies but close, by maybe 6 points.

[fabes]

I say Crusdaers will kill the Reds (10 -20 points)

 

And Cheetahs vs Brumbies is going to be very Tight. Cheetahs have a good chance after Brumbies performance last weekend

[MTBeer]

Yes, I suspect it will be Crusaders + Bull/Brumbies final.

 

Strormers has been blowing cold this year, really dissappointing rugby from them. They slumped from being top last year to being only just better then Kings this year in SA. Toetie moet die houtlepel kry.

the stormers have been sh!te for years already. they have been scraping by on 1 point wins and 100's of tackles, playing cr@p rugby with the occasional good game. Alistair Coetzee has reached his coaching ceiling. time for a change in WP land.

[fabes]

the stormers have been sh!te for years already. they have been scraping by on 1 point wins and 100's of tackles, playing cr@p rugby with the occasional good game. Alistair Coetzee has reached his coaching ceiling. time for a change in WP land.

Your opinion obviously...

[MTBeer]

Your opinion obviously...

obviously. and i am a stormers supporter.

[fabes]

obviously. and i am a stormers supporter.

I don't think Alistair should go. As he has worked on the defense all the years he should maybe employ a good attacking coach from NZ preferably and find a good balance between defense and attack. I think with the amount of youngsters the Stormers are bringing thru the future looks good.

[fabes]

Just heard on the Radio news Alistair Coetzee is upset about the 2014 provisional fixtures for Super Rugby. The Stormers are set to face Crusaders, Chiefs, Reds and Brumbies on tour. The top 2 teams from the NZ and Aus conference

[fabes]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Coetzee-slams-tour-from-hell-20130715

['Dale]

So playoffs are Crusaders vs Reds in Christchurch and Cheetahs vs Brumbies in Canberra.

Any predictions guys?

Mine are Crusaders over Reds by 12 points and to be patriotic Cheetahs over Brumbies but close, by maybe 6 points.

 

Home advantage

 

Crusaders & Brumbies too formidable at home.

How I wish that the Cheetahs upset the Brumbies!

[fabes]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Bittersweet-title-for-Bulls-20130714

['Dale]

So playoffs are Crusaders vs Reds in Christchurch and Cheetahs vs Brumbies in Canberra.

Any predictions guys?

Mine are Crusaders over Reds by 12 points and to be patriotic Cheetahs over Brumbies but close, by maybe 6 points.

 

Really hope the Cheetahs klap the Brumbies.

[fabes]

Really hope the Cheetahs klap the Brumbies.

I don't think it's impossible

 

Brumbies played crap against the force. Seems the Lions tour has taken it out of the Aussies