Excuses don't wash with Robbie

2008-09-08 14:30

Sydney - Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess has lifted the lid on life inside the Wallabies under Robbie Deans.

Burgess has missed the last two games for the Wallabies with a knee injury and will also be sidelined for the crucial Bledisloe Cup clash in Brisbane next weekend.

Before going down, Burgess was Deans' first-choice halfback and played in the first two Bledisloe Cup games.

Burgess says he has been impressed by the way Deans deals with the tricky issue of dropping players and the approach he's brought to playing under the ELVs, particularly with the kicking game.

"There's obviously a strategy with his selections as much as the game and the game plan," Burgess said of Deans, who recently made the big call of not selecting Nathan Sharpe for his initial touring party for their two tests in South Africa.

"Robbie has got a tough job. Having to drop people and promote people is difficult and he does it with such class and with a really lovely demeanour. It's a tough situation to be in and he does it so well."

'Peripheral issues'

Speaking to an Australian website, Burgess went on to say how Deans expects his players to be totally focused when on the training field and in games, and that excuses of any kind won't wash with the former Crusaders boss.

"Robbie doesn't focus on peripheral issues," Burgess said.

"He likes to have the same intensity, focus and hopefully performance each week.

"It doesn't matter how you approach the media, the support, the players, the travel, all the peripheral stuff doesn't matter.

"The field is always the same size, the guys on the other side are no bigger than our guys and they're no more skilful. It's all about performing on the day.

"Robbie has got a strategy for counter attacking and it's very effective," he added.

"It's about getting on the front-foot and playing attacking football. Clearing your head of any rubbish, just playing a good option and executing as well.

Committing

"We look to either contest the ball, kick to space or attack. There are three options which are standard from every counter situation.

"But where the effectiveness comes from is making the decision early, committing to it and having everyone support a decision that's made early.

"You might notice Adam Ashley-Cooper kick lots of high contestables and getting a challenge on that 50-50 ball. That certainly presents us with a lot of opportunities to get that ball back.

"We're loving that high up-and-under. We're loving getting a challenge on that kick and getting the ball back and that certainly has been working for us.

"It probably wasn't executed to perfection in Auckland but nevertheless it was the right option."

There hasn't been a close Bledisloe Cup Test this year. The Wallabies won in Sydney 34-19 while the All Blacks were triumphant at Eden Park 39-10.

'They were hurting'

Burgess believes the difference between the sides in the two games was the extra intensity the All Blacks brought to the Test in Auckland.

"They were hurting," Burgess said. "We poked the bear in the cage with the stick.

"We should have been able to cope with that. There was a bit of a breakdown in consistency but that's standard and we've got to be able to react to that and play above that.

"We were possibly a bit disjointed and our thinking wasn't clear under the pressure they put on us and I guess the result ensued from that.

"I don't think we underestimated them, their strategy and execution was a lot better than ours.

"They have a collective understanding about playing front-foot ball and it certainly came through in that game.

"You see Ali Williams put a 50m grubber kick through and it was very well executed.

"That's the thing about the All Blacks, they can attack from anywhere and you've just got to be ready for that."

- Rugby Heaven