Robbie ‘Dingo’ Deans has fast become the sacred cow of Australian rugby.

After years in the football wilderness Aussie rah-rah fans were desperate for a change in fortune…and still are.

Fans, including yours truly were excited by the prospect of the Wallabies playing Crusaders style football; counter-attack, fast and mobile forwards and ball in hand ‘play what’s in front of you’ style of footy.

Now Australia have lost two games on the trot the halo on Dingo’s head has taken a few beatings. What’s fascinating is the fact that many in the rugby media are drawing swords at the very thought of criticising this guy.

Truth is Dingo has improved the Wallabies no doubt; the scrum is beginning to hold its own instead of being an international joke and perhaps most importantly with sideways glances to 2011 has brought in around a dozen debutants and given the Wallaby side a flash of youth.

But it is fair to say that Dingo has made mistakes when it comes to the style of players and play he is trying to instil. The idea of three openside flankers in Smith, Pocock and Waugh might sound great to ex-full-backs like Deans and plenty of other sports fans but it doesn’t  equate to the toughness you need in a backrow.

Look at South Africa who have a brutal backrow of Berger, Spies and Smith and now looking even more devastating with a genuine ‘fetcher’ (openside flanker for the rest of us) in Brussow.

Australia have been smashed at the breakdown in both games and have seriously lacked the physicality need to win against the best teams in the world.

And the fact we went against the best lineout in the world the other week without a recognised third jumper in the starting side? Let’s not even go there (ok but just for a second, we lost 8 throws to the Yarpies).

And just while we’re on changes that need to be happening in the Aussie side…

  • Barnes proved against the Springboks when Gits was yellow carded that he has the pose, tactical kicking nouse, composure and ability to control the game that you need in a good and reliable first five-eigth. This Fly has been calling for Barnes and Gits to swap the 10 and 12 jerseys for a year. After the South Africa game the small voices saying the same have gained a proper voice.
  • Mortlock has a doubtful future. Hard to say for a captain but his play is essential bash and barge and the older he gets the less effective he is. Mortlock is a great player and produces excellent performances that have won Australia and the ACT many games, but the gap between those games are growing. Adam Ashley-Cooper (as has been written here before) is a better outside centre than winger or full-back (although he’s more than accomplished in both) and O’Connor’s counter-attacks from full back the other week against the Yarpies shows he’s ready for a regular starting spot at 15.
  • Genia deserved to start. Burgess has had more than enough chances and hasn’t produced the goods. Dingo has showed him a hell of a lot of loyalty but unlike last year we have a young replacement in Genia not a bloke about to retire in Cordingly. If Burgess really is the bloke to take us to the 2011 and let’s hope he is, then being dropped should fire him up and spur him to be a better player…worked for most of our best cricketers…
  • The backrow selection for tomorrow nights game were correct; Elsom (no pressure on him at all…), Brown and Smith. Ultimately if Palu picks up some form in club rugby he should be considered a 20 minute impact player and should be touted as the man to replace Brown at about the 60 minute mark.
  • Horwill is a player that the Fly rates very highly but whose form hasn’t matched last year’s high yet. We need him to shine while we just have to hope and pray that Dan Vickerman returns in time for the world cup as nobody else really selects themselves.
  • Baxter has improved out of sight since Dingo took hold but Alexander deserve to be starting. While Moore’s inclusion of Palautu-Nau is purely due to the latter’s poor lineout throwing. The fact Moore threw so poorly the other week means a change here should also be looked at.