Richard Loe: Dingo bashing misguided

Axed Wallaby Matt Giteau can be a bad influence if he's left out of the starting XV. Photo / Getty Images

All those people slagging off Robbie Deans for what they say are baffling Wallaby selections should take a chill pill and just reflect that they might be jumping to conclusions.

Most have sounded off about the dumping of Rocky Elsom as skipper. But Elsom has had only about an hour's play in Super Rugby this year - and he was exposed a bit against the All Blacks before a much stronger game against the Springboks.

I know Robbie pretty well and he is the sort of coach who will want his captain to be assured of selection. Don't forget, he is in the same position as Graham Henry & co - having to work out his best selections and best combinations in theTri Nations. I wouldn't be surprised if Elsom hadn't agreed to go; and fallen on his sword. He is still coming back but, at best, his World Cup might be spent coming off the bench.

As for the Matt Giteaunon-selection, it's been well-known for ages that the All Blacks fancy playing against Giteau and that he rarely or never plays well against them. Robbie will know that, having coached with and against Giteau. It's also said that Giteau is known to be poison if he is left out of the starting XV and is not always a good influence within the team.

And Giteau hasn't quite been the Giteau of old.

I know there were some odd selections in the test against the All Blacks - dropping Nathan Sharpe at lock for young Rob Simmons, who got dragged off early, was one; Elsom another; and Ben McCalman at No 8 instead of Scott Higginbotham another.

But Sharpe has returned with fire in the belly - good coaching, no? Higginbotham has been selected since the Eden Park test, Elsom played better and the Wallabies had a gutsy win in South Africa.It hardly seems like they are heading in the wrong direction, does it?

Having said that, Robbie will have something up his sleeve. Few people give him credit for it but he has brought on a team of young guns a treat - to the extent that Henry, without hesitation, named Australia as the All Blacks' biggest threat in this year's World Cup.

Look at just some of the young guys who have come on under him: Tatafu Polota-Nau, David Pocock, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor.

Okay, Australia might still have depth problems and maybe some question marks about the front five against top opponents but, again, Robbie won't be showing off his whole wardrobe yet. He is far too astute a coach to do dumb things - whatever some knee-jerk critics might think.

Those who are now jumping up and down about him being re-appointed beyond the World Cup have also got it wrong. Alan Jones just likes a headline and his views on an Aussie Aussie coach and no Kiwis are as old-fashioned as they are misguided.

Okay, you can feel a bit sorry for Ewen McKenzie - but the Australian Rugby Union recognises what it's got and wants to protect it so Robbie doesn't head back to coach the All Blacks after Henry goes.

But that's the joke, too. The favourite as 2012 All Blacks coach is Steve Hansen, with Ian Foster as an assistant.I mean ... gulp. Sorry, but that is a horrible prospect - and there's always the possibility that they'll stuff it up. Robbie's contract then becomes a piece of paper which can be adjusted. He has plenty of time to apply for the job of taking the All Blacks to the 2015World Cup.

The biggest factor in all this is timing. Why would Robbie want to beat the All Blacks in the Tri Nations? All right, there's a bit of psychological advantage to be gained - but I reckon he'd trade all that for beating the All Blacks in the World Cup in a one-off match, possibly the final.