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Another mix-up for the Wallabies coaching ranks

By Online Editors
Stephen Larkham, Michael Cheika and Nathan Grey

Nathan Grey will follow Stephen Larkham from Wallabies assistant into the national high performance advisor role as new Australian coach Dave Rennie puts his stamp on the job.

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Grey was the Wallabies defence coach under Michael Cheika at this year’s World Cup in Japan but, with Cheika replaced by Kiwi Rennie, will move into a new role in 2020.

Larkham, a former Wallabies attack coach, briefly held the job this year before moving on to work with Irish giant Munster.

Grey’s duties will be expanded, however, with the 44-year-old also serving as technical director of the Sunwolves for next year’s Super Rugby season.

The appointment opens the door for former Waratahs team manager and Sunwolves adviser Chris Webb to return to Australia as the Wallabies team manager.

Continue reading below…

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Wallabies World Cup attack coach Shaun Berne has already returned to his full-time role with Melbourne Rebels, with England’s attack coach Scott Wisemantel to join Rennie’s staff.

According to Rugby Australia, the Grey move is designed to strengthen their relationship with the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU).

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“Grey’s secondment will focus on providing technical advice and coaching to the Tokyo-based Super Rugby side in support of new Sunwolves head coach Naoya Okubo,” RA said in a statement on Monday.

Grey will also oversee the Sevens teams, who will play in the Tokyo Olympics next year, the Wallaroos, Junior Wallabies, and elite junior programs.

“I’ve enjoyed my time as an assistant at both the NSW Waratahs and the Wallabies for the last four years but this is now an opportunity for me to continue my development as a coach,” Grey said.

“The Sunwolves have an incredibly talented group of players that are keen to learn, and the same can be said of the coaching staff in Tokyo too.

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“We all saw from the recent World Cup just how much ability and potential there is in Japan, and I will be doing all I can to help in their development.”

RA director of rugby Scott Johnson said the new role was a way to keep Grey in the system, which has identified a dearth of young Australian coaches.

“Nathan has proven himself to be a great young coach and he’s one that we didn’t want to lose out of the system,” Johnson said.

“We want to see him continue to grow and evolve and that will happen now with Nathan to be given a bit more responsibility and scope.”

– AAP

Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will take up a new role in the new year:

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Trevor 45 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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