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Rugby Australia confirm high performance overhaul
Rugby Australia has today announced significant changes to the Wallabies program and confirmed that Rugby Australia and the four Australian Super Rugby organisations have reached an agreed set of principles that will underpin the development of a fully aligned National High Performance model.
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Scott Johnson has been appointed to the new position of Director of Rugby and will oversee the Wallabies program and lead the delivery of the new National High Performance Plan. Johnson was previously Director of Rugby at Scotland Rugby after serving as interim Head Coach of the Scotland national team from 2012-2014.
A centre who came through the Parramatta Two Blues club in Sydney to captain the Australian Under 21s and NSW Waratahs, Johnson will take up the role in early 2019. The 56-year-old previously served on John Connolly’s coaching staff with the Wallabies in 2006-2007.
Wallabies Head Coach Michael Cheika will report to Johnson.
“I am excited to be returning to Rugby Australia in the Director of Rugby role and I am looking forward to supporting Michael and the Wallabies in their build up to the World Cup,” said Johnson.
“I am also looking forward to working with the Super Rugby teams to build an aligned model that will enable sustained success for Super Rugby teams, the Wallabies and ensure we maximise the opportunities for Australian Rugby,” he said.
Wallabies Head Coach Michael Cheika said: “It’s a great move for Australian Rugby and I know it will prove to be the best long-term structure for the game in this country.
“I’m looking forward to working with Scott and finishing the work that I started by making Australians proud of our performance.”
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Johnson and Cheika will be joined by a third, independent selector to make up a new National Selection Panel that will oversee Wallabies squad and team selection. The independent selector will be appointed in early 2019.
Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle said: “This is a significant strategic evolution of Rugby Australia’s High Performance environment, which will provide the Wallabies with the best opportunity for success at the Rugby World Cup and will lay the foundations for long-term success for all of our national teams, Vodafone Super Rugby teams and pathway programs.
“Scott Johnson has built a strong reputation in the international Rugby landscape over more than a decade, and since taking over as Director of Rugby in Scotland the national team has climbed to its highest ever world ranking of fifth.
“Scott has previous experience within the Wallabies coaching environment and in this new role will assume responsibility for the management of the Wallabies’ off-field program to allow Michael Cheika to focus on what he does best, which is coaching the team.
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“We are confident Michael is the right man to lead the Wallabies to the World Cup and the appointment of Scott Johnson will support Michael and his coaching team as they prepare for the tournament in Japan next September.
“In his review, Michael identified potential changes to the current structure and he and Scott will work their way through these recommendations,” Castle said.
The changes to the Wallabies program comes as Rugby Australia and the four Australian Super Rugby organisations agreed to principles on an aligned National High Performance model. The model is supported by a new National Talent Management structure, which was announced by Rugby Australia in September.
“This aligned plan with a focus from grassroots to international level, will give us the best platform to build sustainable success for our men’s and women’s Vodafone Super Rugby and Buildcorp Super W teams and provide a clear pathway into the Qantas Wallabies, Buildcorp Wallaroos and Qantas Australian Sevens teams,” said Castle.
“We have worked closely with the Super Rugby teams and I want to thank them for their support of a unified approach to ensuring we will have the right structure in place to achieve long-term success. We have assessed the High Performance areas where we need improvement and measured ourselves against systems across our international competitors. Whilst we have incorporated some elements from other national systems, we have made sure that the framework for the National High Performance Plan is an Australian version that takes into account our differences and strengths.
“The National High Performance Plan will also be bolstered by the establishment of a fighting fund to support the recruitment and retention of identified youth talent. We want to find, develop and keep the best athletic talent in the land,” she said.
“It was clear when I started the role 12 months ago that we needed to make changes to how the game is run. Today’s announcement is the result of a great deal of hard work by a lot of people at all levels of our game over an extended period. The commitment and passion for our game from those people has been unwavering and has focused on the singular goal of seeing our code and our Qantas Wallabies enjoying the success they deserve.
“It has been a tough year for all who love Rugby, and this is an important step in building a strong, successful and sustainable future for Australian Rugby and getting the Wallabies back to where they belong.”
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Why is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
1 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
8 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
6 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
6 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
6 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
8 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
8 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
8 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
8 Go to comments