A 7 man England shortlist to replace Gustard
As much as the news that Paul Gustard would take over as Harlequins head coach has been celebrated by the Quins faithful, it has created equal levels of anxiety for England fans.
To lose your defence coach just over a year out from a Rugby World Cup is not standard practice and the Rugby Football Union will need to move swiftly this summer to identify and approach the suitable replacement and then get them in ahead of the 2018/19 season.
We have put together a shortlist of candidates that Eddie Jones and the RFU are likely to be looking at over the next few months.
Wayne Smith
Seemingly forever linked with England coaching roles, could Smith and the RFU finally team up ahead of the 2019 RWC?
“The Professor” has been one of the masterminds behind the All Blacks’ most recent successes and though he stepped down from his role with New Zealand last year and was diagnosed with prostate cancer back in January, Smith has continued to keep his hand in, working with Melbourne Storm in the NRL, as well as roles in Italy and Japan.
Could the lure of another RWC and a fresh challenge be enough to bring Smith out of semi-retirement?
Jason Ryles
Sticking with the Melbourne Storm, this Australian rugby league coach is well-acquainted with the England environment, having worked with the group during the autumn internationals in 2016.
It would be a bold move for the RFU to appoint a man with next to no union coaching experience, but Jones would have good insight into what he brings to the mix and, should Jones fight his corner, that may be enough to get the RFU to try and poach him from the NRL.
Shaun Edwards
Edwards was reportedly in the mix to become Quins’ new head coach, but having missed out on that role to Gustard, could he take the former Leicester Tigers and London Irish man’s spot with England?
In the recent history of tit-for-tat exchanges between Jones and Warren Gatland, luring away Gatland’s defence coach would certainly mark a new high for Jones and the RFU, but any compensation deal would not come cheap.
Alex Sanderson
The Saracens coach stepped in for Gustard when he left north London and will be tipped by many to do just the same in south-west London this summer.
He has kept the Saracens defence playing at a high level, despite also having to shoulder the burden of being the club’s forwards coach, and he’d be a natural fit to replace Gustard in Jones’ coaching staff. There is no denying Jones’ fondness for Saracens coaches, either, having previously brought in Gustard, Steve Borthwick and Rory Teague into the England set-up.
Ali Hepher
Not a defence coach in the strictest sense, but with England also in need of an attack coach, could Hepher help fill both roles?
He has done a sterling job with the Exeter Chiefs and, like Ryles, has previous experience of working with Jones and England on a short-term basis. The toughest sell to Hepher may well be giving up his position with Exeter, for a role with England that cannot be guaranteed to last beyond the RWC.
Joe Worsley
The former Wasps flanker has taken a slightly different route to most English coaches, learning his craft in the Top 14, where he has operated as Bordeaux’s defence coach for the last six years, working under Raphaël Ibañez and more recently Teague.
Whether or not Worsley would be interested in returning to England at this point in his career remains to be seen, but he would certainly bring a unique insight into the team, offering a knowledge of a culture within the game rarely experienced by previous England coaches.
Brendan Venter
Could the man who orchestrated “the Fox” and made Jones so irritated at Twickenham last year be the final piece of the jigsaw to see England push for RWC glory?
Venter has several commitments currently within and outside of rugby, but the RFU have shown they’re not afraid to stump up compensation when they identify their key target. Again, it’s another appointment that would fit well with Jones’ Saracens connections.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments