Gustard breaks quit silence after Benetton appoint ex-Exeter coach
Ex-England assistant Paul Gustard has broken his silence over his decision to quit Benetton, the Italian URC franchise who have appointed Julian Salvi, the assistant sacked by Exeter on April 29. Rather than see his three-year contract through to its expiry, Gustard has quit Treviso after just a year for a shot at working in the Top 14 as defence coach at Gonzalo Quesada’s Stade Francais.
That left Benetton with vacancies to fill and while their defence coach position is still vacant, they have recruited two other new assistant coaches, skills coach Alessandro Troncon and Salvi, who will be responsible for the breakdown and the contact area.
It was Monday when Exeter confirmed that Omar Mouneimne, the ex-Bristol defence coach, would replace Salvi. He was given his cards at the Chiefs at the end of April following an underwhelming season where they defensively fell off the pace in the Gallagher Premiership and failed to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
The Australian, who had been on Rob Baxter’s staff since 2018, hasn’t had to wait long to find a new job, though, as his arrival in Italy was trumpeted by Benetton just six weeks after he exited Sandy Park.
Gustard’s decision to leave Italy first emerged on May 20 when French media speculated that he was being lined up to switch from Treviso to Paris and that move was confirmed on Tuesday evening this week.
This choice by the former Harlequins boss to move on from Benetton after just one year was amicable. “I thank president (Amerino) Zatta, Antonio (Pavanello) and Marco (Bortolami) for the opportunity to represent Benetton,” said Gustard. “It’s a great club with brilliant people. My family and I really enjoyed ourselves here.
“I also want to thank the players for their efforts, energy, love and hard work. There is a lot of talent in the group and they can take advantage of the improvements we have made this year and continue to achieve a lot more.
“The move to Stade Francais is bittersweet because I really enjoyed myself in Treviso, but the opportunity to represent the Parisian club, which is one of the most iconic clubs in world rugby, was hard to turn down. I will always be a Benetton fan and I wish the club only good things. Come on, Lions.”
General manager Pavanello added: “We want to thank Paul for the contribution he made during this season and for the work done with the team from a defensive point of view. The club, once it took note of Gustard’s request, immediately moved to find a profile with the right characteristics.
“The profile has been identified and will be made official in the coming days. Furthermore, as announced, the technical staff of next season will be enriched by two further figures, Alessandro Troncon and Julian Salvi. These will respectively cover the role of skills coach and breakdown and contact area specialist.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments