Gustard's comments after joining Benetton were telling about set-up at Harlequins: Andy Goode
The departure of Paul Gustard from Harlequins has raised eyebrows but the message coming out of the club about culture should definitely raise even more. What is the culture at Harlequins? It would be helpful for fans and all outside observers to have that outlined if the chief executive Laurie Dalrymple and some of the players are suggesting that is a major reason behind this parting of ways.
Dalrymple has said they have taken the time to “reflect on the way we have been playing and the way we want to live and operate and create an identity that is reflective of us as a club”, so people need to understand what that identity is now.
I have also seen some quotes from Danny Care saying that “you can’t bring in your own culture” as a head of rugby but that is exactly what a head of rugby, head coach or director of rugby should be able to do.
One thing is for sure, the culture at Harlequins isn’t a winning one and it hasn’t ever been really on a consistent basis. They won the Premiership title in 2012 and had won the Challenge Cup a year earlier with a strong group of players, but it has been downhill since then.
Everyone wants to be winning titles and competing at the top end of the table but that isn’t possible and Harlequins seemed to be building nicely for a while under Gustard, finishing fifth and sixth in the league since he took over after ending up in tenth place prior to that.
Surprise destination for Gustard on 3?? year deal#GuinnessPRO14
https://t.co/rku2AUT8FO— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 26, 2021
His contract was up for renewal and it looks like things went south that wasn’t sorted out swiftly and you always see those off-field issues manifest themselves on the pitch. Harlequins are still only five points off the top four so things are hardly in dire straits but we have seen a lack of discipline on the pitch and now things have unravelled.
The word coming out of the club is that they have conducted a wide-ranging view and taken on board a number of different opinions – and clearly the players have been part of that.
We don’t know to what extent, of course, but you have to be careful when you are asking players’ opinions on this kind of thing because they have all obviously got individual motivating factors. Let’s not kid ourselves either, Harlequins knew what they were getting in terms of culture and ethos when they hired Gustard as well.
There was a lot of talk about them needing an outside voice and a change after things didn’t work out under John Kingston, who was completely ingrained in the fabric of the club, and I’m sure the culture he brings with him will have been spoken about openly at the time.
People may have seen the clip in the past couple of weeks of Alex Sanderson speaking to his Sale players after joining them as director of rugby and outlining his values, talking about hard work but also about enjoying beach holidays and lazy Malbec Sundays.
That may raise a smile but he also said: “I value honesty in all our communications and I know honesty takes trust and trust takes time but we have got time, lads, so we will get there.”
That is him setting out his values and his vision for the club. Obviously, there is much more detail involved in the culture he is trying to create and the game plan he will try to implement that we don’t see but he has to have the autonomy to be able to do that.
It sounds like that isn’t the case at Harlequins and the comments by Gustard after announcing that he is joining Benetton as assistant head coach – that he “wanted to join a group where there was a clear vision, deep level of trust and a dynamic environment” – are telling.
Harlequins have made a stunning admission just days after Paul Gustard departed the West London club.
– reports @chrisjonespress ???https://t.co/Lmo0DNkwR4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 23, 2021
What coach worth their salt is going to accept the top job at Harlequins with the knowledge that they aren’t going to be able to set a culture or have the control necessary to influence something as major as that?
There are only a limited number of jobs in coaching so we know that there will be plenty of people willing to take the job, but you have to question what the culture is at Harlequins which they are going to be working under and whether they can be successful if they aren’t setting that.
Quins might have a reputation for trying to play champagne rugby over the years but the champagne has been left out of the fridge and with the bottle open for too long, it has gone flat and is starting to taste like vinegar.
They might have in mind a desire to bring back the fizz and start playing that champagne rugby again but there has to be more substance to their culture and identity than that and the fans deserve to know what that is.
“People are looking at this as ‘Paul Gustard sacked by Harlequins’… but Gussy was offered a contract extension that he wasn’t happy signing"
– @TheRugbyPod gives its take on what allegedly happened at The Stoop #GallagherPrem https://t.co/RdHQl7DT9d
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 26, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments