Caretaker Billy Millard has held his first Harlequins media briefing as Paul Gustard's replacement
Caretaker Harlequins boss Billy Millard has explained he won’t be implementing any massive changes at the Gallagher Premiership club as they get used to life without director of rugby Paul Gustard who departed with immediate effect on January 20.
Nearing the end of his three-year deal, Gustard had yet to sign an extension that had been offered and things quickly went south, resulting in last week’s sudden parting of the ways and his week’s recruitment by Benetton as their defence coach on a three-year deal.
That abrupt departure has left club general manager Millard, the former Melbourne Rebels and Australia 7s boss, to quickly pick up the pieces with assistant coaches Jerry Flannery, Nick Evans, Adam Jones and Charlie Mulchrone ahead of next Sunday’s trip to Wasps.
The mechanics of the Gustard exit were not up for discussion when Millard fronted a Thursday afternoon Harleqins media conference. Instead, the focus was about looking ahead to getting the next two games versus Wasps and Bath before drawing breath.
“I have got a lot of experience in coaching,” said temporary Harlequins boss Millard, whose 16-year coaching CV also includes stints at Connacht, Cardiff Blues and the USA national team. “I’m certainly not going in waving my hands around changing stuff because these guys have worked really hard under Gussy, it’s not the time to be bouncing everything in the air and moving things on.
"What coach worth their salt is going to accept the top job at Harlequins with the knowledge they aren’t going to be able to set a culture?"
– @AndyGoode10 tackles the fallout from Paul Gustard's Quins exit #GallagherPremhttps://t.co/9nUBa8VieY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 27, 2021
“For me to support them properly I need to be in most meetings, on the training paddock so I can give them some feedback. If there is any tough decision to be made they will come to me. They have already been heavily involved in selections and recruitment right from the get-go.
“But there will be decisions where players or staff members or other bits and pieces will need a focal point and I will be that focal point for that the owners and Laurie (Dalrymple, CEO) so they are not taking up time with those coaches. Yeah, I’ll be hobbling around the training field to see what is happening,” he continued, referencing his recent knee replacement.
“I don’t think it is any quick, magical solution. We have got a lot of cohesion under this roof with a lot of players who have played together, a lot of players who have been playing under this system together and the worst thing we could do is make major changes.
“Everyone is dealing with this [Gustard’s exit] in their own way and different reflections but the group, all the staff and players, we have Wasps on the horizon so we have had to move on quickly… it’s business as usual and I’m there to support the coaches to give them as much empowerment as possible.”
Millard is currently set to oversee Harlequins through to the end of the season but he suggested there was scope for Gustard’s yet-to-be-identified successor to perhaps come on board before the 2020/21 campaign reaches a conclusion.
“That’s definitely the plan at this stage as we go through it, but I have been involved in other environments where people become available and maybe with five games to go they come in respectfully and get a lay of the land so they are not coming in cold pre-season.
“It just depends on timing but definitely the plan in my head and Laurie’s head and the board is that I will get much closer to these four coaches and move some of my generic general manager stuff off and drive the rugby programme with the current four coaches.”
Harlequins’ leaky defence has been an issue this season and an in-house topic of conversation ahead of their away date with Wasps. “That is something the boys have spoken about this week and something Gussy was working hard on.
“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
“I don’t think there was one particular issue with it. It’s no secret we have been conceding penalties which put us on the back foot. When you are bogged down in that area time after time it takes a bit out of you but it’s about connection, relationships and playing for the bugger purpose as well as systems stuff.
“Gussy was an exceptional defence coach and it is up to everyone to take responsibility. I’m a believer the system only gets you so far. The rest is down to putting your body in front and working for each other. That has been spoken about and Jerry Flannery epitomises a lot of those traits we are looking for in defence.”
Millard added that Harlequins academy coach Jordan Turner-Hall, a 2012 Premiership title winner with the club, is also assisting the senior team. “Jordan Turner-Hall has got a really good defensive mind from set-piece and he has got strong relationships and a lot of respect from the playing group.
“At the moment the plan is to get through Wasps and Bath, everything is set up for those two weeks, and then probably over a coffee with the four coaches say, ‘How are you feeling with a man down? Gussy ran the defence. That has been soaked up by Jerry, Adam Jones and a little bit by Jordan Turner-Hall from a distance and that is probably something we need to sit down in a couple of weeks and monitor.
“The other thing in that space is the players need to step up and take more responsibility for certain areas and that is something the coaches will be asking for. We have already seen that play out quite nicely in the last few weeks.”
Surprise destination for Gustard on 3?? year deal#GuinnessPRO14
https://t.co/rku2AUT8FO— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 26, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
This looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry 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.
2 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.
3 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
3 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 comments