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After winning just one of their opening eight games of the season, the Ospreys have parted ways with head coach Allen Clarke.
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The Northern Irishman leaves the post that he has held for just over a year with his former side sitting second from bottom in Conference A in the Pro14 and at the bottom of their group in the Champions Cup.
The region have struggled this season with a combination of players being at the Rugby World Cup and injuries, and Clarke has had to operate with a decimated squad which has seen Dan Lydiate start at lock. It is for that reason some people are sympathetic towards the former head coach, as he did guide the Ospreys to the Champions Cup last season, the only coach in Wales to do so.
Moreover, many have been critical of the entire structure of the Ospreys, suggesting this was an impossible task to Clarke to have any success.
However, some are still critical of how the Ospreys have played over the past 15 months, and although injuries are an excuse this season, that does not seem to be a legitimate reason, with the players’ conditioning even coming under fire.
https://twitter.com/AledRichards/status/1199337267128463360?s=20
https://twitter.com/ianlew17/status/1199342392987406337?s=20
https://twitter.com/robthomas_1/status/1199338688565501954?s=20
@ospreys are a complete shambles at the minute. Sending a skills coach and senior player to press today. The board should be running to @_SeanHolley ranch and knocking down the door to get him back.
— Lee PIDGE Williams (@Leepidge10) November 27, 2019
What does seem abundantly clear is that this does not seem like a job that many would-be desirous of. The next coach would be inheriting an injury-ravaged squad, which includes marquee summer signing Gareth Anscombe being out for the season, meaning they face a mammoth task of achieving any success.
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https://twitter.com/Brockster67/status/1199352538006458368?s=20
https://twitter.com/eifp/status/1199328611255242752?s=20
It will be very interesting to see who replaces Allen Clarke at Ospreys. Can't see many people wanting that job.
— Ross Barnett (@rbarnett08) November 26, 2019
While some fans have suggested coaches like Rob Howley and Mike Ruddock to take over, the consensus seems to be that this will not only be a challenge for the next coach, but it will be a challenge in itself to even find a willing replacement. What is worse, is that there is a demand for a high calibre coach to revive the Ospreys’ poor fortunes in recent years, which only makes the recruitment process harder.
https://twitter.com/sailor_bill/status/1199742630348898310
https://twitter.com/haydn_davies/status/1199330980013588480?s=20
https://twitter.com/SteveG1809/status/1199328106206638080?s=20
My coaching team selection for the Ospreys would be head coach Phil Davies, forwards coach Royston Neil Davies, backs coach Mark Jones and player/defence coach Scott Williams. I truly believe this team would deliver improvements to the region.
— JONATHAN WOOLDRIDGE (@JONWOOLDRIDGE82) November 27, 2019
The 44-3 loss to Saracens at Allianz Park last Saturday may have been the final nail in the coffin for Clarke, and question will now be who replaces him.
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Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments