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‘Very grateful’: Rebels re-sign all of their coaches before Crusaders clash

By AAP
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Underperforming Melbourne are convinced their Super Rugby Pacific fortunes are on the up by re-signing all of their coaches, including Kevin Foote.

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Ahead of their crucial clash with the Crusaders at AAMI Park on Friday night, the Rebels announced head mentor Foote and his assistants Tim Sampson and Geoff Parling were locked in until the end of the 2025 season.

Former head coach Sampson knocked back other offers to remain in Melbourne as attack coach while ex-Rebels player Parling continues to head the forwards.

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Melbourne have never made the playoffs in 11 seasons but Foote said the players, as well as the board, had bought into their future.

In an inconsistent season they have beaten both the Reds and NSW Waratahs and earned praise for their fast and fearless brand.

“They (the board) said they wanted to extend myself and the senior coaches which is really awesome, so more continuity for the club, but just the faith that they’ve shown in us is pretty special for what we’re trying to achieve here,” said Foote, who took over from Dave Wessels at the back end of the 2021 season.

“In the past we’ve had a buy mentality and now we have the bull mentality, and even until 2027 we’ve got an idea about who the players are and where the club’s headed.

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“To back the people without getting the wins initially shows that they believe in the long-term thinking and that they have the right people.”

Foote conceded he was “grateful” for the new deal after a 54-17 loss to the Blues in their last outing.

“I feel very grateful to be having this announcement on the back of the last result, that was obviously a hard one for us,” said the former South African sevens representative.

“Winning is very important for us and it’s going to be important going forward.”

Currently 10th, the Rebels take on the defending champion Crusaders needing a win to break back into the finals-bound top eight.

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Six of their star players have been away at the Wallabies camp disrupting preparation, but Foote felt there were benefits to take from their involvement in the Test squad.

“It’s a challenge that they only came in for captain’s run today but they’re going to be excited,” Foote said.

“Eddie (Wallabies coach Eddie Jones) is building a lot of belief in how the Wallabies are going to go and to have those guys in (the squad) is pretty awesome.”

The Crusaders sit fourth on the ladder, with their Test five-eighth Richie Mo’unga set to play his 100th Super match.

“The Crusaders’ forward pack is really strong and Mo’unga lives off their forwards going well,” Foote said.

“They haven’t found their best rugby either this year … but if we don’t give ourselves a chance we won’t have a chance.

“We believe that if we play our rugby and get our defensive system really firing than we have a good shot.”

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A
Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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