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Richard Wigglesworth on England job, Mike Brown's Leicester debut
Interim Leicester boss Richard Wigglesworth has spoken for the first time about being a new addition to the Steve Borthwick coaching ticket with England. He has also explained that this Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership game versus Saracens is perfect for new signing Mike Brown to make his club debut, adding why Julian Montoya is listed as match day skipper even though captain Hanro Liebenberg is starting at No6.
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It was February 7 when the RFU confirmed that Wigglesworth – along with Tigers’ head of physical performance Aled Walters – would exit Welford Road at the end of this season and join England in time for their build-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
For Wigglesworth, the accepted offer from England was the latest dramatic twist in a crazy few months for him. As soon as he was asked to become interim Leicester head coach in December when Borthwick was named the new England boss, the assistant coach announced his immediate retirement from playing so that he could fully focus on coaching.
With the club games then arriving thick and fast over the winter, Wigglesworth went on to outline his ambition to potentially become the permanent boss at Leicester only for that hope to soon expire as he has instead agreed on a deal to work with England under Borthwick.
Asked for his thoughts on this latest job change, Wigglesworth explained: “Well, I am a very proud Englishman for one, so that was a big decision, but then I know all the people involved. But, as of now and for the rest of the season, I am Leicester Tigers’ head coach so that is what I am focused on. I wouldn’t like to talk about that anymore.”
Wigglesworth was speaking on Friday afternoon after completing preparations for Sunday’s Premiership clash with Saracens, the club they defeated in last June’s 2021/22 final at Twickenham. The round 17 fixture will herald a Leicester debut for ex-England full-back Brown, who last played in the Premiership 12 months ago for Newcastle.
Released by the Falcons, the 37-year-old was in rugby limbo until the sudden departure of Freddie Burns to the Super Rugby Pacific Highlanders created an emergency vacancy that Brown has now filled after successfully completing a trial period.
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“Ultimate professional. He has turned up in great nick. It’s really positive for the group. I am sure we will see Mike at his competitive best on Sunday,” said Wigglesworth about naming Brown in a back three that also features Chris Ashton, the soon-to-be 36-year-old ex-England winger.
“A lot of them know how to win. You only sign experience if it has still got rugby in it. It knows how to win and it still can be a really good influence. If you tick all those boxes then you are useful.
“You can only play into your mid to late 30s if you are a really good professional and you have been lucky. If you have been lucky with injuries, still got rugby in you and you have got that desire, then you can play on and if you are a winner, then you have definitely got something to add.”
Regarding this Sunday’s team captaincy switch, Wigglesworth added: “Some stuff happened at the start of the week in terms of who was available and who wasn’t. Julian was captain at the start of the week. It’s right that this weekend he captains.”
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Leicester’s title defence has been a struggle this season. They currently lie in eighth place heading into this weekend’s Premiership action with just five wins and a draw in 13 matches and have seen England recruit four of their coaches mid-season – Borthwick and defence coach Kevin Sinfield in December, with Wigglesworth and Walters to follow at the end of the campaign.
How does the interim boss feel the squad has coped with all this upheaval? “There is definitely a massive danger of distraction,” he admitted. “That happens in most clubs. Will what has happened at this club ever happen again at another club? Very, very unlikely that another club will go through it.
“I just can’t say how impressed I have been with the players, how they have taken to me, how they have worked, their attitude on and off the field. Are there excuses for them? Are there reasons for them? Yeah. Are they trying to take them? No, no. The lads have done an incredible job pulling themselves away from that narrative… they have been exceptional.
“This challenge (against Saracens) is huge. We know they are pace-setters, we know they are the best team. I know from experience just how good they are, but the lads have prepped well.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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?
1 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?
41 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 commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments