Rugby Australia reveal who will be assisting Dave Rennie at the Wallabies
Rugby Australia has today announced key appointments to the Wallabies staff, including Scott Wisemantel as an assistant to Dave Rennie on a four-year deal.
The 49-year old will serve as Attack Coach and returns to Australia after helping to guide England to the Rugby World Cup Final in Japan last month.
Wisemantel has a proven International pedigree having previously served as Skills Coach for the Wallabies for four years from 2004, as well as experience with the Manu Samoa and Japan national teams on top of what he achieved under Eddie Jones working with England over the past 18 months.
A former Eastwood player in Sydney’s Shute Shield, Wisemantel also played Rugby League with the Parramatta Eels and has been deployed by World Rugby over the past two years to run coaching combines in the Pacific Islands, Europe and the Americas whilst consulting to England.
New Wallabies Attack Coach Scott Wisemantel said: “I’m really looking forward to returning home to Australia after ten years and for the opportunity to work alongside Dave Rennie.
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“I’ve learnt a few things from working with various programs around the world and it’s given me another perspective on how to view the game as an Attack Coach. Historically, the Wallabies have been innovative in how they play the game and how they attack so I want to bring that to the table.
“There’s a good group of players with some exciting talent coming through, which will create competition for spots amongst the current crop. I’m looking forward to get stuck into it and visiting the Super Rugby teams early in the New Year, seeing how I can learn off them and prepare for a really important 2020 season,” Wisemantel said.
Rugby Australia also today confirmed world-renowned elite sports performance specialist Dean Benton has been appointed to the key role of National Head of Athletic Performance.
Benton re-joined Rugby Australia in late 2018 from the Rugby Football Union in England, to lead the athletic performance program for the Wallabies through their 2019 international and Rugby World Cup campaigns.
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In his new role as national Head of Athletic Performance, Benton will oversee the athletic performance and sports science elements of the national high performance plan. He will work closely with the athletic performance staff across Australia’s national teams, Super Rugby and Academy programs to align and enhance systems, structure, knowledge and coaching across all programs. A new Wallabies Athletic Performance Manager to work under Benton will be appointed in early 2020.
Benton has worked with Premiership-winning teams in Rugby and Rugby League across three competitions and two continents over the past decade after launching his career with the Australian Institute of Sport back in 2001.
Joining Wisemantel in the new-look Wallabies staff is experienced high performance manager, Chris Webb who has been appointed to the role of General Manager, Wallabies.
Could Ian Foster and Scott Robertson have worked together to coach the @AllBlacks? Foster spills the beans:https://t.co/Nt78q5OLty
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 12, 2019
Webb re-joins the Wallabies set-up in an overarching team management role having previously been involved with the team as Assistant Team Manager from 2005-2007.
Since then, Webb has gone on to serve in General Manager, High Performance roles with the NSW Rugby Union, Western Force and Equestrian Australia. He has spent the past three years in Japan as High Performance Advisor for the Japan national team and Sunwolves Super Rugby team.
Wallabies Director of Rugby Scott Johnson said: “These are all important appointments for what we want to achieve with our Wallabies program and broadly for the implementation of our national high performance plan over the next four years.
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“Scott’s return to Australia is a huge coup for the Wallabies. He’s got great experience and has had success with club sides in Europe as well as with other International sides, but I also know what he’s like as a person and as a coach and he will add tremendous value to the group.
“Dave (Rennie) has been closely involved in the appointment of Scott and I know those two guys will complement each other really well,” Johnson said.
“As far as Dean is concerned, he’s been with the team for the past year and has had a significant impact on the physical preparation and conditioning of the Wallabies squad.
Rugby World magazine stirs the pot with a World XV for 2019 where South Africa don't have it all their own way
https://t.co/hLPjphfOE8— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 10, 2019
“Dean has an almost unrivalled resume when it comes to athletic performance coaching and we are going to tap into his expertise in a much more significant way in a new role which will see Dean coordinate our approach to athletic performance nationally by working in with the staff at each of our national, Super Rugby and Academy teams.
“I have known Chris Webb for many years and have worked with him previously in the Wallabies set-up and I know the qualities and experience he will bring to the management team will pay significant dividends.
“All three of these appointments are at the top in their fields and will give our teams the best chance for success across the Australian Rugby landscape.”
– Rugby Australia
The Springboks are the last remaining ‘big three’ Southern Hemisphere team to announce their head coach for 2020 and beyond, but there are plenty of rumours about:
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SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
6 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
6 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments