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Saracens confirm new head and defence coaches in wake of Sanderson's exit
Mark McCall has reacted to the loss of Alex Sanderson, his defence and forwards coach at Saracens, by promoting from within at the London club, appointing skills coach Joe Shaw as head coach and upgrading Adam Powell from senior academy coach to defence coach.
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Sale confirmed on Friday the RugbyPass exclusive from last week that the long-serving Sanderson would become their new director of rugby following the departure last month of Steve Diamond for personal reasons.
Saracens have a long history of promoting from within when it comes to filling staff vacancies and the exit of Sanderson has quickly proven to be no different with the elevation of Shaw and Powell to fill the void.
A former Sale, Northampton, Newcastle and England 7s player, Shaw joined Saracens as an academy coach and moved into the senior team skills coaching role in 2013. Powell, meanwhile, played 135 times for Saracens before ending his career at Newcastle and then becoming senior academy coach at Saracens in 2017.
“If you have watched what we have done over the last ten, eleven years, what we try to do in the organisation is promote from within when we can,” said McCall at a media session ahead of Saracens’ opening match on Saturday in the Trailfinders Cup, a pre-season tournament that will lead into the start of the Championship in March.
On appointment as @SaleSharksRugby DoR: 'I don’t think we’ve even begun to scratch the surface of what this club is capable of.'https://t.co/4rxCvkg4oG pic.twitter.com/bT0tgNy0W0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 15, 2021
“We do that in the playing group, our academy forms the foundation of our playing group. And similarly with staff as well, when there is an opportunity to promote from within we take that. In terms of the coaching staff, Adam Powell, who has been at the top end of our academy staff, will step up into a senior role as defence coach. Adam is somebody who has had a long association with Saracens. And Joe Shaw, who has been part of the coaching team for the last eight years, will step up into the head coach position.”
McCall added that he was optimistic this double appointment was the right way for Saracens to go after the loss of Sanderson. “I’m very confident,” he said. “We have this philosophy, this promote from within philosophy, for a very long time.
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“I have been coaching with the current coaching staff – Dan Vickers, Kevin Sorrell, Joe Shaw, Ian Peel – for a very, very long time and Adam has been more or less with us for a fair bit of that as well. We are a team that works very well together. Alex is great coach, a great person and a great friend of ours.
“We were very determined when this began years ago that the club would never be reliant on one person. It would be a very poor organisation, a very average organisation, which does that. Down the years we have had some very significant people who have left the club, Brendan (Venter), Andy Farrell, Paul Gustard, Steve Borthwick, and Alex is one of the great contributors to our journey and our story these last ten, eleven years.
“But we have got some great people left in the club who are very excited with the playing group we have assembled for the 2021/22 season. I have said to you what the coaching staff is going to look like. I have worked with our performance manager Phil Morrow for 20 years now, so we have got a lot of very good people who are very good at their jobs in the organisation.”
Referring specifically to the departure of Sanderson to Sale, McCall said his assistant will head to Manchester with the best wishes of Saracens. “We’re delighted for Alex. What we pride at the heart of the club is the development of the individual in a professional sense and as people and we feel very fortunate to have had Alex for as long as we have had, 17 years.
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“He is an outstanding coach, an outstanding person, and we are delighted that he has got this opportunity to progress his career. I talked to him a lot over the last four, five weeks. Yes, it was a very, very hard decision for him but we all respect the decision he has made.”
"Hands down, he is one of the most engaging coaches I have ever worked with"@TheRugbyPod #GallagherPrem https://t.co/LHBo4ukW9H
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 14, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
12 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
15 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
12 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
12 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
15 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
12 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
2 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
2 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
8 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
8 Go to comments