Selecting the next man in at Glasgow will be a task of seismic importance for SRU
Whether he goes to Australia and the beleaguered Wallabies, takes the hallowed crown of the All Blacks or is lured away by something or someplace else, the chances are that Dave Rennie will be gone from Glasgow when his contract expires in June 2020.
Scottish Rugby have had ample time to plot for this eventuality. In fact, as soon as Rennie signed only a one-year extension last April, the odds of him staying beyond the end of the deal shortened by orders of magnitude.
The union ought to be well prepared. Behind the scenes, the word is that the search for a successor has already begun. If – and it looks altogether more like a case of when – Rennie goes, appointing his replacement becomes one of their most pivotal tasks of the past decade.
It presents a fascinating conundrum. Scottish Rugby has been eager to trumpet its improved pathway for burgeoning coaches, the national age-grade teams, sevens side and semi-professional Super Six offering stepping stones for Ben Cairns, John Dalziel, Calum MacRae and others.
As head coaches, none of these guys are at Glasgow’s level yet. It’s just too soon. The club is too big and too successful to risk giving a rookie the reins, as heartening as it would be to see a young Scot take command.
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Of the Scottish candidates, MacRae did brilliantly with the sevens and has enhanced his reputation as Edinburgh’s defence guru, Kenny Murray has been at Glasgow for six years and seen his responsibilities steadily increase, but Mike Blair is the most obvious front-runner.
A cerebral student of the game in the Gregor Townsend mould, he appears to have been earmarked for a quick and significant rise. He played for and coached Glasgow under Townsend and Rennie and is now full-time with the national side.
There is no other Scot currently embedded in the national set-up with a CV that comes close to matching Glasgow’s demands and ambitions. Is Blair, MacRae or Murray ready for the top job? Or better to let them continue to learn and develop until the next opportunity arises?
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Jason O’Halloran is already at Glasgow and did a fine job in transforming Scotland’s attack under Vern Cotter. He has a track record in rearing young players in his native New Zealand. Danny Wilson, the Scotland forwards coach, is being considered. He did well with Wales under-20s and his stock rose further in charge of Cardiff Blues, but the travails of the Scottish pack in the Six Nations and then in Japan do not reflect well on him.
It is a shame that one of his predecessors, Dan McFarland, who did excellent work with the Scotland forwards, has already left for Ulster where his tenure so far has been impressive.
In rooting themselves firmly among the PRO14’s biggest beasts and appointing Rennie, a two-time Super Rugby champion and a coach held in immensely high regard the world over, Glasgow have set a certain level of expectancy, a level any new coach must at least match. That suggests that a greener, home-grown candidate won’t cut it. To maintain these lofty standards, Glasgow need to go big again.
They need a coach that will command respect and earn the buy-in of his players, as Richard Cockerill has done to spectacular effect at Edinburgh. Glasgow talk a lot about culture, the brotherhood formed in the old days at Firhill and evolved through a snarling Scottish core with a smattering of foreign stardust as they moved to Scotstoun.
They have carved a sizeable rugby niche in a city gripped by football, grown an impressive fan base on the back of elan, close bonds with their people and a community ethos.
Hiring a coach who tries to change too much or veers away from that style would be a mistake. While they could do with more steel, up-the-jumper, box-kick-and-blitz isn’t the Glasgow way. It doesn’t suit their players and the crowd won’t have it.
Forget the matinee idol looks and the famous name, @adamhastings96 is no braggadocio
– as @JLyall93 found out in this remarkably candid interview with the @GlasgowWarriors star https://t.co/tEwDJXr0eU
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Warriors also need a man with the profile and network to lure established overseas talent. There is a niggling worry that over the past few years, Glasgow have allowed some colossal names to leave without adequately replacing them. Since the last World Cup, Leone Nakarawa, Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, Josh Strauss and Alex Dunbar have all gone. While Warriors are typically very good at developing young successors, they haven’t made a real ‘statement signing’ in years.
On their budget, Glasgow cannot always recruit a like-for-like substitute for, say, Hogg, but it would be encouraging to see them push the boat out to land a sexier name who might add special value to an area of the squad that needs it.
To get big players, you generally need a big coach – like Rennie – or at least a coach with a big contacts book. If we remove ourselves from fantasy-land and assume that Warren Gatland won’t ditch the Chiefs to come to Scotstoun, Wayne Smith is unlikely to come out of semi-retirement on the other side of the world, and Eddie Jones isn’t going to reject an eye-watering new deal to flit north, where do Glasgow look?
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They ought to start at the top. Scott Robertson, the Crusaders’ all-conquering break-dancer, is one of world rugby’s hottest properties, and will undoubtedly be among the foremost contenders to replace Steve Hansen. Robertson has won three Super Rugby titles in a row and is clearly a fantastic coach, but he inherited a wonderful squad. From the start of his reign in 2017, he had access to a slew of All Blacks, including almost half of the team that started the World Cup semi-final against England.
While that certainly does not diminish his achievements, he has hardly had to bake a cake with crumbs. Robertson also lacks the overseas experience that the All Blacks board tend to favour for the top job. Getting him to Glasgow would be extremely difficult, but he is the calibre of coach Scottish Rugby should be examining.
Ben Ryan would be a riveting option. A free-thinking, socially aware coach, his ability to understand his players and use of clever methods could allow Warriors to flourish. Ryan is held in high esteem by Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson, who recently hired him to carry out a review of the performance department, and was a very strong candidate to land the Edinburgh job when Cockerill was appointed in 2017. He is known primarily for his Olympic sevens glory with Fiji, but give him a talented group of 15s players and the freedom to weave his magic and the results could be spectacular.
Player welfare is a delicate subject post-World Cup, especially with Exeter selecting the way they have for their Premiership match next Sundayhttps://t.co/JdeEO4zMRx
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Sticking with the theme of innovators, Brendan Venter laid the platform for Saracens’ trophy run a decade ago and is one of modern rugby’s most famous pioneers. He has most recently worked with Italy – remember the “no-ruck” chaos that bamboozled England? – and would bring ideas and leadership.
The experienced Colin Cooper followed Rennie at Chiefs – his two seasons in charge were nothing special, but he is respected enough in New Zealand to have led two Super Rugby franchises and the Maori. Daryl Gibson, the former Glasgow centre, is out of work having left the Waratahs in the summer after four fluctuating years at the helm. England’s Jones is patently miles out of reach, but what about Scott Wisemantel, his attack coach? Australia are, by all accounts, keen to bring him home too, but again, he is the level of operator that Glasgow ought to be targeting.
Closer to home, Sam Vesty has burnished his reputation as one of England’s brightest young coaches at Worcester Warriors and Northampton Saints. He would be an intriguing option, not least because of his attacking focus and the glowing testimonies of those who have worked under him.
ICYMI | The Glasgow Warriors team to face @ZebreRugby tomorrow afternoon was named earlier today, with five Scotland internationals returning to the matchday 23.
Read more: https://t.co/0ZxHbwB1Bd
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— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) November 8, 2019
If Scottish Rugby are prepared to look at and potentially pay to secure contracted coaches, they could do a lot worse than Kieran Crowley, who has done magnificent work at Benetton but is tied there until 2022. Stuart Lancaster is under contract at Leinster, although the province have not disclosed the length of the deal – persuading him to move to Scotland and become a head coach again would be remarkable but not impossible.
It is unlikely that Cotter could be tempted back after the manner of his exit two years ago, but the gruff New Zealander would a thunderously popular appointment. Some of these are big names, but Glasgow are a big club. Most would have reckoned Rennie way beyond their thinking when Dodson brought him here in the summer of 2017.
Glasgow are now firmly established among the PRO14’s heavyweights. They have a fanbase that exceeds their home ground and are on the brink of stadium expansion. They have a reputation for the cacophonous and the feverish and rugby that makes you purr.
If Rennie goes, and all the indications are that he will, selecting the man to take on that mantle is a task of seismic importance.
WATCH: The latest episode of Don’t Mess With Jim sees ex-Scotland international Jim Hamilton discuss South Africa’s World Cup gold and Saracens’ salary cap breaches
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments