Shaun Edwards' U-turn nearly complete as Welsh talks poised to reach conclusion
Shaun Edwards is reportedly set to conclude an agreement to remain on with Wales after the World Cup and work as one of two defence coaches under incoming Wayne Pivac.
With Warren Gatland set to leave following the World Cup, it appeared the 52-year-old defence coach was poised to return to rugby league as Wigan Warriors’ head coach. The three-time Six Nations Grand Slam winner was also linked Wasps and Leicester in the Premiership.
However, despite Byron Hayward quitting as Scarlets defence coach and deciding to move from Parc y Scarlets to the Wales national team along with Pivac, it now appears that Edwards won’t be going anywhere and will instead work in tandem with Hayward under Gatland’s replacement.
Hayward, who joined the Scarlets coaching team in 2014 and helped guide them to their 2017 PRO12 success, will be given the responsibility for scouting Wales’ opponents and analysing how to stop them, according to a report published on walesonline.com. That brief would facilitate Edwards putting into practice Hayward’s recommendations.
Wales’ decision to employ two defence coaches won’t be considered unusual as they have already committed to employing two specialist attack coaches in Stephen Jones and Neil Jenkins, who is thought to be taking on more responsibilities than he currently has.
Shaun Edwards agrees to stay with Wales as Wayne Pivac employs TWO defence coacheshttps://t.co/xmiS7OnASf
— WalesOnline Rugby (@WalesRugby) April 14, 2019
There had been confusion in the wake of Wales’ latest Grand Slam triumph last month regarding Edwards’ situation. Pivac insisted he had been on his defence coach shortlist but had ruled himself out due to his intention to cross codes and take over at Wigan. “Shaun has done a fantastic job – we all know that. He’s a very, very good defence coach,” said Pivac at the time, trying to clarify his position.
“Shaun was the first person I spoke with. He indicated early on he was under pressure from Wigan and that the timeline that was imposed on us were unrealistic. I talked around a process we would be going through. That was pre-autumn and pre-Six Nations. Shaun signed with Wigan and that put paid to the discussions going any further. Shaun knew he was on the shortlist, that he was the incumbent. We’d had a meeting and subsequent conversations.”
Wigan, though, only ever had a verbal agreement with Edwards and with no contract signed, WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips said they would open dialogue with Gatland’s assistant with a view to keeping him on board. Those talks now appear to be reaching a fruitful conclusion, with Edwards now poised to work alongside Hayward rather than have the Kiwi succeed him.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 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.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments