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Some England fans are questioning O'Shea over his record with Italy
The Rugby Football Union made a key announcement on Friday that former Italy head coach Conor O’Shea will become the director of performance rugby in 2020.
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The development came as former England international Nigel Melville announced he will leave his post as director of professional rugby, which he has held since July 2016.
There has been a positive reaction to this announcement so far, as many English fans and professionals remember the fine job the 49-year-old O’Shea did during his six years as director of rugby at Harlequins.
He led Quins to the Challenge Cup in 2011 before winning the Premiership the season after, establishing the London side as a force in English rugby.
O’Shea has always been recognised for the system he established at Harlequins and the progress that many of his players made.
Great to have him back ? https://t.co/zNR0tzl7QZ
— ugo monye (@ugomonye) November 29, 2019
Great news. Doesn't get the credit he deserves for his role out in Italy, in impossible job at times. World class coach. Would happily see him take over from Eddie in a few years.
— Charles Spence (@ChazSpence1) November 29, 2019
Absolutely outstanding appointment.
— ?O?TY ?? ?O?T? (@JontyUpNorth) November 29, 2019
Not only did he see some of his players become internationals during his tenure, he helped those that were on the periphery of the England squad became regulars, particularly Chris Robshaw and Mike Brown.
Excellent move. This bloke made me very happy in 2012. I'm sure he's the right candidate for this job. https://t.co/pPdyXQ67CE
— David Barrett (@SUBHCMole) November 29, 2019
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That’s a fine acquisition having another top level coach on board! Time to build on the World Cup progress & deliver some trophies ? ??
— SWIPA (@swipa_mc) November 29, 2019
However, some fans have questioned O’Shea’s most recent spell with Italy, which started in 2016 and ended after the recent World Cup.
Italy failed to win a Six Nations match during the three tournaments that the Irishman presided over, and only managed one win against a tier one side during his tenure, albeit against the Springboks.
Not only have some fans highlighted this, they have queried why this is seemingly overlooked by the majority of people.
The former Ireland international’s role with the RFU will be different from his one with Italy, however, as he will manage and strategise the progress of professional rugby in England, which includes the men’s, women’s and sevens teams.
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Unimpressive and a bit out of his depth when he stepped up a level with Italy. Not sure he is the right man for this job. Just saying
— sussexfox (@sussexfox1) November 29, 2019
If any rugby media aren't sucking up to Conor O'Shea and actually want to write a balanced piece which includes his failures as a coach and not just "what a nice guy he is", please let me know. Perhaps you just need to suck up to everyone to get on in life, but it's pretty dull.
— Peter Redman (@redmanpe) November 29, 2019
Conor O’Shea joins RFU as Director of Performance Rugby as Nigel Melville leaves similar role. I think it is an insult to English coaches within the game who are as competent if not better than O'Shea. He hasn't set the game alight which was reflected in the Italian sides
— peter griffiths (@petergriffith11) November 29, 2019
Did well at Italy, not. Poor decision for me.
— John Neary (@GRedstorm) November 29, 2019
While the results may have not materialised with Italy, O’Shea can undeniably be credited with changing the way in which the team play, and helping bring through a number of promising young players. The resources that he will have with the RFU will be incomparable to what he had in Italy as well.
Eddie Jones is still the head coach of England and although O’Shea will work alongside him, his job is different and it is clear that he has earned the respect of much of England.
WATCH: Warren Gatland on what it will be like taking on his old team Wales this weekend as Barbarians coach
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I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to comments