Super Rugby's Coaching Carousel: Nine new men in charge
Super Rugby’s coaching carousel has come to a stop for now, with nine teams – almost two thirds of the competition – featuring a new man at the helm.
The coaching crop is full of familiar faces, all looking to take their respective teams further than their predecessors. Let’s meet them.
Chiefs
In: Colin Cooper
Out: Dave Rennie
After a successful seven-year run with Taranaki in the Mitre 10 Cup, 58-year-old Colin Cooper returns to Super Rugby and succeeds Dave Rennie at the Chiefs.
Despite some major personnel changes to the backline, the former Hurricanes and New Zealand Maori coach still has plenty of talent at his disposal including reigning Super Rugby Player of the Year Damian McKenzie.
Highlanders
In: Aaron Mauger
Out: Tony Brown
45-test All Black Aaron Mauger makes his South Island return as the new coach of the Highlanders, taking over from Tony Brown.
Mauger is tasked with dethroning his old franchise, the Crusaders, as Super Rugby’s best.
The 37-year-old will no doubt be looking for a fresh start after he was overlooked by the Leicester Tigers, who he coached on an interim basis in early 2017.
Rebels
In: David Wessels
Out: Tony McGahan
David Wessels joins the Rebels, moving over following the axing of the Perth-based Western Force.
The South African is credited with crafting the Brumbies defence that conceded the second fewest points in Super Rugby in 2012.
Wessels has a big task on his hands, inheriting a team that won just once last season despite fielding 13 players with international experience.
Reds
In: Brad Thorn
Out: Nick Stiles
Arguably the world’s most successful rugby player, former All Black Brad Thorn will be hoping to find that same success from the sidelines with Queensland, who have gone through three coaches in just two seasons.
Thorn has already put the foot down and taken steps towards a youth movement, letting former Wallabies Quade Cooper and Nick Frisby know that they aren’t in the team’s plans going forward.
Brumbies
In: Dan McKellar
Out: Stephen Larkham
Dan McKellar steps up from his role as Assistant to take charge at the Brumbies following Stephen Larkham’s departure.
McKellar will be hoping to keep the Brumbies atop the Australian conference, and is already looking to change the team’s playing style to better match up against the New Zealand sides.
Sunwolves
In: Jamie Joseph
Out: Filo Tiatia
Also in charge of the Japanese national side, Joseph becomes the third Sunwolves head coach in as many years, with Mark Hammett and Filo Tiatia lasting just one season each.
The former Highlanders coach will have some familiar faces from his 2015 title-winning team in the changing sheds, including midfielder Jason Emery, five-eighth Hayden Parker and halfback Fumiaki Tanaka.
Jaguares
In: Mario Ledesma
Out: Raul Perez
Former Wallabies forwards coach Mario Ledesma takes over from Raul Perez at the Jaguares for 2018.
Capped 84 times for Argentina over 15 years, legendary test hooker Ledesma should be focused on addressing the disciplinary issues that have crippled the Jaguares since their introduction in 2016.
Lions
In: Swys de Bruin
Out: Johan Ackermann
Johan Ackermann’s right hand man since 2013, Swys de Bruin’s time to lead the Lions has finally come.
Of the new coaches, de Bruin has inherited the best team in the back-to-back finalists. The team is largely unchanged over the last two years and de Bruin will be hoping he can get the Lions over the hump and bring home some silverware at season’s end.
Bulls
In: John Mitchell
Out: Nollis Marais
John Mitchell is back coaching Super Rugby after a short stint with the United States national side.
Mitchell’s coaching career, while extensive, hasn’t been filled with success. In eight seasons coaching Super Rugby with the Chiefs, Force and Lions his best finish has been sixth place.
Comments on RugbyPass
Very unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry 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.
2 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.
3 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
3 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 comments