1
The Dai Young lesson feeding into this weekend's Millard plan for Harlequins
Saturday’s Ashton Gate clash, which pits Pat Lam versus Billy Millard when Bristol host Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership semi-final, is illustrative of how genuinely small the rugby world really is. You might be hard-pressed to twig what connects a former Samoan international forward with an average Australian club out-half, but their bond is more than cordial even if the line of communication has gone quiet this week.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pair have never worked together but their connection stems from Ireland where Millard’s two-year stint as Connacht backs coach ended with a switch to USA rugby just as Lam arrived in Galway in 2013 to work his magic and turn the unfashionable province into league title winners at the end of his third year.
The connection emerged at this week’s Harlequins media briefing ahead of the Premiership semi-final when Millard was asked for his assessment of the threat posed by Bristol, the league’s first-place finishers. “They can play,” said the Harlequins general manager. “I actually coached with their attack coach in Connacht.
“He’s a good friend of mine, Conor McPhillips, a very smart coach, loves to play but they can get direct as well. They have got a very good set-piece, they have got serious ball carriers so it’s not going to be a free-for-all. They are able to mix it very physically upfront and get direct off launch plays.”
Asked to elaborate on the McPhillips connection, Millard added: “I coached with Conor in Connacht. He was head of analysis and John Muldoon (another current Bristol assistant) was our captain. I left just before Pat started but Pat lived near my in-laws’ house in Galway. I married a Galway girl, so Pat and I have a pretty cool relationship as well. I haven’t actually spoken to him this week. Usually, there are a few WhatsApps flying around but I’ll catch him on Saturday before the game. Great guys, good coaches and I shared some good times with them.”
"I try and keep God on my side so he looks after me on the field"
– Premiership player of the year nominee Marcus Smith talks about his faith, his Asian roots, his rejuvenated form and his enduring love for @Harlequins#BRIvHAR https://t.co/zGVufoSIVu
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 17, 2021
Without a head of rugby since the departure of Paul Gustard in January, Millard said an unveiling would soon take place at Harlequins. “We’re just trying to get our timing right. There should be an announcement definitely in the next fortnight so watch this space I guess.”
In the meantime, Harlequins will seek to reach a first Premiership final since 2012, the only time they became champions of England. Heading away to Bristol is the sort of showpiece event that could mentally overwhelm them, but Millard is conscious from his Cardiff days of the need to channel emotions in the best way possible.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Honestly the emotion of the occasion takes care of itself,” he reckoned. “I remember being involved in the Cardiff Blues, I was coaching that semi-final when we had the kick-off (the lost 2009 penalty shootout against Leicester). I coached in the (2010 Challenge Cup) final down in Marseille when we beat a star-studded Toulon team and Dai Young taught me that in these big games you don’t want to over-emphasise the emotion because you can tip over the edge.
“The boys know the occasion and what is at stake here and we have a few little things planned to tap into our ancestors and the history of the club just to make it feel a little bit different, but you don’t need to tell them too much because they well and truly know what the occasion is about and if you overplay that you can tip on the wrong side of emotion.”
A deluge of individual awards and nominations flooded into Bristol this week#BRIvHARhttps://t.co/hujGkB7ENX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 18, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
39 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
41 Go to comments