1
Worcester head coach Rory Duncan being lined up for South Africa return - reports
Worcester Warriors’ bid for Gallagher Premiership survival has taken a positive turn over the last couple of weeks, as they picked up five extremely valuable points in their 39-17 win over Sale Sharks in Round 19.
ADVERTISEMENT
Combined with Newcastle Falcons’ narrow loss at home to Leicester Tigers, Worcester are now seven points clear of Newcastle at the bottom, with just three fixtures left to play.
Those three fixtures come against Gloucester at Sixways this weekend, Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens in the penultimate round, before finishing the season up at home to Saracens.
Whilst their prospects of survival are looking brighter, there are reports emerging in South Africa that Rory Duncan, the club’s head coach, is a wanted man.
According to Rapport, Duncan is on a shortlist to be the next man to lead the Cheetahs, with current head coach Franco Smith linked with a role with the Italian national team after the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Duncan has roots in Bloemfontein, having previously coached the Free State Cheetahs at U21 and Currie Cup levels, before taking up the same role with the Cheetahs in their inaugural season in the Guinness PRO14, a year prior to joining Worcester.
The 41-year-old has faced a testing season alongside Alan Solomons in the Premiership, with the side from the West Midlands having been embroiled in a relegation battle throughout the campaign, but there have been no indications that he is unhappy in his role or looking to move back to South Africa.
ADVERTISEMENT
Per the Rapport report, Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has been drafted in to help the Cheetahs find the man to succeed Smith, something which could help convince Duncan to make the move back to the Free State, with Erasmus having been the coach at the franchise when Duncan was there as a player.
Should Duncan be tempted back to his old club, Worcester will be searching for a new head coach as they prepare for the 2019/29 season, unless they promote in-house, with Mefin Davies, Omar Mouneimne and Neil Doak all currently on the coaching staff.
Watch: The Academy – Part Two
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
54 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.
54 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
54 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.
54 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.
54 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.
54 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