Worst kept secret in rugby is also the best fit – Andy Goode
Andy Farrell’s appointment as British & Irish Lions head coach might be the worst kept secret and most glaringly obvious choice in recent rugby history but it’s also the best fit imaginable.
There really never was anyone else in the frame and, with two tours as an assistant, a glittering playing career and a good body of work already behind him as an international head coach, you’d have to work hard to find anyone credible arguing with the decision.
I’ve seen a few people citing Ireland’s latest quarter-final exit from the World Cup as something to count against him but by that token everyone apart from Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus is a failure and Farrell could scarcely have come closer to beating the All Blacks in that epic encounter in Paris just three months ago.
The Wiganer led Ireland to only the fourth Six Nations Grand Slam in their history last year and, as well as being a born winner and leader, he is also a man who is pretty much universally regarded as a good bloke which is important on a long tour.
The media is awash with people picking their Lions XVs already but it’s way too soon to be discussing selection. There is no doubt in my mind that Farrell will pick on form though and be unscrupulously fair.
There will always be calls that people disagree with but there are unlikely to be a lot of accusations of bias towards Ireland players, as has perhaps been the case in the past, as much as anything because a lot of them are so good that they’re nailed on to be selected anyway.
Of course, the subject of Farrell’s son has dominated the headlines in the wake of his appointment as well given that he might be off to Paris to play his club rugby and is taking a break from England duty for the time being.
There isn’t much to be said on that either though to be honest. The tour is 17 months away, players plying their trade in France have been selected before and if he’s tearing up trees, I’ve absolutely no doubt he’ll be on the plane but there won’t be any preferential treatment.
The only real area that is up for discussion in the coming few months and that might divide opinion is the make-up of Farrell’s coaching staff. I think he’d like to have his assistants in place in the not too distant future and I can see him wanting to make a clean break from the Warren Gatland era.
A lot of people are expecting Gregor Townsend to lead the attack again because he’s still in situ with Scotland and there aren’t too many other obvious options but the Lions scored just two tries in three Tests in South Africa and they were both scored by hookers.
That isn’t necessarily Townsend’s fault and he might have been restricted by Gatland’s style of play, he’s clearly a bright attacking mind but I just think Farrell might want to have his own man in there and someone who hasn’t done the job before.
Mike Catt is definitely an option, having been on a couple of Lions tours as a player, worked with Farrell as an assistant in the England and Ireland setups and with his departure from the Irish coaching staff confirmed for later this year.
Not that they aren’t excellent coaches in their own right because they are but I’m not sure the likes of Pete Horne, Richard Wigglesworth or Alex King, who are currently working on attack internationally, will be high up on the list of names being considered.
Ronan O’Gara is reportedly interested in touring with the Lions at some point and would be the dream choice for many but it might well be tricky to negotiate his release from La Rochelle at a busy time of year for them.
There are other exciting attacking minds working at club level who could do a good job such as Nick Evans, Noel McNamara or Sam Vesty but, aside from Graham Rowntree in 2017, you don’t see many club assistant coaches called up to Lions tours for obvious reasons.
There are definitely more outstanding candidates that trip off the tongue for the role of defence coach and Steve Tandy, who is still involved with Scotland, did a good job in 2021 but I think Farrell will go for someone different.
Mike Forshaw has a rugby league background like Farrell and is doing a great job with Wales’ defence after improving Sale significantly but, given their close relationship and his outstanding CV, Shaun Edwards would be most people’s pick.
France don’t always focus too heavily on their summer tours and often send development squads so they might be amenable to releasing him for the right price but it’s certainly harder to get him on board than someone working for one of the home nations or Ireland.
He might not even have got his feet under the table with England yet but probably the most natural choice for the job of defence coach would be Felix Jones, after all he has just won back to back World Cups with South Africa and their defence wasn’t too shabby.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Farrell takes any of his current Ireland assistants with him or leaves them all to hold the fort but Paul O’Connell would surely be the one to accompany him if anyone does given he’s a former Lions captain and is a lineout and, more recently, breakdown guru.
Robin McBryde, currently at Leinster, was forwards coach on the 2021 Lions tour and Munster head coach Graham Rowntree has done that job on tours in the past. He’d be a perfect choice but may not be available this time around.
Farrell will have some names in mind already and take a bit of time to have conversations and get the right blend in his coaching staff but that’ll be one of the jobs he wants to get ticked off first.
It’s good to have the worst kept secret in rugby out in the open now but there’s absolutely no rush for any further developments. The opposition don’t even have a head coach at the moment and are at their lowest ebb ever.
The less said about the second Eddie Jones era with the Wallabies the better but it isn’t great when Australia’s full-back-cum-fly-half at the World Cup Ben Donaldson is saying the players still haven’t heard anything since the tournament and the All Blacks are in camp now.
The men in green and gold simply cannot be in worse shape than they are now when the Lions come to visit but they have an awful lot of work to do in a short space of time and everyone will be expecting a series win for the Lions.
Ordinarily, the Lions are underdogs given the short time they have to prepare and bring together players from different nations, cultures and systems and the quality of South Africa and New Zealand, but they are bound to be big favourites this time around and that adds a different pressure for Farrell.
Of course, pressure is something Farrell senior has thrived on all his life though and success has usually followed so the hype can start building now for the next huge event in the rugby calendar and here’s hoping he can deliver a Wallaby whitewash, something that’s never happened before except for on the Australian legs of the joint tours to there and New Zealand in the 1950s and 60s.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’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.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 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.
42 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.
45 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.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 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.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
5 Go to comments