Years after he quit playing, rookie England assistant Robinson is still coping with concussion symptoms
Rookie England assistant coach Ed Robinson has admitted he still suffers from concussive symptoms that ended his embryonic playing career as a 19-year-old. A son of ex-England coach Andy, he was accidentally knocked out by an opponent’s knee when playing for Loughborough University.
Moderate exercise would lead to headaches and nausea due to the complex nature of that career-ending concussion, but he hasn’t allowed any of enduring symptoms stop his rise up the coaching ranks and into the England set-up on a temporary basis as a 27-year-old skills coach.
“They [symptoms] are still there in the background but life is good,” he said. “I have got no complaints. There are many people in the world in a worse situation than I am in. To be able to do what I love to do every day I am very, very lucky.
“It is something that I’m used to. Everybody has got something in their life that they have got to get over and get around and learn how to manage and this is just one of those things for me.”
A chance encounter at a public talk in Jersey resulted in an hour-long chat with Eddie Jones that was the start of the rapport that now sees Robinson coaching at Guinness Six Nations level with England after it was decided it would be best due to the pandemic for full-time skills coach Jason Ryles to stay in Australia.
Not everyone agreed with Andy Goode that Eddie Jones' England will bag back-to-back titles #GuinnessSixNations @TheRugbyPodhttps://t.co/7SrpmVvKRH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 3, 2021
Robinson spent a day in England camp in the lead-up to the win last March over Wales and he had a weekly Zoom call with Jones during the first lockdown, but he never imagined it could lead to him taking over from Ryles in an emergency.
“Out of the blue I had a text on my phone saying call me, I called him and I flew the next day,” explained Robinson about how two weeks ago he went from preparing for the new Championship season as backs coach at Jersey into the maelstrom of helping England get ready to start the defence of their Six Nations title at home to Scotland this Saturday.
“He [Jones] spoke about my role, to help players get better with their individual skills. I asked him if it was a joke. Eddie has been awesome in mentoring me. I would send him an idea and he would give me great feedback on it to then go and make it better,” continued Robinson, who mentioned he has been trying to add another edge to Jonny May’s already excellent aerial game.
“Coaching is about relationships and understanding what they [players] need to do to get better first and foremost and then help them to understand what they have to do to get better. Gone are the days of a coach screaming at people. That is my role. If I can help with one per cent making them better then that is great.
“The big thing for me is to be myself and to coach the way I have coached. At Jersey we are about driving standards, trying to coach and perform at a level above the Championship.”
Episode 15 – Ice Baths, Six Nations, New York with Foden and a late night in Queenstown ?
Christina, Dylan & Zeebs welcome former England international and current Rugby United New York fullback, Ben Foden ??
The man has SO many stories ?
?? – https://t.co/pKUy9R6Mry pic.twitter.com/4h1h2SNFLm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 3, 2021
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