1
Newcastle coach Dave Walder has revealed he is using the advice of Shaun Edwards, the French defence coach, to help flying wing Adam Radwan deal with the body blow of being rejected by England for Six Nations action.
ADVERTISEMENT
Radwan scored a hat-trick of tries on his England debut against Canada in July and grabbed another in the win over Tonga but has not added to those two caps despite being included in the Six Nations squad. He was expected to feature against Italy, but head coach Eddie Jones opted for Saracens Max Malins and Jack Nowell.
Radwan headed back to Newcastle and appeared as a replacement in the loss to Exeter last weekend before re-joining the England only to be released again as the squad was reduced for the Wales match. Walder, the former England outside half said: “Radders seems to be, on the surface, in a reasonable place and we talk about it. I remember I was playing at Wasps and Shaun Edwards (France defence coach) was coaching and Tom Rees (flanker) kept coming in and out of England squads and with us was working on different things. Shaun said to Tom that he wouldn’t be picked if he wasn’t a good player and he just needed to be that player and then add things as you go along. Don’t try and do everything you are asked in one go because it will detract from what made you good in the first place.
“You try and remind Radders about why he got picked because he is electric and unbelievable for us and that must be his focus. If he does that I hope he will get picked in the future and at the moment Eddie Jones is playing a couple of people out of position and there is an opportunity for Radders.
“It’s good that Radders is a bit of a goldfish and has a short term memory which is a good thing and when tell him he is brilliant he will remember that and go out and perform like that. I am looking forward to seeing him firing again.”
Walder, whose Falcons side faces Bath on Saturday, has given an insight into the disruption caused when players are called into the England squad but are then returned to their clubs mid-week, forcing them to play catchup before Premiership matches. He added: “It is hugely difficult, emotionally. You go down to England and are desperate to make a name for yourself and have a big Monday (training session) into a big Tuesday and then came back to us tired. It is emotional fatigue as much as anything because you are training at a real intensity while hoping to get an opportunity (to play for England) and don’t want to miss it and so against Exeter we decided it was best to have Radders on the bench to settle back into things.
“It is incredibly tough and I don’t think there is a right or wrong way of doing it and as a player he wants to perform on the weekend for his club but has probably been told by England not to train on day three because of having a big couple of days with them but if he doesn’t train with us he maybe can’t start. That is the dilemma and we deal with it on a week to week basis, but we want Radders firing for us because he is unique and in the Premiership there is no one who can do what he can.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Hopefully, then he can be picked by England rather than just train with them. “
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments