The Year of the Coaches

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Feb 27, 2024, 14:33

Rugby seems incredibly slow to learn the lesson of a failing coach. New Zealand has labored 4 years under Foster. Eddie Jones wrecked English rugby and then wrecked Australian rugby. Galtier having failed with a great team now  looks out of touch. Borthwick has managed one decent game, against the Boks in the semis. The Boks were clueless under Coetzee, ignoring their core strengths


Credit to South African rugby for having the guts to boot Alistair, Eluckmiss returned the Boks to its traditional strengths, an essential if obvious first step.


Several of these coaches, like Foster, are just too old…out of touch with their players. Old men who have lost their fire.


This year under Razor we will be able to see if New Zealand rugby has really declined. The right age, with passion and a record of success. 

England and France look lost. Ireland and the Boks have continuity, a significant advantage, although Eluckmiss has implicitly targeted a more balanced style and managing the transition will be tricky.

Perhaps the most interesting is Australia under Schmidt. In 2021 Australia demonstrated that it could still beat the Boks, but faded horribly into the WC. Schmidt has a hell of a job turning that around, but he did wonders for Ireland.


It’s going to be a challenging  year in the coaching box.

Feb 27, 2024, 15:25

Where do you come up with these stupid names??

So lame for an old man.

Feb 27, 2024, 15:55

I wouldn't say Eddie was that bad to start off, the team took a massive knock not winning the WC. Too much emphasis are being put on winning the trophy and coaches have the luxury of World Cup cycle these days. 

Ireland have been consistent, but they are not good at knock-out rugby. Maybe it is something the in SA players DNA and the fact that we have a coach like Rassie that knows how play his team. 

The boks look a whole lot better when Rassie was back on the side lines where as they really struggled when he was suspended. 

I like Razor, but like so many Crusaders coaches before him, like Robbie Deans, coaching a provincial team is one thing, but can you carry that over into the international arena. 

Oh, when will they ever get rid of Gatland, 

We have some many useless international coaches hanging around these days. Eddie is back in Japan etc. 


Feb 27, 2024, 17:28

Rugby cultures also vary so much, it’s hard for a coach to succeed in a very different culture eg for a South African coach to succeed in Australia. But time is the biggest enemy, ideas become stale, particularly ideas which run counter to that country’s rugby traditions.

If you stay long enough  you fade.

Feb 27, 2024, 19:52

Moz it’s hard to believe but Eddie has the best England coaching record since 1969 at 75%

Feb 28, 2024, 20:34

The shiny new toy thing disappeared quickly…Eddie’s tactics in the 2019 WC final were naive at best. Why he left Marler on the bench while his scrum was being destroyed is a mystery.

Feb 28, 2024, 20:38

Yeah he lost the plot in a big way and was hated by the players

Lewis Ludlam’s dad told me it was toxic being in the England set up. The players much preferred playing for their clubs

Feb 28, 2024, 21:32

Odd he seems like such a quiet bloke.

 
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