Andy Friend interview

[Juan Cote]

Men,

It looks as though I have lined up an interview with Andy Friend, just waiting to confirm the time. I will have to do it by phone as he will be O/S when I am in Canberra.

Any questions you want asked?

 

[Spook]

Yeah please ask him:
- why he didn't play Betham.
- If the offloading game is going to be developed as the primary attacking weapon
- If he would consider a change of captain
- If he sees Kimlin as a lock or a backrow player
- How realistic is it that Huxley will play next year?
- How he rates S14 compared with the Heineken Cup and Guiness Premiership.
- Would he consider Lealiifano at 12 to partner Gits with To'omua at 15?

-...does he a need a Brumby informant in Europe? >

 

[louie]

ask him:
what he makes of the brumbies culture and is it so important to Australian rugby?
a wank question i know but he is always going on about the community and the brumbies.

 

[cyclopath]

Yeah, what he said to Rocky to get him to sign!!

 

[RugbyReg]

Yep, the culture question is a cracker and very pertinent. What was it like when he started (taking over Gandalf?). How has he changed it? Why do players want to come there so readily?

Are they looing at foreign players for next year?

 

[Juan Cote]

Andy Friend interview confirmed. I spoke to him today and will do the interview by phone this Tuesday morning.

I've scheduled 15 mins so I should be able to get thru a fair bit of stuff.

Let me know if you want a specific question asked and I'll do my best.

 

[louie]

if you could do my that'd be tops
best of luck with it can't wait for the results

 

[Juan Cote]

will do louie

 

[Biffo]

Ask him:

1. Which coaches, in the whole history of coaches in the whole rugby world, he admires most.

2. From which coaches has he learned the most in his rise from club to S14.

 

[Biffo]

Ask him:

1. Does he ever look at rugby forums on the net
2. If so, which
3. Does he have favourite posters.

 

[cyclopath]

How is he going to play To'omua next year? Just back-up 10 or maybe some 12 time too?
If JOC (James O'Connor) doesn't go there, who's his preferred 15?

 

[louie]

biffo I've already asked him and its you

 

[Biffo]

biffo I've already asked him and its you

then the Brumbies are in big trouble.

 

[barbarian]

An addendum to the question about Brumbies culture- are more than a player's rugby abilities considered in recruitment? Like Paul Roos' 'no dickheads' policy? Or is it just a take all comers approach?

 

[Gagger]

I'm thinking about what might set apart a G&GR interview vs the usual soapy tit wank other journos provide. I reckon it's specificity. Giving examples and insights rather than the usual broad brush cliches.

No need to be bolshy, just frame the questions the right way.

So, with Friendy we gotta think of how to get around the usual high level coach-speak and far more specific. Questions you can't bullshit out of.

e.g's
- most telling stat from Brumbies 2008 season
- single best thing he did to change the culture
- most important drill / training regime they've introduced this season
- what part of Tyrone's game is stopping him from getting a look in with the Wallabies?
- is there a player left in Australia he'd like to see at the Brumbies; who?