Eddie Jones to replace John Kirwan?!?

[Woopsie]

It has been reported that Eddie Jones will replace John Kirwan...

TOKYO: Former Australia coach Eddie Jones is expected to be named head coach of Japan's national rugby team today to replace All Blacks legend John Kirwan.
The Japan Rugby Football Union said in a short notice that it was to hold a news conference to announce a new structure for the national team, including the new head coach and assistant coach.
Local media reported last week that the union had picked Jones, 51, who took the Wallabies to the 2003 World Cup final, for the job.

Jones, whose wife is Japanese, has been managing Japan's Top League side Suntory Sungoliath since 2009. He was technical adviser to South Africa when the Springboks won the 2007 World Cup in France.
In the 2010-2011 season, Suntory finished runners-up in the Top League and won the separate national championship under Jones. This season they are currently leading the Top League after eight straight wins.
Jones emerged as Kirwan's likely successor after Japan came home winless from the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Japan will host the World Cup in 2019 and will be looking to avoid the embarrassment of becoming the first host country to fail to make the knockout stages.
Kirwan failed to break the Brave Blossoms' 20-year World Cup win drought at the New Zealand tournament. He opted not to seek a new contract when his current five-year deal expires at the end of this month.
AFP

So,John Kirwan opted not to seek a new contract?!? Sounds awfully like Kirwan got sacked and a little bit of face saving?

 

[qwerty51]

He didn't get sacked, he won them the Pacific Nations cup and announced he was leaving during the WC. I'm sure they love him over there

 

[Knuckles]

Stay tuned for the announcement JK will be appointed as a Super 15 Backs coach for a particularly strong NZ provence

 

[Slash]

its a shame Eddie will coach Japan..................coz he'll bugger up their rugby long term just like he did for Australia..............

 

[Bullrush]

Stay tuned for the announcement JK will be appointed as a Super 15 Nacks coach for a particularly strong NZ provence

Come to the Blues JK!! You and Lam can start your future All Black coaching together at Auckland, win a few Super rugby titles and be ready to take the RWC in 2019 ...... There all sorted

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Come to the Blues JK!! You and Lam can start your future All Black coaching together at Auckland, win a few Super rugby titles and be ready to take the RWC in 2019 ...... There all sorted

he said particularly strong

 

[Bullrush]

he said particularly strong

The Blues have picked up Piri Weepu and Ma'a Nonu as well as ex-All Black Rudi Wulf reurning to the team. Throw in NZ Player of the Year Kaino, RWC winners Mealamu, Williams, Woodcock, and Toeava. Boric is still there with Rene Ranger, Mathewson and the Braid brothers. After making the semi's last year, even with the turn-stiles that were Brett and McAllister, 2012 could be another championship year for the Blues. Is that strong enough for you.

 

[Hawko]

its a shame Eddie will coach Japan..................coz he'll bugger up their rugby long term just like he did for Australia..............

Maybe not. Jones is no dumb-arse, he's got good analytical ability and likes to set down good structures. It will depend on how that works culturally. Maybe the players will respond to Eddie's style and get the confidence in their game to take their team to the next level. How the coach fits into the team psyche is an underated requirement for success. I'm not close enough to the situation to hazard a guess but there's no guarantee that his lack of success with Australia will translate directly across to the Japanese national team.

 

[Garry Owen]

John Kirwan's free. Big Jon, get your cheque book out.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

The Blues have picked up Piri Weepu and Ma'a Nonu as well as ex-All Black Rudi Wulf reurning to the team. Throw in NZ Player of the Year Kaino, RWC winners Mealamu, Williams, Woodcock, and Toeava. Boric is still there with Rene Ranger, Mathewson and the Braid brothers. After making the semi's last year, even with the turn-stiles that were Brett and McAllister, 2012 could be another championship year for the Blues. Is that strong enough for you.

A lot of players with a lot of baggage there.....but i was joking: strength is not the issue with the blues

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

The blues have proved time and time again that they can suck with a whole sheet load of world class players & all blacks.

If the coaching setup is the same as last year, I expect simliar results. Semi's, perhaps flakily style and then bow out straight away.

Back on topic - I'm not sure Eddie style will work with Japan. Analytical, numbers based coach, with analytical culture. Could be too much analytics, not enough free for all. Or it could work a treat. 50/50.

 

[qwerty51]

The Blues have picked up Piri Weepu and Ma'a Nonu as well as ex-All Black Rudi Wulf reurning to the team. Throw in NZ Player of the Year Kaino, RWC winners Mealamu, Williams, Woodcock, and Toeava. Boric is still there with Rene Ranger, Mathewson and the Braid brothers. After making the semi's last year, even with the turn-stiles that were Brett and McAllister, 2012 could be another championship year for the Blues. Is that strong enough for you.

Why is Matthewson not mentioned as a turnstile as well? He was the biggest problem last year.

 

[tranquility]

I think this setup would have worked better if JK stayed on and EJ (Eddie Jones) worked in a consultancy role. He still hasn't proved (despite having an amazing rugby mind) that he has the interpersonal skills to run a team as head coach. In saying all this though, maybe he and JK may not have been able to work together anyhow.

 

[Newter]

Maybe not. Jones is no dumb-arse, he's got good analytical ability and likes to set down good structures. It will depend on how that works culturally. Maybe the players will respond to Eddie's style and get the confidence in their game to take their team to the next level. How the coach fits into the team psyche is an underated requirement for success. I'm not close enough to the situation to hazard a guess but there's no guarantee that his lack of success with Australia will translate directly across to the Japanese national team.

I think it's a bad move. Eddie is a very good coach of top-end teams. He gets the best out of champion players, but isn't much good at developing average ones. It's probably his attitude - things he used to say about the Wallabies in 2005, like "these frontrowers are the best in the country, what can I do?" etc. Demotivating stuff.

At Suntory Eddie seems to have a lot of champion ex Wallabies and All Blacks to call on, and he's done well with them. The Cherry Blossoms have no outstanding talent at all. He'll probably win the Pacific Nations Cup etc, but I don't think we'll see a World Cup pool win in 2015.

 

[Slash]

I think it's a bad move. Eddie is a very good coach of top-end teams. He gets the best out of champion players, but isn't much good at developing average ones. It's probably his attitude - things he used to say about the Wallabies in 2005, like "these frontrowers are the best in the country, what can I do?" etc. Demotivating stuff.

At Suntory Eddie seems to have a lot of champion ex Wallabies and All Blacks to call on, and he's done well with them. The Cherry Blossoms have no outstanding talent at all. He'll probably win the Pacific Nations Cup etc, but I don't think we'll see a World Cup pool win in 2015.

Hence the stat the Wallabies were left in after his departure. Robotic, unskilled players. Knuckles Connolly didnt really have enough time to change them and the isssue that Deans had is that for the first 2 years of his tenure he had to show them how to think on the field.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

assuming that's right what did he do for the next 2?

 

[Newter]

Hence the stat the Wallabies were left in after his departure. Robotic, unskilled players. Knuckles Connolly didnt really have enough time to change them and the isssue that Deans had is that for the first 2 years of his tenure he had to show them how to think on the field.

They were passionless in 2005. There was absolutely no spirit or joy in their performances that year. No wonder when you've got the head coach showing his frustration with everyone's 'low abilities'.

He always did well with talented, self-motivated players. Peter Hynes and David Croft had great seasons under his coaching in 2007.

 

[Ruggo]

its a shame Eddie will coach Japan..................coz he'll bugger up their rugby long term just like he did for Australia..............

Yeah because coaches don't evolve throughout their careers.

Eddie Jones just may have the analytical brain to smarten up a Japanese side that traditionally lacks physicallity. Eddies highly structured style of rugby may very well compliment a side like Japan.

 

[Slash]

Yeah because coaches don't evolve throughout their careers.

He hasn't.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

They were passionless in 2005. There was absolutely no spirit or joy in their performances that year. No wonder when you've got the head coach showing his frustration with everyone's 'low abilities'.

He always did well with talented, self-motivated players. Peter Hynes and David Croft had great seasons under his coaching in 2007.

Most coaches do