International Rugby Coaches

[Dan54]

I have been noting the angst of Foster getting the All Blacks coaching job, and by some Rennie getting the Wallaby gig (for different reasons), so I thought now would be a good time for people to say what they look for in an international coach. Or why they disagree with anyone getting job. I find it really interesting that some people get real passionate about who should be coach without seemingly knowing the coaches.
Do you look for international experience, success as a coach and at what level, do you believe it is his man management, rugby knowledge or ability to form a good coaching team around him?

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Speaking mainly about Australian coaches (and not just head coaches) I'm always keen for them to have experience in a number of different environments/competitions (Super, Top 14, Premiership, Champions Cup, Mitre 10, Top League) but also have a solid understanding of the domestic landscape (mainly NRC, QPR/SS and GPS rugby).

 

[Rob42]

A really interesting question Dan. For me:

1. Ability to attract and inspire quality assistant coaches: I think this is critical to the success of any senior manager, but especially here. A national head coach shouldn't need to focus on the day to day coaching of the national squad, in terms of drills, workouts, implementation of game strategies - he/she should be able to leave that work to top-quality assistants. The best creative ideas will probably come from younger assistants and the players, so a head coach should create an environment that attracts the best assistants and challenges them to become better - the head coach is a coach of the coaches.

2. Fit with the rugby environment: Some head coaches will step into an environment that provides lots of existing support, in terms of recruitment, pathways, established style of play, etc. Some head coaches will have none of that. Different situations require different skills and strengths. A successful coach in the well-supported environment may be someone who can manage the people well (see point 1) and "bring people along", focusing on incremental change and improvement. The coach with no support may need to be someone who is ruthless and demanding, bringing order where there is none. For better or worse, I think Cheika was the right man for the Tahs and the Wallabies at a time when there wasn't much vision or adequate structures. He didn't thrive when those structures started to be built around him.

3. International experience: The national head coach role is so different to a club head coach - there are so many layers below a national head coach that he/she must work through (clubs, juniors, national pathways, overseas players, etc). This is my only concern regarding Rennie, his lack of national experience. However, good support (see point 2) could minimise the risk here, sharing the workload.

4. Rugby knowledge: Yes, needed. I don't buy into the idea that a successful coach from another sport or corporate life could be a successful national coach. However, it is interesting how many successful coaches at provincial or national level have experience outside of rugby - school teaching, business, etc.

 

[Dan54]

Both posts I agree with, especially about attracting quality assistants, one of the reasons I think AR will be happy with team they have at Wallabies . As pointed out head international coach is quite different to super and lower levels, and though great to have grounding in all levels of coaching, I think we can get trapped by attaching over importance to Super coaching results!

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Good question Dan. Speaking from an Australian point of view, I prefer international coaches who have come up through our system, especially those starting with club footy, into NRC/Super rugby or junior rep teams and then into the top job. Maybe even an apprenticeship as a Wallaby assistant. Experience overseas in another system I would regard as a bonus too. All of that makes for a more rounded coach IMHO. Technical rugby knowledge is a given IMHO.

In terms of their individual qualities, I look for leadership and the ability use the best capabilities of their players and assistants, just as a good chief executive does. They also set the standard when it comes to team culture and continuous improvement. We've moved past the days when the head coach dominated the coaches box (ref: Cheika) and a variety of view points and specialised expertise are needed. A HC who can bring all of that together and build a coherent game plan is preferred, as is the ability to be a good communicator (players, refs, other coaches, RA executive, media). They also need to be able to work with the provincial teams and get across the game plan they're trying to build.

I would expect that a Wallaby coach will have a well articulated way that they want to play and have success on the field, with a specific plan for the candidate players who can deliver on that plan. Without this all we have is hope, which is not a strategy.

 

[Ulrich]

I agree with a good coaching group around the main man.

As things stand Nienaber is now the official Springbok coach, the Boks did not have an official coach from 2018 onwards (Erasmus, from SARU was always referred to as the DOR).

We'll see how Nienaber pans out having no experience being a head coach himself. Rassie will still take responsibility for results and will maintain strategy from his side and will be in the coaches box, so he is probably to a good degree still the coach.

Jones (the Irish one) will be based in Europe to relay info and fitness requirements to the Boks over there.

The team is fairly strong still, but we'll have to see how Deon Davids and Daan Human go. Matt Proudfoot has gone to England now.

All in all there's some continuity for the first time ever so it's time to see how that works out for SA.

International experience is important too, I think. A lot of coaches seem to come back better for having coached up north. Johan Ackermann is an option down the line.