Wallaby Coach Conga Line

[John S]

https://wallabies.rugby/news/2019/11/19/qantas-wallabies-coach-appointment

Link to the announcement

 

[barbarian]

No word on the assistants yet. Hopefully the Scotland connection might yield us Matt Taylor, and Scott Wisemantl is the other name I'd like to see.

 

[Lost]

Announcement has been made.

Dave Rennie coach through until the 2023 World Cup

There’s a shock. Decision made 6 months ago. Another dodgy decision by a desperate CEO and an exiting Chairman. No process, came down to who would take the job on the basis of reporting to Scott Johnson, who was also plucked out of obscurity. Everyone appointed for 4 years. FFS

It’s a script from a comedy show.

 

[barbarian]

Who would you have appointed, Lost?

 

[Lost]

Larkham, with some senior assistants like Fischer.

Have a close look at Johnson’s coaching history and experience. Nothing there that says he is “compelling”. Lot of wins against Italy, not a lot against anyone else.

 

[eastman]

Larkham, with some senior assistants like Fischer.



Have a close look at Johnson’s coaching history and experience. Nothing there that says he is “compelling”. Lot of wins against Italy, not a lot against anyone else.

How does Larkham's resume stack up against Rennie's?

 

[Sully]

How does Larkham's resume stack up against Rennie's?

Larkham's resume doesn't stack up against anyones.

 

[Derpus]

There’s a shock. Decision made 6 months ago. Another dodgy decision by a desperate CEO and an exiting Chairman. No process, came down to who would take the job on the basis of reporting to Scott Johnson, who was also plucked out of obscurity. Everyone appointed for 4 years. FFS

It’s a script from a comedy show.

Yeah except nah though.

It was, obviously, a decision made quite a while ago. The writing has been on the wall for Cheika for quite literally years and RA have had plenty of time to consider and choose a candidate they actually rate. Rennie was also considered a strong candidate for the All Blacks job and is widely considered to be a very talented coach.

I think this decision stinks of forethought - not something RA are renowned for. A desperate appointment would have been Jake White six months ago.

 

[Lost]

How does Larkham's resume stack up against Rennie's?

Unless Wikipedia has been hacked his only highlights are winning the Super Rugby in 2012 and 3 wins with NZ under 20’s. Finals only in Europe without winning. That would make Cheika at time of appointment far more compelling.

You tell me what I am missing?

 

[TSR]

Larkham, with some senior assistants like Fischer.

Have a close look at Johnson’s coaching history and experience. Nothing there that says he is “compelling”. Lot of wins against Italy, not a lot against anyone else.

Larkham has absolutely no credentials to suggest he would be successful.

Great player & may get become a great coach, but I am genuinely astonished you could on one hand question Rennie’s appointment and on the other put Larkham’s name up.

 

[barbarian]

I can't find a huge fault in the process, given they clearly tried Eddie Jones and Jamie Joseph.

You can make a case for and against all the other candidates, but Rennie seems like he's good enough if we give him the right infrastructure.

 

[Braveheart81]

Unless Wikipedia has been hacked his only highlights are winning the Super Rugby in 2012 and 3 wins with NZ under 20’s. Finals only in Europe without winning. That would make Cheika at time of appointment far more compelling.

You tell me what I am missing?

He won two Super Rugby titles with the Chiefs.

Cheika's provincial record was outstanding. Up there with anyone.

 

[Aurelius]

Yeah except nah though.

It was, obviously, a decision made quite a while ago. The writing has been on the wall for Cheika for quite literally years and RA have had plenty of time to consider and choose a candidate they actually rate. Rennie was also considered a strong candidate for the All Blacks job and is widely considered to be a very talented coach.

I think this decision stinks of forethought - not something RA are renowned for. A desperate appointment would have been Jake White six months ago.

Sounds a little like the Robbie Deans appointment, then?

Not saying Dave Rennie will do a bad job, but I worry about a process that consists of saying, "Well, this guy's good, let's pencil him in now and we can announce him as soon as the incumbent quits."

Do we know how many candidates were given the opportunity to interview?

 

[Lost]

I can't find a huge fault in the process, given they clearly tried Eddie Jones and Jamie Joseph.

You can make a case for and against all the other candidates, but Rennie seems like he's good enough if we give him the right infrastructure.

I cannot see how they found Johnson and on what basis they handed him the role he has? The rest is purely a result of that.

He has somehow talked his way into a role that his resume suggests is light years from his achievements.

 

[TSR]

Unless Wikipedia has been hacked his only highlights are winning the Super Rugby in 2012 and 3 wins with NZ under 20’s. Finals only in Europe without winning. That would make Cheika at time of appointment far more compelling.

You tell me what I am missing?

Success in the ITM Cup, Super rugby in 2013 and some context around the improvement in results in both the Chiefs and in Europe.

Does he have the best credentials - maybe not against some guys like Joseph & Cotter. Was the process done correctly - I have no idea. But you are under selling Rennie’s credentials.

 

[Lost]

Success in the ITM Cup, Super rugby in 2013 and some context around the improvement in results in both the Chiefs and in Europe.

Does he have the best credentials - maybe not against some guys like Joseph & Cotter. Was the process done correctly - I have no idea. But you are under selling Rennie’s credentials.

Not sure this helps? Again assuming Wikipedia is accurate

 

[Derpus]

JJ was never coming to the Wallabies. His name is all over the All Blacks gig in four years.

 

[Derpus]

Sounds a little like the Robbie Deans appointment, then?

Not saying Dave Rennie will do a bad job, but I worry about a process that consists of saying, "Well, this guy's good, let's pencil him in now and we can announce him as soon as the incumbent quits."

Do we know how many candidates were given the opportunity to interview?

To be fair to Deans, the last 10 or so years have really thrown a different light on his tenure.

 

[barbarian]

Do we know how many candidates were given the opportunity to interview?

Does the interview really matter though? Surely with coaching it's the resume that counts.

They can't exactly appoint a guy like Daryl Gibson but say 'he really wowed us in the interview'.

Though I do seem to recall Raelene saying they had around 30 applicants.
.

 

[Lost]

Success in the ITM Cup, Super rugby in 2013 and some context around the improvement in results in both the Chiefs and in Europe.

Does he have the best credentials - maybe not against some guys like Joseph & Cotter. Was the process done correctly - I have no idea. But you are under selling Rennie’s credentials.

Ok so Rennie has coached for a long while and last won anything of note in 2013. Johnson on what I can see has not won anything anywhere ever. He has 16 games as fill in coach for 5 wins, 3 of which were against Italy.

Again, where is the compelling rationale for either?