Head Coaches and a New Body
‘No news is good news’ must be the watchword in the higher echelons of coaching, as the twelve nations involved in the 2021 RWC cast an eye over the recent past and the endless future.
Three head coaches have disappeared from office as expected: first, the trophy-winning Wayne Smith who guided the ailing Black Ferns from disaster to tight victory; second, Stanley Raubenheimer, who intended to step down as the Boks’ head coach, and third, Andrea Di Giandomenico who has ceased his exertions on behalf of the Azzurre after more than a decade of service.
Now news breaks that Thomas Darracq of France departs the scene ‘for family reasons’. According to the official FFR statement, he requested the move; he was not sacked. But if the main reason for appointing him late to the top position was to achieve a first-ever place in the final, he and the nation remained disappointed.
The only good news from Paris is that he is replaced by Gaëlle Mignot, thus raising the number of women in charge of those dozen sides from one to two. The other is Lesley McKenzie of Japan.
But the FFR was not able to offer Mignot a clear field. Instead, she has to share the reins with David Ortiz, who was appointed alongside her as an assistant for the RWC. It will be fascinating to see how they share their responsibilities: both have expertise in the forward battle; who will take charge of the backs?
Their immediate objective is to break the stranglehold the English have held them in since 2018. They will have Twickenham Stadium in which to display their coaching talents.
Five other head coaches, Lesley McKenzie, Jay Tregonning (Australia), Kevin Rouet (Canada), Rob Cain (USA) and Senirusi Seruvakula (Fiji) must surely be safe in their posts. The Fijians were overjoyed with their victory over South Africa.
The news from Scotland takes us to a higher level. The SRU announces it “has appointed its first external custodians, David Grevemberg CBE and Cheryl Black, to sit on its oversight board within its newly formed governance structure.”
Bryan Easson couldn’t provide his Scottish team with a victory in New Zealand, but they were glad just to be there after a long period in the wilderness. The SRU is most unlikely to look for change.
When Wales announced the award of pro-contracts in July this year, Ioan Cunningham committed himself till 2025. The WRU may be grateful for a little stability in its ever-changing world.
The bridesmaids who missed the bus, Ireland, complete that trio of Celtic nations who must target a successful Six Nations programme, to ensure the best possible starting position for the exciting WXV that opens its doors late next year.
Though many details remain to be sorted out, World Rugby has just announced the launch of a new body; they will be known as the International rugby match officials (IRMO). All the familiar whistle-blowers from the RWC are among them.
The RFU too has had other matters to deal with: Eddie Jones gone and Steve Borthwick appointed in his place. That tells us nothing about Simon Middleton’s likely future. The jury is still out.
