Eddie extends to 2021

[Banquo]

He is but he wouldn’t accept a two year apprenticeship under Jones.

did he do a good job with Scotland?

I’d say so. Didn’t really have long enough to properly judge but they were certainly on the way up.

true, they went from bottom of the 6N in his first campaign to fourth. He had 3 years and had the best record in the pro era, not a high bar admittedly. I just had the impression that Townsend had made a much bigger impact in a much shorter time; maybe my view is a bit skewed by the hammering at Twickers. I'd also forgotten their bad luck in the RWC. Mixed bag I suppose.

[Mikey Brown]

Cotter was definitely going in the right direction. Townsend wouldn’t have had the results he did without that platform. I’m still not totally sure it wasn’t too early to make the change.

[Banquo]

Cotter was definitely going in the right direction. Townsend wouldn’t have had the results he did without that platform. I’m still not totally sure it wasn’t too early to make the change.

Fair dinkum. I just thought he was a bit dour, bit older than I thought too.

[twitchy]

I think while it's well intentioned the notion of getting an "apprenticeship" from a top coach probably isn't going to happen and that's fine. I would just line up a top candidate as soon as possible.

If EJ reckons he could shape borthwick and farrell (I genuinely have no idea how good SB would be as a head coach) then think about it. Really what I think the england job needs is a senior elite coach with bags of experience.

[Banquo]

I think while it's well intentioned the notion of getting an "apprenticeship" from a top coach probably isn't going to happen and that's fine. I would just line up a top candidate as soon as possible.

If EJ reckons he could shape borthwick and farrell (I genuinely have no idea how good SB would be as a head coach) then think about it. Really what I think the england job needs is a senior elite coach with bags of experience.

seem pretty obvious really. But then again, Johnson was appointed.

[Puja]

I think while it's well intentioned the notion of getting an "apprenticeship" from a top coach probably isn't going to happen and that's fine. I would just line up a top candidate as soon as possible.

If EJ reckons he could shape borthwick and farrell (I genuinely have no idea how good SB would be as a head coach) then think about it. Really what I think the england job needs is a senior elite coach with bags of experience.

The problem with that is that getting a new top coach in would involve a full reset, a complete rebuild from scratch, with the new man putting in new systems and setting things up how he wants them. That's a risk. If Eddie continues to deliver results, then this way is keeping continuity and allowing an evolution, not a revolution.

And if he doesn't deliver results, then it's been stated that this new contract has a performance-related break clause at the RWC.

Puja

[Digby]

The problem with thinking we can have continuity is that the clubs do so many dissimilar things, that's where I'd look at changing things if one wanted a smoother transition in the national team, and not so much who the head coach happens to b.

[TheDasher]

Cotter was definitely going in the right direction. Townsend wouldn’t have had the results he did without that platform. I’m still not totally sure it wasn’t too early to make the change.

Totally agree. I really rate Cotter, I thought he made an obvious improvement to Scottish rugby over his tenure there and Townsend (seemingly a good coach) has got a far stronger platform as a result of Cotter than he might have had. I wanted Cotter before EJ got the gig.

[Banquo]

Cotter was definitely going in the right direction. Townsend wouldn’t have had the results he did without that platform. I’m still not totally sure it wasn’t too early to make the change.

Totally agree. I really rate Cotter, I thought he made an obvious improvement to Scottish rugby over his tenure there and Townsend (seemingly a good coach) has got a far stronger platform as a result of Cotter than he might have had. I wanted Cotter before EJ got the gig.

did you think that after we put 60 points on them

[Dasheragain]

Cotter was definitely going in the right direction. Townsend wouldn’t have had the results he did without that platform. I’m still not totally sure it wasn’t too early to make the change.

Totally agree. I really rate Cotter, I thought he made an obvious improvement to Scottish rugby over his tenure there and Townsend (seemingly a good coach) has got a far stronger platform as a result of Cotter than he might have had. I wanted Cotter before EJ got the gig.

did you think that after we put 60 points on them

No but I thought it after they beat Ireland (who beat us) and Wales, hammered Italy and lost I believe unfairly to France very closely. Also, if memory serves, he may have been on the way out at that point as Gregor had been announced, is that right?

[Banquo]

Totally agree. I really rate Cotter, I thought he made an obvious improvement to Scottish rugby over his tenure there and Townsend (seemingly a good coach) has got a far stronger platform as a result of Cotter than he might have had. I wanted Cotter before EJ got the gig.

did you think that after we put 60 points on them

No but I thought it after they beat Ireland (who beat us) and Wales, hammered Italy and lost I believe unfairly to France very closely. Also, if memory serves, he may have been on the way out at that point as Gregor had been announced, is that right?

yes, they told him he was binned a fair while before he finished.

My main objection is that he wears a baseball cap by default, tbh

[Mellsblue]

did you think that after we put 60 points on them

No but I thought it after they beat Ireland (who beat us) and Wales, hammered Italy and lost I believe unfairly to France very closely. Also, if memory serves, he may have been on the way out at that point as Gregor had been announced, is that right?

My main objection is that he wears a baseball cap by default, tbh

This is a legitimate and, frankly, serious worry.

[Dasheragain]

did you think that after we put 60 points on them

No but I thought it after they beat Ireland (who beat us) and Wales, hammered Italy and lost I believe unfairly to France very closely. Also, if memory serves, he may have been on the way out at that point as Gregor had been announced, is that right?

yes, they told him he was binned a fair while before he finished.

My main objection is that he wears a baseball cap by default, tbh

Fine but he's got a cool name and he looks hard which does counter the very serious and reasonable concerns re his hat.

[Mellsblue]

No but I thought it after they beat Ireland (who beat us) and Wales, hammered Italy and lost I believe unfairly to France very closely. Also, if memory serves, he may have been on the way out at that point as Gregor had been announced, is that right?

yes, they told him he was binned a fair while before he finished.

My main objection is that he wears a baseball cap by default, tbh

Fine but he's got a cool name and he looks hard which does counter the very serious and reasonable concerns re his hat.

Finally, some nuanced debate. If we can decide on a suitable nickname I say we appoint him immediately.

[Dasheragain]

yes, they told him he was binned a fair while before he finished.

My main objection is that he wears a baseball cap by default, tbh

Fine but he's got a cool name and he looks hard which does counter the very serious and reasonable concerns re his hat.

Finally, some nuanced debate. If we can decide on a suitable nickname I say we appoint him immediately.

Fern Cotton?
Jules?
Sperm Cotter?

I'm spent.

[Puja]

Weekend at Vernie's?

Puja

[Dasheragain]

Weekend at Vernie's?

Puja

Could do.

Great that we're planning ahead in this way, we'll be so ready to discuss him here on the off chance that he'll be appointed in many years' time.

[Mellsblue]

Weekend at Vernie's?

Puja

Could do.

Great that we're planning ahead in this way, we'll be so ready to discuss him here on the off chance that he'll be appointed in many years' time.

Yep. For all the discussions about the plan at least there is a plan. Diggers will be happy.

[pandion]

welcome....but is Cotter a good option, if that's the inference?

He is but he wouldn’t accept a two year apprenticeship under Jones.

did he do a good job with Scotland?

I was surprised he didn't get the lions job after Scotland letting him go. Would have been really interesting as he's very highly rated. Maybe Jones will move up/across to avoid conflict.

[Banquo]

No but I thought it after they beat Ireland (who beat us) and Wales, hammered Italy and lost I believe unfairly to France very closely. Also, if memory serves, he may have been on the way out at that point as Gregor had been announced, is that right?

yes, they told him he was binned a fair while before he finished.

My main objection is that he wears a baseball cap by default, tbh

Fine but he's got a cool name and he looks hard which does counter the very serious and reasonable concerns re his hat.

how is Vern a cool name? I'll pin you down on Cotter next.....

[Banquo]

Utterly Cotterly

[Mellsblue]

Utterly Cotterly

And there I was thinking you’d not Cotter chance at finding a pun out of Vern’s name.

[Banquo]

Utterly Cotterly

And there I was thinking you’d not Cotter chance at finding a pun out of Vern’s name.

Tarka (the Cotter)

The Fastest Milkman in the West.....they won't forget old Vernie


Harry (Cotter)

Beatrix

etc

[morepork]

Welcome back Cotter.

[Banquo]

If he is crap, we could Pan-a-cotter