RugbyRebels

So, we're seeing some change in personnel in the coaching/management ranks with the ABs. Grant Fox, who stayed on after originally intending to retire in 2019 is stepping down as selector, and Joe Schmidt is set to be announced as his replacement.

This means that there are now 3 people from the ABs coaching staff that were involved with Ireland in one shape or another, with Plumtree and Feek also among the coaches.

J Dory wrote:https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-word ... n-uttered/

He's not wrong though. RAZZLE MY DAZZLE rugby can only get you so far, if you're not able to bring the required grit and grunt in the pack, and that was sorely lacking this year.

The assistants will probably get a shake-up, and honestly, I'd say the defence coach, Scott McLeod is probably the most vulnerable, considering the complete failure of that in the last couple of tests.

Rugby is so inherently conservative. This shuffling smells like old boy network.

I think it was around February that there'll probably be some change in the assistants, if it is going to happen, so it's very much a case of wait and see. As I've said earlier, McLeod either needs to step it the fuck up, or get dropped, in favour of Razor.

Getting Schmidt into the set-up is a good call, and hopefully a positive step forward for this team. The guy has had a big part in Ireland's defensive strength and obviously has an eye for talent. The biggest issue, IMO, is the inability of the forwards to get consistent turn-over ball. The All Blacks made, like, a quintillion tackles against the Irish, but could barely get a turnover. The All Blacks pack got all of 4 turnovers in the entire game, while every forward that started got into the teens in the tackle count. There's clearly something really wrong with that picture.

Compare that to when the team in 2015, where teams were struggling to get an attack going against them, because the All Blacks would turn the ball over within 10 phases on average. Yeah, the 2015 team was on another level, and may possibly be the greatest team ever assembled at the test level, but so what? That's the standard they set, so do better to meet it, for fuck's sake.

Unfortunately Foster isn't going anywhere so let them flounder. NZR and Foster dug their grave, now it's time to lay in it. Full cleanout in 2024 with a proper coaching setup in place.

All could've been avoided if there had been a proper review and coaching decision at the end of the year instead of rewarding Foster with an extension for beating up Tonga C and a Wallabies team shorn of their best 10/12.

He does seem.....a little substitute social studies teacher. Will senior players bail while he is in charge?