Friend on board to restore Lam’s values out West
CONNACHT have put an emphasis on recreating the right club culture with the announcement of their new coach Andy Friend. Former coach Pat Lam prioritised a strong club identity and culture during his time in charge and succeeded to the point of steering his team to the 2016 Pro12 title — the high point for, traditionally, the weakest of Ireland’s four provinces. When Lam left for Bristol, his replacement Kieran Keane failed dismally to recognise the importance of culture and the Kiwi’s tenure was cut short a few weeks ago after a season of player disenchantment and poor performances. Now, Connacht have turned to Australian Andy Friend who, though still young in coaching terms at 49, has amassed a wealth of experience at club, an international, levels. He worked with the Australian Institute of Sport in his 20s when the game had just turned professional in the mid1990s, going on to work as assistant coach with the Waratahs and Brumbies. He was also part of Eddie Jones’ coaching ticket when Australia got the World Cup final on home soil in 2003. Friend has worked as head coach with Harlequins, the Brumbies and for four years in Japan and his most recent position was as head coach of the successful Australian Sevens side, guiding them to World Series success in the Sydney Sevens last January. That Sevens experience is significant to this appointment with Connacht favouring the ball-handling, expansive style that proved so successful under Lam. Another factor will have been the emphasis Friend places creating the right atmosphere as Connacht seek to put the hangover from the Keane era swiftly behind them. ‘I’m a big believer in a team culture based on values,’ said Friend, when in charge of the Brumbies in the late 2000s. ‘I believe in respect, personal responsibility and integrity, work ethic, focusing on the positives and the final very simple one of saying mistakes aren’t fatal. I’m also a big believer in the person rather than just the football side of things. Obviously the football side of things is massively important, but as an employer, you need to know your people and find out about them.’ As mission statements go, that is very similar to the approach adopted by Lam during his time in charge and Connacht will be hoping for a similar buy-in from the players. That will involve Friend making his presence felt in the province, visiting clubs and schools in the different counties and energising the supporters as part of the Connacht promotional campaign — aspects of the job Keane did not concern himself with. Friend was also a candidate for the Ulster job that went to Dan McFarland and apparently impressed the IRFU during the course of applying for that job. He is also well known to IRFU performance director and fellow Australian David Nucifora. While Ulster wait for McFarland to be released from his Scottish Union role, there is no such delay with Friend who is expected to join Connacht at the end of June as part of a three-year contract as pre-season preparations get underway.