McWilliams on upward trajectory since leaving Ireland and taking on role as USA attack coach

BY HIS own admission, Greg McWilliams’ route to the international stage has come much sooner than he had imagined, writes CIAN TRACEY.

Now in his second year as USA’s attack coach, the Dubliner is relishing the extra responsibility that has been afforded to him.

“When I left Ireland in 2014, I didn’t think that was something that was going to happen as quickly as it did,” McWilliams (right) admitted.

“Getting to Yale (where he is director of rugby) was a really important thing for me as well.

“Coming from St Michael’s College, coaching with the

Irish women’s side was a great experience, coaching with Leinster U-19s was a great experience but going to Yale topped it all off.

“It wasn’t necessarily the technical and tactic aspect of your approach as a coach, it’s actually how you communicate with players and you’re dealing with some very smart, intelligent people.

“If you are bluffing or you are spoofing, they are going to see right through you within three sentences.”

McWilliams’s next task is to break down Ireland’s mean defence.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge for us,” he conceded.

“We have to go through this now. We have an opportunity to play a team like Ireland and to learn from it is the biggest component for me going into this week.”