RUGBY MATTERS
Could Sam be the man to boost Eddie’s England?
MANY have eloquently sung the praises of the remarkable Sam Warburton this week and among the many tributes that caught my eye was a throw away remark form Sir Clive Woodward.
“My big hope now is that he goes straight into coaching. Media would be the easier option but the next best thing to playing is coaching,” wrote the man who was both a top player and World Cup-winning coach.
I mention this because it probably hasn’t escaped your attention that England are still looking for a defence coach to replace Paul Gustard who is currently putting Harlequins through their paces at sweltering Surrey Sports Park.
A year or so ahead of the World Cup that is far from ideal especially at the attack coach Scott Wisemental is also currently only a temporary appointment, although that could yet be upgraded.
What England need is a somebody on top of all defensive duties, an expert in the role of the jackal; somebody who understands when you chop tackle and when you don’t, when to employ the smother and when to go to ground; somebody who knows how to boss the contact area, a cutting edge player who is eloquent and can communicate exactly what is needed. Somebody, recently retired, who has been there and got the T Shirt.
Can you think of anybody who fits that description?
OK I’m acting the devil’s advocate here, well to a certain extent. It would be a big leap for Warburton to jump straight into a top coaching job with the old enemy, but it is also just the kind of bold coaching appointment that might work spectacularly
The actual nationality of coaches counts for little these days.
Kiwi Warren Gatland and Englishman Shaun Edwards have driven Wales for a decade now; Kiwi Joe Schmidt and Englishman Andy Farrell have combined along with Irish-Yorkshireman Simon Easterby to take Ireland to number two in the world; Gregor Townsend swooped in the summer to divert Welshman Danny Wilson from Wasps and, of course, England themselves are coached by an Aussie who has spent much of his career trying to beat the English and lobbing various verbal hand grenades in their direction.
I’m not holding my breath but there is no reason why Eddie Jones shouldn’t make the call. He didn’t hesiate, when the Japan coach, in snapping up Steve Borthwick as the Cherry Blossoms’ lineout guru the second the England lock retired at Saracens.
What also interests me is the bigger point of how rugby – and it seems to me particularly English rugby – fails to tap into the huge reservoir of expert knowledge that its former players possess. So many of them opt for the media and chuntering punditry rather than returning to the coal face and getting their hands dirty again.
Take that England World Cup winning team of 2003. That squad possessed an extraordinary rugby think tank: Lawrence Dallaglio, Will Greenwood, Matt Dawson, Austin Healey (ok he missed out on the World Cup but played a big role over the years in that group) Ben Kay, Jonny Wilkinson – all of whom made their way primarily to the media although Jonny does do a little kicking mentoring with England.
Only Martin Johnson raised his head above the parapet and tried his hand at coaching. Johnno’s record wasn’t that bad but he got badly burnt at the end and walked away after the players let him down a little at RWC2011. And there perhaps is the clue as to why there can be a real reluctance for recently retired playing greats – with superb rugby minds – not wanting to enter the coaching arena.
Punditry has a glamorous veneer, you can maintain your profile within the sport, and it is much less fraught up in the commentary gantry. For the big names the money is pretty good as well. You offer opinions and maybe spark up a debate but there is no comeback if you are wrong. A laugh and a shrug of the shoulders and onto the next game and the next studio discussion. Your head is not on the block, you are not accountable.
But when you return to coaching every match matters again, Saturday’s result dominates your life, your reputation is on the line. Very few coaches are successful – it’s a stressful old business – and ultimately many former players decide they don’t want to walk that tightrope again. Which is a shame. I hope and believe Sam Warburton is one of those who will dust himself off and go again when the moment is right.