Jono says Aussie link is a no no
ULSTER’S new head coach Jono Gibbes has killed speculation linking him with the Wallabies.
The Kiwi has been attracting the interest of Australia head coach Michael Cheika, whom he worked under at Leinster a few years ago.
The Wallabies boss is on the lookout for a new set-piece coach but Gibbes rubbished the rumours as “fake news”.
He added: “Personally, knowing Michael, he’s doing a couple of tactics, I think.
“He’s either trying to sniff out something in his own organisation to see who’s leaking things, or he’s putting out a complete smokesceen.”
Meanwhile, the Kiwi revealed the home dressing-room was “devastated” after Duncan Weir’s last gasp drop-goal at Kingspan Stadium saw Edinburgh win 17-16 on Friday night.
The result saw the Scots leap-frog Ulster into third place in the Pro14 and with four of their last six games away from home, it was a game the province couldn’t afford to lose.
Gibbes admitted: “Everyone knew what was at stake.
“You can’t fault the attitude of the guys, we put a hell of a lot into that game.”
Ulster’s injury list is growing, with Craig Gilroy lasting just seven minutes before rookie out-half Johnny Mcphillips limped out with his arm in a sling.
Gibbes rapped: “We can’t afford to lose a 10 so who’s the guy that gets injured? The 10. It (the injury) is significant enough.”
Edinburgh are now in pole position to snatch the third and final place from Conference B.