Toby Booth
New head coach Toby Booth lays out his vision for the Welsh region to RW’s Sarah Mockford
TOBY BOOTH has just finished reading Consiglieri: Leading from the Shadows, by Richard Hytner. “It’s about how people influence as the second-incommand,” says Booth. “It’s all about influence and why it’s so important.”
The word ‘consiglieri’ comes from the Mafia and refers to advisers to the leader. Interestingly, though, Booth is no longer the second-in-command or adviser, he is the top man, the leader, having taken over as head coach of the Ospreys in the summer. It’s a role he’s held before – he was at the helm of London Irish between 2008 and 2012 – but more recently he’s worked as an assistant coach at Bath and Harlequins.
There’s a lot he needs to influence too, given that the Ospreys won just two games across both the Guinness Pro14 and European Champions Cup last term.
Yet Booth is not one to dwell on negatives, he prefers a ‘glass half-full’ attitude and is excited by the challenges ahead. So what is his vision for the region? There are three key strands: developing home-grown players, playing a positive, attack-minded style and representing the people of the region.
As Booth describes himself as a “developer of people” on Twitter, it seems fitting to start with the focus on home-grown talent. He has a proven track record on this front, the likes of Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph and Marland Yarde coming through under his watch at London Irish, and he’s hoping to do the same at the Ospreys.
“It’s our duty as coaches to find the next Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb and Alun Wyn Jones,” says Booth. “Developing your own means they have a greater emotional connection to the region and the people. What’s been most rewarding so far is seeing what the youngsters have done. They have warranted inclusion and brought high energy.”
Booth’s positivity is highlighted when discussing the changes implemented to training because of Covid-19. At first, the squad could only train in groups of ten – at their new base of Swansea RFC’s St Helen’s ground – but this allowed Booth and his team to get to know the academy players as well as the first-teamers, to see who stood out. He namechecks Morgan Morris, Owen Watkin, Kieran Williams, Dewi Lake and Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler as youngsters who have impressed him.
Developing local talent also feeds into his goal of reconnecting with the area and supporters. “We’re representing the people of the region, a working-class team who roll their sleeves up and are tough. I’m the son of a fisherman. What I believe and how I was brought up is that you get what you earn.
“London Irish were unfashionable but got to the Premiership final in my first year as head coach with an attacking brand and 50% home-grown players. We got what we earned.
“Looking at the social demographic, Bath and Quins are good rugby teams but are more public school-orientated; it’s not wrong, just different. I probably
thrive better in ‘roll your sleeves up’ than I do in that because I can relate to it.
“People want to see how we play and how hard we work, to be defiant and to put our best foot forward.”
Booth cites the 20-20 draw with the Dragons as an example of that work ethic, the team playing for 66 minutes with 14 men but staying in the contest. He also points to the first 15 minutes of that game to demonstrate the final part of his ‘trifecta’ – attack-orientated rugby.
“We’re trying to build a team that’s very positive. It’s that connection to the region and the Welsh attitude towards rugby. I grew up watching Gareth Edwards and that Seventies era is about being positive, being an attack-minded team trying to overcome defence.”
This is a long-term project but Booth recognises the importance of results too. After all, if the team don’t perform he’s unlikely to be given the opportunity to finish it. This season marks a fresh start and while he won’t be leading from the shadows as in Hytner’s book – the spotlight on rugby in Wales means no one can do that! – there is plenty for him to influence. That’s why the Ospreys job appealed in the first place.
“Ultimately I thought I could make a difference in this group over a long time because I have a history in developing young players,” he says.