FROM OSPREYS SACKING TO LIONS COACH: GOW STEVE TANDY REBUILT HIS CAREER
Super Rugby experience Down Under helped Steve kick-start career
IN January 2018, a place on a British and Irish Lions coaching ticket would have been the furthest thing from Steve Tandy’s mind.
He’d just been sacked as head coach of the Ospreys following their Champions Cup knockout defeat to Clermont Auvergne, having guided them to just four league wins in 13 matches.
A miserable run of results had led to him being relieved of his duties in the middle of the season. A six-year reign which began with a league title had ended in brutal fashion. The outlook was bleak.
But the sporting universe works in mysterious ways.
Shortly after his Liberty Stadium departure, he turned up in Australia to broaden his horizons. Waratahs CEO at the time Andrew Hore was the man who’d originally appointed Tandy at the Ospreys before departing himself to head Down Under.
Tandy arrived at the Super Rugby outfit to gain experience and it set him on a path to becoming the Lions defence coach via Scotland.
So, how does he reflect on his untimely departure from a region which he served for 13 years as a player and a coach?
“It definitely makes you a better coach,” Tandy told the Western Mail.
“I had some amazing experiences down there and when you go to places like Australia and Scotland, you reflect on what you did back there [at the Ospreys].
“I met some amazing people, worked with some awesome players and I’ve still got a massive connection down there. I still speak to a lot of people.
“Every experience is a learning one if you look at it in the right way and when I look back at the Ospreys, there might be certain things around my coaching style that I’d do differently.
“But you only find out about that by going to different environments, different cultures and opening yourself up to be vulnerable to different things.
“Australia allowed me to do that. It gave me the confidence to come into Scotland.
“I met some rugby league people [in Australia] and that took me out of my comfort zone, doing things that I wouldn’t have necessarily done back home.
“It shapes you and enables you to look at yourself. As a person, you’re still the same, but it’s definitely opened my mind up.
“Those experiences help you engage people and get your messages across a little quicker.”
During Tandy’s time in charge of the Ospreys, his path crossed with Gatland’s many times and the Welshman praised the former Wales boss for the support he showed.
“Gats was really good to me, in fairness. I would be badgering him to see who he was releasing back to me first and foremost, so I was probably a bit annoying!” he laughed.
“If I ever wanted to go up to watch training or speak to him, he was always excellent. He was very supportive of me through that time.
“Again, it makes it a little bit easier when you come down and meet up already knowing someone.”
Tandy also endured the most bizarre episode of his career during his Ospreys tenure.
On a PRO14 trip to South Africa, then-hooker Scott Baldwin had his hand bitten by a lion. That experience lives with him to this day and he has advice for any of the Lions players who are tempted to go on safari, should Covid protocols allow it.
“I’d definitely advise them to keep their hands in their pockets or just to not go there!” he said.
“Patting a 300lbs cat is probably not the best idea. So, I’d definitely put that out there.
“That was pretty surreal. I speak to Scott and there are some experiences you’ll never forget.”
From the Ospreys, then, he headed to New South Wales to work in Super Rugby.
Tandy had an immediate impact, turning the Waratahs into one of the toughest defences in the league.
On a personal level, it was doing his development the world of good, working with world-class players who view the game in a different way.
It is often said that players can learn a lot by leaving Wales and experiencing different cultures in France or England. The same, then, could be said for coaches.
“It was amazing”, Tandy admits. “It was something that I’d always wanted to do. Maybe not that soon in my coaching career, but an amazing opportunity came up.
“There was a feeling of discomfort there because it’s an unknown and coaching a lot of the Aussie boys – the likes of Michael Hooper and Rob Simmonds – was a massive eyeopener for me.
“It taught me a lot about my coaching principles and how you interact with other people. The boys were class and the club itself.
“Trying to implement things with those boys in Australia taught me a lot about what’s important and what’s not important.
“That experience helped me in terms of timing.
“Sometimes the Aussie boys were touring, they’d come back and you’d get them maybe 10 days before you start the Super Rugby campaign.”
During his time with the Waratahs, Tandy got another taste of South Africa, giving him an insight into what the Lions will face this summer.
“I don’t think we got too many results out there!
“The experience itself was brilliant, being in Johannesburg.
“We played the Lions twice, I was there for the semi-final and it was an awesome experience to see how they play, the physical nature, the grounds.
“They’ve got firepower, but it’s with footwork.
“At the end of the day, you don’t win the World Cup being onedimensional.
“I’d like to think those experiences add a little bit of value and will prepare you for what’s to come. It won’t prepare you fully, but the little things like dealing with the travel can help you adapt.”
It was after the 2019 World Cup when Scotland came calling.
Word of Tandy’s work in the southern hemisphere had reached the north and Gregor Townsend – the new Lions attack coach and current Scotland boss – had a spot opening up on his team.
It was the former flanker’s first foray into international coaching and he’s thrived.
In the two Six Nations tournaments since Tandy’s arrival, no team has conceded fewer points than Scotland, who have leaked just 150 points across both tournaments. The next best is Ireland with 190.
“Coming to Scotland, again, you get that uncomfortable feeling because you’re in a new environment but all those experiences have helped me get to where I am today,” he said.
“International rugby is the pinnacle. It’s just unbelievable. I remember the first game out in Ireland with the crowd, the feelings you get, the sensations, the bus trip... then it’s the speed of the game, the speed of training.
“You see the athletes you’re working with, the hype that comes with it and the pressure. It’s an unbelievable experience. You keep learning, Gregor keeps challenging.”
Gatland’s preferred choice as defence coach was Ireland boss Andy Farrell, given the pair have worked together successfully on two previous Lions tours.
But when he became unavailable, the statistics made Tandy a clear choice and the call came down on Wednesday last week.
“It’s been a whirlwind, I’m pretty blown away by it,” Tandy admitted.
“I’m super privileged to be a part of Lions history and I can’t wait to get to South Africa. It’s pretty surreal. Then you get moments when it catches you. Coming down [on Monday] and having first discussions, being around the group, it was awesome to connect and be with the boys.
“It just comes and sneaks up on you. I don’t look too far ahead, it’s more about the environment I’m in and the players I’m working with. I just love coaching rugby, I love being around players and trying to stimulate them.
“Hopefully I make them a little bit better. I’ve been fortunate to be part of really good environments. Great places with great people.
“All of a sudden, I’m sitting here talking to you.
“I don’t think it will sink in for a long time.”
Three years ago, you’d have never seen it coming and yet here we are.
Tandy would have likely been asking himself ‘what now?’ when he was cast aside by the Ospreys.
Now look at him.