Brumbies sack coach Andy Friend

[Shaggy]

The Brumbies have sacked their coach, Andy Friend, due to player dissension according to the NZ Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10709466

This franchise seems to have a habit of doing that, with David Nucifora being sacked when they won the ***le a few years back.

I think Matt Giteau was there then, something similar happens to John Mitchell when Gits is at the Western Force, and now Friend is gone now that he's back with the brumbies.

Is this a coincidence? - I wonder why the players in Australia have so much power?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

They should get Mike Brewer on board! His player handling is second to none....

Odd thing to see! Did losing to the Rebels hurt them that bad?
Wonder how long this has been going on behind the scenes
Not the best time to lose your coach, at the start of the new season

 

[Shaggy]

They should get Mike Brewer on board! His player handling is second to none....

Odd thing to see! Did losing to the Rebels hurt them that bad?
Wonder how long this has been going on behind the scenes
Not the best time to lose your coach, at the start of the new season

I think I read somewhere that things weren't great for some time, and the article was prior to the match against the Rebels ... but cant find the article, so just treat it as me spreading unsubstantiated rumours

 

[markshaw]

Giteau seems like a little ***** to me. Wouldnt be suprised if he was involved

 

[ORothlain]

Definitely a weird time to decide to change the upper management. I never understand sacking a coach while the season is in progress. Sort it out in the off-season. I'd like to hear Rocky Elsom's opinion on this.

 

[T-Raz]

to be hinest he should of been let go a last season. I think it was the a good decision been made at the wrong time. But yes Gits has to be the instigator of this, because unlike with Nuciafora there are less establish senior Brumbies.

 

[Shaggy]

Giteau seems like a little ***** to me. Wouldnt be suprised if he was involved

Yeah, there was that stuff between him and Robbie Deans last year too ... I think Robbie won that one

Definitely a weird time to decide to change the upper management. I never understand sacking a coach while the season is in progress. Sort it out in the off-season. I'd like to hear Rocky Elsom's opinion on this.

How are you mate ... haven't seen you on the boards lately ... i don't understand it either, you don't see players getting sacked mid-season, except, maybe Lote Tiqiri

 

[Shaggy]

Further to this, the Brumbies CEO says in the Sydney Morning Herald that he sacked Andy Friend, not the players

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-new...-not-players-brumbies-ceo-20110301-1bcei.html

 

[Ostrayian]

I think Matt Giteau was there then, something similar happens to John Mitchell when Gits is at the Western Force, and now Friend is gone now that he's back with the brumbies.

Is this a coincidence? - I wonder why the players in Australia have so much power?

In Perth we call Giteau "The Committee"......he's a sook and a squeezer.

 

[ORothlain]

How are you mate ... haven't seen you on the boards lately ... i don't understand it either, you don't see players getting sacked mid-season, except, maybe Lote Tiqiri

Doing well. Had a big move, got busy with the job, the personal computer crashed, blah blah blah...Yourself?

Yeah, so by linking Mr. Friend with Mr. Tiqiri I'm now imagining him snorting coke off hookers ass cracks and partying all night with Matt Dunning. Maybe the Gits felt left out? My club here actually has 2 aussies that were on the Brumbies development squad last year...I'll ask them at training tonight if they have any insider info.

 

[TNT88]

By the looks of it, things haven't been great for a while at the Brumbies and losing to the Rebels was the last straw. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds this week.

 

[Shaggy]

But wait there's more ...

While the Brumbies CEO insists that the sacking was all his doing, the Sydney morning Herald reports that it's down to a disagreement with five senior players

"The Herald was told last week that Friend had only limited contact with the players, and that other members of the coaching staff had taken a more hands-on role.

There is little doubt the rift between Friend and the senior players was a major factor. Five senior players - Matt Giteau, Stephen Hoiles, Rocky Elsom, Stephen Moore and Adam Ashley-Cooper - met Friend before the opening round of the season to discuss their concerns. It was hoped that would ease the tension. But Friend couldn't win back the players."

For the full article click here: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...r-brumbies-and-assistants-20110301-1bd8r.html

Former Brumbies and Wallabies back, and now commentator thinks that rather than this action being shunned by the Rugby public, player power should be encouraged by other franchises

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...the-future-says-rod-kafer-20110302-1be1l.html

... apparently Stephen Larkham is the front runner for coach next year - this really just reeks of job's for the boys IMO

If the players are the deciding factor in whether the coach stays or goes, maybe the Coach should have the ability to sack the players during the season.

Hoiles and Elsom aren't even contributing on the field (they're injured), and Giteau is leaving at the end of the season, so why does he have a say?

All of the most successful teams over the years have been consistent in keeping coaching staff, and retaining core players ... I don't see this as a positive move at all.

... Anyway, rant over

 

[ORothlain]

My inside source told me that "He's a dick and it couldn't of happened to a better person." Followed by, "better late than never."
This is a dude who was part of the Brumbies for a few years under Friend.
So, maybe it was a mixture of player revolt and upper management frustration.