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Gatland gone

Sadly he's yesterdays man and the thing you don't mention is the game has moved on and sadly Gatland never moved with it.
This is harsh...

He was superbly successful first time round, had 1 arm tied behind his back 2nd term, he said himself he wouldn't have returned had he known how bad things were.

I fully expect Cheika to come in, get a new coach bump and then get disillusioned by the WRU and leave quickly...

If Gats takes another job we will see how he goes, but to right him off lol
 
This is harsh...

He was superbly successful first time round, had 1 arm tied behind his back 2nd term, he said himself he wouldn't have returned had he known how bad things were.

I fully expect Cheika to come in, get a new coach bump and then get disillusioned by the WRU and leave quickly...

If Gats takes another job we will see how he goes, but to right him off lol
Mate, he should've watched that Ireland game and retired. Howley as well obviously. Maybe he'll take some learnings on board and adapt as any good coach would but he is too long in the tooth for that and as evidenced by his Trump like response to players having the audacity to question his methods, and the review in general, he had no interest in changing or moving with the times. Jesus, he even mentioned a woke coaching atmosphere as a reason why we struggled.

He won't get a top job elsewhere. Most likely he'll be a consultant or DOR. He's done.

I agree Cheika would not be a good pick.
 
Mate, he should've watched that Ireland game and retired. Howley as well obviously. Maybe he'll take some learnings on board and adapt as any good coach would but he is too long in the tooth for that and as evidenced by his Trump like response to players have the audacity to question his methods, and the review in general, he had no interest in changing or moving with the times. Jesus, he even mentioned a woke coaching atmosphere as a reason why we struggled.

He won't get a top job elsewhere. Most likely he'll be a consultant or DOR. He's done.

I agree Cheika would not be a good pick.
This is similar to Roy Keane failing as a coach, despite him having all the attributes of a top coach...

It's tough being a high level coach, you can include players in decision making processes, but ultimately young inexperienced players who have won a handful of pro games between them know nothing yet.

Gatland did great at developing a brutal culture of Competition and winning first time around, players like Sam, AWJ, Lydiate, North and Co, plus Sean Edward's really responded to this.

As the younger boys replaced them, with lesser qualities, lesser ability and less mind sets in the time he was away, the culture disintegrated (from what I've heard). So rejoining a mess, with a governing body as a mess was always going to be a hiding to nothing.

If it sounds like I'm defending Gats constantly, it's because you routinely ignore the context and difficulties surrounding his tenure.

He had to go, I'd have got shot after Howley returned, that was a disgrace to the country, but the writing was on the wall in 22 when losing to Georgia, and the rapid decline of things.

What I will say is 2023 was an absolute success for Gats given the conditions, one that should have ended with a very unlikely RWC semi until Costelow and Co threw it away (literally in costelows case).

Since then the rebuild became a mess, part Gats fault, mostly WRU.
 
Sadly he's yesterdays man and the thing you don't mention is the game has moved on and sadly Gatland never moved with it.

I think Cheika is also yesterday's man and so they'd be replacing yesterday's man with yesterday's man when they should be looking to appoint tomorrow's man today or today's man tomorrow.
 
Cheikas heart doesn't appear to be in it either. Need a young hungry coach.
This is bang on... I think he's drifting from paycheck to paycheck.

Who would be your pick btw?

I'd be tapping up Edward's, he's always wanted a top job, at England tbf but I think we could lure him back as a stepping stone to that.

Behind him I think we look more internal and develop a lesser name who's a company man a bit like England's football team did
 
This is bang on... I think he's drifting from paycheck to paycheck.

Who would be your pick btw?

I'd be tapping up Edward's, he's always wanted a top job, at England tbf but I think we could lure him back as a stepping stone to that.

Behind him I think we look more internal and develop a lesser name who's a company man a bit like England's football team did
I always wanted Jamie Jospeh as I thought he was ideal in the sense he showed how you could play when you don't have a physically dominate front 5 but he's been out of the hot seat for a while now. I'd take Pat Lam but not sure how much of a goer that is from a financial point of view. If we win today I would seriously consider giving Sherratt the job. No lie.
 
I always wanted Jamie Jospeh as I thought he was ideal in the sense he showed how you could play when you don't have a physically dominate front 5 but he's been out of the hot seat for a while now. I'd take Pat Lam but not sure how much of a goer that is from a financial point of view. If we win today I would seriously consider giving Sherratt the job. No lie.
I don't hate Joseph, quality coach but I'm not sure that's a goer. He's taken on the Highlanders job hasn't he and just shut down a reporter asking about the Aus job. Not sure he'd be interested about coming north.

I wouldn't be interested in Pat Lam, he isn't what we need, we need to pull in, create an identity from scratch.

Someone mentioned Tandy to me the other day, I'm not sure about his abilities as the head honcho at int level, but who knows that might be a shout out of the blue.

I like both Easterby and Smith, but again, similar with Lam I think we need a long term project kind of guy.
 
What I'd like to see would be an Italian style Connor o Shea assessment. Get him in as a consultant, a bit akin to Graham Henry
 
Townsend will likely be available assuming his contract with the SRU doesn't get extended. He's a builder and probably the kind of coach Wales need although I can see him going to a club in England or France or maybe even the Aus job. He might want a change from the 6N and not have to deal with all the noise about facing his old team.
 
Townsend will likely be available assuming his contract with the SRU doesn't get extended. He's a builder and probably the kind of coach Wales need although I can see him going to a club in England or France or maybe even the Aus job. He might want a change from the 6N and not have to deal with all the noise about facing his old team.
They'd be crazy not to extend that, and I would love Townsend however I think your right, he wouldn't be interested
 
They'd be crazy not to extend that, and I would love Townsend however I think your right, he wouldn't be interested

Nucifora is now calling the shots and I read that he might want to reunite with Schmidt but that doesn't reconcile with Joe's desire to spend more time with family after leaving Aus later this year. Franco Smith also in the mix. I'm sure announcements will be made later this year.

Gregor to Aus or replace ROG at LaR if he goes to Aus wouldn't be a big shock.
 
Nucifora is now calling the shots and I read that he might want to reunite with Schmidt but that doesn't reconcile with Joe's desire to spend more time with family after leaving Aus later this year. Franco Smith also in the mix. I'm sure announcements will be made later this year.
Interesting...

I didn't realise he left IRFU. He is a big proponent of external player sourcing isn't he, can't really blame him for the current Scottish crop if he's only been there a few years.

TBH I never pay much mind to what players or coaches do or say about reasonings, if the money is good enough they 180 regularly.

Not sure Schmidt to Scotland would be good, made Smith a better fit but still.
 

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