NSW Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson will take on more responsibility following a restructure of their coaching setup, with two coaches leaving.
Gibson will take on the role of specialist defence coach, with incumbent Nathan Grey set to be announced on Tuesday as a fulltime Wallabies’ assistant coach.
Forwards coach and former Wallabies’ prop Cam Blades is also leaving the Tahs.
While the Waratahs will miss out on the playoffs for a second straight season under Gibson, the New Zealander appears to have been given an endorsement to fulfil the third and final year of his contract and oversee changes to his coaching staff.
Waratahs chief executive Andrew Hore said the ongoing review of their season had identified a number of areas where the team had to improve, including coaching, physical conditioning, leadership and player responsibility.
“We need to improve in all those areas and Daryl Gibson is the right man to lead the organisation in making those changes,” Hore said.
“We’re initiating changes to ensure we have great talent coming through the ranks and we’ll continue to put systems in place to provide the best environment for our team to be successful.”
NSW have won just four out of 13 games this season.
With two matches to go, they have already conceded more points than in any of their previous Super campaigns.
“We have to address a range of issues that we’ve identified and we’ll continue to make changes to improve our performance,” Gibson said.
“We’ve made changes to the roles and responsibilities that each of the coaches will take on and those changes will start from now.”
Reverse Wheel
Guest
I continue to scratch my head at these calls to put folau on the wing. What is he actually doing wrong at fullback? Specifics please. I assume the problem isn't the five doubles in the last 7 games.
Googy
Guest
Fisher coached Munster from '09 to '11
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Any idea what he did 2009 to 2011? I can somewhat understand as a Super Rugby Head Coach role has generally above a Wallabies assistant role and he went from 21s coach to Brumbies Head Coach. Given he is now happy to take on AC role they should be looking to get him on board.
Jamie
Guest
Yep. Nailed it. At least Simon Cron is a great addition. Bring on next year
MitchO
Guest
Davo, I reckon Matt Giteau was the defensive glue at RWC 2015. Without him the dynamic complete changed. The amount of covering that old man did was both superb and necessary.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Is that the toxic impact that comments from players from other states (such as Christian Leali'ifano) seemed to contradict?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That's an absolutely disingenuous comments In Brief, misleading and complete rubbish. He created a role for a previous professional acquaintance he had worked with successfully at another organisation. No different to Cheika and Nathan Grey in fact. What were the qualifications that were necessary for the role? There are none in fact.
In Brief
Guest
You could ask who personally restructured the wallaby management team in order to create a senior role for a close 'friend' who was unqualified for the role? Of course Macca was a Waratahs man at heart, so the whole fiasco was more about nepotism then club allegiance.
Bakkies
Guest
Very odd that he hasn't been involved with the Wallabies considering he was on the pathway after coaching the under 21s.
Bakkies
Guest
Old public service system? That issue still exists
Pinetree
Guest
Fisher knows how to get a cohesive forward pack implemented, and if he had control over forward selections, I think would make the right calls in selection for the Wallabies. I agree he could be a great forward coach at the top level.
Debco
Guest
I don't understand why you would get rid of the assistant coaches and leave Gibson there. Maybe its the NZ connection you might think. I would bet on it. With Gibson remaining it is guaranteed the Waratahs wont make the finals in 2018. Why do they do these things?
Cynical Play
Guest
Imagine the Mardi Gras float possibilities... ...one one float it could all the main ARU players packing down against each other is mock scrimmage...IN CHAPS !! ..perhaps then each board member could ride pillion, in formation, with the Dykes_On_Bikes ..??!!.. or.. ... maybe on a ROAR float.... Spiro giving a spanking to Rob C.... Lord giving a spanking to... well, ... ME! TWAS getting a spanking from quite a few. And then .... someone puts up a high-ball ........ I think it could be good.
Neil
Guest
Sheriff, while i would be the last person to think that the Tah's recruitment team were worth a pinch of ...(all you have to do is look at Fat Angus), Sam Lousi is not a good example of their stupidity. My understanding is that they tried very hard to keep him, but he is an ex-NRL Warrior, grew up in Auckland, and all his family are there. Simply going home. Better examples would be Mike Alaalatoa and Nemani Nadolo. However, I fully expect them to hit new lows and give a place to Rob Simmons, who is just the wimpiest lock hanging around at present.
Drongo
Roar Rookie
Is that his excuse?
Drongo
Roar Rookie
???
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Lord Laurie would be a great forwards coach based on what I have seen him do in his career.
Bamboo
Guest
Oh the irony. Funny how the message was circulated around a group of guys all from the same SR team......and you go on about toxic impacts?!? The canary did not create the image, he merely received it.
Pinetree
Guest
Laurie Fisher IMO would be a welcomed decision for the Wallabies for fans as an assistant coach.. As I have said a few times before, I think Peter Ryan has done a solid job for the Brumbies as defence coach in the last 3 years also.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
I had Christuffa Pyne down for DH of the week , but whoever appointed Nathan Grey permanently to the Wallabies is close . The Tahs have conceded an average of 42 points a game against NZ sides . Only the Rebels are worse at 49 . Force 37 , Reds 34 and Brumbies 27 . The last two have a game each to play . Hardly a resounding recommendation for Natho or for Chekko's favourite players . Those bloody Kiwi's have tackled Murray around the legs , road bikes to win a boat race and now have found a mate for Chekko with Gatto . Kep et up I love it .