Stephen Larkham says any sense of “comfort” experienced under Dave Rennie will be replaced by an “edge” under Eddie Jones, with the former World Cup-winner saying the incoming Wallabies coach will add “a bit of spice” to the group.
Rennie was axed as Wallabies coach a week ago for Jones, who coached Larkham at the Brumbies and at Test level.
The decision came after Rennie struggled to turn gallant performances into victories, with the New Zealand coach finishing with a 38 per cent winning record – the lowest of any Wallabies coach (minimum of 30 Tests).
Stephen Larkham says there was an element of “comfort” within Dave Rennie’s Wallabies. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
While Larkham said he was in favour of keeping the status quo in 2023, the Wallabies great said Jones would benefit any program he was involved with.
“I was a big advocate for trying to keep those coaches together,” Larkham told reporters on Monday.
“I certainly publicly spoke about trying to keep that crew together because they’re a very experienced coaching outfit. I had full trust that they would get things together.
“But bringing someone like Eddie in is always going to be good for a program.
“Is the timing right? It’s going to be hard for Eddie to get the changes that he wants in there in time, but it’s a longer-term deal that you can see the benefit really coming through for Australian rugby in general.”
Stephen Larkham said on Monday he was an “Eddie Jones” fan. Photo: Nick Wilson/Getty Images
Larkham won a Super Rugby title under Jones at the Brumbies in 2001 and also started under the coach in the 2003 World Cup final.
The Wallabies great said he was a “big fan of Eddie’s” and the duo had exchanged messages since Jones’s return was confirmed a week ago.
He said Jones’ return would ensure the playing group would be kept on their toes.
“It certainly adds a bit of excitement around the game,” Larkham said.
“I think from a players’ perspective there was probably a comfort level there with Dave.
“Everything’s been shaken up a little bit and everyone will be on edge, particularly [with] trial games into the first round where all the players know that Eddie’s going to be watching those games.
“It adds a bit of spice to the mix and I think it’s a good time going to the World Cup.”
Stephen Larkham in action during the Wallabies’ triumph over the Springboks during the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Photo: Ross Setford/Getty Images
Larkham, who went to the World Cup on Michael Cheika’s coaching ticket in 2015 and was the Wallabies’ attack coach for four years, said Jones would benefit from the sound structures established by Rennie.
“All the coaches that were there before have put a really good program in place, so I think it’ll be relatively easy for Eddie to come in and expect really good standards around the place, and expect the players to hold themselves on the training field the way they need to hold themselves,” said Larkham, who spent a week with the Wallabies during The Rugby Championship.
“It’s always a challenge because you’ve probably got some ideas that you want to bring into the mix, but I think there’s a really good base with these guys.”
Larkham has quietly gone about his business since returning to the role he gave up when he joined the Wallabies on a full-time basis following the 2017 season.
After finishing up with the Wallabies at the end of the 2018 season, Larkham joined Munster and spent three seasons at the Irish powerhouse as a senior coach before signing on as Dan McKellar’s replacement.
Last week, Larkham finally got his hands on his entire squad.
He said the return of their internationals had given the Brumbies a healthy injection of intensity and sharpness ahead of their first trial match against the Waratahs.
“I’ve been here for seven-eight months now and Thursday, last week, was the first time we had everyone together,” he said.
“So, it was a good week. It was probably our best training session that Thursday since I’ve been back. The intensity was really high, the execution was really high, and it was the Wallaby players coming back into the mix that lifted that intensity and concentration and the execution on the field.”
Stephen Larkham and Nic White talk during a Wallabies training session at Sanctuary Cove on September 01, 2022. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Larkham, speaking at the announcement of Allan Alaalatoa’s four-year extension, confirmed the tight-head prop would captain the Brumbies going forward.
But the new Brumbies coach said the Test prop would miss the trial matches and at least two regular Super Rugby matches, with up to a dozen players of national interest to spend time on the sidelines during the season in the action-packed World Cup year.
How Larkham juggles his roster throughout the season remains to be seen however, with any time spent on the sidelines also being accepted as a week off.
“I don’t want to give that away,” a coy Larkham said.
“That’s information that the opposition could probably use. We’ve worked out up until halfway through the season what our plan is going to be.”
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Morning Mo Yes mate your not wrong, it should be enough, it's just not what he use to though, IMO. It's more the financial backing and resource support was in my thinking.
Mo
Guest
If enough guys are fit Eddie does have enough for a shot in 2027. All the 10s will have much more experience. Should be two of them good enough. Zack Lucas may come in too. Some promising 9s like lonegran and McDermott and fines still young enough. Aaa and tt at tight head with nongorr pink cabous etc. bell Sio Robertson and others to cover loose head. Lots a locks including Rodda (still young) Hosea frost Phillip swain. Mcreight and gamble and even Wilkins and Callan for 7 plus a young brumby. Tom Hooper and his bro for 6 plus Swinton. Also Gleeson Wilson valetini all in the mix. Centres have ikitau paisami Walton flook kuenzle perese foketi and maybe Kerevi. Hodge still young enough to contribute. Pasitoa still only 20 and 100kgs of 10 or 12 potential. Still have marky m and kellaway Wright korobeiti plus Pietsche? Basically lots for Eddie to play with.
Qualify
Guest
Hahahaha yes, blame everything on Cheika. The mighty Dave Rennie can do no wrong. Teams have been rescued from far worse positions. Recently - Allister Coetzee to Rassie, Lancaster to Eddie. DR is a good man and I have no doubt that he's a competent coach, but surely you can admit he had his shortcomings. This platform argument is rubbish and can go both ways.
Adam
Guest
The rudderless ship occurred in the Cheika reign. Dave Rennie never had the tools (i.e. players) to fix the rudder. It shows in the Wallabies performances. The players weren’t good enough to play test rugby.
Dave from Mt Druitt
Guest
“Rennie left a team easier for Eddie to work on far better than the one when he came over” Never a truer word said. Thanks Dave. Now the EJ sideshow begins.
FrancisF
Roar Pro
Dave Rennie’s forced departure evokes mixed feelings especially given his replacement is Eddie Jones. A coach can only do so much because at the end of the day its the players who had to deliver the goods. That was Rennie’s problem. The Wallabies team Rennie had built had seen many near misses, in part due to the necessity for experimentation, in search of the right combination so as to gel the team into a unitary force. Rennie was handed an almost depleted and demoralised Wallabies team when he came into the job. He virtually had to start near the bottom of the barrel to bring the Wallabies up to scratch. With little depth in the team, he could not settle down to the right combination of players he would have like to have. I doubt any other coach could have done any better under the circumstances he was facing. The too frequent injuries of his star players didn’t make his job any better easier. As a coach he was a gentleman. Before the game and after the game, when he faced the media, he was a class act. Composed and calm in victory and defeat. Perhaps he was too nice a man to coach a game where bodies are put on the line and where aggression is the order of the day. One wonders whether Rennie was glad he was let go by Rugby Australia, given the road winning the World Cup from the current standpoint, seems to have many potholes and obstacles, even for the much touted Eddie Jones with the very limited time he has before facing the World Cup. But at least Rennie can say he left behind a team which Eddie Jones can build on. A Wallabies team, still a work in progess, but had progressed quite well ahead in the time line for the preparation for the World Cup. Fact: Rennie left a team easier for Eddie Jones to work on, far better than the one when he came over.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Actually it is a misquote.The headline said it will give the Wallabies that missing edge,whereas Larkham said the players will be "on edge".Entirely different meaning.
Stu B
Guest
Sugar hit Eddie!
Hello
Roar Rookie
i think that is why EJ has a shelf life.
Filstrup
Roar Rookie
Do-gooder Rennie had to go, WBs a rudderless ship, adrift, going nowhere. At least EJ brings the XZY factor -whatever thats mean-
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
especially in footy boots
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
I have often wondered how EJ would go back home since rumors of his sacking from England. No doubt there will be short term success as is the case most times when a new coach is appointed. The problem for me is the resources he will have here. Even if fit and healthy the playing stocks are not what he is use to. Development from grassroots has been at a snails pace for a number of years now. England being the most financial and well resourced team on the planet and Japan not to far behind. He certainly won't be getting the support he is use to. Master minding a particular game can only be effective until your cards are on the table. I certainly remember Vrs New Zealand and Vrs South Africa the next week.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Ballet is an interesting training method.
Qualify
Guest
Same thing. Rennie = Comfort
pm
Roar Rookie
Sometimes I don't like how Eddie does the opposite. But you have got a point
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I'm very pleased he was as honest as this. He expresses disappointment for Rennie's axing but talks about the benefits that Jones can bring. No point crying about Rennie, that won't change as disappointing as it might be, and as unpleasant as Geoff's article suggests the process was. We move on and deal with the new reality. And it's not all bad or all good
Aussikiwi
Guest
Sorry, I posted that in the wrong place, I was referring to the passage Redrob quoted, which is a paraphrase which joins two different statements by Larkham into a single proposition (incidentally in a way which changes the meaning of what he said). The headline was more misleading in that Larkham never referred to a "missing" edge.
Well said.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
How do you know that what is printed in the article in inverted commas " ", is a paraphrase and not a quote from Larkham's mouth?
Aussikiwi
Guest
No, a quote is word for word, or verbatim. That is a clear paraphrase.