He might never have coached a rugby match in his life, but that hasn’t deterred Eddie Jones in naming ex-NRL star Brett Hodgson as his defence coach in what shapes as a risky first appointment to his Wallabies coaching team.
Hodgson was set to join Jones on his coaching ticket this year for England as Anthony Seibold’s replacement, but when the Australian got the flick by the Rugby Football Union so did Hodgson.
It was an unfortunate turn of events for Hodgson, who was previously the head coach of Hull in the Super League.
But Jones has doubled down on Hodgson, signing the former NSW Blues State of Origin fullback as his defence coach on a two-year deal.
“Brett’s a hard-working and detailed young coach who will be a great asset to the Wallabies and the coaching staff,” Jones said.
“He’s worked under some great coaching mentors like [Phil] ‘Gus’ Gould and Tim Sheens in his time as a player and a coach, so he’s well-schooled and I know he’ll give his best to the job of producing (the) best defence in world.”
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has brought on former NRL fullback onto his coaching ticket for the World Cup. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
Jones was always on the hunt for a former rugby league player to join his coaching ticket.
Ever since he begun his coaching journey three decades ago, Jones has often turned to rugby league players to join his team. It’s why Laurie Fisher knew the writing was on the wall as soon as Jones was appointed.
While Michael Maguire was sounded out but ultimately didn’t throw his hat in the ring, Jones has settled on Hodgson.
It comes with a huge risk.
Hodgson has very little experience in any form of rugby and, as such, he will be learning on the job.
His appointment was all but confirmed on Friday night when he sat next to Jones during the Waratahs’ opener against the Brumbies.
But it wasn’t the only time the duo had been sighted either, with the former fullback sitting next to Jones during the Waratahs’ final trial match against Shute Shield sides West Harbour and the Two Blues earlier this month.
“I’m really excited to be back in Australia and working with the Wallabies, especially in a World Cup year,” Hodgson said.
“There’s plenty of hard work ahead and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and making a positive contribution to the team.
“The Wallabies are a team everyone in Australia loves to get behind and from what I’ve seen so far there’s plenty of talent here and that’s something that’s really exciting.”
Brett Hodgson has joined Eddie Jones’ Wallabies coaching team ahead of the World Cup. Photo: Lewis Storey/Getty Images
Hodgson is Jones’ first full-time appointment, with the veteran coach hoping to have his coaching team assembled just May 1.
Who else joins him remains to be seen, with a number of candidates closer to home in Super Rugby a distinct possibility of joining the Wallabies like Chris Whitaker and Dan Palmer.
Indeed, Jones didn’t rule the prospect of that happening when he addressed the media earlier this month.
“We’ve got a bit of a smash-and-grab job, it’s nine and a half months and (it’s like) there’s a beautiful jewellery store around the corner,” Jones said.
“You’ve got to get four or five coaches that can work together to get in there, steal the trophy and get out without getting caught.
“In a lot of ways, we’ve got time because as a coaching team, we need to be together probably for the last six or eight weeks of Super Rugby, where selection is going to become important.”
The benefit of bringing on one or two coaches from Super Rugby would be that it would allow Jones to explore other candidates who might already be currently employed.
“We want the coach’s team settled by the first of May. That’s the target I’ve got,” Jones said on his Eddie Podcast on Friday.
“There’s a couple of backstories to this. We’re in a situation now where obviously, none of this was planned. And most coaches are in a job now.
“If they’re not in a job there’s a reason why they’re not in a job and and they’re not necessarily the sort of coaches we want.
“So it’s about finding people who are available, finding bright people, adaptable people. We need a balance of character, we need a balance of whether they’re analytical or more relationship based.
“So there’s a number of different factors involved in putting together a coaching team. And also we need a team that can get together quickly and work together quickly.
“A no-nonsense team that can do a smash and grab. We don’t need people who are too clever, that are all worried about every bits and pieces because we’ve got to get in there and do a job and so are we progressing on it – progressing nice and steadily. And by the first of May we’ll be ready.”
Ucnthandlethtruth
Roar Rookie
Not according to anyone who's worked with him. He's a control freak
bigtree.smallaxe
Roar Rookie
:laughing: Not so easy to cover up our defensive patterns…unless it’s cover defence. In all honesty our abysmal efforts for the bledisloe is beginning to feel like an Americas cup race
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Except that we are not competing with America, and we are not allowed to put a boat, let alone a keel, on the paddock.
bigtree.smallaxe
Roar Rookie
I think we’re all hoping for an Americas cup winged keel moment.
SupDog
Guest
I thought he was going to choose Brett Finch ! What a relief !!!!
Cec
Roar Rookie
Eng might be overthinking it there. I must be old school as one clear voice makes more sense to me.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Richer unions have a plethora of specialist assistant coaches. I think England had 9 assistant coaches at 1 stage Attack Defence Ruck Kicking Skills Scrum Maul Lineout Mental Prep RA can't afford all of that so assistance coaches have to cover more When Taylor was the defence coach under DR I am not sure he was the ruck coach as well, I don't think he was.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
I agree, and that comes to the fact in RL we have to get back 10, whereas in Rugby it’s just behind the ruck, so the teams are automatically closer together, which means in Rugby it is more lateral, but that happens in RL when teams are defending their own line. Years ago Rugby just went from one set piece to the next, the defence set up based on how the attack set up, but as Rugby has sought to keep the ball in play longer, it’s harder for defences to get set, hence this is what RL brings to the table. I’m certainly no Rugby expert, but from what I’ve read, the distinction between a 6 & 7, or a 12 & 13 has never been more blurred in Rugby. In fact according to one article I read, the French in particular see their flankers as left & right as opposed to open & blind, and centres are increasingly becoming left & right, both are RL positions, and have been for 40 years. RL learned years shop you couldn’t have two forwards defending next to each other on one side of the field, nor can you have two centres defending next to each other. These are things that Rugby definitely needs to learn I believe
Chivas
Roar Rookie
I think Union is a lot more lateral. It has got straighter as rules have changed around the ruck area, but still feel it is more lateral than league. As an example largely yoiu frequently see players making their way back to the safety of others if they can't get outside their man so as not lose the ball. In league running away from support isn't great, but if it means metres there is bit more latitude around doing it than in Union. Clearly players try to get back to their support otherwise they give the defence time to reset so the break they made gets lost as the team tries to reconnect. I also think the extra two loose fowards in Union have an impact. And finally while turnovers are not so frequent as they used to be especially when rucking was allowed, the continuous nature of Union and contest for the ball also plays a role. But without a doubt union has leveraged ideas from league both in defence and attack. They have also leveraged AFL (aka the AB's) with respect to contesting the ball in the air. I think all sports do that and when Union went professional, league had at that stage been professional for decades, so there were some reall opportunities they could gain, like even having assistants like defence coaches :happy: I hope Hodgo goes well. I like him a lot as a player. I just personally think he's up against it. Australian fans want to see their team in the semi-finals and to be fair, they have the pedigree and talent to be there.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Well, I can say truthfully I've seen a lot of rugby.
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
I like 2015 more.
Cec
Roar Rookie
PK does it seem right that Hodgo will only get pieces of the defence portfolio and the rest divided up amongst other coaches? I’m wondering if EJ will specifically clarify his role but I would have thought our game is more fluid both on defence and attack, thus the need for a real rugby nut to put all facets of defending or attacking together.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
In terms of general play, the two codes have an awful lot in common. The only real differences are Rugby’s set pieces, and rucks and mauls. Everything else is pretty much the same
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Agree.. it will come down to the HC. Brett won't be on the hook. I am just not buying the fact he played league he will have anything to contribute to the Wallabies in terms of defence in the time between now and the RWC. But time will tell I guess..
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Why because you say its so. I am not trying to win an argument, but merely add balance to what is an unbalanced view in my opinion. The fact you see everything with regards to this debate as a p155ing contest is why you can’t see that.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Of course he always could have recruited Nathan Grey!
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Same really with Muggleton.Of course there is always Shaun Edwards,who is given a lot of credit for what he has done for France in defence.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Geoff Toovey is assistant coach at Warringah, Phil Blake is at Reds as defensive coach.. probably a dozen or so others working in some capacity
James584
Roar Rookie
You lost this argument about 20 posts ago, but keep going. :laughing:
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Yes, but still the overall coaching philosophy comes from the HC. If the Wallabies defence is shit, he can’t turn around and say, “Not my fault, blame the defence coach that I appointed”.