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Eddie Jones promised he would have his coaching structure in place by May and, indeed, he has.
His latest appointment is Frenchman Pierre Henry Broncan, who was sacked by Castres in February – less than a season after sensationally overseeing their dramatic rise to the French TOP 14 final.
The 48-year-old, who has known the Australian for years after a stint at Bath as a scout and analyst, was a new face – albeit over Zoom – earlier in the week during Jones’ first training camp at Sanctuary Cove.
The Roar can reveal that he will be tasked with transforming the Wallabies’ maul and turning it into a weapon.
In some ways Broncan’s appointment comes from out of the blue, but he’s highly regarded. It’s believed Jones tapped into his rich rugby brain at times ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
He will work closely alongside Brumbies forwards coach and scrum doctor Dan Palmer, who is set to oversee the Wallabies’ lineout, as well as incoming forwards coach Neal Hatley.
The trio will work alongside defence coach Brett Hodgson as well as Berrick Barnes, who joined the Wallabies on the Gold Coast and could yet head to the World Cup as a skills coach 16 years after debuting at the 2007 campaign in France under John Connolly.
Former Castres coach Pierre-Henry Broncan will join Eddie Jones’ coaching structure as the Wallabies’ maul coach. Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Jones’ long-time right-hand man Scott Wisemantel, who met with the Wallabies coach last week ahead of the training camp four months after standing down as Dave Rennie’s assistant, is acting as a consultant. It’s thought that Jones will oversee the attack, with input from Wisemantel.
Insiders believe Barnes is the perfect fit for the Wallabies, with sources saying he is the “best bloke in the world” and someone who “won’t just be able to teach players how to execute skills but crucially also show it”.
An outstanding player in his own right, Barnes’ upbeat demeanour and understanding of playing on the world’s biggest stage with very little experience is something that could prove crucial, with many of Jones’ chargers in the infancy of their international career.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and assistant coach Berrick Barnes a training camp at Sanctuary Cove on April 18, 2023. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Broncan is expected to arrive Down Under in May and his appointment continues a remarkable series of events.
After Jones was sacked by the Rugby Football Union in December, the Australian was set to join Broncan at Castres. That changed when Jones accepted the Wallabies’ coaching job.
Now, as fate should have it, Broncan has joined Jones after being let go in February.
Despite seeing the French club to the minor premiership and a runner-up place last year, Castres sacked Broncan in February after going down to La Rochelle at home – their first home defeat in the French TOP14 competition in years. It came after Castres struggled in the Champions Cup and hovered around the relegation zone of the TOP14.
One of the central figures he will work with is Waratahs forward Jed Holloway, who quickly established himself as a key figure under Dave Rennie after being given his debut jersey against Argentina last August.
Holloway said the Wallabies came away brimming with confidence after the Wallabies’ three-day camp.
“It was good. It was really good. It’s different to ‘Rens’,” he said.
“The intensity he operates at, he really holds edge and he creates it by knowing where to insert himself. I think you heard ‘Flooky’ [Josh Flook] saying he didn’t see him all morning but when you did see him you definitely felt his presence.
“He’s really clear about the vision that he has. He pumps guys full of confidence about the talent that we have in Australia, and he wants guys to know that we’re going for it and that we can do it.
“He’s a guy who’s been around for years and years, seen everything, not just rugby. He loves his rugby league, he loves his soccer. I don’t know if he sleeps because the amount of stuff that he’s watching that he brings up and constantly referring back to. He’s got a wealth of experience and [I’m] really keen to learn off him.”
Jed Holloway says Eddie Jones’ isn’t planning on ripping up Dave Rennie’s three years of work with the Wallabies. Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images
Asked whether he was more confident of the Wallabies’ chances at this year’s World Cup after the camp, Holloway said he always believed they were heading in the right direction and Jones had built on what Rennie had started.
“I’m still really confident because he understands that he’s not going to bring in a whole new system,” he said.
“Rens built the foundation to get us to where we’re at, he (Jones) just needs to bring that edge. He’s not trying to change the whole world. He just knows that I can bring this vision and inspires the guys that we’re going to get results.
“I have no doubt from what I saw over the last three days and the way the group grew, the culture that started to come together, that we’re in a good place and on the right track.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.