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.”
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
To be fair to Proudfoot, we are very fortunate to have such excellent forwards in SA and this particular crop stands out even for South Africa it's an exceptional group which we may not see again for a long time when they are gone. I recall nobody knew who would take over Jannie's place when he would finally retire and now it seems we just shift a guy in there and he does the job from 1 to 5. Malherbe is of course a notch above the rest at 3 but you don't lose much with Nyakane, Koch, or Thomas du Toit there. We have all but forgotten about Coenie as well.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
They were pretty well known in the then Pro 14 circuit , but sure not much outside of that .And what sensational recruitments by Rassie . Aled Walters in particular redefined the approach to fitness and conditioning in rugby worldwide .That both now brought into the England set up speaks volumes for their burgeoning reputations ..But if I can be a bit mischievous , England also poached Matt Proudfoot from the Bokke then regarded as best scrum coach in the world and he bombed . Should have stayed at home . Probably would still be in the Bok set up instead of coaching Stellenbosch University.
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
All good had to read intent mate..all good as my post was more inquiring
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
Might suit JH to get some added credibility by taking a short term stint in the inner circle. I’m sure his employer would love to get that insight long term. Being at the coal face might be appealing to JH instead of trying to think up witticisms each week.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Problem with that theory comes when viewing the logistics ..last selected Bok squad were drawn from 17 different clubs both domestically and abroad … France , UK , Ireland , Japan . So I would imagine many are better coached but in very different ways . Coordinating all these players and keeping them constantly in the loop of what the Boks want from them is a major task and Felix Jones was recruited primarily to do just that ..No other team , Argentina excluded faces quite the same challenges ..
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Its very late in the day to finally get your coaching team together ..All The Wallabies main opposition have had settled management for years now , maybe Wales and England excluded ( both on Australia’s side of the WC draw)….Only possible advantage with this is that nobody has a clue about strategising counters to The Wallaby game plan because as of yet there just isn’t one . Ireland , NZ , France , Boks , Argentina , Scotland , Japan ….Well everyone knows exactly what they bring to the party ..So there is a window of opportunity for an Australian ambush comes France 2023 .And we know Eddie if nothing else does ambushes better than most .
RD
Roar Rookie
The only guy who would have made a fantastic line out coach would have been Dan Vickerman. Sadly he is no more. Moreover we don’t have Paul O’Connell, Victor Matfield, Alun Wyn Jones to take up this role. The best we have is a Dave Dennis, Ben Mowen or a Deam Mumm who are at their infancy in terms of coaching. The only guy who ED can coerce is Justin Harrison, who might demand a hefty pay to swap the media for the training paddock.
Are not RA short of cash?
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the valuable comment. Inciteful. As a Wallaby supporter, I hope you are wrong. Clearly you are not a Wallaby supporter, so move on.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Think EJ will be intense enough for everyone :laughing:
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
I’m wondering why there isn’t a restart coach as that’s one areas EJ has identified that we are lacking. Come to think of it I’m also wondering why there isn’t an intensity coach.
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
Exactly! Maybe Berrick took in all of the advice from all of the coaches (and punters) that have been slagging him over the years.
The Crow Flies Backwards
Roar Rookie
Never thought of that, Ken :laughing:
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
I was thinking with all those coaches from all over the world there will certainly be a melange of styles
savant
Roar Rookie
One area where need to improve is in back 3 defence. We have been hurt out wide quite a bit. Not sure that leagues any different there. They stay on their man and have a sweeper in behind which is the same. Perhaps he’ll bring back Wayne Bennetts slide defence!
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
I'm wondering why there isn't a specialist Ruck Coach. There would have to be more penalties give away here that any other phase of play. There would be by a large percentage more Rucks than Mauls in any given game.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Or a je ne sais quoi?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ How many coaches/consultants do these blokes need? ” Apart from us ?
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
But you can’t just measure him on the nearly good or the excuses. That is why we are where we are.
Don M
Roar Rookie
OB. I’d rather measure DR on the near-misses to France and Ireland - despite the gruelling spring tour assignment, and fielding a depleted team. Either of those games could have gone our way. If they had, we wouldn’t be having this conversion now. Covid and the dramatic injury toll stymied DR, and yet he grew depth and I believe the foundations were in place for a successful World Cup campaign. No doubt DR still wakes up in a sweat reliving the Italy selection debacle.