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Joined August 2021
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Good luck I see someone has done their homework BNHF. Thanks for enlightening some that don’t look past the first page or stats. I’ve read a fair bit about AF. Porch, who was bought over to Ireland Friend, said in an interview last week he also reckons he has the goods. As you alluded to, Connacht has been a team of hardly any big name players ( Aki, Carty) but have punched way above their weight under Friend. He’s also done a fantastic job of recruiting young locals and giving them a chance. Partly out of necessity as Connacht don’t have the coin to lure the big players, but also due to his belief in building a team that plays for each other. Family is a word often used around his squads. He’s game style is open running rugby and his players play with a self belief that is unique. I think he’s a good fit for a team that needs to start from scratch.
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Friend has done a little more than “a bit of club rugby”. Coaches Brumbies, Harlequins, Connacht, Suntory, Cannon ( I think) , Aust 7’s and AUS U21’s to a World Cup final. I think he also sat on Wallabies WC coaching squad on at least one occasion.
Rugby News: 'Doesn't seem right' - Mack urges RA to avoid Kiwi coach, Clive tells Poms to ditch 'ridiculous' ban
I think you’ll find a number of Aussie coaches are employed overseas. Furthermore, Friend has had incredible success overseas after leaving the toxic boys club in Australia. A career coach who plucked Hansen from the dust pile and allowed his talent to shine. If he can turn a team like Connacht into a force in European football, why not the wallabies with far more talented players and resources.
Rugby News: 'Doesn't seem right' - Mack urges RA to avoid Kiwi coach, Clive tells Poms to ditch 'ridiculous' ban
We’d be mad not to go with an Aussie coach. It’s a sport we’ve played in this country since the beginning of (rugby) time and we have people who can do the job.
Rugby News: 'Doesn't seem right' - Mack urges RA to avoid Kiwi coach, Clive tells Poms to ditch 'ridiculous' ban
Betting co has Larkham at $5, Friend at$7, Cheika at $7.5, Schmidt at $10, Ryles at $15 and Kiss at $21.
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Horne hasn’t been officially named yet so let’s all take a breath. Not saying it wouldn’t be a good option but until I see a signature n a dotted line I’m not getting too excited. Speculation is the devil’s anecdote.
If we’re looking for a coach that can rebuild a broken team from nothing to something, instil national pride in the jumper and build a supporter base that has belief, why is Andy Friend not being mentioned. He turned lowly club Connacht who had a second rate roster around in 3-5 years with massive wins against all odds. He recruits well and, if what I’ve read about his tenure in Ireland, builds belief in the players on the park. An Aussie with plenty of experience abroad and off contract ( I think). He’s been hardly mentioned on this site but he’s a career coach and I look at his record and think he may have something to offer. And, not that this matters, he’s a local, who has a wealth of knowledge about SH rugby and the Irish structure.
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Good point Luke. I can’t believe Friend isn’t being looked at…or maybe he is but not in this forum. The guy has had incredible success os. He took the minnows Connacht to places they had never been before with wins against Leinster, Ulster (great record against them), Munster, beating all three at their home grounds. Qualifying for knockouts of the HC and league. Great wins over Montpellier, Bordeaux, Lions, Perpignan, Sale, Bulls, Gloucester, Paris, Stromers, matching it with teams with far more strike power. Connacht played with a running style and a belief in themselves that was inspiring. Furthermore, he builds culture, promoting grassroots players, inspiring younger players to stay the course and buy-in to the club. He’s off contract and ready to go.
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We’ve turned so many corners, we are now back to where we started. Time to take a right instead of a left and explore new horizons.
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Let’s not go overseas for our National coach. We have enough good homegrown coaches. McKellar is a better option than Larkham imo, but he’s on a pretty fertile patch at Leinster. Hewat doesn’t have enough experience. Friend has the right credentials / experience but doesn’t seem to be in the mix.
Then again, it won’t matter who coaches the team if the admin doesn’t sweep the dead wood off the decks and start taking a different approach to rugby from grassroots up. This is where I’d like to see someone like Fisher being utilised.
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Some fellas have some time off from work and head to the golf course. All of them are very competitive individuals. One of them shanks a drive. Another member of the party starts laughing and goading the player on the tee. Said player lines up his second ball and hits it directly at the guy giving him lip…it hits him. Probably hard enough to give him concussion. The boss isn’t happy.
Ah, I don’t know. Just a story I’ve heard doing the rounds.
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Dida – I’m leaning towards the Friend. Heaps of experience and did a complete rebuild with Connacht with massive success. He’s coached Aussie 7’s, Aust U21’s to World Cup GF, got Connacht into European Cup quarters I think. Furthermore, from what little I’ve read, the players respect him and he builds a strong culture. I think he’s a better pick than Larkham. Rennie won’t come back. Get Fisher in there as his forwards coach maybe? Then again, maybe Garland is looking for a new challenge? But I’d prefer to have an Aussie coaching the National side.
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The one Aust. coach you haven’t mentioned is Andy Friend. Career coach that has plenty of runs on the board. Everything I’ve read about him and his time at Connacht suggests he builds strong culture, player’s self-belief and has an uncanny knack of finding new / emerging talent (Mack Hansen is one example). Connacht punched way above their weight under his watch and he’s currently a free agent having just stepped down from Connacht. Not sure where he is now but worth a look in I’d reckon.
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I agree CPM. Andy Friend’s record overseas with under-performing, under-strength teams is sensational, and he builds a strong culture within the playing group. He has an eye for raw talent (Mack Hansen) and plays an open style of running rugby. Alas, RA has treated him like crap which is why he left to coach overseas. He has just finished a highly successful 5-year contract with Connacht and is off contract but I don’t know if he’d take on the poisoned chalice of the Wallabies. RA should be seeking his counsel for how to fix rugby in this country. He has coached in England, Ireland and Japan as well as coaching the Aussie 7’s and Australian U21 side who made the final of the 2005 World Championship.
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A massive kick in the guts to all the Australian coaches that have given the game their all over the years. I know he’s a good coach but really disappointed that Australian Rugby couldn’t find an Australian coach.
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