Jones gone (Now 100% confirmed)

[Puja]

Eddie's not even been hired by Rugby Australia yet and already there are assistant coaches walking, wanting to spend more time with their families: https://rugby365.com/countries/australi ... wallabies/

On a serious note, that's a big blow for Australia to lose Wisemantel. When I saw the headline, I was hoping it was him agreeing to go back to work with Borthwick again, but the reasons given nix that idea. Odd timing, but I hope he's happy with whatever he plans to do next.

Puja

Good man Scott, spend 7 months with the family and then come back to the UK for the Tigers job.

Hadn't even considered that as a possibility. Yes please - would take that!

Puja

[Banquo]

Eddie's not even been hired by Rugby Australia yet and already there are assistant coaches walking, wanting to spend more time with their families: https://rugby365.com/countries/australi ... wallabies/

On a serious note, that's a big blow for Australia to lose Wisemantel. When I saw the headline, I was hoping it was him agreeing to go back to work with Borthwick again, but the reasons given nix that idea. Odd timing, but I hope he's happy with whatever he plans to do next.

Puja

Good man Scott, spend 7 months with the family and then come back to the UK for the Tigers job.

Hadn't even considered that as a possibility. Yes please - would take that!

Puja

You know it, I know it, Cockers is the obvious answer. Stevie B is helping Penny Pinchen recruiting a new Tigers head coach by palming Rumpelstiltskin back to where he came from...

[Puja]

Good man Scott, spend 7 months with the family and then come back to the UK for the Tigers job.

Hadn't even considered that as a possibility. Yes please - would take that!

Puja

You know it, I know it, Cockers is the obvious answer. Stevie B is helping Penny Pinchen recruiting a new Tigers head coach by palming Rumpelstiltskin back to where he came from...

People have been banned for less.

Puja

[FKAS]

Hadn't even considered that as a possibility. Yes please - would take that!

Puja

You know it, I know it, Cockers is the obvious answer. Stevie B is helping Penny Pinchen recruiting a new Tigers head coach by palming Rumpelstiltskin back to where he came from...

People have been banned for less.

Puja

if there was dislike button then Banquo would have got it.

The rumour doing the rounds is that McFarland, Wigglesworth and McDonald are on the shortlist. I can only assume things are bad behind the scenes at Ulster if McFarland is an option as he's got a contract until 2024. Leon McDonald is out of contract next year.

[Banquo]

Evans apparently due to be confirmed as attack coach- good source. Good news.

[Margin_Walker]

Just short term for the duration of the 6N according to the Times last night.

[Banquo]

Just short term for the duration of the 6N according to the Times last night.

what a mad thing to do, if that's the case.

eta - Times article
Nick Evans is set to be appointed England’s attack coach before the Six Nations. The Times understands the deal for the former New Zealand fly half, 42, who has been in charge of the Harlequins attack since he retired from playing in 2017, could be just for the duration of the championship.

Steve Borthwick, the new head coach, is also believed to be interested in recruiting Ian Peel, 46, from Saracens to join his youthful coaching team and take charge of rebuilding England’s scrum.

Borthwick, 43, has already appointed Kevin Sinfield, 42, to run England’s defence. The recruitment of Evans, who won 16 caps for the All Blacks and played over 200 games for Harlequins, would appear to signal the end of Martin Gleeson’s tenure as England attack coach.

Peel could be brought in to work with Richard Cockerill, the forwards coach, although Borthwick is known to want to stay involved in hands-on coaching.

“I want us to have a coaching team that can prepare this team as well as we possibly can,” Borthwick said when he was appointed head coach last month. “The players deserve that and the supporters deserve that.”

He has mentored Marcus Smith, the England fly half, and given Harlequins licence to play to their attacking strengths. Only Saracens have scored more Premiership tries than Harlequins this season, only Northampton Saints managed that last year.

“With the players we have got, I don’t want to put them in a box and say, ‘In this position you do this’,” Evans said during the thrilling run to the title in 2021. “We want guys to make decisions on the pitch and to find solutions.”

The appointment of Evans will be welcome news for Smith, who has never looked convinced by England’s attacking game plan, shining only when taking matters into his own hands; most notably in the 2021 victory over South Africa and last November’s draw with New Zealand.

[Mikey Brown]

Well it should be interesting if nothing else.

Getting 5 games as attack coach before moving on to someone else does seem very strange, particularly given Evans’ ethos as a coach.

On paper though that is a very interesting balance of characters in the setup.

I’m wondering how Marchant would feel about his French move if Evans ends up getting the job full time.

[fivepointer]

I like Evans and think this is a good appointment, but just for the 6N's?

Peel seems an obvious choice to oversee the scrum.

[FKAS]

Is Evans then a loan for the 6N period until we get who we want in the summer?

I thought Smith struggled with the lack of structure in Eddie's open attack. I'd have hoped Gleeson would have been able to apply some more conventional structure but leave space for Smith (or Ford) to step out of it when they see something. Evans has done something similar at Quins so it could work well.

[Tom Moore]

Like the fact that it's Evans, don't like the fact that he gets 5 games and then we go into a World Cup with either someone new coaching his structures, or with an entirely new structure we've had the warm-up to get used to.

On that basis, I think I'd give it to George Ford.

[Mellsblue]

I don’t see the point in it. Just keep Gleeson if Evans is only a rental. Now, if it’s a try before you buy…

[Oakboy]

Whether Evans's appointment is temporary or not, what degree of unanimity is likely to be in the coaching crew re selection? Will Evans favour Smith at FH, for example on attacking grounds? Will the defence coach agree? Will the head coach have a third view (perhaps affected by captaincy issues).

Does Borthwick discuss such fundamentals before appointing anyone? Presumably coaches, within their various categories, say player x is best (at whatever position) for my function. What degree of compromise occurs?

Obviously only one guy is in charge with the final say but teams (players or coaches) gel and perform better when singing from the same hymn sheet.

[Mellsblue]

Whether Evans's appointment is temporary or not, what degree of unanimity is likely to be in the coaching crew re selection? Will Evans favour Smith at FH, for example on attacking grounds? Will the defence coach agree? Will the head coach have a third view (perhaps affected by captaincy issues).

Does Borthwick discuss such fundamentals before appointing anyone? Presumably coaches, within their various categories, say player x is best (at whatever position) for my function. What degree of compromise occurs?

Obviously only one guy is in charge with the final say but teams (players or coaches) gel and perform better when singing from the same hymn sheet.

“What worked really well at Leicester was how close myself and Wiggy were,” Sinfield said. “We understood how important the transitions were. I want to build the same relationship with our attack coach here.

“Within that alignment it’s going to be really important how we play. I played in a position where it was my job to ensure we scored points. So I understand how important it is that not only are we good defensively but we score points and we are a threat.”

[p/d]

Like it. Always rated Evans, 42, he will bring something different. Smart move by Borthwick, 43, to hint at a ‘trial’.

Don’t worry Oakboy, 77, they will work well together me thinks.

[FKAS]

I don’t see the point in it. Just keep Gleeson if Evans is only a rental. Now, if it’s a try before you buy…

Unless his preferred choice is joining in the summer and Gleeson has been deemed incompatible.

There's nothing on Gleeson yet so maybe there's a personal issue there and Borthwick is giving him time away and hence Evans is a short term fix.

[fivepointer]

Quins confirming the arrangement, which does seem to be just for the 6N period.

Harlequins can confirm that Attack and Backs Coach Nick Evans will link up with the England Rugby team during their 2023 Six Nations campaign on a short-term contract.

With England’s Six Nations bye weeks falling on weekends of Harlequins’ matches, Evans will return to club duty part-time throughout the Six Nations campaign ahead of the Club’s matches against Gloucester Rugby and Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher Premiership.

Evans will return to Harlequins full-time following the conclusion of the 2023 Six Nations.

Commenting, Harlequins’ Director of Rugby Performance Billy Millard said: “This is an amazing opportunity for Nick, where he will learn and grow so much, which can only be good for the Club. I am also confident he will provide Steve and the playing group with excellent support and direction through the 2023 Six Nations period.”

[Mr Mwenda]

Probably an eye to post world cup planning, since the competition is likely a bit of a free hit out at this stage.

[Mellsblue]

I don’t see the point in it. Just keep Gleeson if Evans is only a rental. Now, if it’s a try before you buy…

Unless his preferred choice is joining in the summer

Hence ‘if it’s a try before you buy…’

[Oakboy]

I don’t see the point in it. Just keep Gleeson if Evans is only a rental. Now, if it’s a try before you buy…

Unless his preferred choice is joining in the summer

Hence ‘if it’s a try before you buy…’

Maybe, Evans is OK with England v NH countries but not his fellow-countrymen?

[Banquo]

Comedy tbh this close to a World Cup.

[Skalyba]

Presumably Evans didn't want to leave Quins mid-season. Drops in to help with 6N and then goes back. At the end of the season he goes back to England for the WC...

[Puja]

Presumably Evans didn't want to leave Quins mid-season. Drops in to help with 6N and then goes back. At the end of the season he goes back to England for the WC...

You'd like to hope that's the plan. Be a bit worried if the plan is to bring in another different attack coach for the RWC.

Mind, having said that, everyone's just assuming that Gleeson's being given the Spanish archer and that Evans is replacing him, but there's still not been any actual news of him going. Maybe Evans is just being brought in as a short term consultant and extra set of brains to help out, but Gleeson's still going to be the main man in charge of the attack?

Puja

[Banquo]

Presumably Evans didn't want to leave Quins mid-season. Drops in to help with 6N and then goes back. At the end of the season he goes back to England for the WC...

You'd like to hope that's the plan. Be a bit worried if the plan is to bring in another different attack coach for the RWC.

Mind, having said that, everyone's just assuming that Gleeson's being given the Spanish archer and that Evans is replacing him, but there's still not been any actual news of him going. Maybe Evans is just being brought in as a short term consultant and extra set of brains to help out, but Gleeson's still going to be the main man in charge of the attack?

Puja

whatever way you look at it and however it 'works', its crap this close to a world cup. I saw some stats about midfield creativity in the top 10 RU nations and we are joint bottom with Wales. Obviously that's not just on the midfield players themselves- much as everything is Faz's fault - but shows how much work we need to do systemically and getting the right 10/12/13 combo.

[Mellsblue]

Presumably Evans didn't want to leave Quins mid-season. Drops in to help with 6N and then goes back. At the end of the season he goes back to England for the WC...

You'd like to hope that's the plan. Be a bit worried if the plan is to bring in another different attack coach for the RWC.

Mind, having said that, everyone's just assuming that Gleeson's being given the Spanish archer and that Evans is replacing him, but there's still not been any actual news of him going. Maybe Evans is just being brought in as a short term consultant and extra set of brains to help out, but Gleeson's still going to be the main man in charge of the attack?

Puja

whatever way you look at it and however it 'works', its crap this close to a world cup. I saw some stats about midfield creativity in the top 10 RU nations and we are joint bottom with Wales. Obviously that's not just on the midfield players themselves- much as everything is Faz's fault - but shows how much work we need to do systemically and getting the right 10/12/13 combo.

Why did no one moan/complain/forewarn that that midfield (and surrounding parts/units and overall game plan/structure) was a disaster waiting to happen…