Jones gone (Now 100% confirmed)

[twitchy]

Gatland has the wales job.

[Banquo]

Happy to take your word for it, he was before my time. However, it's not why his name is instantly recognisable to any rugby fan (between the ages of 20 and 60).

Depends how old you are

Better?
Even then, I'd wager that he's better known as a coach than as a player, but it'd be a wager made in ignorance, as I'm neither <20 nor >60

This is excellent news and, I think, should be the absolute arbiter of whether Jones goes or not. The players are one of the few groups who know for definite whether Jones is full of shit or whether there actually are credible, realistic plans for the RWC to come. If they still buy into it, then he should stay and we take the gamble that he knows what he's doing. If they come out against him, then it's irrelevant how clever he thinks his plans are because the players no longer believe in them or him, and we need to gamble that someone can do a rescue job.

TBH, This should be part of every review, or at least, every annual review - club or national level; and there's no excuse for anonymity not be 100% guaranteed.

I note your edit, and tbh I wasn't even arguing in the first place - I said your point was well made. Was just helping the junior membership along by pointing out that his first contribution to rugby was as a superb centre, notably for the Lions in 74; first choice Lion on two tours with the backs we had back then was a mighty achievement. And I am 60+ as of last week

[Which Tyler]

Gatland has the wales job.

TFFT

[Danno]

Yessssss

[Mellsblue]

Huzza

[Banquo]

Lets get Brendan McCullum in ! There is a lot to be said for backing the strongest suit/talent in a side, rather than worrying about the opposition (and I say this as someone who has always seen defence as at least 50% of the game); even Gareth Southgate might want to ponder that. Course, Eddie's argument has always been about 'english virtues in set piece, physicality and kicking', but when you aren't that good at any of them....

[Which Tyler]

Oh shit.
I've just had a terrible thought.

What if the RFU go for Pivac?

[Puja]

Oh shit.
I've just had a terrible thought.

What if the RFU go for Pivac?

...you know, I wouldn't utterly hate that. He's got a great deal of experience with Fiji and in NZ, he likes an attacking game - obviously his last year with Wales didn't go great, but there's mitigating factors with the Welsh game being in a mess and them having no depth and a ridiculous number of injuries. Before that, they were a bad bounce off a Grand Slam in 2021 and the summer performances against the Springboks were better than anything we've shown, despite this not being a vintage generation of Welsh talent.

It won't happen, cause the optics of it would be very bad, but I can think of many worse options for us. Cockerill or O'Shea, for example.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

the Welsh game being in a mess and them having no depth and a ridiculous number of injuries

Unlike the English game, you mean

[Mellsblue]

There’s a lot of talk about Kiwis today… please let Eng’s next coach be Wayne Smith.

[Which Tyler]

There’s a lot of talk about Kiwis today… please let Eng’s next coach be Wayne Smith.

I know he's ruled himself out, but I'd be moving heaven and earth to convinced him to accept a short-term deal to take us through the RWC

[Puja]

the Welsh game being in a mess and them having no depth and a ridiculous number of injuries

Unlike the English game, you mean

If there's one thing we have, it's depth. I'd back our 4th XV against Wales's 2nd XV, every day of the week.

Puja

[FKAS]

the Welsh game being in a mess and them having no depth and a ridiculous number of injuries

Unlike the English game, you mean

Well at least there isn't a funding mess so large new contracts can't be negotiated with players.

Puja is right Pivac wouldn't the worst choice (wouldn't be the best either). He got a decent tune out of the Scarlets and at times Wales. Wales spent a long time leaning heavily on the Shaun Edwards defence, once that was gone it's been tough for them. Trying to implement a new attacking structure as well as bring through a new generation of players, well complete poison chalice really.

[Mellsblue]

There’s a lot of talk about Kiwis today… please let Eng’s next coach be Wayne Smith.

I know he's ruled himself out, but I'd be moving heaven and earth to convinced him to accept a short-term deal to take us through the RWC

Exactement. When you think how much the RFU projected the 2015 debacle cost them, paying through the nose for Smith and whoever he wants to assist doesn’t look so bad.

[Banquo]

There’s a lot of talk about Kiwis today… please let Eng’s next coach be Wayne Smith.

I know he's ruled himself out, but I'd be moving heaven and earth to convinced him to accept a short-term deal to take us through the RWC

Exactement. When you think how much the RFU projected the 2015 debacle cost them, paying through the nose for Smith and whoever he wants to assist doesn’t look so bad.

....paying off Eddie and gang wont be cheap tho. Might pay back to do it now tho.

[Mellsblue]

I know he's ruled himself out, but I'd be moving heaven and earth to convinced him to accept a short-term deal to take us through the RWC

Exactement. When you think how much the RFU projected the 2015 debacle cost them, paying through the nose for Smith and whoever he wants to assist doesn’t look so bad.

....paying off Eddie and gang wont be cheap tho. Might pay back to do it now tho.

That’s built in, if they get rid. It’s more the thought over who they bring in. Given the cost of failure, a few £100k seems like a bet worth having. Easy to say as it’s not my money but…
It’s a gamble, obviously, as nothing is guaranteed but i think Smith is about as safe a bet as they could make. It’s why I’m sure Gatland’s name was on the list of possible replacements. Who to hire long term and who to get in as World Cup caretaker are two very different conversations, imo.

[Puja]

Exactement. When you think how much the RFU projected the 2015 debacle cost them, paying through the nose for Smith and whoever he wants to assist doesn’t look so bad.

....paying off Eddie and gang wont be cheap tho. Might pay back to do it now tho.

That’s built in, if they get rid. It’s more the thought over who they bring in. Given the cost of failure, a few £100k seems like a bet worth having. Easy to say as it’s not my money but…
It’s a gamble, obviously, as nothing is guaranteed but i think Smith is about as safe a bet as they could make. It’s why I’m sure Gatland’s name was on the list of possible replacements. Who to hire long term and who to get in as World Cup caretaker are two very different conversations, imo.

Just seeing what Smith did to the Black Ferns in a similar amount of time was awe-inspiring. I don't think any amount of money would be enough to shift him, but I'd love it if it could.

Puja

[Banquo]

Exactement. When you think how much the RFU projected the 2015 debacle cost them, paying through the nose for Smith and whoever he wants to assist doesn’t look so bad.

....paying off Eddie and gang wont be cheap tho. Might pay back to do it now tho.

. Given the cost of failure, a few £100k seems like a bet worth having. Easy to say as it’s not my money but…

yep, thats what I meant about payback, soz

[pandion]

Wasn't Smith and Mallet a combo the RFU rejected for Lancaster?

[Puja]

Wasn't Smith and Mallet a combo the RFU rejected for Lancaster?

I think the problem with that meant accepting Mallet in charge with Smith as an assistant.

Puja

[FKAS]

Bullet dodged and Gatland confirmed back to Wales.

[Mellsblue]

Anyone know if the Gatland to Wales rumour has any substance. Feels as unlikely as the Marchant to Stade Francais rumour.

[Mellsblue]

[Mikey Brown]

Do any of those coaches assume they keep their job if Eddie goes anyway? Lots of odd ‘news’ like that today.

[Danno]

More grist for the mill

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/eddie-jo ... fu-report/