Mallinder gone

[Digby]

If no coach was found and Saints folded along with Wuss we'd be down to the 10 team league many people want

Nine & LI

Bristol looks a much sounder option than Irish, still more so if Wuss are gone

[Puja]

If no coach was found and Saints folded along with Wuss we'd be down to the 10 team league many people want

Nine & LI

I think this assumes a LI relegation and a Bristol promotion.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Heyneke Meyer is being touted by rugbyinsideline on Twitter now

[Puja]

Heyneke Meyer is being touted by rugbyinsideline on Twitter now

I'm so sorry. How are you holding up?

Puja

[Adam_P]

I'm not getting emotionally attached to any of these rumours at 1 day since the news came out.

I see Danny Wilson has signed as forwards coach for Wasps next season, so that rules him out

[Stom]

Just giving a reminder.

You're welcome to Kingston and Easter.

[Digby]

Justice 4 Diprose and Rowntree!

[Scrumhead]

Just giving a reminder.

You're welcome to Kingston and Easter.

And another reminder.

[fivepointer]

Andy Robinson is available.......

[Raggs]

Andy Robinson is available.......

There's always one who takes the joke too far...

[Digby]

Andy Robinson for 2 seasons and then someone who can do more than deliver a pack, and actually set the whole team up and make some saner selections building on the work of Robinson mayn't be a bad call. Depends what Saints want, are they looking to build across 2+ seasons, or do they want vast improvements and consistency much earlier in proceedings?

[Banquo]

Andy Robinson for 2 seasons and then someone who can do more than deliver a pack, and actually set the whole team up and make some saner selections building on the work of Robinson mayn't be a bad call. Depends what Saints want, are they looking to build across 2+ seasons, or do they want vast improvements and consistency much earlier in proceedings?

Your dream team is becoming clear- Robinson, Ford....now who for the forwards?

[Digby]

Andy Robinson for 2 seasons and then someone who can do more than deliver a pack, and actually set the whole team up and make some saner selections building on the work of Robinson mayn't be a bad call. Depends what Saints want, are they looking to build across 2+ seasons, or do they want vast improvements and consistency much earlier in proceedings?

Your dream team is becoming clear- Robinson, Ford....now who for the forwards?

Ideally Robinson for the forwards and ideally only the forwards. I'd see him as similar to Dimes, he'll get the pack well setup, but he'll struggle to develop beyond that and it's worse if he's in charge of selection. Trouble is it's unlikely he'd come as an assistant coach.

For some real fun at the races I wouldn't pick Robinson, I'd instead see if Johnson was up for another crack at some management, though I'd have to confess to not much caring how that turned out which probably isn't the case for the Saints board, then again the Saints board left Mallinder in charge for so long so I wouldn't want to unfairly accuse of them of wanting Saints to do well.

[Banquo]

Andy Robinson for 2 seasons and then someone who can do more than deliver a pack, and actually set the whole team up and make some saner selections building on the work of Robinson mayn't be a bad call. Depends what Saints want, are they looking to build across 2+ seasons, or do they want vast improvements and consistency much earlier in proceedings?

Your dream team is becoming clear- Robinson, Ford....now who for the forwards?

Ideally Robinson for the forwards and ideally only the forwards. I'd see him as similar to Dimes, he'll get the pack well setup, but he'll struggle to develop beyond that and it's worse if he's in charge of selection. Trouble is it's unlikely he'd come as an assistant coach.

For some real fun at the races I wouldn't pick Robinson, I'd instead see if Johnson was up for another crack at some management, though I'd have to confess to not much caring how that turned out which probably isn't the case for the Saints board, then again the Saints board left Mallinder in charge for so long so I wouldn't want to unfairly accuse of them of wanting Saints to do well.

mad.

[Which Tyler]

Has anyone tried Robinson as Forwards Coach; with Ford doing attack and Wells as head coach?
A marriage made in heaven, surely.

Maybe get Brian Ashton to come in and do defence whilst playing happy families

[Puja]

Andy Robinson is available.......

Should they start fitting Lawes for the openside shirt now?

Puja

[Banquo]

Has anyone tried Robinson as Forwards Coach; with Ford doing attack and Wells as head coach?
A marriage made in heaven, surely.

Maybe get Brian Ashton to come in and do defence whilst playing happy families

That's like a weird mutation of Robinson's back row selections

[Puja]

Has anyone tried Robinson as Forwards Coach; with Ford doing attack and Wells as head coach?
A marriage made in heaven, surely.

Maybe get Brian Ashton to come in and do defence whilst playing happy families

That's like a weird mutation of Robinson's back row selections

I had exactly the same thought.

Puja

[Digby]

Your dream team is becoming clear- Robinson, Ford....now who for the forwards?

Ideally Robinson for the forwards and ideally only the forwards. I'd see him as similar to Dimes, he'll get the pack well setup, but he'll struggle to develop beyond that and it's worse if he's in charge of selection. Trouble is it's unlikely he'd come as an assistant coach.

For some real fun at the races I wouldn't pick Robinson, I'd instead see if Johnson was up for another crack at some management, though I'd have to confess to not much caring how that turned out which probably isn't the case for the Saints board, then again the Saints board left Mallinder in charge for so long so I wouldn't want to unfairly accuse of them of wanting Saints to do well.

mad.

Sure, it's always easy to play with other peoples money

[Banquo]

Ideally Robinson for the forwards and ideally only the forwards. I'd see him as similar to Dimes, he'll get the pack well setup, but he'll struggle to develop beyond that and it's worse if he's in charge of selection. Trouble is it's unlikely he'd come as an assistant coach.

For some real fun at the races I wouldn't pick Robinson, I'd instead see if Johnson was up for another crack at some management, though I'd have to confess to not much caring how that turned out which probably isn't the case for the Saints board, then again the Saints board left Mallinder in charge for so long so I wouldn't want to unfairly accuse of them of wanting Saints to do well.

mad.

Sure, it's always easy to play with other peoples money

Just not sure why the square peg that was Jonno as a head coach, the rinse and repeat records of Robinson and Ford should be appealing. Certainly any as DOR with head coaching in the remit looks like an accident waiting to happen.

[Digby]

mad.

Sure, it's always easy to play with other peoples money

Just not sure why the square peg that was Jonno as a head coach, the rinse and repeat records of Robinson and Ford should be appealing. Certainly any as DOR with head coaching in the remit looks like an accident waiting to happen.

Robinson is that? I think longer term he would be poor, but for 1.5 seasons he could well be a decent option to build a pack that someone rather better can then actually make use of. I don't think even saying that I would hire Robinson, but it's an option if it's as a long term interim coach. And I'd be interested to see Johnson back in rugby, and if such a decision doesn't work out and costs Saints that doesn't bother me much so it's easy for me to say it.

[Banquo]

Sure, it's always easy to play with other peoples money

Just not sure why the square peg that was Jonno as a head coach, the rinse and repeat records of Robinson and Ford should be appealing. Certainly any as DOR with head coaching in the remit looks like an accident waiting to happen.

Robinson is that? I think longer term he would be poor, but for 1.5 seasons he could well be a decent option to build a pack that someone rather better can then actually make use of. I don't think even saying that I would hire Robinson, but it's an option if it's as a long term interim coach. And I'd be interested to see Johnson back in rugby, and if such a decision doesn't work out and costs Saints that doesn't bother me much so it's easy for me to say it.

so I'm not sure why you'd hire a short term fix like Robinson, and in fact you aren't really wanting to..so wibble. I think he's passed his sell by date as a forwards coach (c2003), and is a dubious quality head coach.

Johnson was ill served being offered and accepting a job that needs an experienced coach; and its clearly put him off/or he can't be bothered to do the hard yards.

[Digby]

Just not sure why the square peg that was Jonno as a head coach, the rinse and repeat records of Robinson and Ford should be appealing. Certainly any as DOR with head coaching in the remit looks like an accident waiting to happen.

Robinson is that? I think longer term he would be poor, but for 1.5 seasons he could well be a decent option to build a pack that someone rather better can then actually make use of. I don't think even saying that I would hire Robinson, but it's an option if it's as a long term interim coach. And I'd be interested to see Johnson back in rugby, and if such a decision doesn't work out and costs Saints that doesn't bother me much so it's easy for me to say it.

so I'm not sure why you'd hire a short term fix like Robinson, and in fact you aren't really wanting to..so wibble. I think he's passed his sell by date as a forwards coach (c2003), and is a dubious quality head coach.

Johnson was ill served being offered and accepting a job that needs an experienced coach; and its clearly put him off/or he can't be bothered to do the hard yards.

I think Robinson did some good work with both the Edinburgh and Scotland packs, even if both those and of course Bristol again showed up his overall strategy and selection issues. If Saints can get in someone who can build up the basics and then add to that fine, but they mayn't be able to find that person, in which case I'd consider a two stage process of hiring someone to fix the pack, accept the team will not do much fr the next season and a half, and then replace someone like Robinson with a coach who can take advantage of the work that's been done with the pack

[Oakboy]

Is there anybody worth having who could start straight away? If not and it's to be a temporary holding job till the end of the season why not just appoint from within and throw money at somebody good at the end of the season?

[Digby]

Wayne Smith isn't busy