After a World Cup, there is a sense that teams have to be rebuilt whether coaching or playing, and there seems an overwhelming desire to break it down and start again whatever your results.
With Japan now a fading memory and France coming more into focus on the horizon, it seems that everyone is keen to start the rebuild as early as possible.
In the Six Nations, only Scotland and England have kept the same head coach, while Wales, Ireland, France and Italy have new men to take them forward.
In England, Eddie Jones has sought to bolster England’s fragile scrum (that’s something I never thought I’d have to write) by bringing in Matt Proudfoot, the man credited with shaping the South African scrum that hammered England in the World Cup final.
Personally, I have never understood why we now need a scrum coach at the international level. I realize the need to teach kids how to scrummage properly, making sure they have the correct technique and body position to keep safe, etc., but experienced international rugby players?
When I played we had Roger Utley as our coach. He was helped during sessions by Geoff Cooke the manager as we ran through unopposed and semi-opposed practice games.
When we finished those and the backs went off to wash their hair, we would have a scrummaging session either live or against a machine.
Roger would come and oversee what we were doing but never coached us on how to scrum.
Denne historien er fra January 19, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 19, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
