Auckland blues coach Pat Lamb, must re-apply for his job!

In a statement on Wednesday the Auckland Blues franchise said the position of Blues head coach for 2013 will be advertised.

“The Blues Board and the New Zealand Rugby Union have agreed the position will be advertised now to maximise the opportunity to test the market and recruit the best available head coach for the Blues’ 2013 Super Rugby season,” the statement said.

This prompted veteran Blues captain Keven Mealamu to “apologise” on behalf of his players for the fact that Lam will effectively lose his job at the end of the year.

“The reality is, the results of the Blues to date this season have put considerable focus on the role and as those in the rugby industry know, this is the time coaches look to secure their coaching posts for next year and beyond,” Blues board Chairman Gary Whetton said.

“In order to ensure we have the best opportunity to garner interest from coaches both locally and abroad, this position needs to be advertised now.”

Suitable applicants will undergo a recruitment process involving representatives from both the NZRU and the Blues.

As with all Super Rugby franchises, the NZRU contracts the head coach and assistant coach of all New Zealand teams, in conjunction with each franchise.

NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen said: “It’s obvious for all to see that the Blues are having a very disappointing season so far in 2012 and this has brought about the need for some action.”

Lam will continue as coach of the Blues this season and remains contracted to the end of 2012.

The statement added that Lam is eligible to apply for the job.

The recruitment process will take place across June and July.

Mealamu, at a media briefing in Auckland stood by the under-fire coach.

“From a players’ point of view we’re pretty disappointed we let coach down and we failed him, not through effort, but through execution on the field,” Mealamu said.

“We all turn up here prepared and ready to face each week but it’s been one of those things this year, we’ve just struggled and what makes it tougher is that we’ve left coach in his situation which was the last thing we wanted to do.

“I know coach [Lam] is a proud Auckland man, a proud Blues man, brought up in this region, and we’re disappointed we weren’t able to look after him on the field.

“Obviously coach is responsible for preparing us, but at the end of the day us players have the responsibility of getting out there and getting the result on the field.”

Lam said he was “all good” about the decision, adding he was told last night and discussed it with his family.

“I can only speak for myself and my whole focus is about trying to get a win this week, so it’s not a problem for me. I’m excited about the opportunity we have this weekend [against the Lions at Eden Park on Friday]. I’m all good.

“As soon as they got told, I just reminded the boys, it doesn’t change my job here. I’m all good, I’ve got a beautiful wife, I’ve got five good children. I spoke to them last night about it and said it’s an exciting time for us. We’ve been blessed in what we’ve been able to do right up to this moment. Whether we’re here next year or somewhere else, it’s exciting.

“We’re tight as a family. As soon as I said it was exciting, they all starting throwing their suggestions in, my little five-year-old said when we started mentioning countries, `hey, what about Disneyland’.”

Lam’s last comment revealed he is likely to head overseas and he has already been linked to several clubs, including Bath in England.

This prompted immediate speculation as to whom the next Blues coach will be – with names like John Kirwan, Joe Schmidt, Jono Gibbes, Greg Feek, Vern Cotter, Mark Anscombe and , Rob Penney, Warren Gatland (despite still being contracted to Wales) and Wayne Smith.

As is the case with every available coaching job around the world, even former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has been linked to the position.


So it seems the axe does fall on the coach after all, even when the player's execution fails.

Personally I would much rather prefer to see an Aucklander take over,and with Mark Anscombe going to Munster the only other candidate is Kirwin and I cant see Joe Schmidt coming back to the Blues.

Mark Anscombe going to Munster

Ulster, I think a different Kiwi is taking over Munster.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Mark Anscombe going to Munster

Ulster, I think a different Kiwi is taking over Munster.

I got the last couple of letters right.

I don't see why people come out with this stuff. Everyone knows Lam will not keep his job so why come out and say we are looking for a new person other then to rub it in his face.

Are the blues too poor to sack him and give a new coach some time to do something

Why would they bother getting someone else in now though Brendan? It would take a miracle for them to salvage this season and a large portion of the blame lies with the players and their woeful form, which would probably take time to turn around regardless who is in charge. I guess the Blues have more money than most in NZ rugby, but I would still doubt they're rolling in it. Why waste the pay off money? What would the gain be?

In terms of who could take over, I don't know anywhere near enough about the franchise to speculate.

I do however feel a bit sorry for Nick Mallet. He seems to have suddenly fallen from being one of the most respected coaches in world rugby to a bit of a laughing stock, being jokingly linked to every job available and getting none. What's he done wrong? I'm sure he's sitting on a beach somewhere in SA, not too worried about it.

I suppose it was inevitable given the Blues form.

One thing that list highlights for me though is the depth of AB coaching talent, looks like it isn't just on the playing side.

Apologies for making this English-centric for a moment, but it also highlights for me the dearth of coaching quality in England. Ok we have a few decent guys knocking around, but Brian Smith, Tony Hanks and many others seem pretty bog standard average to me. Maybe that's harsh on Smith who was decent with LI before, but i can't for the life of me work out why they don't poach some of these Kiwis (say nothing about poaching players please!) I guess the money isn't as important for some. Good on them i guess.

It's also frustrating though that someone like Mallett is sitting things out when he could be somewhere like Bath. I'm sure Gold will make Bath's pack competitive, but Meehan's offloading game seemed far more progressive and they ditched him. I think the coaching set-ups at Prem teams are generally pretty awful and simply constantly recycled - LIs Booth and Hatley going to Bath a case in point.

Mark Anscombe to Ulster, Rob Penney to Munster. Any other spare Kiwi coaches going? We'll take 'em. We'll find a job for Pat Lam somewhere if he does leave, don't worry.

I think Mallett interviewed at Bath but Gold got the job.

Hood83 wrote:I suppose it was inevitable given the Blues form.

One thing that list highlights for me though is the depth of AB coaching talent, looks like it isn't just on the playing side.

Apologies for making this English-centric for a moment, but it also highlights for me the dearth of coaching quality in England. Ok we have a few decent guys knocking around, but Brian Smith, Tony Hanks and many others seem pretty bog standard average to me. Maybe that's harsh on Smith who was decent with LI before, but i can't for the life of me work out why they don't poach some of these Kiwis (say nothing about poaching players please!) I guess the money isn't as important for some. Good on them i guess.

...

The Irish, Welsh, Aussies, Saffas, Italians, Japanese, French, Canadians (plus no doubt a few other countries I can't think of right now) are way ahead on poaching our coaches . Your lot had John Mitchell and Wayne Smith but let them go. 5 nations at the RWC had NZ-born head coaches, including 3 semi-finalists.

Don't worry kiwi, we'll look after Plumtree, Mitchell and Spencer for ya.

I think the coaching set-ups at Prem teams are generally pretty awful

Not sure about that. Some of them have worked very well. Simply bringing in a big name foreign coach is not always a recipe for success (Mr Loffreda at Tigers being a prime example). You pick on Booth as a disappointment but he was a good coach during the first Smith era where LI did well in Europe and in the AP but when he was given the top job he struggled. At Bath where he will be just a forwards/defence coach again I'd expect him to do well, not every good coach makes a good DOR. Certainly Schmidt at Leinster has taken over from Chieka and continued the good work but what a squad he has to work with! It will be interesting to see how Penney and Anscombe to do in Ireland.

Any news on Aaron Mauger yet? I heard he was potentially coming back to Europe to coach. We'd love to have him back at Tigers.

I think Lam being the person that he is will still be involved with the Blues next season, he’s a loyal guy who if given the role of concentrating on the forwards could do a brilliant job I feel. However, I’m convinced one of Auckland’s prodigal sons will return for this role – John Kirwan. He could form a terrific team with Lam and possibly Henry assisting on an ad-hoc basis.

I thought that the main point is that his contrat was up anyway. The Blues management are not saying he is fired but that he is welcome to reapply when the vacancy is available

biltongbek wrote:Don't worry kiwi, we'll look after Plumtree, Mitchell and Spencer for ya.

And isnt there another one lineing up to coach the new team next year?

Matt Sexton.

I see some hard times ahead for Sexton. He is going to lose by record margins. doubt it will do his CV any good.

I think that is the plan. That way you guys can blame the Kiwi again.

nganboy wrote:I think that is the plan. That way you guys can blame the Kiwi again.

The Kiwi. It isn't the Kiwi mate.

It is The Bryce.

you had your poison, we hade our Bryce.

biltongbek wrote:

nganboy wrote:I think that is the plan. That way you guys can blame the Kiwi again.

The Kiwi. It isn't the Kiwi mate.

It is The Bryce.

you had your poison, we hade our Bryce.

The Bryce or the Bruce?

My apologies, I need to stick one, eh?

THE BRUCE.

If they outright sacked him, then Lam would probably throw someone through a window, much better to let him go home and send him a polite letter later on saying he isn't needed.

I meant you can blame Mitchell and Spenser as well
though whoever would take those two on as coaches deserve what they get