Shaun Edwards to Ireland (as Defence Coach) ??

Schmidt confirmed last night that he is staying with Ireland and has rejected advances from the RFU to take up the England Head Coach role.  Les Kiss, Ireland's Defence Coach is Ulster bound to take up the role of Director of Rugby at the province.  Shaun Edwards has one week left on his contract with the WRU and there is some speculation in both the Irish and Welsh media that he might take the newly available Defence Coach role with Ireland.  

What would Wales and Ireland fans think of this?  What would those of the non Welsh or Irish persuasion think?

http://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/reports-in-wales-suggest-joe-schmidt-may-have-found-irelands-new-defence-coach/45711

Could just be some journos putting two and two together and getting five. Just because Shaun Edwards contract is running down and we need a new defence coach doesn't mean there's any real link there.

Still it's interesting as Kiss and Edwards have very different philosophies regarding defence. I remember a few years ago Edwards was quite scathing about the fact that Ireland were one of the few major nations at that time to primarily use a drift defence as opposed to a blitz. Of course at the top level, it's not so simple as one system or the other but it's hard to imagine an Edwards coached defence being overly passive the way we were at the World Cup.

Notch wrote:Could just be some journos putting two and two together and getting five. Just because Shaun Edwards contract is running down and we need a new defence coach doesn't mean there's any real link there.

Still it's interesting as Kiss and Edwards have very different philosophies regarding defence. I remember a few years ago Edwards was quite scathing about the fact that Ireland were one of the few major nations at that time to primarily use a drift defence as opposed to a blitz. Of course at the top level, it's not so simple as one system or the other but it's hard to imagine an Edwards coached defence being overly passive the way we were at the World Cup.

No doubt it could all be media bluster, but its interesting nonetheless and I thought worthy of some debate.  Given the passive defence you've mentioned and how unsuccessful it was in the quarter final, Edwards could be just the remedy.

I personaly do not think that Edwards would want to go any where, other than Wales.

If Wales say he has to go then he will reluctenly go. but other than that. not i don't think so.

Yeah I don't see it happening but the guy is a proven top class coach,if he were to join the Irish staff it would be a great appointment.

Wasn't Edwards suspended by Wales for fighting with one of their Irish coaches over the singing of an Irish song after a game?

I wouldn't be surprised if it is ROG (who is Racing's Defence coach). Not many Irish coaches (any?) involved with Ireland.

Why have Wales/Edwards not come to an agreement on a new contract? Is there a chance he will be leaving?

Sin é wrote:Wasn't Edwards suspended by Wales for fighting with one of their Irish coaches over the singing of an Irish song after a game?

So what?

Would love to see it happening but doubt he'll leave Wales.

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:Wasn't Edwards suspended by Wales for fighting with one of their Irish coaches over the singing of an Irish song after a game?

So what?

Edwards doesn't like Irish people? It must have been pretty bad if the Irish born coach was offended by Edwards behaviour that they would actually start fighing.

The Guardian wrote:
Connolly, who is from Scotstown in County Monaghan, is understood to have remonstrated with Edwards over the songs that were chosen by the Welsh to celebrate victory in an emotive match against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium. Ireland were indignant that Wales had benefited from a huge refereeing error that set up the deciding try, which was scored by the scrum‑half Mike Phillips.

Anyway, I can't see Schmidt wanting a hot head like Edwards on his coaching staff.

It's the brutal cut throat world of top-level professional sport, not a popularity contest. I don't care if the coach we hire has a bedroom decorated with portraits of Oliver Cromwell and dresses up as a member of the Black and Tans at weekends if he sorts our line speed out.

I doubt he had much feeling for Wales and the Welsh either but he's still done a good job for them.

I think it's clear Edwards is on his way out, things started going wrong when he head butted one of the analysts and got reprimanded for it, then Edwards got left out of the Lions touring party.
I do think Robert Howley probably needs to have a go at being an outright head coach at a club.
The assistant coaches were pretty much forced on Gatland when he started in 2008, so you may wonder if Warren insisted on being able to select his own team after the 2015 World Cup.

Defence is the one area that Wales are excelling at. Our game is built around it. If anyone was to go I'd prefer it to be Howley as attack coach as we're clearly lacking in that area.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Schmidt confirmed last night that he is staying with Ireland and has rejected advances from the RFU to take up the England Head Coach role.  Les Kiss, Ireland's Defence Coach is Ulster bound to take up the role of Director of Rugby at the province.  Shaun Edwards has one week left on his contract with the WRU and there is some speculation in both the Irish and Welsh media that he might take the newly available Defence Coach role with Ireland.  

What would Wales and Ireland fans think of this?  What would those of the non Welsh or Irish persuasion think?

http://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/reports-in-wales-suggest-joe-schmidt-may-have-found-irelands-new-defence-coach/45711

Does it actually say that Artful - I understood that it is nothing more than a rumour? Entirely possible but unsubstantiated as of yet?

Griff wrote:Defence is the one area that Wales are excelling at. Our game is built around it. If anyone was to go I'd prefer it to be Howley as attack coach as we're clearly lacking in that area.

I totally agree, but little incidents do sneak out regarding Edwards as well. Which I don't think has helped.

Notch wrote:It's the brutal cut throat world of top-level professional sport, not a popularity contest. I don't care if the coach we hire has a bedroom decorated with portraits of Oliver Cromwell and dresses up as a member of the Black and Tans at weekends if he sorts our line speed out.

I doubt he had much feeling for Wales and the Welsh either but he's still done a good job for them.

He clearly lacks self discipline. Not what you want with a rugby coach. How do you tell a player to sort out their discipline if you have a lunatic like Edwards about who seemingly can start a row with his own shadow?

Shifty wrote:I think it's clear Edwards is on his way out, things started going wrong when he head butted one of the analysts and got reprimanded for it, then Edwards got left out of the Lions touring party.  
I do think Robert Howley probably needs to have a go at being an outright head coach at a club.  
The assistant coaches were pretty much forced on Gatland when he started in 2008, so you may wonder if Warren insisted on being able to select his own team after the 2015 World Cup.

As far as I know Gatland picked his own support staff and those were his conditions if he was to put pen to paper. The rest is history...

mikey_dragon wrote:

Shifty wrote:I think it's clear Edwards is on his way out, things started going wrong when he head butted one of the analysts and got reprimanded for it, then Edwards got left out of the Lions touring party.  
I do think Robert Howley probably needs to have a go at being an outright head coach at a club.  
The assistant coaches were pretty much forced on Gatland when he started in 2008, so you may wonder if Warren insisted on being able to select his own team after the 2015 World Cup.

As far as I know Gatland picked his own support staff and those were his conditions if he was to put pen to paper. The rest is history...

Yes he picked them but they had to be Welsh to develop Welsh coaches. It's not the same thing.

Shifty wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Shifty wrote:I think it's clear Edwards is on his way out, things started going wrong when he head butted one of the analysts and got reprimanded for it, then Edwards got left out of the Lions touring party.  
I do think Robert Howley probably needs to have a go at being an outright head coach at a club.  
The assistant coaches were pretty much forced on Gatland when he started in 2008, so you may wonder if Warren insisted on being able to select his own team after the 2015 World Cup.

As far as I know Gatland picked his own support staff and those were his conditions if he was to put pen to paper. The rest is history...

Yes he picked them but they had to be Welsh to develop Welsh coaches.  It's not the same thing.

I was under the impression he picked his old Wasps coaching team?

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:It's the brutal cut throat world of top-level professional sport, not a popularity contest. I don't care if the coach we hire has a bedroom decorated with portraits of Oliver Cromwell and dresses up as a member of the Black and Tans at weekends if he sorts our line speed out.

I doubt he had much feeling for Wales and the Welsh either but he's still done a good job for them.

He clearly lacks self discipline. Not what you want with a rugby coach. How do you tell a player to sort out their discipline if you have a lunatic like Edwards about who seemingly can start a row with his own shadow?

An interesting comment which definitely sheds some much needed light to the conversation.

stub wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:Schmidt confirmed last night that he is staying with Ireland and has rejected advances from the RFU to take up the England Head Coach role.  Les Kiss, Ireland's Defence Coach is Ulster bound to take up the role of Director of Rugby at the province.  Shaun Edwards has one week left on his contract with the WRU and there is some speculation in both the Irish and Welsh media that he might take the newly available Defence Coach role with Ireland.  

What would Wales and Ireland fans think of this?  What would those of the non Welsh or Irish persuasion think?

http://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/reports-in-wales-suggest-joe-schmidt-may-have-found-irelands-new-defence-coach/45711

Does it actually say that Artful - I understood that it is nothing more than a rumour? Entirely possible but unsubstantiated as of yet?

The link I posted was in relation to Shaun Edwards. Its common knowledge at this stage however that the RFU approached Schimdt.

wolfball wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:It's the brutal cut throat world of top-level professional sport, not a popularity contest. I don't care if the coach we hire has a bedroom decorated with portraits of Oliver Cromwell and dresses up as a member of the Black and Tans at weekends if he sorts our line speed out.

I doubt he had much feeling for Wales and the Welsh either but he's still done a good job for them.

He clearly lacks self discipline. Not what you want with a rugby coach. How do you tell a player to sort out their discipline if you have a lunatic like Edwards about who seemingly can start a row with his own shadow?

An interesting comment which definitely sheds some much needed light to the conversation.

I wonder what Peter Stringer thinks about the situation?

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

wolfball wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:It's the brutal cut throat world of top-level professional sport, not a popularity contest. I don't care if the coach we hire has a bedroom decorated with portraits of Oliver Cromwell and dresses up as a member of the Black and Tans at weekends if he sorts our line speed out.

I doubt he had much feeling for Wales and the Welsh either but he's still done a good job for them.

He clearly lacks self discipline. Not what you want with a rugby coach. How do you tell a player to sort out their discipline if you have a lunatic like Edwards about who seemingly can start a row with his own shadow?

An interesting comment which definitely sheds some much needed light to the conversation.

I wonder what Peter Stringer thinks about the situation?

Now Peter wouldn't be the sort to make a comment until after the RWC

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

wolfball wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:It's the brutal cut throat world of top-level professional sport, not a popularity contest. I don't care if the coach we hire has a bedroom decorated with portraits of Oliver Cromwell and dresses up as a member of the Black and Tans at weekends if he sorts our line speed out.

I doubt he had much feeling for Wales and the Welsh either but he's still done a good job for them.

He clearly lacks self discipline. Not what you want with a rugby coach. How do you tell a player to sort out their discipline if you have a lunatic like Edwards about who seemingly can start a row with his own shadow?

An interesting comment which definitely sheds some much needed light to the conversation.

I wonder what Peter Stringer thinks about the situation?

Sin é wrote:Wasn't Edwards suspended by Wales for fighting with one of their Irish coaches over the singing of an Irish song after a game?

I wouldn't be surprised if it is ROG (who is Racing's Defence coach). Not many Irish coaches (any?) involved with Ireland.

I thought the disagreement was over a song about beating his wife or something similarly unsavoury.

That aside he would certainly make the Irish defence far more aggressive.

Perhaps he's more interested in the England top job then another defence coach role, the timing could be about right.

If Edwards gets the job Ireland won't be able to employ the choke tackle. After all, Edwards thinks it's 'very, very dangerous'.

I've always felt Edwards was more responsible for Welsh never-say-die attitude than Gatland.  Part of me says he'd be a good guy to have in.
BUT...it seems Schmidt likes a calm atmosphere to do his business in. Door smashers, bar-room brawlers or dressing room screamers would probably irritate him.  
I'd personally like a harder kind of guy in there to back up Schmidt's process stuff with a whip but Edwards might be too much his own man at this point and disrupt things too much.

Schmidt's assistants do need a shake up though. We've drifted into a certain softness since the departure of Plumtree.

I simply cannot see Edwards wan'ting too leave Wales at all to be honest?

I know there is only so much that "A" coach can do. But i do also think that Wales would suffer if he left....would love too be prove wrong on that.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

stub wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:Schmidt confirmed last night that he is staying with Ireland and has rejected advances from the RFU to take up the England Head Coach role.  Les Kiss, Ireland's Defence Coach is Ulster bound to take up the role of Director of Rugby at the province.  Shaun Edwards has one week left on his contract with the WRU and there is some speculation in both the Irish and Welsh media that he might take the newly available Defence Coach role with Ireland.  

What would Wales and Ireland fans think of this?  What would those of the non Welsh or Irish persuasion think?

http://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/reports-in-wales-suggest-joe-schmidt-may-have-found-irelands-new-defence-coach/45711

Does it actually say that Artful - I understood that it is nothing more than a rumour? Entirely possible but unsubstantiated as of yet?

The link I posted was in relation to Shaun Edwards.  Its common knowledge at this stage however that the RFU approached Schimdt.

As in it's a commonly accepted rumour or it is indeed common knowledge/fact? It's a genuine question, if it has really occurred then presumably Lancaster's tenure is as good as over as the RFU are actively recruiting and the board review thing is nothing but a smokescreen. I'm not so sure though but I am very interested.

If he were to get the Ireland job, am I worried about Shaun Edwards being a loose cannon? Not at all. Its what the team needs. They started the Argentina game like they just had an afternoon tea with Daniel O'Donnell. We actually NEED more lunatics in the squad.

majesticimperialman wrote:I simply cannot see Edwards wan'ting too leave Wales  at all to be honest?

I know there is only so much that "A" coach can do. But i do also think that Wales would suffer if he left....would love too be prove wrong on that.

I'm sure you would, judging by your awful attempt at banter the past two weeks.

I can't see why Edwards would take a lesser job, unless Cement Head let him.

Edwards might well not have choice in leaving Wales. Edit: just to clarify, I just mean his contract isn't renewed, nothing more sinister.