I don’t just mean a rugby coach who is Welsh, but how is Sean Holley a coach who is taking part control of the Wales rugby tour of North America (the squad for that is announced mid day tomorrow by the way).
Sean Holley
He has been appointed to take control of the backs whilst Welsh rugby coach Rob Howley (along with Warren Gatland and Sean Edwards) is with the British Lions. But I can’t for the life of me understand why.
It has been suggested, in his defence, that it was because when it was announced the Ospreys, under his control, were still in contention for 3 trophies. But even when that was the case it was obvious that the Ospreys were struggling in organisation and tactics.
Before he even took charge as head coach at the Ospreys (thankfully now demoted again with Scott Johnson being in charge) I was suggesting he should leave. As a skills coach he took what is one of the most attacking backlines in Europe – James Hook, Gavin Henson and Shane Williams included – and made them a team that could barely score tries and often played like they didn’t know each others names, let alone trained together before.
Yet now Sean Holley is in charge of the Welsh backs – just how is he so well thought of in Welsh rugby circles?
Dai Young
Dai Young, he who has guided the Cardiff Blues to a Heineken Cup semi final (and then only lost on a penalty shoot out of all things) and lifted the EDF cup, is off coaching the Baabaas. Now I’m aware he would be a forwards coach, not a backs coach like Holley – and with Robin McBryde there Wales didn’t need a forwards coach… but I would still have appointed him, at head coach.
Is McBryde a head coach? I have no idea, and it could be an idea testing him on this tour. But I would prefer to have seen the most likely next Welsh manager – Dai Young, being given a shot at it. Right now he is just about the only contender for the position should Warren Gatland decide to leave – and anything that would assist his development, like being Welsh head coach on a development tour, should have been tried.
But one things for certain in my mind, more effort should have gone into finding a different backs coach. For me Sean Holley is lucky to even have that job with the Ospreys, never mind with the Welsh international side.
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I completely agree, The Ospreys have been found wanting! If Sean can not motivate a team full of top class, and some even world class players at his disposal, why has he been handed a job with Wales??? Tactics have been shocking at times, I firmly believe that the players talents alone had put them in a challenging position. To end up with nothing with this talented bunch of players, is unacceptable!! I wonder what miracles he will work with an arguably less talented team!!!!! Well done on this one WRU!!!