NPR

FujiKiwi wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 9:17 am There are plenty of Mrs. Robertsons on the bored as well. He must be a polygamist.

Jb1981 wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 9:21 am

FujiKiwi wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 9:17 am There are plenty of Mrs. Robertsons on the bored as well. He must be a polygamist.

Don’t go Garfunkelling the conversation.

But on the subject of Scott Robertson, now there’s a coach .

coldtowel3478 wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 3:48 am

Jb1981 wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:51 am

coldtowel3478 wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 1:11 am

That's laughable. The Highlander's record with Brown in charge of the game-planning is:

2014: Quarter-Finalists (1st play-off berth since 2002), 2015: Champions (11/15) wins, 2016: (11/15) wins, 2017: (11/15) wins.

That's absolute consistency.

Compared to Jamie Joseph prior to Brown:

2010: 10th, 2011: 11th, 2012: 9th, 2013: 14th.

I don’t think it’s laughable. Tony Brown was in charge of game-planning this year and they came away with three wins. I think he and Jamie Joseph make a good team and Brown is a strong Assistant coach but the jury is still out for me on him being the most valuable resource for any coaching team.

They won 3 games in SRA, when realistically they should have gone 0-8 with the squad they had, and the loss of experience from 2019.

Ironically the Chiefs previously heralded as having the (or close to) best squad for SRA ended with that 0-8 record.

Add to that the fact the 4 other NZ teams had significantly stronger rosters than the Clan.

The games the Highlanders did loss were mainly by less than 7 points and they were usually competitive until the very last minute.

We witnessed the added structures in their game from Brown's return that were hugely positive. They were playing much more intelligent rugby tactically and implemented a completely new strategy that was purposed for taking full advantage of their strengths, whilst alleviating the weak areas in their game. That being said, Mauger's abysmal Man-management skills and inconsistent selection tendencies constantly hung over his shoulder like a toxic gas cloud - threatening to derail any meaningful progress Brown attempted to make with the team.

In the end, all of the Highlanders indicators of progress and improvement in performance came from Brown's own structures.

All their failings can be attributed solely to Mauger.

Certain Navigator wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 10:38 am

coldtowel3478 wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 3:48 am

Jb1981 wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:51 am

I don’t think it’s laughable. Tony Brown was in charge of game-planning this year and they came away with three wins. I think he and Jamie Joseph make a good team and Brown is a strong Assistant coach but the jury is still out for me on him being the most valuable resource for any coaching team.

They won 3 games in SRA, when realistically they should have gone 0-8 with the squad they had, and the loss of experience from 2019.

Ironically the Chiefs previously heralded as having the (or close to) best squad for SRA ended with that 0-8 record.

Add to that the fact the 4 other NZ teams had significantly stronger rosters than the Clan.

The games the Highlanders did loss were mainly by less than 7 points and they were usually competitive until the very last minute.

We witnessed the added structures in their game from Brown's return that were hugely positive. They were playing much more intelligent rugby tactically and implemented a completely new strategy that was purposed for taking full advantage of their strengths, whilst alleviating the weak areas in their game. That being said, Mauger's abysmal Man-management skills and inconsistent selection tendencies constantly hung over his shoulder like a toxic gas cloud - threatening to derail any meaningful progress Brown attempted to make with the team.

In the end, all of the Highlanders indicators of progress and improvement in performance came from Brown's own structures.

All their failings can be attributed solely to Mauger.

So despite pretty much all the Highlanders' problems stemming from their attack (or lack thereof), which Brown was in charge of, it was actually all Mauger's fault. Well, I'm glad that's cleared up.

Is that you Alex?

JM2K6 wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 12:33 pm Tbf Pat Lam did manage Samoa and Ireland's development province (doing really well) for years before going to Div1 Bristol

HouseofPane wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2020 11:08 pm I mentioned it here earlier (or on PR I can’t remember which one), but murmurs from within the team was that many couldn’t stand Mauger. One specifically wasn’t looking at renewing their contract (fringe player) because they believed that Mauger didn’t know what he was doing (constantly contradicting himself seemed to be the biggest complaint). How much this was at play, was all down to the opinion on this one fringe player, so take from it what you will.

Obviously the next focus is on who to hire, but surely if there is a growing amount of resentment amongst players towards the coach, then you either have to get rid of those players, or the coach? Mauger didn’t have the greatest record, so unfortunately for him, he may have been the easier option to get rid of.

Despite all of this, as others have said - the head coach takes the most responsibility as the buck stops with him. I had hopes that he would be able to do a good job here, but I was worried that his appointment may stem the highlanders attack - which I felt he did do over the three years. He’s still young himself as a coach though, so I hope he can find his feet somewhere. He must be able to learn from his mistakes as well - just it seems a little more unforgivable if you are a coach.

Jb1981 wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 2:25 am Jamie Joseph has all but ruled himself out of contention.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super ... ighlanders

FujiKiwi wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 2:44 am

Jb1981 wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 2:25 am Jamie Joseph has all but ruled himself out of contention.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super ... ighlanders

Too busy building on his already illustrious international resume, while Scott Robertson shamelessly looks to ride on Warren Gatland’s coat tails.

Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 2:47 am So the coach that led his team to 3-5 gets mercilessly sacked, but Warren Gatland who coached his team to a winless 0-8 record is retained and about to set off on a lucrative B&IL tour.

Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 2:51 am Why the heck would JJ go back to coaching the Highlanders?

Monkey Magic wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 12:01 am
Feel both he and Daryl Gibson have actually suffered due to the high opinion of them as 'extra coaches' during their playing days.

Pre retirement they were already seen as guys with big futures on coaching, they both ended up with high profile teams potentially too early in their coaching careers.

Feel they didnt have the chance develop at the lower grades to really get to know 'their game' in terms of how they want to coach and the best way to project that to a playing group. You don't really want to be learning that running a full pro side

HouseofPane wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 3:36 am Yeah it was a quick promotion up the ranks wasn’t it. Maybe Mauger would benefit from starting at the bottom again, or maybe kick back and look for any vacancies after the mitre 10 cup. Easier said than done though, and he may view it too much of a backwards step. But again, he does have time on his side.

Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 3:44 am

HouseofPane wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 3:36 am Yeah it was a quick promotion up the ranks wasn’t it. Maybe Mauger would benefit from starting at the bottom again, or maybe kick back and look for any vacancies after the mitre 10 cup. Easier said than done though, and he may view it too much of a backwards step. But again, he does have time on his side.

SR coaches earn around $200K a year. Mitre 10 Cup coaches earn around $50K per year. Hence why very few SR coaches go back to provincial level. I suspect Mauger will go back to Europe, where he coached for years before taking up the Highlanders gig.

ASMO wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:44 am Never got this obsession with wingers the size of second rows, give me a good small one over a good big one any day.

Not_Couch wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 5:50 am

ASMO wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:44 am Never got this obsession with wingers the size of second rows, give me a good small one over a good big one any day.

That's what she said

Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 2:47 am So the coach that led his team to 3-5 gets mercilessly sacked, but Warren Gatland who coached his team to a winless 0-8 record is retained and about to set off on a lucrative B&IL tour.

booji boy wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 4:13 am Hasn't Mauger had fairly short, unsuccessful stints in all his coaching gigs? He must be wearing out the kudos attached to being a former All Black that seems to see these otherwise unproven, relatively young coaches handed high profile coaching positions.

Tony Brown has been unveiled as the new head coach of the Highlanders through the 2022 season.

The former All Blacks first-five replaces Aaron Mauger who was let go last month after two-years in charge.