Rugby: Robinson To Step Down As England Coach

Mikk · 11-27-2006, 07:52 AM

From: BBC

Quote:

Andy Robinson will resign as England's head coach on Monday, BBC Sport understands.
The Rugby Football Union will offer Robinson the same compensation package as it would have had he been sacked.

Robinson had insisted he would stay on, despite England losing for the eighth time in nine matches to South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.

But on Sunday an RFU source told BBC Sport that Robinson would be asked to resign or else face the sack.
World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson is understood to be first choice to step into the breach.

If he is not available, former Wasps and Ireland coach Warren Gatland or ex-South Africa coach Nick Mallett will come into the frame.
England have lost 13 of their 22 Tests under Robinson - including three of this month's four autumn internationals - and have slumped to seventh in the IRB world rankings.

Robinson's team were booed off the pitch by the Twickenham crowd for the second time in three matches after their 25-14 defeat against South Africa on Saturday.
Former Bath coach Robinson was assistant coach to Sir Clive Woodward and a key part of the coaching team which won the World Cup in 2003.

And when Woodward resigned in September 2004, Robinson was the RFU's unanimous choice to take over.

The 42-year-old, who has a contract until June 2008, has led England to two consecutive fourth place finishes in the Six Nations, and has won just one away match.

The RFU conducted a review after the 2006 Six Nations, and Robinson survived despite assistant coaches Phil Larder, Dave Alred and Joe Lydon all losing their jobs.

Brian Ashton (attack), John Wells (forwards) and Mike Ford (defence) have since been appointed under Robinson, while Rob Andrew has taken on the elite director of rugby role.

But the changes have failed to spark a revival in England's fortunes, and former England captain Will Carling said Robinson would have to go.

"I'm an England fan and after the four games in November, I haven't witnessed a lot of improvement," he told Sportsweek.

"I think it is time for a change in the coach - not because of the last four games, or even the last two games, but because of the last two years.

"If you look at England over the last two years, we don't seem to have any combinations that are working and Andy Robinson has to take responsibility for that."

But Carling said there needed to be much greater clarity in terms of the specific job description of anyone brought in to replace Robinson.

"I don't believe we need another coach - we need a manager," said Carling.

"We need someone who can get the environment right and I think Martin Johnson would be good for that.

"But whether he wants to step straight into that is another thing. He's got some superb qualities, but it depends what the remit of the job is."

Johnson has gone on record as saying Robinson should be replaced.

I'm surprised he has lasted as long as he has.

If you lose 13 games out of 22 then you would get the push out of the door as it isn't acceptable for a side who won the Rugby World Cup and then went into a massive decline.

Tyler Durden · 11-27-2006, 08:07 AM

I find it a tad embarassing that he actually wants to stay in this post. If you're doing that badly, to the point where it is actually embarassing, surely you just take your leave and go, you shouldn't have to be sacked.

I can only presume that either (a) he is massively proud and believes, a little too much, the whole "you only fail if you quit" mantra or (b) he's money obsessed and is frantic to get the pay out from being sacked.

Mikk · 11-27-2006, 08:17 AM

I wouldn't of stayed this long as i'd of been too embarrased.

It is interesting though the difference between Rugby & Football when it comes to things like this, in football he would of gone already as the chairman of the club would never tollerate it.

The Phantom · 11-27-2006, 12:37 PM

I've been following this for a few weeks now with great interest.

England’s declined has been evident since the World Cup Final in '03. They won the trophy with group of players reaching their peak at the same time. Immediately after the World Cup they should have gotten rid of the deadwood, and started building towards '07 campaign. But they didn't. The journey men stayed and the rest of the world caught up... and passed them by. Now England are paying because they are 10months away from a world cup defence which all but looks over before it starts.

The RFU have to shoulder most of the blame. They had an internal review after the 6 Nations back in March and got rid of Robinsons' backroom staff and replaced the whole lot of them. As well as this they brought someone in to work above Andy Robinson (Technical Director of Elite Rugby: Rob Andrew), although they claim he works along side Robbo. If ever there was a time to get rid of Robinson it was back in March... not now, 10 months away from a world cup. The appointment of Rob Andrew seriously undermines Robinsons position since I don't think the players actually know who they're playing for half of the time. By sacking his whole backroom staff they (The RFU) more or less guaranteed Robinson his job until the end of the World Cup. So to sack him now would be too little too late.

England now have to find a coach to take this side through a tough 6 Nations campaign beginning in March through to the World Cup in October. I see the RFU want Martin Johnson... If they appoint him then I really want to know what their taking. Johnson has NO experience at all of coaching at club level, let alone international level... it would be a disaster waiting to happened (Although from a Welsh point of view that wouldn't be so bad! lol).

In my view they should either appoint Rob Andrew as the full England coach, so everyone will stop questioning what his actual role is. Or appoint someone like Nick Mallett or Warren Gatland, who both have proven international credentials.

But as a Welshman I want Robbo to keep his job
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Tyler Durden · 11-27-2006, 12:57 PM

If Johnson did come in, I guess it may work. Not because he is a great coach, because none of us know if he is or not. Just because of who he is, an inspirational dressing room figure and motivator.

After all, since England have a forwards, backs and defence coach, and Rob Andrew is also supervising the whole shabang, do England really need "yet another" coach. It could be argued that someone who provides inspiration to this team at this time would be far more important than yet another "ideas" guy.

Plus, which "coach" would seriously want it. At the moment it's a poisoned chalice. The next two games are Scotland and Italy at home, games we would ordinarily expect to win. However, if a new coach comes in and loses either of them, then their honeymoon will be over before it begins.

I think there will be people interested in the job, but not until after the next WC, when they can legitimately come in and sweep all the experienced players and never quite made it players and start again with a new blueprint and base the side on the cream of the youth coming through. (cream of the youth...."oooer")

Personally, I would prefer that whoever comes in leaves the likes of Tait, Allen, Varndell, Flood, Morgan, Lamb, Rees, Seymour et al out of their thinking until after the WC. Robinson has done his level best to damage most of their development over the last year and in all cases they should just be left to continue in the Prem until next year.

Personally, I would prefer we settle on something like the team shown here (allowing for injuries) until the WC -

Van Gisbergen; Cueto, Tindall, Farrell, Cohen; Wilkinson, Gomarsall; Stevens, Thompson, Vickery; Jones, Grewcock; Worsley, Hazell, Ward-Smith

*Edit....that's a pile of crap....I forgot our honourary Welshman, Josh Lewsey, still him in place of either of the wings or full back

The Phantom · 11-29-2006, 10:58 AM

Well he finally jumped this morning.

I expect to hear Rob Andrew installed as the new coach by the end of next week.

Rugby: Robinson To Step Down As England Coach

This is a discussion on Rugby: Robinson To Step Down As England Coach within the North American Sports forums, part of the Sports Forums category; From: BBC Andy Robinson will resign as England's head coach on Monday, BBC Sport understands. The Rugby Football Union will ...