The Sunday Times Peter O'Reily had a massive article on why EOS should get the Connacht job. Talk about getting the hard sell.

swift4prez wrote:

HEAD COACH

Qualities required include:



Proven successful professional coaching experience
No!

Demonstrable history of developing players of all ages and maximising their potential
None!

Experience or understanding of the requirements of Northern Hemisphere rugby and the demands of the season/competitions
Yes - it's very demanding. It's hard work, to keep coming up with excuses to the wife and children, as to why I'm off to the pub again to watch Rugby.

The ability to attract and work with top quality international and domestic players
I know a fella, who knows a guy, who was friends with Neil Francis (once upon a time) and he says he thinks he could persuade Gavin Henson to give it a go out West

History of developing and providing opportunity to suitable home grown players
Nah - Absolutely None.

Experience of operating with and maximising the reach of finite resources
Yes - i've been scratching my A**E for the best part of the last two years.

Experience of successfully managing a coaching and support staff
This is a basketball position, right?

Desire to be part of a building process and the ability to ultimately deliver tangible success
I rest on my record. (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....)

A philosophy of playing positive, attacking and adaptable rugby
mmmmmmmmm :huh: :silly: :sick: :sick: :sick: :blush: :oops: :woohoo: :S :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

Highest standards of integrity, discipline and personal qualities
No Integrity, no discipline and no personal qualities. No issues with these I mean...No issues...

A positive and proactive outlook to dealing with all stakeholders including sponsors, media and supporters
HA HA HA HA HA HA HAaaaaa!!!(Will I get free use of a Mazda?)

An understanding of Connacht, our history, our philosophy, our strengths and weaknesses, the opportunities and our ambition
Bu**er All!

Closing date for applications is December 1st 2012

To apply or have an informal discussion about the position please contact Tom Sears, Chief Executive, via email at tomsears@cbirfu.com or on (+353) 87 7387668

cv is in the post lads, if i get it, ill be looking for a few people to come with me as assistant coach, backs, forwards etc

This is my CV.

So thats narrowed it down to just Me and Eddie, I reckon.

HEAD COACH

Connacht Rugby is seeking a Head Coach for the 2013/14 season onwards to continue the outstanding progress the province has made in recent years.

The Head Coach will be charged with delivering tangible on field success and the continuing development of our squad and individual players. We are looking for a hands on coach capable of making Connacht competitive on all fronts and someone who will deliver a fresh impetus while upholding the Connacht traditions and values.

Qualities required include:



Proven successful professional coaching experience
Demonstrable history of developing players of all ages and maximising their potential
Experience or understanding of the requirements of Northern Hemisphere rugby and the demands of the season/competitions
The ability to attract and work with top quality international and domestic players
History of developing and providing opportunity to suitable home grown players
Experience of operating with and maximising the reach of finite resources
Experience of successfully managing a coaching and support staff
Desire to be part of a building process and the ability to ultimately deliver tangible success
A philosophy of playing positive, attacking and adaptable rugby
Highest standards of integrity, discipline and personal qualities
A positive and proactive outlook to dealing with all stakeholders including sponsors, media and supporters
An understanding of Connacht, our history, our philosophy, our strengths and weaknesses, the opportunities and our ambition


Closing date for applications is December 1st 2012

To apply or have an informal discussion about the position please contact Tom Sears, Chief Executive, via email at tomsears@cbirfu.com or on (+353) 87 7387668

cv is in the post lads, if i get it, ill be looking for a few people to come with me as assistant coach, backs, forwards etc

Eddie the clown! I'll give up if he's appointed. he couldnt even win a grandslam with the best collection of players we ever had in a green shirt, couldnt buy a win against a weak French team. Flogged the same 15 players to death year in year out had no eye for talent like kearney etc. so what if gave some structure to a USA team, we were managed by an equally incompetent manager. He won't see Connacht as a place he wants to achieve things he'll just be trying to get his ticket to elsewhere. No way in hell you'd have seen henshaw TOL Marmion etc in team he'd have it stocked with Munster and Leinster has beens. So I cant understand how anyone could want a manager people were screaming to get fired for years from the Ireland job. He would only take us backwards I don't want a reject coach

Eric said that if the right replacement was found and wanted to start straight away he would have no problem stepping aside to accomadate that.
AFAIK the only candidate mentioned who is available on that notice is EOS.

Pretorius sounds like he could be a great choice. I would be wary of Mike Ruddock iirc he only picked 3 Connacht u-20s for the world cup this summer despite their grand slam, I'm not sure he has a lot of time for Connacht and would/could probably prefer to stick with the Leinster set up that he's been a part of for a long time in one way or another.

Also I was under the impression that if a replacement was found before the end of the season that they might come in immediately, was that not the case?

PS, I don't know much at all about Pretorius but from the sounds of this short piece his South African players had a huge amount of respect for him.

www.news24.com/xArchive/Sport/Rugby/SWD-...l-Pretorius-20080903

I think Eric leaving at the end of the season won't be a distraction at all and will help focus the minds of the players, both to give Eric a good send off and because with many contracts up for renewal, all players will be out to put their best foot forward to ensure they get a contract for next season.

It can work the other way but I'd be surprised if it did.

Players need to front up for Eric and for themselves starting with the crunch game against Zebre on Saturday.

I just hope the process does not become a distraction to the whole team. After their slow start they can scarcely afford it.

good point. I'd doubt it though. They know that EE is definitely leaving and they know a new manager won't be picked for a good long time. At this moment in time anyone mentioned is in silly season.

I really think Connacht need an experienced coach this time around to get them to the next level. When I first heard Eddie's name suggested I was revolted like a few others, but I'm starting to come around to the idea. Mike Ruddock could be a good choice as well, but Dr. Pretorious could be the most interesting choice of the lot.

I just hope the process does not become a distraction to the whole team. After their slow start they can scarcely afford it.

Id like to see an outsider come in, fresh eyes and all that, ruddock could be a good call.

while eos might be the best on paper, i just feel that the fact that he was a stranger to our part of the country when he had the top job may not be forgotten.

Up-dated list then. Thornley in the times today had an article on it and hinted that the IRFU might want Brian Walsh to get an interview at least all rumour at the moment though.

1. EOS
2. Nigel Carolan
3. Dan McFarland
4. Mike Ruddock
5. Niall O'Donavan
6. Bernard Jackman
7. Allen Clarke
8. Jim Williams
9. Brian Walsh (Cork Constitution)
10. John Kingston
11. Phil Pretorious
12. Axel Foley

As much as I used to enjoy watching Jackman play for Connacht, even got my friends to be big fans from watching him in crash the ball up the park, but from the extracts I saw of his book, he didn't really have any heart in Connacht, and as much of a legend he was here, I'm not too sure if I would want him back as a coach.

I know what you mean but I think him and Bradley really didn't like each other at all. He felt he got hung out to dry as well by the board when he decided to move to Leinster. As for his first time here even guys here for years say our set-up was god awful cause we'd bugger all cash to spend back then.

Corinthians are currently coached by a former super rugby coach. Not sure of his name but hear he arrived with an impressive C.V. I am sure he came to Galway with the thought of moving to the Connacht set up eventually. I wonder will he be applying?

Phil Pretorius is the dude your talking about. He got mentioned in the comments in the Whiff of Cordite blog (who didn't have a clue who McFarland or Carolan were). Here's an article on him:

Corinthians RFC have pulled off a major coup by securing former Tonga and Bulls coach Dr Phil Pretorius as their head coach.

With an impressive list of clubs, former players and achievements to his name Corinthians appear to have pulled of the signing of the season, but Pretorius is eager to begin the development of the club as soon as possible.

“I’m excited to be joining such a vibrant club, my emphasis is on the future and my part in trying to help build an enjoyable and winning culture,” said Pretorius.

“It was always my dream to coach in Ireland. I have had a long career in rugby, with many ups and my basket full of mistakes. This is my last remaining dream and for that, I am grateful to Corinthians club.”

As a club renowned for the development of young talent, with one of the strongest mini/youth sections in the country, the appointment of Pretorius to the top job reflects the ambitions, direction of the club according to chairman Brian Casburn.

“As a club we have decided to invest in the future and the appointment of Dr Phil Pretorius tells the players and members alike that we are striving to reach the highest levels and this is a statement of intent regarding our ambition.”

Dr Pretorious began coaching in 1990 and has coached across the whole spectrum of the game from club's second sides to the Rugby World Cup with Tonga, as well as Super Rugby level.

Dr Pretorious is one of the nine head coaches in South African rugby history to coach more than 250 games in the Currie Cup, while he is the only head coach in South African rugby history to coach more than one province for more than 100 games each. (my emphasis)

In total 21 Springboks started out in Dr Pretorius' teams including Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Gio Aplon, Victor Matfield, Schalk Brits and Danie Rossouw, while Joost van der Westhuizen was his captain at the Bulls.

thats 2 coaches with the credentials required already based in galway. i like the look of the good doctors cv. it wud also allow ee and himself see out their respective seasons.

Not sure how to post articles so mods fell free to fix it.

Here is the link to what I remember reading


galwayindependent.com/stories/item/2473/...rinthians-head-coach

Very interesting to hear about the coach at Corinthians.

As much as I used to enjoy watching Jackman play for Connacht, even got my friends to be big fans from watching him in crash the ball up the park, but from the extracts I saw of his book, he didn't really have any heart in Connacht, and as much of a legend he was here, I'm not too sure if I would want him back as a coach.

If the Connacht branch are conducting this search properly (and we hope they are) then the person they pick is most likely going to be someone we've never heard of a la Penney for Munster, or maybe a little greener again. It wouldn't be a bad thing if we found a young coach with some experience and a desire to prove himself, I think an attitude like that would fit very nicely with the current set up. I would not like to see any forwards coach getting the top job I think the backs is where things need the most work, although the last two games are showing signs that maybe we just needed the right 9 and 10.