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'We couldn't say anything at that point because things needed to be signed'

Mike Catt

Ireland rugby fans will get an indication of what the future could hold for their national team against Italy in Dublin on Saturday with the Azzuri’s attack masterminded by Mike Catt, the former England World Cup winner.

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Catt will quit as Italy attack coach after the World Cup in Japan to take up the same role under new Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, which puts the former Bath utility back in a difficult position on Saturday. However, Conor O’Shea, the Irishman in charge of Italy, is adamant Catt’s only focus will be on the Azzuri and that his imminent departure will not be a factor.

Mike Catt
Mike Catt attempts to tackle Conor O’Shea

O’Shea’s own position as head coach was the subject of intense speculation with news that Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith was joining the Italian management, but his arrival will be as a replacement for Catt not the head coach for the 2020 Six Nations.

O’Shea describes Smith as an “unbelievable” rugby brain who previously coached and played for Treviso and said: “There has been no effect on us at all and this is a professional sport and we have known about Mike’s move for a long time. There was a lot of speculation with stories about various people coming in and out, but we knew what was actually going on.

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“We couldn’t say anything at that point because things needed to be signed. As a player you have your time in the jersey and that is the same for a coach and Mike has been absolutely brilliant and he will have a great time when he joins Ireland with a different climate and weather!

“Right at the start, we said this is what is happening and let’s now forget about it. We will say our goodbyes to Mike after the World Cup and nothing has changed for us at all.”

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O’Shea is confident there will be a seamless switch from Catt to Smith and added: “Even though it was in the papers who was supposedly going where, we could not say anything. We had to keep our counsel until the ink was dry and for me Franco is an unbelievable rugby brain and he speaks the Italian language fluently, has lived, played and coached in Italy. Like any country, there are frustrations over the speed of change but he will understand that immediately.

“He knows the players and it will be a pretty seamless move heading into the Six Nations but we will talk about that after the World Cup.”

Catt’s contract with Ireland will see him involved with the team up to and including the Rugby World Cup in 2023.

George Ford discusses England’s World Cup preparations leading into a RWC warm up game against Wales at Twickenham.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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