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Keane to replace Lam at Connacht

Former Connacht head coach Kieran Keane. Photo / Getty Images

Kieran Keane will leave Chiefs to take over as head coach of Pro12 champions Connacht ahead of the 2017-18 season.

The Chiefs assistant head coach has agreed a three-year contract to replace the Bristol-bound Pat Lam.

Former All Black Keane also spent a year as number two to Jamie Joseph at Highlanders from 2011 to 2012 before a successful spell in charge of Tasman Makos.

Keane said: “During my recent trip to the west of Ireland, I had the chance to meet many people within Connacht and I was immediately taken by the genuine passion they have for the people they represent and the ambition they have to achieve so much more.

“It was clear very early on in our discussions that Connacht was a good fit for me and I am looking forward to the challenge ahead and to working with the players and everyone associated with the club.”

Connacht CEO Willie Ruane said: “Kieran’s rugby CV speaks for itself and immediately highlighted to us that he was the perfect fit for Connacht in the context of the profile of coach that we were looking for.

“Kieran is a highly experienced head coach with a winning track record and a proven ability in identifying talent and maximising the full potential of that talent.

“His ambitious and exciting brand of rugby is also consistent with the way Connacht and in particular our players want to continue to play the game into the future.”

 

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Nickers 33 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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