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Nick Evans could pose a rare opportunity for English rugby

Nick Evans (Photo: Getty Images)

Wayne Smith has made it clear he will never coach against the All Blacks when he stands down from his role at the end of this season having cemented his place as one of the game’s all-time great thinkers.

What is not generally known is that Smith was supposed to have helped revive English rugby in the wake of their disastrous 2011 World Cup campaign. The Rugby Football Union’s search for a replacement for Martin Johnson came down to a straight choice between Stuart Lancaster and Nick Mallett. What appeared to sway it in Mallett’s favour to those outside the Union, was the fact he would come as a double act with Smith. The pair had enjoyed working together while in charge of the Barbarians and Mallett told me that Smith was on board and ready to take up the challenge of coaching England.

As the rugby history books show, the RFU opted for Lancaster and while Ian Ritchie, who is about to quit as RFU chief executive, will never admit it was a mistake, the fact they brought in Eddie Jones after the 2015 Cup debacle, proves the biggest and wealthiest Union in the World needed outside help. By waiting four years, they missed out on Smith who will leave a massive gap in the All Black coaching set up, but one man who could be a long term option is former All Blacks No10 Nick Evans who has just retired from playing with English Premiership outfit Harlequins.

Evans helped win the Premiership title in 2012 having moved to London in 2008 and according to Danny Care, the England scrum half and Quins captain, Evans has been the best overseas signing in the history of the competition. He finished as Harlequins all-time record points scorer with 2,249 points from 208 senior appearances.

Evans, 36, will become Quins attack coach next season and given his outstanding rugby brain and ability to motivate and an inspire, he could be fast tracked to test rugby. Evans, who won 16 caps, has set his sights on putting himself forward for the AB’s and his first foray into coaching has seen him lead local side Wimbledon RFC to promotion. He said: “I would love to coach in Super rugby and hopefully get a chance with the All Blacks but I need to get a coaching reputation and that requires a lot of hard work. I really enjoy coaching and having been working with Wimbledon RFC who have gained promotion this season

“I know this is the right time to finish playing and I know there will be times when I start thinking “ I could still be out there”, but I am ready to move into the next phase and I really enjoy coaching.”

So, finally, English rugby could actually develop an All Blacks coach and send them to complete their training in New Zealand, rather than the other way around.

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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 2 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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