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Shaun Edwards' Wasps-influenced tactic for quickly tackling the language barrier in France

Ex-Wales assistant Shaun Edwards (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Shaun Edwards has revealed his approach to tackling the language barrier now that he is defence coach at Fabien Galthie’s France. 

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The Englishman learned his trade on the books at Wasps and Wales over a considerable period of time, but he is now very much out of his comfort zone having started working with the French the weekend after he returned from the recent World Cup in Japan.

In his first major interview about his new role in a country he claims he always wanted coach in, Edwards told Midi Olympique, the bi-weekly French rugby newspaper, how he is settling in ahead of the 2020 Six Nations which kicks off for Les Bleus with a February 2 home match versus France in Paris. 

In tackling the language barrier, he explained he had taken advice from Serge Betsen and is leaning on the influence of new France team boss Raphael Ibanez, both of whom he coached at Wasps. 

“Wherever I worked, I adopted an attitude that allowed me to adapt to them. I have no fear,” he insisted to Midi. “Players only want one thing: to win. So they want coaches who want the same thing and who help them get there. And then I’ve already trained French players in the past, like Raphael Ibanez or Serge Betsen.

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“I recently met Serge to talk to him about it. He explained to me the differences in training in France, the relationships with coaches, etc. He gave me lots of good advice that I will keep very precious. It’s someone that I respect a lot.

“Raphael is one of the reasons that made me work with France today. It also reminds me of a discussion I had with him the other day: obviously, I am not yet bilingual in French because I cannot have a long conversation. 

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“However, I can train in French because when you train, you have to be concise. When he arrived at the Wasps in 2005, Rapha remembered: in the field, I said only two or three words, four maximum. It helped him a lot.

So I hope these short sentences will also help the French team. To come back to your question, the presence of Raphael played a big role in my decision. Because he is a professional and he can create a competitive environment for players and coaches so that everyone can progress.

“I always wanted to train in France. I have always loved your rugby and watched the Top 14 carefully. My son studied in France too, and he speaks your language fluently. In short, I always suspected that I would eventually train in France one day or another. 

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“This desire also came with my confrontations with the French teams: I still remember the Heineken Cup games against Toulouse when I coached the Wasps. It made me want to work in this environment.”

He didn’t hang around getting stuck in after Wales’ World Cup finished with a bronze medal defeat to New Zealand. “I came back from the World Cup on Monday and the following Saturday I was in France to start working with the French staff in the village where Fabien was born. 

“We started our meetings, and also met the media, which was a very important moment. We also visited the clubs but above all, we had the opportunity to train together. 

“We did it with Massy’s team, and we worked the same way as we will with France’s XV. It was very beneficial for me, I was able to train in French. I want to do it with the XV of France. We will repeat the experience in two weeks with the under-20s in Italy.”

WATCH: RugbyPass travelled to Brecon to see how life after rugby is treating Andy Powell

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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
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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