Some England fans are questioning O'Shea over his record with Italy

The Rugby Football Union made a key announcement on Friday that former Italy head coach Conor O’Shea will become the director of performance rugby in 2020. 

The development came as former England international Nigel Melville announced he will leave his post as director of professional rugby, which he has held since July 2016. 

There has been a positive reaction to this announcement so far, as many English fans and professionals remember the fine job the 49-year-old O’Shea did during his six years as director of rugby at Harlequins. 

He led Quins to the Challenge Cup in 2011 before winning the Premiership the season after, establishing the London side as a force in English rugby. 

O’Shea has always been recognised for the system he established at Harlequins and the progress that many of his players made.

Great to have him back ? https://t.co/zNR0tzl7QZ

— Ugo Monye (@ugomonye) November 29, 2019

Great news. Doesn't get the credit he deserves for his role out in Italy, in impossible job at times. World class coach. Would happily see him take over from Eddie in a few years.

— Charles Spence (@ChazSpence1) November 29, 2019

Absolutely outstanding appointment.

— ?O?TY ?? ?O?T? ?? ?? (@JontyUpNorth) November 29, 2019

Not only did he see some of his players become internationals during his tenure, he helped those that were on the periphery of the England squad became regulars, particularly Chris Robshaw and Mike Brown. 

https://twitter.com/SUBHCMole/status/1200358221283762176?s=20

https://twitter.com/swipa_mc/status/1200393958712582146?s=20

However, some fans have questioned O’Shea’s most recent spell with Italy, which started in 2016 and ended after the recent World Cup. 

Italy failed to win a Six Nations match during the three tournaments that the Irishman presided over, and only managed one win against a tier one side during his tenure, albeit against the Springboks. 

Not only have some fans highlighted this, they have queried why this is seemingly overlooked by the majority of people.

The former Ireland international’s role with the RFU will be different from his one with Italy, however, as he will manage and strategise the progress of professional rugby in England, which includes the men’s, women’s and sevens teams. 

Unimpressive and a bit out of his depth when he stepped up a level with Italy. Not sure he is the right man for this job. Just saying

— sussexfox (@sussexfox1) November 29, 2019

If any rugby media aren't sucking up to Conor O'Shea and actually want to write a balanced piece which includes his failures as a coach and not just "what a nice guy he is", please let me know. Perhaps you just need to suck up to everyone to get on in life, but it's pretty dull.

— Peter Redman (@redmanpe) November 29, 2019

Conor O’Shea joins RFU as Director of Performance Rugby as Nigel Melville leaves similar role. I think it is an insult to English coaches within the game who are as competent if not better than O'Shea. He hasn't set the game alight which was reflected in the Italian sides

— peter griffiths (@petergriffith11) November 29, 2019

Did well at Italy, not. Poor decision for me.

— John Neary (@GRedstorm) November 29, 2019

While the results may have not materialised with Italy, O’Shea can undeniably be credited with changing the way in which the team play, and helping bring through a number of promising young players. The resources that he will have with the RFU will be incomparable to what he had in Italy as well. 

Eddie Jones is still the head coach of England and although O’Shea will work alongside him, his job is different and it is clear that he has earned the respect of much of England. 

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