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Mixed reaction to Glasgow's appointment of Wilson as Rennie's successor

Glasgow's Zander Fagerson celebrates last Saturday's win over Sale (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Glasgow Warriors always faced a challenge replacing a coach of the calibre of Dave Rennie when he left.

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So when it was announced this week that he would be leaving last season’s PRO14 runners-up to take over Australia at the end of this season, the Warriors were quick to appoint Scotland forwards coach Danny Wilson, but this has not been universally popular.  

Wilson has an impressive resume, having had successful spells with both Wales under-20 and Cardiff Blues in the past, leading the latter to the Challenge Cup in 2018. He also guided Wales to a third-place finish in the under-20 World Championship. 

Given the success that he had in Cardiff, many Glasgow fans back Wilson to have more success at Scotstoun as he is inheriting a better squad (if both teams are based on last season’s performance alone). 

Wilson is also thought of very highly by those from Cardiff, who recognise what a success his time at Cardiff was, helping the Blues return to the Champions Cup after a four-year exile. 

Furthermore, many Glaswegians are hoping that with funding and backing from the club, something he may not have received with Cardiff, he can maintain the side’s growth which they have shown over the past few years. 

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However, there are those that are a bit more sceptical about this deal. Ultimately, being a two-time Super Rugby winner, Rennie was always a hard act to follow. 

Moreover, some fear that the brand of rugby that the Kiwi has established in Glasgow will now go with the arrival of someone that may be less expansive. 

That may come down to who Wilson has in his coaching team, however, and does not mean that the Warriors will lose their high-tempo style of play. 

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https://twitter.com/wargiantcoach/status/1197052331717746688?s=20

What has concerned Glasgow fans as well is the performance of Scotland’s forwards since Wilson joined Gregor Townsend’s coaching team in 2018. If anything, some have accused the Scotland team of regressing, which does not look encouraging. 

https://twitter.com/gfitzpatrick124/status/1197086157693243392?s=20

What is clear is that there is a fairly mixed reception to this news, but Wilson will arrive at the Warriors already with an understanding and relationship with many of the players from his time with the national team. That may make the process of acclimatising much easier. 

WATCH: Rugby Australia officials explain why they have appointed Dave Rennie to succeed Michael Cheika

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N
NB 40 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Nice bit if revisioniusm but that's all it is JW.


For your further education, I found the following breakdown of one prominent club's finances in the Top 14 [Clermont].


For Clermont (budget of €29.5 million for 2021-2022) :

- 20% from ticket sales

- 17% from the LNR (includes TV Rights, compensation from producing french internationals and other minor stuff)

- 5% from public collectivities (so you're looking at funds from the city of Clermont, the department of Puy-De-Dôme and the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)

- 4% from merchandising and events

- 3% from miscellaneous

- 51 % from sponsorships and partnerships. They've got 550 different partners. The main ones are CGI, Groupama, Limagrain/Jacquet, Omerin, Paprec, Renault and of course Michelin (not surprising since they're actually the founders of the club).


As you can see nothing comes from the FFR at all. The LNR is a separate entitiy to FFR and their aims frequently do not accord.


It is also why the European breakaway plotted by LNR and PR back in 2013 had nothing to do with the governing bodies of either England or France - and it most certainly did not have their blessing https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15331030/jean-pierre-lux-anglo-french-cup-detrimental-european-rugby


And from the horse's mouth [ex AB skipper Sean Fitapatrick] about the comp between Top 14 and Super Rugby:


"The Top 14 in France is probably the best rugby competition in the world at the moment, purely for the week-in, week-out.”


“I think the quality of players. They are bigger, they are faster, they are stronger. Which then carries on into the international game.”

Take it from someone who knows JW😅

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