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Wasps address speculation linking Martin Gleeson to England and rumours concerning fellow assistants Everard and Munster target Costello

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images).

Last October’s beaten Gallagher Premiership finalists Wasps have addressed recent speculation about the futures at the club of Martin Gleeson, Matt Everard and Ian Costello, three of the assistants that helped boss Lee Blackett make a great success of his first season in charge.

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Blackett stepped up from his assistant role in February 2020 following the departure of Dai Young and he used the lockdown to steel the squad for the huge upswing in fortunes that brought them all the way to a Twickenham title decider versus Exeter. 

It has since proven difficult for Wasps to maintain that momentum in recent months and they currently lie 14 points off the fourth and final playoff spot in the league with just seven matches remaining. Amid that struggle for results, which hasn’t been helped by multiple injuries and Test call-ups, Wasps have also had to deal with speculation surrounding three of Blackett’s assistants. 

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Wales out-half Dan Biggar guests on RugbyPass All Access

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Wales out-half Dan Biggar guests on RugbyPass All Access

Rugby league recruit Gleeson was linked with taking up an assistant backs and attack role with Eddie Jones’ England, transition, skills and breakdown coach Everard with an unspecified move elsewhere, and defence coach Costello with a return to Munster to run the academy at the Irish club where he previously spent two years working as assistant to the late Anthony Foley before taking over at Nottingham.   

Wasps boss Blackett has now given his reaction to all three situations, insisting there had been no approach from the RFU concerning Gleeson and that the Everard story was pure speculation. However, he admitted there was substance to the story that Costello could leave and a decision is expected this week.   

England’s fifth-place finish in the recent Guinness Six Nations ignited criticism of their attack and it was suggested last Sunday that Gleeson, who came to Wasps in 2019 from rugby league, was potentially being lined by Jones to replace Simon Amor, who came in post-World Cup from England 7s. 

“Look, I am aware of those,” said Blackett in relation to the speculation surrounding his assistants. “In terms of Martin with England, England haven’t approached us so that would be pure speculation at this moment in time. He is under contract and you would think if England want him they would have approached us. We have had no approach from the RFU in terms of Martin.  

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“In terms of Matt, he is under a long contract. We have done a lot with Matt and I can quite easily say I would be gobsmacked if he is going anywhere. We have got long-term plans for him. It’s pure speculation on that one. He played for the club, left two years before I joined. He has come back as a coach having played for Nottingham, has worked in the academy for a couple of years and I have got a really good relationship with Matt.

“The players really like him. He has got that great relationship with the players and he gets the best out of them in terms of those skills, in terms of those roles he has been doing, our pick-and-go game, a lot of our tight game, some of our plays off nine.

“He has done a pretty good job in terms of what he has done there and the boys really like him – we know his future and where he will go and the role he will take in the future with the club. You would like to think he is fully on this journey with us. He laughed it off when I mentioned the rumour to him.”

As regards Munster target Costello, Blackett added: “I’ll know a lot more in the next 48 hours. With Ian, we know his family situation and he has been very open with the club. Realistically, he is going to go back sometime within the next year-and-a-half so I’ll know a lot more when that is, probably in the next 48 hours.”

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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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