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Rory Duncan told he's no longer part of Worcester's plans - reports

Rory Duncan had success with the Cheetahs in the PRO14, guiding them to the playoffs at the first time of asking. (Photo by Huw Evans Agency/Gallo Images)

Worcester Warriors head coach Rory Duncan has been a man in demand over the last six months, as the South African’s work with the Cheetahs and Worcester has earned him admiring glances from rival teams.

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Duncan was reportedly in the frame to succeed Franco Smith at his former franchise before Hawies Fourie was announced as the incoming head coach, whilst he has also been linked with the vacant position at the Southern Kings, who became the first South African club to have majority independent ownership when they were the subject of a takeover from The Greatest Rugby Company in the Whole Wide World earlier this year.

Worcester were subject to their own takeover this year, as Jason Whittingham, Colin Goldring and Jed McCrory took charge of the Gallagher Premiership club. McCrory has since left the club, but Goldring and Whittingham have spoken publicly about their commitment to the side and have announced their intent to not only remain at Worcester long-term, but to also develop much of the land around the Warriors’ Sixways Stadium.

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons has also signed an extension to his contract with the club, ensuring that he is tenured to the West Midlands side until the end of the 2021/22 season.

There looks to be less stability at the head coach position, however, with Worcester News reporting that they have been informed by the club that Duncan is not a part of the “strategic plan for the future” that they are looking to implement.

“The club has put in place a strategic plan for the future of Warriors,” a club spokesman said to Worcester News.

“We do not envisage Rory Duncan being part of those plans and, therefore, we have given Rory permission to seek opportunities elsewhere.”

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This will add further fuel to the fire that Duncan is bound for Port Elizabeth, where the Southern Kings have openly listed him among a four-man shortlist that is also comprised of Pieter de Villiers, Steven Jackson and Corniel van Zyl. De Villiers, according to a tweet from Eastern Province General Manager Thando Manana, will be interviewing for the role on Monday.

With the seasons of Worcester and the Kings to begin in September, both will be eager to resolve the uncertainty hanging over their head coaching positions as soon as possible.

Should the Worcester coach eventually get the position, he will be no stranger to Eastern Province, having played for the EP Kings in the Currie Cup for two years prior to his retirement from professional rugby.

Watch: Josh Strauss has left Sale Sharks to join the Blue Bulls.

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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 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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