In rugby, a new contract for the coach kick-starts a losing streak
The world of International rugby is certainly a volatile one. Both Warren Gatland and Andy Robinson recently signed contract extensions with their respective national sides, and both subsequently followed that up with a loss. The Welsh RFU showed particularly great faith in extending Gatland, who, before Saturday’s win against Scotland, had Wales in a poor run of form.
A disappointing autumn led in the end only to two things – angry Welsh fans demanding the performances of old and a new contract for the coach deemed responsible for the poor run. Gatland would have certainly been pleased with the vote of confidence, and added financial security, yet this does not seem to have been portrayed in Wales’ first two games. They’ve been sloppy, ill disciplined and not clinical; luckily, they faced a Scotland side, which produced their flattest performance in months.
Robinson was the opposite of Gatland. He was rewarded with his extension after a run of fantastic form including a famous victory of South Africa and two away wins in Argentina. He was the toast of Scottish rugby and no doubt deserved to be rewarded with the extension. However, the RBS Six Nations has shown us why you have to be careful when dishing out deals. Scotland have lost two from two and will now struggle with Italy to not take home the ignominious Wooden Spoon.
After a somewhat promising loss to France, Scotland were awful against Wales, a home tie they would have been sure of winning. In fact, they were so bad that Andy Robinson was said to have apologised to his CEO and many Scottish fans were seen leaving early such was their dismay. Robinson will really need to work hard to ensure that the SRFU don’t regret his extension.
Rugby is a tough business to work in; if results do not improve for Wales and Scotland, both coaches will have a pressure filled run up to the World Cup, despite their relative job security.
