posted Jan 4, 2008

I can only add to what has been said above. A very good choice by the WRU, we need somebody like Maw to put the right structures and professional mentality in place. Pro rugby players keep banging on about how they are now professional athletes, well maybe now they will start to realise what that really means.

As for the ex players like Deveruex and Hadley I'm not sure that they fully understand what the job is about. As others have said, we have coaches to 'coach' skills and game management, the EPD is employed to put the right systems and professional culture in place - it isn't a hands on role.

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posted Jan 4, 2008

What does this Maw guy know about Welsh rugby and why do we need him?

I agreee with Adrian Hadley - Wales's fitness is fine, it's the way they play that needs tweaking. It's a waste of money and yet another example of Lewis and Pickering's ineptitude. Those two are the biggest joke in World Rugby.

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posted Jan 4, 2008

I really cannot understand the furore. This bloke is a highly educated and well respected professional in a field that is swamped with mediocrity. He's the Director, therefore he doesn't need to know the in's and out's of rugby, hence having an ex rugby playing team around him. He has to review the situation, design a strategy and enusure that it is comprehensive and then deliver it. I fail to see how he hasn't played 1st class rugby has any impact on that ability. Rugby is not unique in world sport and skills in performance and the management of it, are obviously transferable

Usual storm in tea-cup and the whole of the Welsh public thinking they know best, but that is the joy of the the internet I suppose!

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posted Jan 4, 2008

Why do Wales have "Brains" on their shirts when this is obviously something they lack?

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posted Jan 4, 2008

I agree with people who applaud Graeme Maw's appointment, and disagree with Adrian Hadley.

Wales's fitness certainly does need improving, something vital for achieving greater success in matches.

The failure of Welsh forwards to match the 'go-forward' dynamism of top sides for 80 minutes, in both World and Heineken Cups, has been glaringly obvious. If that isn't a matter of athletic fitness and rapid recovery times, I don't know what is.

At international level, look at the South Africans, England, Argentina and the much-maligned All Blacks - not forgetting Fiji!
At regional/club level, look at teams like Leicester, Gloucester, and some of the French sides.

As for the skills of handling and kicking, it's far too late to acquire them after a player's joined the national squad. They have to be learned in junior and club rugby, taught by coaches at those levels, and I think that on the whole they are.

Unfortunately, when the pace and pressure come on in hard matches those basic skills have been suffering in the Welsh international and regional sides. Greater athletic fitness will go a long way towards ensuring that they're maintained.

I'm glad that Maw won't be competing with Gatland, which a 'rugby man' would have done.

Gatland is the man to coach tactics and restore 'nous' on the rugby field, plus disciplined aggression and team spirit. He's absolutely vital to the cause. But improved athletic fitness is the the key to all of it!

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posted Jan 4, 2008

Have the All Blacks a similar appointment? I cannot belive that skills are being sidelined for an elite "triathlon" organiser to come in. Basics such as off loading the ball in the tackle, scrum halves NOT passing the ball to the outside half who has to rub his knuckles on the ground or leap like a lineout jumper to catch it. Centres who can straighten an angle etc. Let's have 13 a side in rugby union because as players are fitter the pitch is smaller and fewer tries are being scored. The "pick up an go" mentality along with the awful USA style DEEEEEfense is killing the sport as a spectacle. Wales won the grand slam through fitness but playing with skill, style and guile. The WELSH way. Cannot see Maw making any difference.No disrespect to the gentleman in question but yet again the WRU blazers have got it wrong. At least in England Rob Andrew has a rugby track record.

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posted Jan 4, 2008

Do Hadley, Jiffy, Devereux et al seriously think that Rob Andrew pulls his track-suit on to coach the England forwards on the finer points of the scrum? No, that's why we have coaches FFS.
Their comments show their ignorance of the role of the EPD.
And why does the EPD need to be a "rugby man" to know how to get the best out of an athlete?
Was Graeme Maw an Olympic medal winning swimmer or Triathlete?
No, but look at his record-twice in 6 years GB could rightly claim to be the worlds best and this in a sport traditionally dominated by Aussies, Yanks and Kiwis.
The point is he knows how to put the systems/strategies in place that enable the athletes to perform at their best-the question is whether the WRU in the parochial spotlight that is welsh rugby will let him do it his way giving adequate time for things to improve.
The other question I have is are any of the aforementioned ex-players involved in coaching on a regular basis? Over to you..

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posted Jan 4, 2008

Why are we following the english lead on this position,That is the need for a (Rob Andrew)EPD.We need a good coach with international experience and we have found one in Gatlan.But once the decision was made that we did need one how the WRU let andrew Hoare get away is crazy he was the best man for the job and we have had to settle for the next best thing .

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posted Jan 5, 2008

Does anyone know if Shaun Edwards is coming on board or not? it's all gone quiet.

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posted Jan 5, 2008

Does anyone know the total cost of the the senior managment and coaching structure for Wales and how this compares to the more successful countries. It looks like the WRU are becoming a Quango creating six figured salaried jobs for the sake of it because it is what they've talked themselves into to hide shortcomings.

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