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In today’s day and age, when we’re constantly treading the line of what’s real and what isn't, what’s genuine and what’s for show, Pete Wilkin’s words in his farewell statement from Connacht Rugby hit home. The western province’s head coach has been away for the setup for the last number of weeks on sick leave. Wilkins who has been with Connacht for the last eight years. In his statement, Wilkins said “As such, I have made the decision that it is best for the club, myself, and most importantly my family, that I step away with immediate effect. In doing so, the club and I agree it gives our players, staff and supporters clarity for the remainder of the season, and myself the opportunity to focus on returning to full health before my next coaching challenge.”
In today’s day and age, when we’re constantly treading the line of what’s real and what isn't, what’s genuine and what’s for show, Pete Wilkin’s words in his farewell statement from Connacht Rugby hit home. The western province’s head coach has been away for the setup for the last number of weeks on sick leave. Wilkins who has been with Connacht for the last eight years.
In his statement, Wilkins said “As such, I have made the decision that it is best for the club, myself, and most importantly my family, that I step away with immediate effect. In doing so, the club and I agree it gives our players, staff and supporters clarity for the remainder of the season, and myself the opportunity to focus on returning to full health before my next coaching challenge.”
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As rugby progresses further into the modern professional age, we have learnt more and more about the behind the scenes aspect of Rugby, the work that goes into pathways, structures, facilities, player selection and actual managment. It’s easy to think that it’s a natural progression for an assistant coach to progress in the top job, but the responsibilities and scope of the role are completely different and often far removed from the pitch itself. The qualities that made Wilkins such an excellent assistant coach were utilised less and less as a head coach and I completely understand his decision to step away. I look forward to hopefully seeing him back on the pitch with his boots on and whistle in hand.
Collie Tucker, the provinces original scrum and contact coach will remain as interim coach for the remainder of the season. This is now the third head coach who has left mid season for an Irish province in the last two seasons. First Dan McFarland, then Graham Rowntree and now Pete Wilkins. New IRFU Directer of Performance David Humphreys has an issue on his hands.
Lets take a look at three candidates who Connacht could interview for the role:
Brad Thorn
As proud Queenslander, Thorn took on the top job at the Queensland Reds when no one else would. The franchise was in disarray under Nick Stiles but had been trending downwards for years under Matt O’Connor and Richard Graham.
The World Cup winning All Black was untested in the coaching sphere but had made an impression on the QRU top brass after finishing second on the NRC table with Queensland Country. Despite his inexperience, he was elevated to the top job in Super Rugby and began rebuilding the franchise that had a bloated underperforming squad, riddled with bad eggs and poor facilities. Thorn showed Quade Cooper the door despite the mecurial playmaker having two years left on his contract. Cooper collected his wages, but Thorn didn’t want him anywhere near his environment. The same went for Karmichael Hunt, who the previous coaches signed in a hail mary move. Hunt was kept away from the team after his own drug related incidents. The same went for James Slipper, the now Wallabies stalwart was shown the door after testing positive for cocaine twice. Thorn drew a line in the sand and showed him the door.
With so much experience out the door, Thorn relied on his promising but incredibly young NRC contingent who he had coached the season before. This group included Liam Wright, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, Angus Blyth, Taniela Tupou and Filipo Daugunu. Just to name a few.
While it wasn’t smooth sailing for Thorn, he transformed the Reds, invested in youth and trusted them to deliver on his culture. He was the first coach since 2013 to win three games in a row at Super Rugby level and even brought silverware to the franchise, even if it was in the form of Super Rugby AU, the pandemic enforced format of Super Rugby.
Thorn changed the standards and culture throughout the organisation completely, his main weakness was his lack of experience as a coach and how his side failed to progess on, particularly in attack. However, he transformed the wayward franchise into a professional outfit, something Connacht could desperately use.
With former Australia A head coach Rob Seib signing with Connacht, Thorn could be genuine option to fill a Director of Rugby Role and create a culture that sures up this leaky Connacht side.
Jeremy Davidson
Apart from his first few years as an assistant coach with his hometown team Ulster, Davidson has spent his entire coaching career in France. Having started the season as the head coach of Castres Olympique, Davidson has transitioned to a backroom position with his tenure already set to end at the end of this season. The Top 14 are a unique prospect in the top tier of club rugby, they’re old school and have a small population of forty odd thousand people, but they club is the heartbeat of the city. Despite this, they’re increibly ambitious and have consistently punched well above their weight due to astute coaching and signings.
After leaving Ulster in 2011, he became the head coach of Pro D2 club Aurillac and stayed their for six years, running a Moneyball esque programme where every penny counted. After Aurillac, he progressed to the Top 14 as forwards coach of Bordeaux Begles and progressed again to the head coach of Brive. Brive dropped to the Pro D2 but Davidson led them back to the Top14 the following year, where they stayed for the next three seasons.
After being let go by Brive, Davidson was hired by Castres where once again he steadied the ship and it’s this quality that I think could help Connacht. It’s time Davidson’s years of experience was brought back to Irish rugby. The former Ulster lock has a wealth of French experience and his experience leading teams in difficult circumstances could work wonders in Connacht who have an otherwise settled coaching ticket next year.
He has a track record of finding value in players under the radar and leadingorganisations from top to bottom. It could be time for Davidson to come home.
Finlay Bealham is contracted for another year, Bundee Aki too. Mack Hansen’s wage is now being supplemented by the IRFU and the likes of Hugh Gavin, Cathal Forde, the Murray brothers and Cian Prendergast means there is genuine quality in this squad. David Humphries has already showed the importance he places on quality coaching with the appointment of Clayton McMillan and by locking down Mike Prendergast and Denis Leamy. Now is the time for him to inject some quality into the top brass spot in Connacht Rugby.
| # | Team | PL | W | L | D | PD | BP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Leinster Rugby | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 196 | 10 | 62 |
| 2 |  Glasgow Warriors | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 174 | 14 | 54 |
| 3 |  Vodacom Bulls | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 107 | 10 | 50 |
| 4 |  Hollywoodbets Sharks | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 49 |
| 5 |  Benetton Treviso | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | -51 | 7 | 41 |
| 6 |  Munster Rugby | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | -4 | 11 | 39 |
| 7 |  Ulster Rugby | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | -17 | 9 | 37 |
| 8 |  Edinburgh Rugby | 15 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 24 | 13 | 37 |
| 9 |  Cardiff Rugby | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | -56 | 10 | 36 |
| 10 |  DHL Stormers | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | -13 | 11 | 35 |
| 11 |  Scarlets | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 20 | 7 | 33 |
| 12 |  Ospreys | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | -13 | 7 | 33 |
| 13 |  Connacht Rugby | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | -28 | 13 | 33 |
| 14 |  Emirates Lions | 15 | 6 | 9 | 0 | -45 | 7 | 31 |
| 15 |  Zebre Rugby | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | -112 | 7 | 27 |
| 16 |  Dragons | 14 | 1 | 13 | 0 | -185 | 5 | 09 |