This week we will mostly be concerning ourselves with the coaching merry-go-round\u2026<\/p>\n
All change 2027?<\/p>\n
If ever there was a week in which rugby\u2019s increasing global cross-pollination was evident, this past week was it. A Scotsman coaching the All Blacks<\/a>? Never in my day\u2026<\/p>\n Mike Blair\u2019s appointment to the New Zealand attack is a huge honour for the former international scrum-half and, should he make a good fist of it, surely a springboard to the Scottish national team should \u2013 as is widely expected \u2013 Gregor Townsend\u2019s tenure come to an end after Australia 2027<\/a>. Franco Smith might have something to say about that, while Blair could opt to stay with New Zealand and see out a longer term before stepping up, but it seems a logical path.<\/p>\n Which led\u00a0Loose\u00a0Pass\u00a0to have a bit of a think about it. How many heirs apparents are waiting around the corner for the shift change likely to happen in 18 months\u2019 time?<\/p>\n Ronan O\u2019Gara\u2019s star still shines bright despite the waning of a generation at La Rochelle as Andy Farrell heads into his seventh and eighth years as Ireland<\/a> coach, also facing a bit of a reshuffle within his Ireland squad. While Simon Easterby would represent a continuation of Ireland\u2019s progress \u2013 not least as he has been in charge while Farrell has been on Lions\u2019 duty \u2013 O\u2019Gara, with his experience in France and New Zealand, is a popular choice and has made little secret of his desire to take the job on.<\/p>\n Schalk Burger predicts \u2018horrible experience\u2019 for England against Springboks as Jean de Villiers issues \u2018threat to be reckoned with\u2019 warning<\/a><\/p>\n There are few obvious changes likely to be made in Australia or South Africa, as Les Kiss beds in at the former and Rassie Erasmus continues his dynasty at the latter. With the Waratahs struggling, the remaining option for Rugby Australia, should the national team pancake at their own tournament, would most likely be Stephen Larkham. What happens in South Africa should Rassie cease to be a part of the coaching set-up is anybody\u2019s guess, but it\u2019s unlikely to be a smooth transition. Johann van Graan? Johan Ackerman?<\/p>\n Changes at Wales, Italy, France and Argentina?<\/p>\n Back to Europe, where Michael Cheika\u2019s name was touted by a slightly more than coincidental number of journalists in the wake of England\u2019s miserable Six Nations as a potential short-term fix before 2027. But assuming Steve Borthwick guides the good ship England down to Sydney harbour, it\u2019s unlikely Cheika would be top of the succession list then. So who? Someone from the Prem? Phil Dowson? Geoff Parling? Rob Baxter? Or would the RFU scour the global market? Scott Robertson has an impressive CV, for example. So does Shaun Edwards, although it is widely acknowledged that he is most likely to remain the world\u2019s premier authority on defence.<\/p>\n World Rugby\u2019s massive Nations Championship deal under threat amid Iran war<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to imagine changes in Wales regardless of performance at Australia 2027, with many obvious successors to Steve Tandy already on the ticket, such as Matt Sherratt. Stephen Jones is missing head coaching roles on his CV despite his impressive international experience, while Mark Jones continues to impress in adversity at the Ospreys. Robertson\u2019s name would also surely be on any WRU shortlist, assuming they can find the cash.<\/p>\n Italy\u2019s progress under Gonzalo Quesada up to now has been superb and assuming the curve continues upwards there\u2019s simply no reason to speculate. Should something remarkable happen over the next 18 months, perhaps Smith, with significant Italian connections, could be on a shortlist here too, particularly if Scotland does not work out.<\/p>\n