At first glance the story sounds entirely straightforward: England defence coach takes new job at Harlequins. Paul Gustard is perfectly entitled to seek work wherever he wishes and moving to Quins allows him to be the boss rather than a mere assistant. Nothing to see here has been the message from the Rugby Football Union, Gustard’s present employers.
Fans of Sherlock Holmes will already have spotted the nagging flaw in this supposedly mundane piece of employment news. In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s story Silver Blaze it is the dog’s curious failure to bark in the night-time that ultimately solves the mystery.
The issue with Gustard is not so much the fact he is leaving but that he is doing so now. With just 16 months to go until next year’s Rugby World Cup, why is he not sticking around to help England fulfil their ultimate dream?
It does not require massive powers of deduction to conclude Gustard is not leaving on a whim. And if he is jumping ship even partly because the allure of working under the workaholic Eddie Jones has faded, what does that say about the stability and mood of the England set-up generally? It is no secret some squad players returned to their clubs following the Six Nations less than fulfilled by the experience. Even Jones himself conceded the other day that cracks had surfaced in the “unity” of the team and spoke of an attitude of “selfishness” within English rugby.
Regular Jones watchers will be experiencing a powerful sense of deja vu. Throughout his coaching career the master coach has found it tricky to sustain initial success and not stayed anywhere longer than four years. Anyone he suspects of simply chugging along or not constantly looking to improve can expect to be jettisoned. The turnover of backroom staff on his watch is higher than most and it has been the same since he arrived at Twickenham. Gustard, attack coach Rory Teague, his communications officer, team psychologist, assorted physios and operations managers – none of them has lasted as long as initially anticipated.
It leaves England, at a critical stage of their 2019 build-up, without a permanent attack or defence coach. Those are two pretty crucial building blocks; even the smartest of consultants cannot bring the priceless sense of day-to-day continuity and collective soul that all the world’s best teams need to foster. Gustard was supposed to be the feelgood glue in Jones’ coaching structure; without him there is a wobblier feel.
Steve Borthwick and Neal Hatley still remain but what kind of message does Gustard’s exit send to the England players? So much for the musketeering, all for one, spirit that should be driving them onwards all the way to Japan. The captain, Dylan Hartley, is still on the sidelines by the effects of concussion, the squad flying to South Africa next month is inexperienced in several areas and the defence coach who will be demanding total commitment from the squad on tour is about to abandon his post. Their last three Test outings have been losses and Ireland are now ruling the roost in Europe both internationally and domestically.
It will be an even more uncomfortable summer should the Springboks, under the shrewd new management of Rassie Erasmus and potentially fortified by some of their overseas-based contingent, take advantage of this increasing state of flux and win the forthcoming series 3-0. So much, in that event, for the theory that all is rosy with the good ship England, that World Cup glory is just a minor tweak or two away. The latest Australian bussed in to boost Jones’s coaching team, Scott Wisemantel, is contracted only for the South Africa tour as an attack consultant and another Aussie, Brad Davis, has already been linked with the defensive vacancy due to open up once Gustard departs. None of this smacks of entirely methodical forward planning.
Jones can, of course, counter that he himself was drafted in as a consultant by an underperforming South Africa before the 2007 World Cup and the Springboks duly won the tournament. Having masterminded Japan’s extraordinary pool win over South Africa in Brighton in 2015, he has a fine record of extracting remarkable displays from teams at World Cups.
In the great scheme of things, it could also be argued that the loss of one defence coach is not insurmountable. There remains a sense, nevertheless, of those at the sharp end of Jones’s obsessive pursuit of excellence wondering if there is more to life than blunt 4.30am messages from their leader urging them to work harder. “My relationship with Eddie is strong and positive,” insisted Gustard after his switch was formally confirmed. “I wish Gussy all the best,” announced Jones. Maybe so, but is there anyone who honestly thinks Gustard would have turned his back on England had he been 100% happy? As with the dog in the night-time, what should have happened has conspicuously not done so. Curious, Watson, very curious.
Prodigal son
Chris Ashton is due back at Twickenham this weekend, playing against England in the colours of the Barbarians. Rugby being what it is he will probably score a hat-trick of tries and outshine some of the wings who have been picked to represent England on tour in South Africa. He knew he was signing his international future away when he joined Toulon but the frequency with which English players who head to France – Jonny Wilkinson, Steffon Armitage, Carl Fearns, Nick Abendanon – flourish in their new surroundings is fascinating. If the Rugby Football Union was to allow itself the luxury of one – just one – possible wildcard pick per season from English-qualified players plying their trade in the Top 14 or the Pro14, it might just be doing itself a favour.
Fitting finales
Exeter v Saracens and Leinster v Scarlets. Twickenham and the Aviva Stadium will play host to two compelling showpiece contests both featuring deserved finalists. Exeter and Scarlets are defending their titles, yet Saracens and Leinster are being viewed as slight favourites. Hopefully the outcomes will not be decided by more of the marginal penalty calls, flawed TMO decisions or blatant missed forward passes that have been a frustrating feature of too many big games over the past 12 months. After almost 10 months of unremitting effort, players and coaches alike deserve nothing less.
