These are your rugby headlines on Wednesday, September 29
Gatland 'to bite one heck of a bullet'
Warren Gatland has been told he deserves praise for biting "one heck of a bullet" after he was installed in a new role this week.
It was announced on Tuesday that the former Wales coach and Lions stalwart would not be returning as head coach of the Chiefs - a post he left on a sabbatical during his latest Lions stint - and will now move into a newly-created role of director rugby.
Clayton McMillan will continue in his head of coaching position, and the shake-up at the Chiefs will have required Gatland to "bite one heck of a bullet", something for which he deserves praise for, according to the view in the Kiwi media.
In a New Zealand editorial piece, journalist Aaron Goile wrote : "What loomed as a potentially awkward situation has instead turned up an excellent outcome. And it’s Gatland and Chiefs chief executive Michael Collins who deserve the praise.
"So easy it would have been for Collins to stick with the original plan, dismissing Gatland’s struggles of last year under an excuse of unprecedented Covid times, and pointing to the fact he was just a late penalty goal from drawing a second successive Lions series, to go with all his other honours.
"After all, he had cut Colin Cooper’s tenure one year short to sign up Gatland as the great redeemer.
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"Yet here he had one of New Zealand's brightest young coaches in McMillan – having already built a fine reputation with Bay of Plenty and the Māori All Blacks – fully deserving of an opportunity to carry on a promising start to a Super Rugby top job, which included the stunning turnaround from the franchise’s record losing streak (11 matches) to a place in the Aotearoa final.
"This, though, also required Gatland to bite one heck of a bullet. You can only imagine how determined he would have been to get back in the saddle and prove his miserable 0-8 Aotearoa campaign was an aberration.
"Remember, also, this may have been his last chance to push any hopes he had of being a future All Blacks coach, too.
"But McMillan would likely not have been short on head coaching offers elsewhere, be it in New Zealand or offshore. And it just feels like the Chiefs have got their square pegs in square holes with this, to get the best of both worlds."
Wasps respond to Thomas Young speculation
Wasps head coach Lee Blackett remained tight-lipped when asked about speculation over Thomas Young and a possible reunion with his father at Cardiff next season.
Reports stated recently that flanker Young, who is believed to be out of contract with the Premiership side at the end of the season, could be the subject of interest from the Arms Park outfit.
The three-times-capped openside is currently ineligible for Wales under the WRU's 60-cap rule, having signed a contract extension in May of last year.
His father admitted he was surprised it had taken so long for the rumour mill to spin surrounding a move, and Blackett also played a straight bat when asked about the links.
He said to our sister title CoventryLive : "I think you'll find that with not just Thomas but any Welsh players when they're going well in England, there's always going to be talk of them going back to Wales.
"When you're old man is the coach of one of the top sides. I think you're always going to get that."
When asked to confirm if Young was out of contract this summer, Blackett added: "I don't think we're in a place to really say that."
Rugby Championship sides forced to isolate
A Covid-19 outbreak in Brisbane has forced New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and hosts Australia to isolate in their hotels ahead of the final round of the Rugby Championship.
Players and staff will be permitted to train outside in the build-up to the fixtures this weekend but they will not be allowed to mix with the general public, All Blacks assistant coach Scott McLeod confirmed.
“We’re not allowed out of the hotel except for essentials or medical visits,” defence coach McLeod told reporters in a video call from the team’s Gold Coast hotel.
“It’s something that’s unexpected but we’ve had it before and dealt with it really quickly.”
Brisbane reported four new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday - including its first case in almost two months where the source of the infection is unclear.
Taylor to coach Baa-Baas
Former Wales coach Rachel Taylor will team up with Jo Yapp this autumn to lead Barbarian Women in their match against Springbok Women’s XV.
Yapp and Taylor reprise their coaching roles with Barbarian Women following the team’s win over Wales in their last fixture in November 2019.
Taylor left her role with Wales under mysterious circumstances and she has now taken up a position with Sale Sharks ahead of the new Allianz Premier 15s season as women’s performance coach.
Looking ahead to the November fixture against Springbok Women’s XV, Yapp said: “It is such a privilege to coach the Barbarians again. I really enjoyed the experience last time, to coach such talented players alongside Rachel Taylor was a real honour.
“South Africa are an extremely proud rugby nation. Under the guidance of Lynne Cantwell, the new high performance manager, I am sure they will continue to go from strength to strength. I know they will be a challenging opposition and it will be an exciting contest.”
Barbarian FC president John Spencer commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Jo and Rachel back to coach Barbarian Women this November. It will be an historic day as the Barbarians host our first-ever double header as the home team at Twickenham and I know the Barbarians’ trademark style of passion, skill and flair will be out in full force as the men’s team take on Samoa and the women play Springbok Women’s XV.”
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