Tom Coventry's brutal start...
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LI are my team, so can probably add a bit of context. We've finished 10th out of 12 for the last 2 or 3 seasons, which is probably a fair reflection of where we are. <br><br>
We were previously finishing mid table and above and came close to winning the competition in 2009. Losing to Leicester by a single point in the final. Since then there has been a steady decline in fortunes as money started to become an issue. This resulted in a generation of young players brought through by the club leaving to try their luck elsewhere at more successful clubs (Corbisiero, Watson, Joseph, Yarde and a handful more just short of England recognition). The club then got new owners a few years ago which stabilised the financial situation and triggered a rebuilding phase that Coventry's recruitment was part of.<br><br>
No wins from 5 is pretty disappointing, but those games have been against 5 of last year's top 6. The fixture list has been pretty brutal and doesn't really ease until the new year.<br><br>
They've gone to a lot of effort getting Tom in, so doubt he's going anywhere any time soon. It's hard to really know where we stand until we play the other clubs who are likely to make up the bottom third (Newcastle, Worcester, Sale), but avoiding relegation is obviously crucial. -
<p>Must say, I appreciate the posts about NH rugby (Japan included) from the peeps over there in the know</p>
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<p>I think after the RWC their seems to be more interest in rugby up there and I guess a few of us are interested in kiwis and PI players, but also the general style and future of the lucrative game.</p>
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<p>Perverse interest after the English bombed so badly with Lancaster.... :greeting:</p>
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<p>Can I suggest we have a NH rugby thread that clocks up the pages for all things Northern hemisphere? Mods?</p> -
<p>Picked up the first league win of the season today after the European break against the odds against Northampton (George North, Hartley, Lawes, Matfield et al) to drag them off the foot of the table. </p>
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<p>The fixture list clears up now with a few more winnable games, so hopefully the New Year will prove a little more profitable. Has managed to keep himself pretty calm in the face of a fair bit of pressure, and despite the results seems to be fostering a decent team spirit.</p> -
<p>... And relegated to the second tier for the first time in 20 years.</p>
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<p>Bit of a rude awakening for TC and he's looked a bit shell shocked at times. Team haven't been good enough, so it's deserved really. A season of poor execution, poor defence (Grant Doorey's patented turnstile defence transplanted from last year's Blues), and a lengthy injury list in key positions that made any kind of continuity difficult.</p>
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<p>Not sure whether he'll still be around or not next season, as there will likely be some manner of post mortem. Some of the higher profile players (Maitland, Franks etc) will likely move on. </p> -
Franks started on the bench in the weekend...<br><br>
Hope he's getting paid well. -
<p>Franks is just coming back from injury (has been out since late Jan). Came on fairly early and got beaten up a bit in the scrum. He'll likely have a relegation release clause, and even if he didn't, I'm sure they would probably let him go to save a few quid. </p>
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<p>James Marshall is due to arrive after the Super Rugby season assuming he doesn't get cold feet.</p> -
<p>No idea what's in his contract. I doubt they would hold him to anything though if he decided he wanted out. </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="576458" data-time="1462218246">
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<p>Does Coventry have a release clause? Or would they sack him even though he is supposedly rebuilding?</p>
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<p>Rumours over here that the Highlanders are interested.</p>
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<p>I like Coventry but giving him a Super job with only one (poor) year of head coaching experience would be a joke.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="576478" data-time="1462222865">
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<p>I like Coventry but giving him a Super job with only one (poor) year of head coaching experience would be a joke.</p>
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<p>He obviously has to (or maybe already has) learn a few management lessons but given that Super teams are now a group coaching effort and the Landers are looking at only one change (replacing JJ) he is still a viable option in comparison to others.</p>
<p>Coventry's forte is the forwards and his style in that area is pretty similar to JJs judging by the way the Canes forwards played under him.</p> -
<p>I know Tom knew if was going to be a huge task at London Irish going into the season and was essentially starting from scratch. From the team sheets I saw few of their best players seemed to be playing each week. It's hard to succeed if you don't have the cattle.</p>
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<p>Any jobs going at the moment? As he's heading home.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36571176'>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36571176</a></p>
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<p>A bit last minute in the end. He had looked like staying after a post season independent review. However, there was a report in The Rugby Paper at the weekend that the review carried out placed much of the blame on the players. He seemed to have lost the dressing room though as there was apparently some sort of backlash leading to him resigning. </p>
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<p>Shame really, as it's a tough league and someone always has to come last. Not really too sold on him as a head coach though as he always looked a touch detached.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Margin_Walker" data-cid="590887" data-time="1466705280"><p>
Not really too sold on him as a head coach though as he always looked a touch detached.</p></blockquote><br>
Shellshocked might be a better description...
