It's Hammerlander time
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="584576" data-time="1464785819">
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<p>Anyone know if Rob Penney, Vern Cotter or John Schmidt have applied for either of these roles?</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/379520/rugby-penney-latest-coach-rule-himself-out'>http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/379520/rugby-penney-latest-coach-rule-himself-out</a></p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(230,230,230);">Penney had been mooted as a contender to step into Jamie Joseph's shoes but he told the </span><i>Otago Daily Times</i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(230,230,230);"> yesterday he would not be considered for the job.</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(230,230,230);">Penney said he was not in the loop for the job and was not in a position to consider himself for the post.</p>
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(230,230,230);">Asked if he was chasing the Crusaders head coaching position, given Todd Blackadder is moving on at the end of the season, he said that was also unlikely.</p>
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(230,230,230);">He declined further comment.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="584663" data-time="1464823497">
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<p>I posted in the Crusaders coach thread about Schmidt.</p>
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<p>A guy I know who works there told me he has applied for the job. Unsure if he has applied for the highlanders role too.</p>
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<p>Very interesting. I heard that there was a good chance Schmidt was probably going home at the end of the SA tour and asking for an early release from his contract. This makes a fair amount of sense, although the Chiefs job would be available at the end of his contract. </p>
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<p>The Irish coaching position will probably be the plum assignment up North as I don't see any other Test positions opening up. Wonder if Rennie has been contacted.</p> -
Yeah I'm hearing whispers from Irish mates about Schmidt leaving Ireland. <br><br>
I'm not sure about him coaching the crusaders. His Irish backline selections have been very conservative recently. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585545" data-time="1465329938">
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<p>Yeah I'm hearing whispers from Irish mates about Schmidt leaving Ireland.<br><br>
I'm not sure about him coaching the crusaders. His Irish backline selections have been very conservative recently.</p>
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<p>So he'd fit right in as long he is happy keeping one giant Fijian?</p> -
<p>What a surprise Nepia liked the post above....</p>
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<p>I want Schmidt, I think he's a good coach. I think he's done much better with Ireland than either Hansen or Henry did with Wales.</p>
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<p>My main concern would be that he's been out of the NZ system a while, so keeping Robertson, Hewitt and Fatson on as assistants would be ideal from a selection point of view.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585745" data-time="1465420121">
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<p>What a surprise Nepia liked the post above....</p>
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<p>I want Schmidt, I think he's a good coach. I think he's done much better with Ireland than either Hansen or Henry did with Wales.</p>
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<p>My main concern would be that he's been out of the NZ system a while, so keeping Robertson, Hewitt and Fatson on as assistants would be ideal from a selection point of view.</p>
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<p>Come on, you didn't think it was funny? And to think you were accusing me of not having a sense of humour. ;)</p> -
<p>Word I'm hearing is Colin Cooper is firming to get the Highlanders gig. I'm slightly underwhelmed, but it seems bugger all coaches were really interested.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SouthernMan" data-cid="585818" data-time="1465435813">
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<p>Word I'm hearing is Colin Cooper is firming to get the Highlanders gig. I'm slightly underwhelmed, but it seems bugger all coaches were really interested.</p>
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<p>I guess coming into a high performing environment where expectations will be very high must be almost as overwhelming as going into a poor underperforming one, where expectations are also high, but for different reasons.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SouthernMan" data-cid="585818" data-time="1465435813">
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<p>Word I'm hearing is Colin Cooper is firming to get the Highlanders gig. I'm slightly underwhelmed, but it seems bugger all coaches were really interested.</p>
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<p>The position comes with strings attached (i.e., the assistant coaches are already in place) so that might be an issue for some coaches. Cooper has won the NPC and Super Rugby as an assistant, and coached NZ A and the Maori. The Highlanders could do much worse for a Kiwi coach.</p> -
<p>Tony Brown named head coach for Highlanders with Scott Mcleod and Mark Hammett assistants</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Smudge" data-cid="585838" data-time="1465441704">
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<p>Oddly enough, it's only for one year. Brown heading to work with the Japan national team in 2018. So it's a stop-gap measure. Whoopie. </p>
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<p>Highlanders Chair: "Tony, this is your assistant, Mark Hammett".</p>
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<p>Tony, "Nice to meet you, Mark".</p>
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<p>Hammer, "You're fired"!</p> -
<p>This smacks as Highlanders settling for second best.</p>
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<p>They wanted Tony Brown but he wasn't keen because they knew he was bailing in 2018. They couldn't find anyone else worthy so they convinced him to coach for at last one year. Then thought they better lock in their second option, Hammett, as assistant in case he got contracted by Buller before 2018 rolled around.</p> -
<p>When I first saw this announcement I was reasonably chuffed, Brownie had changed his mind, fantastic, another long term coach. But then more information came out, he's only head coach for one year! With Mark Hammett likely to take over? This is a cop out in my mind and is only going to disrupt things. Sadly the Highlanders are now stuck in a Japanese rugby merry-go-round. They get Jamie, we get Mark, they get Tony.</p>
<p>So our backs coach becomes a head coach<span>, to bugger off and become a backs coach somewhere else a year later. I would have been chuffed for this, if Tony was signing a two or three year deal. But a one year deal as a head coach is a joke. </span></p>
<p>To me this smacks of the franchise management struggling to get decent candidates and jumping on the bail out option. While giving Mark Hammett a year as a dress re-rehearsal to see how the players like him and whether or not he has the buy in to become head coach.</p>
<p>Structure and consistency is very important to any sporting organisation and the upheaval which could occur over the next couple of years at the franchise could have some dire consequences.</p>
<p>Tony is a great coach, but a one year contract for a head coaching role is stupid in my mind. Mark Hammett, to me his results speak volumes and while the Sunwolves have looked good at times. I do worry when I think of his time at the Hurricanes.</p>
<p>I've really enjoyed the Highlanders over the last three seasons and want to give management the benefit of the doubt, but I am scratching my head about this decision.</p> -
All I can say is goodluck Highlanders I really hope Hammett doesn't F up what you have going atm.
