It's Hammerlander time

nostrildamus

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585545" data-time="1465329938">
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Yeah I'm hearing whispers from Irish mates about Schmidt leaving Ireland. 
I'm not sure about him coaching the crusaders. His Irish backline selections have been very conservative recently.
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So he'd fit right in as long he is happy keeping one giant Fijian?

SammyC

What a surprise Nepia liked the post above....
 
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.
 
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.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585745" data-time="1465420121">
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What a surprise Nepia liked the post above....
 
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.
 
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.
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Come on, you didn't think it was funny? And to think you were accusing me of not having a sense of humour. ;)

SouthernMan

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.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SouthernMan" data-cid="585818" data-time="1465435813">
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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.
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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.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SouthernMan" data-cid="585818" data-time="1465435813">
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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.
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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.

Wurzel

Tony Brown is head coach. Mark Hammett joins as assistant

Smudge

Tony Brown gets the Highlanders gig after changing his mind. Thank fuck.

highlander1st5

Tony Brown named head coach for Highlanders with Scott Mcleod and Mark Hammett assistants

Smudge

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.

Wurzel

Apparently Tony Brown is only in for one year then will assist Jamie Joseph in Japan from 2018. I'd say Hammer will be head coach of the Highlanders in 2018.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Smudge" data-cid="585838" data-time="1465441704">
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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. 
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Highlanders Chair: "Tony, this is your assistant, Mark Hammett".
 
Tony, "Nice to meet you, Mark".
 
Hammer, "You're fired"!

MajorRage

Was his gig with the sunwolves only a one-termer?

Wurzel

This smacks as Highlanders settling for second best.
 
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.

SouthernMan

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.
So our backs coach becomes a head coach, 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. 
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.
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.
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.
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.

Canes4life

All I can say is goodluck Highlanders I really hope Hammett doesn't F up what you have going atm.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="584108" data-time="1464606978">
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<img src="http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Halt_e28cb7_279158.jpg" alt="Halt_e28cb7_279158.jpg">
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Can we give jegga some kind of nomination for this ridiculously hilarious post ? It's even funnier when you sing it with your kids in the car and say the above instead of "Stop, Hammertime"......

Stargazer

Article on stuff website: 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Tony Brown to coach Highlanders in 2017 Super Rugby season before heading to Japan 
 Last updated 15:26, June 9 2016 
 Tony Brown is the new coach of the Highlanders, but only for one season. 
 He will take over the top job in 2017, but move overseas in 2018, linking up with the Highlanders' current coach Jamie Joseph, who is off to coach the Japanese national team. 
 Current Sunwolves coach Mark Hammett will join the franchise as one of Brown's assistants, with his fellow current assistant Scott McLeod staying on. The pair have been given contracts through to the end of the 2019 season. 
 Brown had originally signed on to continue as the franchise's attack coach next year, turning down the chance to take over the top job, but hinted in April that it had become a possibility again. 
 He told Sky Sports: "It seems to be no one wants to follow Jamie Joseph and take the Highlanders over. Who knows, I might get bullied into it." 
 Now, he says he's excited by the opportunity. 
 "I wasn't sure the timing was right for me, but having spoken to people inside and outside the organisation, I know now that this is too good an opportunity to pass up. 
 "Knowing that I will have Stormy (McLeod) and Hammer (Hammett) with me was an important part of the decision and I'm excited at the prospect of working with them next year." 
 Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said he was delighted with the appointment. 
 "We said at the outset that we were looking to replace Jamie Joseph with a proven coach with a successful track record and we certainly believe Tony fits that description. 
 "Ideally we would have liked his appointment to be longer however, we are excited by the coaching group we have appointed for 2017 and are confident we will find a quality replacement for Tony in the time frame we have available." 
 Hammett was head coach of the Hurricanes from 2011 to 2014 before taking up a similar role with Cardiff Blues, then becoming the first head coach of Japanese expansion team the Sunwolves this year. 
 "Clearly what Jamie and the team have accomplished is outstanding," said Hammett. 
 "All I really want to do is make a contribution to the group from what I have learned over the last few years as a head coach, assist Brownie and Stormy as much as I can, and build on the good work that has already being done. The opportunity to work with the Highlanders is very motivating for me and I am looking forward to it." 
 McLeod has been an assistant coach since 2013 and while his current contract ends after this season, he was happy to recommit through to 2019. 
 "Obviously whenever you finish a contract you have to weigh up all your options and it certainly wasn't an easy decision, but I get a lot of satisfaction from working with the current group of players and coaches," he said. 
 "The family has also settled well into Dunedin and with some fresh challenges for the club on the horizon, the best option was to recommit to the Highlanders." 
 - Stuff 
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Billy Tell

My mini pet hate on this forum: cutting and pasting newspaper articles in their entirety. 
Just paste the link: if I'm interested I'll click. If I'm not I don't get finger arthritis scrolling down. 
Merci.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585888" data-time="1465451627">
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My mini pet hate on this forum: cutting and pasting newspaper articles in their entirety. 
Just paste the link: if I'm interested I'll click. If I'm not I don't get finger arthritis scrolling down. 
Merci.
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I'm the opposite, you don't want to risk clicking on a Ratpoo, Walrus or Gallagher link by mistake.

The Silver Fern

It's Hammerlander time