Dawson sings Edwards’ praises
1 Feb 2008
Former England scrumhalf Matt Dawson says Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards is “the best coach in the world.”
Dawson, who played under Edwards at Wasps, said his recruitment was a massive coup, adding that it was a “crime” for England to lose him.
“With Warren [Gatland - head coach] and Shaun you get defence, structure, discipline and, ultimately, you will get trophies,” Dawson told the bbcsport.co.uk. “I cannot emphasise enough to the Welsh public what a gem they have there.”
“I was disappointed the RFU could not find a relevant opportunity for Shaun. In my view, and in a lot of other people’s view, he is possibly the best rugby coach in the world. That’s not something I say lightly and to see that we’ve let him go over the border is an absolute crime. To see Shaun Edwards go to Wales was incredible.
Dawson also showered praise on the other members of the Wales coaching staff.
“To join him with Warren and Rob Howley – my goodness me, if the Welsh team can’t play with that coaching talent behind them then it’s going to be an awful long time before they win the Six Nations again.”
South Africa face Wales in their opening incoming tour match in June and Edwards has said that he was targeting the two-Test series as the time to roll out their refined rush defence system. Wales tried to employ a similar system throughout 2007 with limited effect.
If Dawson’s opinion is to be taken seriously then the Springboks will have to be on point to douse the Dragons’ fire.
19 Comments
1 Feb 2008, 07:41 am
Great coaches, great tradition, pity that the players are kak.
1 Feb 2008, 08:08 am
Yeah, Matt Dawson…and your favourite player of all time is Corne Krige. Hmmm?
1 Feb 2008, 10:44 am
Dawsons always been an idiot, never even heard of Edwards, bect coach in the world sure boeta.
1 Feb 2008, 12:18 pm
cab,
Come now, you must have heard of Shaun Edwards?
He’s the current Wasps Head Coach and was Gatland’s 2IC when they dominated the English and European club game.
Before he moved to the union code, he was without doubt one of the best players of the modern era to have played rugby league. He, Martin Offiah and Ellery Hanley were legends of the great Wigan team of the 80s and early 90s.
As a player he was a skilled, tough, no nonsense, tough as nails competitor. As a coach in union, his attention to detail and quest for innovative ideas are right up there with the best.
He’s not yet a head coach at international level, but as a skills coach and defensive coach, few in the world game are better IMO. Matt Dawson may be a c*ck of the highest order, but he rarely gives out praise to others where it sin’t merited.
1 Feb 2008, 12:36 pm
No stodders,
More like the Northern hemisphere blowing smoke up it’s own ***. He’s certainly no legend.
1 Feb 2008, 12:41 pm
Clanerk,
Edwards is head coach of Wasps underneath Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan. McGeechan seems to think he’s not too bad either.
That would be Ian McGeechan, Scottish rugby player, Scottish coach and coach of the 97 Bok slaying Lions in the Boks backyard. Legend.
1 Feb 2008, 12:43 pm
Lol…thought I’d let you know I’m going to the Scotland – France game this weekend. I’ll be shouting “Allez les Bleus” in a kilt.
1 Feb 2008, 12:59 pm
Clanerk,
Watch out for the “gentle breeze” up there
Sco v Fra is always a pretty good game. Scots are usually pumped up for their first game and the French are notoriously slow starters. 2 years ago it was the same fixture to start the 6N off. Scotland pulled off a shock victory. I wonder if we can do it again?
1 Feb 2008, 13:05 pm
I reckon France are in for a shock. The Scottish team is pretty settled and the form of Edinburgh and Glasgow is on the up.
I’m hoping for a better atmosphere than the Bok test there before the world cup last year. I’m really looking forward to my first “test” at Murrayfield supporting my adopted team.
1 Feb 2008, 14:29 pm
stodders,
i dont really put much store in league.
different game.
heard of offiah, meant to be real quick, habana would surely munch him. the aussies go on about johns and the kiwis stacey, but the only league convert thats really made big inroads is Robinsion. still dont quite know what all the hype is about the england no 12. Davies was ok but nothing special imo.
he might be what dawson considers ‘the best in the world’, bit sweeping considering by your account he’s yet to be head coach for any team where his todger is on the block.
1 Feb 2008, 14:30 pm
‘national’ team.
1 Feb 2008, 14:52 pm
possibly the best rugby coach in the world…
Fark, poms love an overstatement. Never heard of the guy in rugby union lore. Robbie Deans on the other hand is another story. He hasn’t even coached at international level but his influence at provincial has him (perhaps deservedly) touted as the best.
1 Feb 2008, 15:45 pm
Re: France – Scotland.
Les Blues looks like a largely unknown entity. An enigma wrapped in a riddle packaged as a puzzle. Typically and confoundingly French…
1 Feb 2008, 15:51 pm
Clanerk
I also found that Scotland v Bokke match abit of a bore atmosphere wise. I dont really understand how Southwall can play when Cairns keeps him out of the Edinburgh team. What happened to Ally Hogg?
Allez l’Ecosse!
1 Feb 2008, 16:00 pm
14# lightie
I think part of the problem was the lack of lager for sale at the stadium. A long walk down the water of Leith enjoying a couple of bevies and then nothing for 80 minutes.
The biggest shock to me is still the exclusion of Chris Patterson. Having said that Dan Parks has been in good form for Glasgow. Southwell’s got the experience and he’s been part of Haddens squad for some time.
1 Feb 2008, 16:47 pm
cab,
I’d be interested to see a foot race between Offiah and Habana. I think Habana would have his work cut out against Offiah in his pomp.
One of the greatest league tries i have ever seen was scored by Offiah at Wembley, I think against Leeds or St Helens. He ran from his own try line and outstripped the ccver defence who had the angle all the way.
Habana is a destructive, brilliant finisher. Martin Offiah was just a superlative runner who could finish from anywhere given a yard of space. Have a look on youtube if you want to see what I mean. His running was poetry in motion. He glided. It’s a shame he never played union, he would have been a star. Jason Robinson took over from Offiah in the great Wigan team of the 90s, but he was no Offiah.
As for not putting much store in league, it’s a different game like you say. It is faster, there is less space, but the players are so alike it looks like 26 brutes bashing into each other for 80 mins. Rugby is more of a thinking mans game IMO and more inclusive of different types of player. That’s where it beats it’s league counterpart for me. But league has had some awesome players in it’s time:
Stacey Jones, Andrew Johns, Mal Malinga, Darren Lockyer, Martin Offiah, Ellery Hanley, Alan Langer and that’s just from the last 20 years. I do truly believe that these guys were good enough to have made a huge impact on rugby union. Sadly, we never got to see them try.
1 Feb 2008, 16:50 pm
Clanerk,
Paterson took a chance when he moved to Gloucester. He wasn’t guaranteed a starting spot at Kingsholm, what with Gloucester’s young crop of English born backs and the poached Vainikolo on the wing (just for you Big Hit) on Gloucester’s books.
Paterson has played pretty well for Gloucester when given the chance, and his kicking is still excellent, but he hasn’t been playing enough for Frank Hadden’s liking and others have overtaken him. I will say that Scotland will miss his place kicking, as his success % is currently ridiculously high! At least we have him on the bench if the game is tight to slot a few calming kicks
1 Feb 2008, 18:18 pm
stodders,
lol yeah the english all reckon offiah would win, i dunno. reckon the quickest british player must have been that welsh winger of 10 years back (ex sprinter).
2 Feb 2008, 10:56 am
Shaun Edwards was an outstanding half in rugby league. he would have been outstanding in either code.
Most South africans dont get to see ,the fantastic rugby league players from Australia ,UK and New Zealand do their thing.
To have seen players like Ellery Hanley, Mal Meninga, Wally Lewis, Mark Graham,Andrew Johns etc play is a total bonus.
Union has the players to transcend the codes so does league.
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