Ruddock steps down as Wales coach!

[bowenjones]

Well, this has come completely out of the blue
No idea what the real reasons are but no doubt they will come out in the days to come.
This is a real shame for me as he seemed to have created an excellent team spirit in the camp and was extremely liked by nearly everyone I know.

[squirrely]

This is unbelievable news, he's wales best coach for years. Could it be over Henson?

[bowenjones]

I just hope it's not something like a "moment of madness" on Clapham common

[bcopping]

Big loss, with Scott Johnson going at the end of the six nations and Andrew Hore already gone. it looks like its all change for wales management. Not good news for RWC preperations.

[huwg]

Scott Johnson is the new caretaker coach.
The WRU may be able to tempt him with the full time job.

[cirdan]

bit of a shock is an understatement. i was there on sunday and it seemed to be getting back to something like last year. living in england im a bit out of the loop on the current goings on, except for what i read online. but whatever it is i doubt it is the family reason they are quoting.

if it is similar to say martin o'neill then fair enough but just to spend more time etc well didnt he know this a few years back. and if things have increased over the past few months then he should have stepped down at the end of the autumn internationals, not midway through the six nations, doesnt make sense.

so is it player power, possibly if the rumours are true. the incident at the press conference last week certainly didnt help. either way im sure we will find out a little more in the coming days.

as for scott johnson, in all honesty i didnt know a lot about him, always saw him as a motivator,fringe type character a bit like eric black was it under henry. but it appears that the players may have favoured him over mike ruddock so we will see how they perform in dublin, im certainly looking forward to it. but one more thing wasent mike ruddock a last minute almost suprise appointment? i seem to remember gareth jenkins being a certainty for the job then they announced mike ruddock had it.

needs sorting out quick or else the hard work done in the past few years will go to waste.

[la gran siete]

Scott Johnson was the man mostly responsible for Wales attacking strategy. The players and, in particular, Gareth Thomas , all think highly of him. Whether the WRU will be able to persuade him to stay is another matter because he is known to want to return to OZ and coach the Walabies.
I think Ruddock was pushed myself. Only two weeks ago he was talking about signing a new contract

[pieguts]

Scott Johnson is highley praised by everyone,he is a fantastic statistition and skills coach,Australia have been trying to get him back home for months.
Youre right though,the loss of Hore was bad enough for the first time our fitness is not in question,but Johnson leaving would be a big blow.

[la gran siete]

its a shame because I dont think anyone wants to see Wales go backwards again Even I as an england supporter who witnessed many a hammering at hte hands of the Welsh

[la gran siete]

interesting stuff I read aboput all this stuff.ifd true then the WRU really do look like bunch of chumps.
1998 Ruddock was informed that he was first in line for the job as wales coach This after doing some very good things with Leinster. Right at the last moment the WRTU decide to appoint Henry.
2004 Ruddock decides not to apply for the job but Gareth Jenkins is led to believe he is in line for it.Ruddock gets the job at the very last moment. he is allowed to b ring one coach in Griffiths the defence specialist but is forced to work with Scot Johnson who by all accounts has done hois best tpo undermine both Griffiths and Ruddock whilst at same time gaining the trust of the players who reckon him to be responsible for Wales new open style of rugby. Everything HE has said about having no contracty and a family concerns back home are basically a ruse to keep the players desperate for him to sign.
Jan 2006 Ruddock is told a contract would be served to him on a take it or leave it basis.Ruddock agrees but the contract never arrives which is why he stated he would leave at the end of the season.
Fact- Ruddock has been largely responsible for Wales new approach because he massively improved forward play especially at the set pieces. welsh forwards made more passing movements than both England and Ireland combined. In fact they made moree than anyother team save NZ who used similar tactics against the Lions with its preponderence of English forwards.Stupidly C Woodward ignores such tactics.
Welsh players resent ther fact that Ruddock is receiving most of the plaudits after the Slam success believing Johnson is the main man.It appears the WRU decided to believe the players.

Does the WRU consist of unaccountable buffoons?

[pieguts]

Does the WRU consist of unaccountable buffoons?
Always,but I do have, or used to have a lot of time for Dai Pickering.
Scrum v is on tonight,and they have an interview with Gareth Thomas.
Should be interesting.

[la gran siete]

If thats a Welsh programe unfortunately i wont be able to watch it living in sussex.It just seems to me that these commitees( like the RFU as well) are full of incompetent fools that one cannot remove

[squirrely]

Gareth Thomas didn't come off well at all in the interview, bit like someone who has been caught red handed but self denial and paranoia has kicked in. I thought he acted and sounded a bit of a childish prat really.

[pieguts]

I dont think he acted a childish prat,but I know what you mean.
He didnt come off to good,I think that was down to him not being the most articulate of people.From the off he was looked very nervous and had little composure.
I have always like Alfie for wearing his heart on his sleeve,but I am no clearer on whats going on.
When Eddie Butler said he knew something because"I have sources"
I half expected Alfie to say"so do I,HP and Big Daddies"

[la gran siete]

http://www.tlio.org.uk/campaigns/hol.../holtprof.html

Ruddock goes into this evenings meeting with one Timothy Jones who runs Elitstone ltd a company who has busil;y been trying force several familes out of their homes in Holtsfield, Gower . A thoroughly nasty piece of work by all acounts.
Seems no one comes out of this very well