Mauger GORNEEEEEEEEEE

[stemoc]

Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger was effectively sacked Thursday when the Dunedin-based Super Rugby franchise decided not to renew the former All Black back’s contract after three years.

Mauger, 39, admitted the team had not performed well enough during his time in charge.

“As our on-field results during my tenure haven’t been at the level we’ve all aspired to, it’s the head coach who must take responsibility for that,” he said in a statement.

The Highlanders’ results under Mauger were not disastrous, but they failed to build on a maiden Super Rugby title in 2015 that raised fans’ expectations.

He guided the team to quarterfinals in 2017, 2018 and 2019 but managed only three wins in the recently completed Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.

They also lost four of their five regular-season matches before a pandemic-enforced shutdown.

tony brown to replace him surely?

[Jerome_Kaino]

What is Joe Schmidt up to these days?

[booji boy]

What is Joe Schmidt up to these days?

We already have one successful NH coach who's dour, negative, one dimensional coaching methods have been mercilessly exposed as completely ineffective in the white hot intensity of Super Rugby Aotearoa. We don't need another one.

[Carter's Choice]

Surely if Tony Brown is half as good as his fluffers claim he is, then he'll take over from Mauger and lead the Highlanders to a couple of titles?

[Un Pilier]

As a coach, Mauger didn’t impress me at Leicester and was part of the decline that led Tigers to their current sorry state.

[FujiKiwi]

Surely if Tony Brown is half as good as his fluffers claim he is, then he'll take over from Mauger and lead the Highlanders to a couple of titles?

How good do you think Tony Brown is?

[Enzedder]

Gatland OUT!!!

[Jb1981]

Surely if Tony Brown is half as good as his fluffers claim he is, then he'll take over from Mauger and lead the Highlanders to a couple of titles?

How good do you think Tony Brown is?

There’s not a lot on his head coaching resume. Excluding his time with the Sunwolves, he coached the Highlanders to fourth in the NZ conference (the same as Mauger just achieved) and failed to bring Otago out of the Championship in the Mitre 10 Cup in three seasons, including a second to last finish in his final year.

[FujiKiwi]

There was a poster on here a month or so back claiming all the success of Japan was due to Tony Brown’s work, and that Jamie Joseph was an empty figure head.

[Carter's Choice]

Surely if Tony Brown is half as good as his fluffers claim he is, then he'll take over from Mauger and lead the Highlanders to a couple of titles?

How good do you think Tony Brown is?

I think the jury is still out on his ability as a head coach.

[FujiKiwi]

That’s fair enough from JB and AC.

I’d genuinely like to know who gets the credit for what the Japan team achieved last year, though. It was a team that amounted to much more than the sum of its parts.

[stemoc]

That’s fair enough from JB and AC.

I’d genuinely like to know who gets the credit for what the Japan team achieved last year, though. It was a team that amounted to much more than the sum of its parts.

Fiji's success at the 2015RWC was attributed to the wrong coach which led to our poor showing at the 2019RWC, lets hope japan haven't made the same mistake.

[booji boy]

That’s fair enough from JB and AC.

I’d genuinely like to know who gets the credit for what the Japan team achieved last year, though. It was a team that amounted to much more than the sum of its parts.

Maybe he is a bit like Wayne Smith. Brilliant technical coach but prefers the assistant role where he can focus on his job and leave the other pressures of being the overall boss to the head coach.

[FujiKiwi]

That’s fair enough from JB and AC.

I’d genuinely like to know who gets the credit for what the Japan team achieved last year, though. It was a team that amounted to much more than the sum of its parts.

Maybe he is a bit like Wayne Smith. Brilliant technical coach but prefers the assistant role where he can focus on his job and leave the other pressures of being the overall boss to the head coach.

Yes. I was wondering if that might it, too.

[Jb1981]

That’s fair enough from JB and AC.

I’d genuinely like to know who gets the credit for what the Japan team achieved last year, though. It was a team that amounted to much more than the sum of its parts.

Perhaps as a coaching team Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown are also greater than the sum of their parts. Add that to Japan rising to the occasion at home and you have a good result.

Who do you think is owed the credit? Does it need to be with an individual?

[Jb1981]

That’s fair enough from JB and AC.

I’d genuinely like to know who gets the credit for what the Japan team achieved last year, though. It was a team that amounted to much more than the sum of its parts.

Fiji's success at the 2015RWC was attributed to the wrong coach which led to our poor showing at the 2019RWC, lets hope japan haven't made the same mistake.

Comets, while you are here can you help me understand this graphic? No Sevu Reece has left me with some real questions.

[FujiKiwi]

That’s fair enough from JB and AC.

I’d genuinely like to know who gets the credit for what the Japan team achieved last year, though. It was a team that amounted to much more than the sum of its parts.

Perhaps as a coaching team Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown are also greater than the sum of their parts. Add that to Japan rising to the occasion at home and you have a good result.

Who do you think is owed the credit? Does it need to be with an individual?

I genuinely don’t know. I live in Japan and wish the team well, but in 2019 my focus was all on the ABs. I wasn’t following the Japan set up as closely as I should have. I honestly thought Joseph was a journeyman coach and that the Japanese team would underperform. In retrospect, I think by default you’d expect to give credit to the coaches, although there were doubtless other factors contributing to the success.

[stemoc]

That’s fair enough from JB and AC.

I’d genuinely like to know who gets the credit for what the Japan team achieved last year, though. It was a team that amounted to much more than the sum of its parts.

Fiji's success at the 2015RWC was attributed to the wrong coach which led to our poor showing at the 2019RWC, lets hope japan haven't made the same mistake.

Comets, while you are here can you help me understand this graphic? No Sevu Reece has left me with some real questions.

Reece is a power winger, not a speedy one.. think tamanivalu, macilai, mataele and Nadolo..they run thru people, not around them, bar delasau and vunibaka, every fijian winger crusaders ever had were all power wingers..tbf, Fiji stopped producing speedy wingers a while back..even our recent wingers that moved to UK (Eroni Sau, Radradra, Nadolo) are power wingers, only one that isn't is Ratu Naulago to Bristol..speed is useless nowadays that is why other teams are doing the same with cokanasiga for england, koroibete/hodge for australia, vakatawa for france, heck even nz is going to pick caleb clarke come sunday.. the last remaining tier 1 speedy winger is who? colby? their days are limited.

[Carter's Choice]

Reece is a power winger, not a speedy one.. think tamanivalu, macilai, mataele and Nadolo..they run thru people, not around them, bar delasau and vunibaka, every fijian winger crusaders ever had were all power wingers..tbf, Fiji stopped producing speedy wingers a while back..even our recent wingers that moved to UK (Eroni Sau, Radradra, Nadolo) are power wingers, only one that isn't is Ratu Naulago to Bristol..speed is useless nowadays that is why other teams are doing the same with cokanasiga for england, koroibete/hodge for australia, vakatawa for france, heck even nz is going to pick caleb clarke come sunday.. the last remaining tier 1 speedy winger is who? colby? their days are limited.

I disagree with just about every word in this post. Are you on the Kava?

[JM2K6]

Sevu Reece is very small as wingers go and has ridiculous stepping ability and acceleration. Calling him a power winger is very strange.

If internet stats are to be believed, he's <5'9" and <90kg. Compared with Nadolo, who's 6'4" and 130kg, um...

[ASMO]

Never got this obsession with wingers the size of second rows, give me a good small one over a good big one any day.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Mauger had a couple of highlights in Super Rugby Aotearoa but overall it was too little, too late.

20 wins, 4 draws and 24 losses just isn't quite good enough for the Landers, a fact Mauger himself admitted in the statement.

[stemoc]

power wingers do not need to be tall, reece is the same height as eroni sau and just 2cm shorter than Josua Tuisova, neither known for their express speed.....NZ got lucky with Naholo, a rare power and speed combo winger..Australia too with koroibete..julian savea in his prime..just cause NZ hasn't had a white 'power winger' doesn't mean there aren't any..well now that i think about it, there aren't any :P, nearly all are nesians (mela and poly)..who was the last one, Goldie?

small wingers get bullied in the air, they get pushed (heck thrown) out on their way to the tryline but ifa big winger comes running towards a tiny fullback ( think naqelevuki on cory jane a decade back[ big wingers have a chance..soirry but i realyl odn't see how we will have anymore 'colby' type wingers come 2021, the era of JRob, shane williams, dominichi is well and truly over..

[sockwithaticket]

Reece is a power winger, not a speedy one.. think tamanivalu, macilai, mataele and Nadolo..they run thru people, not around them, bar delasau and vunibaka, every fijian winger crusaders ever had were all power wingers..tbf, Fiji stopped producing speedy wingers a while back..even our recent wingers that moved to UK (Eroni Sau, Radradra, Nadolo) are power wingers, only one that isn't is Ratu Naulago to Bristol..speed is useless nowadays that is why other teams are doing the same with cokanasiga for england, koroibete/hodge for australia, vakatawa for france, heck even nz is going to pick caleb clarke come sunday.. the last remaining tier 1 speedy winger is who? colby? their days are limited.

While injuries have played their part, Cokanasiga is hardly an estabished part of England's plan. Our most frequently played wingers are May, Watson, Daly, Nowell. Not exactly a power bunch and plenty of pace (maybe not Nowell...). The guys Eddie's been having a look at (McConnochie, Thorley) are more winnowy speedsters than Savea or Nadolo style bumpers.

If you look at Wales, Adams and Liam Williams have been far more effective than North in the last 4 or 5 years. They're probably the quickest of the options Walse have available.

While France have use Vakatawa, he's been playing in the centre for them more recently and they've played the likes of Huget, Thomas, Rattez and Fickou on the wing. Pacy, elusive runners.

Stockdale and Larmour for Ireland are tall blokes, but they're not particularly big or powerful. I'd certainly put them down more as runners and steppers, but they're also quick.

Scotland have Kinghorn, Graham, McGuigan and Maitland. The latter may have slowed down, but he was pacy.

As you mentioned Kolbe, he's not alone in his side as being pacy. Nkosi and Mapimpi are also really quick from what I recall. Kolbe stands out because he combines his pace with incredible footwork, balance and elusiveness.

Power wingers or wingers with a lack of pace. are not becoming the norm for tier 1 nations.

[JM2K6]

Tuisova is 1cm taller and 25kg(!) heavier. Eroni Sau is 5cm taller and a good 6kg heavier.

If you want an example of a "power winger" the same size as Sevu Reece, the only one I can think of is Jack Nowell. And if you've ever seen both players play, it would be insane to call them the same style of player.

edit: Thorley's a fairly powerful runner, I'd say. 100kg too. I'd say Josh Adams is a power winger.

[Niegs]

As a coach, Mauger didn’t impress me at Leicester and was part of the decline that led Tigers to their current sorry state.

So UK / Ire / French clubs will be clambering over each other for his services then, because Kiwi and former All Black?

[sockwithaticket]

Tuisova is 1cm taller and 25kg(!) heavier. Eroni Sau is 5cm taller and a good 6kg heavier.

If you want an example of a "power winger" the same size as Sevu Reece, the only one I can think of is Jack Nowell. And if you've ever seen both players play, it would be insane to call them the same style of player.

edit: Thorley's a fairly powerful runner, I'd say. 100kg too. I'd say Josh Adams is a power winger.

Yeah I was stretching with Thorley a bit, but he does have real pace and I've seen that used to more consistent effect than his power.

Try as I might I can't recall much about Josh Adams other than some of his try scoring moments and solidity under the high ball, so perhaps. From what little I can remember he strikes me as being very different to North or Cuthbert, big blokes asked to run into people as much as run around them.

[JM2K6]

Tuisova is 1cm taller and 25kg(!) heavier. Eroni Sau is 5cm taller and a good 6kg heavier.

If you want an example of a "power winger" the same size as Sevu Reece, the only one I can think of is Jack Nowell. And if you've ever seen both players play, it would be insane to call them the same style of player.

edit: Thorley's a fairly powerful runner, I'd say. 100kg too. I'd say Josh Adams is a power winger.

Yeah I was stretching with Thorley a bit, but he does have real pace and I've seen that used to more consistent effect than his power.

Try as I might I can't recall much about Josh Adams other than some of his try scoring moments and solidity under the high ball, so perhaps. From what little I can remember he strikes me as being very different to North or Cuthbert, big blokes asked to run into people as much as run around them.

Adams is a 100% commitment kind of guy, tends to score a lot of tries by getting through/past people. He's well 'ard, basically. Quick though, and a good player.

[Un Pilier]

As a coach, Mauger didn’t impress me at Leicester and was part of the decline that led Tigers to their current sorry state.

So UK / Ire / French clubs will be clambering over each other for his services then, because Kiwi and former All Black?

I doubt it though it’s always a possibility. I quite liked him as a player. Head coach, not so much.

[Ymx]

Give me a good small one over a good big one any day.

Your wife is lying to you

[Certain Navigator]

That’s fair enough from JB and AC.

I’d genuinely like to know who gets the credit for what the Japan team achieved last year, though. It was a team that amounted to much more than the sum of its parts.

Maybe he is a bit like Wayne Smith. Brilliant technical coach but prefers the assistant role where he can focus on his job and leave the other pressures of being the overall boss to the head coach.

Yes. I was wondering if that might it, too.

The ODT concurs:
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/highl ... ighlanders

[coldtowel3478]

Surely if Tony Brown is half as good as his fluffers claim he is, then he'll take over from Mauger and lead the Highlanders to a couple of titles?

How good do you think Tony Brown is?

Brah, the Highlanders literally went from second-last in 2013 (14th/15) to the playoffs in 2014 (the 1st year Brown arrived) and then won the whole thing in 2015.

Brown was also in charge of the strategy & game-planning for Japan in the last world cup and it was their innovative game-plan and extremely efficient attack got them through to the RWC playoffs for the first time ever.

Brown also coached the Highlanders (as head coach) in 2017 to 11/15 games, the best win % of any Highlanders coach in any Super Rugby season, tied with 2015, 2016 - both campaigns of which he was also in charge of the attack & strategy/game-planning.

I would say that besides Robertson, Tony Brown is the best active NZ rugby coach in the business.

[mrbrownstone]

Surely if Tony Brown is half as good as his fluffers claim he is, then he'll take over from Mauger and lead the Highlanders to a couple of titles?

How good do you think Tony Brown is?

Brah, the Highlanders literally went from second-last in 2013 (14th/15) to the playoffs in 2014 (the 1st year Brown arrived) and then won the whole thing in 2015.

Brown was also in charge of the strategy & game-planning for Japan in the last world cup and it was their innovative game-plan and extremely efficient attack got them through to the RWC playoffs for the first time ever.

Brown also coached the Highlanders (as head coach) in 2017 to 11/15 games, the best win % of any Highlanders coach in any Super Rugby season, tied with 2015, 2016 - both campaigns of which he was also in charge of the attack & strategy/game-planning.

I would say that besides Robertson, Tony Brown is the best active NZ rugby coach in the business.

I think the deification of Tony Brown as a coach is getting to be a bit much.

So far, his record as a head coach is average at best.

Otago

2012: 5-5 (2nd in Championship, smashed 41-16 in the Final)
2013: 6-4 (2nd in Championship, beaten 29-24 in Semi Final)
2014: 3-7 (6th in Championship)

Highlanders
2017: 11-4 (4th in NZ Conference, 7th overall, lost 17-0 in QF)

Sunwolves
2019: 2-14 (5th in Aus conference, last overall)

He may develop into a very good head coach, but so far a so-so record with Otago, one decent decent season with the Clan, and a season with the Sunwolves where they clearly had bigger fish to fry elsewhere isn't a lot to go on.

Obviously, his record as an assistant is far superior - although didn't exactly excel this year in his first assistant gig without Jamie Joseph.

To be clear, I think Brown is a very, very good assistant coach. But to call him the second best active NZ coach behind Robertson is laughable - Rennie, Schmidt, Gatland, Joseph are all well ahead in my books.

[coldtowel3478]

didn't exactly excel this year in his first assistant gig without Jamie Joseph

That's laughable. The Highlander's record with Brown in charge of the game-planning is:

2014: Quarter-Finalists (1st play-off berth since 2002), 2015: Champions (11/15) wins, 2016: (11/15) wins, 2017: (11/15) wins.

That's absolute consistency.

Compared to Jamie Joseph prior to Brown:

2010: 10th, 2011: 11th, 2012: 9th, 2013: 14th.

[coldtowel3478]

To be clear, I think Brown is a very, very good assistant coach. But to call him the second best active NZ coach behind Robertson is laughable - Rennie, Schmidt, Gatland, Joseph are all well ahead in my books.

Tony Brown has the most intelligent rugby mind of any active NZ coach, that is clear. As fine managers they are, Gatland and Joseph aren't innovators or creative thinkers comparable to coaches in the vein of (Wayne Smith, Tony Brown, Joe Schmidt). Rennie is a bit of a creative thinker also, but less so independently as Brown. Wayne Smith + Dave Rennie was a fearsome combo of rugby IQ at the Chiefs.

Scott Robertson is clearly NZ's best head coach. Tony Brown is clearly NZ's most valuable coaching asset (for any coaching group).

[Jb1981]

didn't exactly excel this year in his first assistant gig without Jamie Joseph

That's laughable. The Highlander's record with Brown in charge of the game-planning is:

2014: Quarter-Finalists (1st play-off berth since 2002), 2015: Champions (11/15) wins, 2016: (11/15) wins, 2017: (11/15) wins.

That's absolute consistency.

Compared to Jamie Joseph prior to Brown:

2010: 10th, 2011: 11th, 2012: 9th, 2013: 14th.

I don’t think it’s laughable. Tony Brown was in charge of game-planning this year and they came away with three wins. I think he and Jamie Joseph make a good team and Brown is a strong Assistant coach but the jury is still out for me on him being the most valuable resource for any coaching team.

[coldtowel3478]

didn't exactly excel this year in his first assistant gig without Jamie Joseph

That's laughable. The Highlander's record with Brown in charge of the game-planning is:

2014: Quarter-Finalists (1st play-off berth since 2002), 2015: Champions (11/15) wins, 2016: (11/15) wins, 2017: (11/15) wins.

That's absolute consistency.

Compared to Jamie Joseph prior to Brown:

2010: 10th, 2011: 11th, 2012: 9th, 2013: 14th.

I don’t think it’s laughable. Tony Brown was in charge of game-planning this year and they came away with three wins. I think he and Jamie Joseph make a good team and Brown is a strong Assistant coach but the jury is still out for me on him being the most valuable resource for any coaching team.

They won 3 games in SRA, when realistically they should have gone 0-8 with the squad they had, and the loss of experience from 2019.

Ironically the Chiefs previously heralded as having the (or close to) best squad for SRA ended with that 0-8 record.

Add to that the fact the 4 other NZ teams had significantly stronger rosters than the Clan.

The games the Highlanders did loss were mainly by less than 7 points and they were usually competitive until the very last minute.

We witnessed the added structures in their game from Brown's return that were hugely positive. They were playing much more intelligent rugby tactically and implemented a completely new strategy that was purposed for taking full advantage of their strengths, whilst alleviating the weak areas in their game. That being said, Mauger's abysmal Man-management skills and inconsistent selection tendencies constantly hung over his shoulder like a toxic gas cloud - threatening to derail any meaningful progress Brown attempted to make with the team.

In the end, all of the Highlanders indicators of progress and improvement in performance came from Brown's own structures.

All their failings can be attributed solely to Mauger.

[stemoc]

Give me a good small one over a good big one any day.

Your wife is lying to you

yes even ur wife prefers a Julian savea over a shane williams :P

[Ymx]

That's laughable. The Highlander's record with Brown in charge of the game-planning is:

2014: Quarter-Finalists (1st play-off berth since 2002), 2015: Champions (11/15) wins, 2016: (11/15) wins, 2017: (11/15) wins.

That's absolute consistency.

Compared to Jamie Joseph prior to Brown:

2010: 10th, 2011: 11th, 2012: 9th, 2013: 14th.

I don’t think it’s laughable. Tony Brown was in charge of game-planning this year and they came away with three wins. I think he and Jamie Joseph make a good team and Brown is a strong Assistant coach but the jury is still out for me on him being the most valuable resource for any coaching team.

They won 3 games in SRA, when realistically they should have gone 0-8 with the squad they had, and the loss of experience from 2019.

Ironically the Chiefs previously heralded as having the (or close to) best squad for SRA ended with that 0-8 record.

Add to that the fact the 4 other NZ teams had significantly stronger rosters than the Clan.

The games the Highlanders did loss were mainly by less than 7 points and they were usually competitive until the very last minute.

We witnessed the added structures in their game from Brown's return that were hugely positive. They were playing much more intelligent rugby tactically and implemented a completely new strategy that was purposed for taking full advantage of their strengths, whilst alleviating the weak areas in their game. That being said, Mauger's abysmal Man-management skills and inconsistent selection tendencies constantly hung over his shoulder like a toxic gas cloud - threatening to derail any meaningful progress Brown attempted to make with the team.

In the end, all of the Highlanders indicators of progress and improvement in performance came from Brown's own structures.

All their failings can be attributed solely to Mauger.

You forgot to add FACT at the end.

[Jb1981]

They won 3 games in SRA, when realistically they should have gone 0-8 with the squad they had, and the loss of experience from 2019.

Ironically the Chiefs previously heralded as having the (or close to) best squad for SRA ended with that 0-8 record.

Add to that the fact the 4 other NZ teams had significantly stronger rosters than the Clan.

The games the Highlanders did loss were mainly by less than 7 points and they were usually competitive until the very last minute.

We witnessed the added structures in their game from Brown's return that were hugely positive. They were playing much more intelligent rugby tactically and implemented a completely new strategy that was purposed for taking full advantage of their strengths, whilst alleviating the weak areas in their game. That being said, Mauger's abysmal Man-management skills and inconsistent selection tendencies constantly hung over his shoulder like a toxic gas cloud - threatening to derail any meaningful progress Brown attempted to make with the team.

In the end, all of the Highlanders indicators of progress and improvement in performance came from Brown's own structures.

All their failings can be attributed solely to Mauger.

Do you really think Tony Brown had no say in selection? In Aaron Mauger’s own words heading into the season Brown was going to be setting strategy and essentially running their game.

I think Tony Brown is a good assistant coach who is still pretty early in his career. The jury is still out for me on how good he is but I’m yet be convinced he is the coaching Messiah you see. I see the ODT today was calling for the Highlanders to go after a heavyweight head coach rather than someone who simply wouldn’t get in the way of Brown’s magic.