ANDY FRIEND SAYS Connacht’s recent recruitment process shows the value the province place on promoting from within.
Connacht are set to lose two long-serving ‘homegrown’ coaches this summer, with backs coach Nigel Carolan and forwards coach Jimmy Duffy both moving on in search of fresh challenges.
A major coaching reshuffle then saw Peter Wilkins move to the role of senior coach, with primary responsibility for attack, while Mossy Lawler was appointed assistant and skills coach with Colm Tucker becoming defence and forwards technical skills coach.
However the most high-profile new appointment came with last week’s announcement that Duffy would be replaced by South African Dewald Senekal.
“He interviewed very well,” Friend said of Senekal.
“His whole demeanour around who he was as a person seemed to be a really good fit for us. We’re really excited about his appointment. We can’t wait to get him here.”
While Connacht place an emphasis on providing a pathway for their own young coaches, Friend said he was conscious of the benefits that can come with bringing in a new face with no previous experience of coaching in Ireland.
“He is a South African who has lived and played in France for over a decade so he has different experiences. He has coached there as well so he comes here with a totally different skill-set.
Friend was asked for his thoughts for on the current pathway provided for Irish coaches across the provinces.
“I’ll start by saying we’ve promoted both Mossie Lawler and Collie Tucker up from the Academy structure. So they are two really promising young Irish coaches and they were the first two appointments we made for next year.
“I think the Irish system with the players that are here and the coaching structures that are here is really healthy, and I want to make sure we support that.
“What we’ve done though, we’ve added another position in our coaching ranks and that happens now to have gone to a South African. And again, with Dewald coming in, he will add a wealth of knowledge and experience that will only assist both Collie Tucker, Mossie Lawler, Pete Wilkins and myself and all the players, because through that diversity in our upbringings and where we’ve coached and where we’ve played, we’ll get a better product out of it.
Connacht train yesterday ahead of Saturday’s game with Leinster. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
“So I’m actually really excited. I do believe we are supporting Irish coaches, I think it’s really important to do that, as it is with Irish players, but I think we’ve got the right balance here.”
Connacht – who yesterday announced a new contract for Abraham Papali’i – are back in Rainbow Cup action this weekend, having made a positive start to the new competition with a dramatic opening round win in Ulster.
And Friend is confident his squad can build on that momentum when they welcome a wounded Leinster to the Sportsground on Saturday, having recorded an impressive 35-24 win when the teams last met in January.