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Surprise development at Harlequins as Codling exits just two games into new league season
By Online Editors
Harlequins' early-season optimism has suffered a setback with assistant coach Alex Codling parting company with the club just matches into the new Gallagher Premiership campaign.
The Londoners followed up an opening weekend 22-19 defeat at Exeter by beating Bristol 22-17 in their second game last weekend, but they now face into Friday’s trip to Northampton one staff member down following Codling’s strangely timed departure.
In a brief statement that ran to just over 50 words on Wednesday afternoon, Harlequins said: “Harlequins coach Alex Codling has parted company with the club.
“Codling has worked as the club's forwards coach since June 2018 and was a key part of the coaching team last season.
“As Alex leaves to pursue other opportunities, Harlequins thanks him for his hard work and wish him every success in the future.”
(Continue reading below...)
It is a curious development to lose a coach just weeks into the new Premiership season following the lengthy pre-season brought about by the World Cup being on in Japan.
Director of rugby Paul Gustard enjoyed a positive first season in charge at the Stoop, guiding the club from 10th to a fifth-place finish. However, he told RugbyPass before his second season got started that he was aiming way higher second time around.
“I don’t want to be fifth. I don’t want to be sitting mid-table,” he said. “I want to be pushing towards the top and trying to win things. Until we are in that kind of situation, I’ll forever feel disappointed that we didn’t get in the top four and give ourselves a fighting chance.”
WATCH: Paul Gustard sat down with RugbyPass, Johan Ackermann and Declan Kidney ahead of the new Gallagher Premiership season
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i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.
Go to commentsSmith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.
Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?
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