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'The most excited I have been for any job' - Rowntree explains why he's chosen Georgia
By Chris Jones
Graham Rowntree, the former British and Irish Lions coach who quit Harlequins in the summer, has revealed that becoming Georgia’s forwards coach for their World Cup campaign was an “opportunity I just couldn’t miss.”
Rowntree will reprise the role he held with both the Lions and England and has joined a coaching team headed by New Zealand’s Milton Haig after staying below the rugby radar since his exit from Harlequins following last season’s disappointing campaign that also led to the departures of John Kingston and Nick Easter, who is working with the Sharks in Durban.
Rowntree played loosehead prop for the British & Irish Lions, Leicester and England, earning 54 international caps and played in two World Cups. He was part of the England coaching set-up under Stuart Lancaster at the 2015 World Cup when the host country failed to get out of their Pool.
Georgia are in Pool D at next year’s World Cup in Japan alongside Australia, Wales, Fiji and Uruguay and Rowntree’s background knowledge of those opponents and his love of forward play will be a major asset to Georgia.
"I have not felt like this before about a role. Probably the most excited I have been for any job", Rowntree said after being presented to the media.
"For an Englishman to be coaching the Georgian forward pack it's... but I have been a big fan of Georgian forward play for a long time and to have the opportunity to be associated with such a forward pack and help to get the best out of that forward pack. It is such a big year coming up - it is an opportunity I just couldn’t miss."
"The warmth that has been shown by Milton (Haig) and everyone else in the organisation has furthermore increased my excitement. I cannot wait to get stuck into the games in the Autumn."
Head coach Haig added “The most impressive thing, certainly from my point of view, when I first met Graham was his enthusiasm to be able to be involved in the Georgian team. Right from the start and his very first words when I met him four weeks ago was his excitement and his enthusiasm to be involved with this Georgian team and that for me said everything about the guy, as a person first and obviously as a coach.”
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Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
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