IRANZ founder Murray Mexted, Highlanders' Head Coach Jamie Joseph, and Chiefs' Head Coach Dave Rennie put the clinic attendees through the paces under the relentless heat of the Lone Star State. Reactions from the IRANZ staff, club coaches and player attendees were generally well all around, but the former All Black #8, Mexted, had a few words (well, more than a few, it IS Muzza talking!) of constructive criticism to relate about his view of rugby in America, especially based on what he had seen at these clinics.
Mexted expressed amazement at the "sheer raw talent" in the athletes at the clinics, but softened that praise by emphatically stating what seems to be the overall comment about US rugby this summer: "these players just do not have the skills, nor the technical coaching, to realize the full potential of that talent." Well, Mexted is correct, as displayed by the coaching Jamie Joseph is conducting in the video below:
David Yeoman of BARC, who had a dream of this type of clinic happening a few years ago, said, "I think the level of play in the area will increase directly from the (clinic)." However, a recent re-plant from Boston to The Woodlands, wing Chris Tofte countered, "(It's) amazing how much American coaching tries to coach the concept but has no idea how to technically deliver the skills to gain the outcome. From foot placement in the tackle to hand position in binds, every aspect and motion of rugby is broken down in detail."
To his charges, Dave Rennie would describe rugby as an onion as it is built layer upon layer until the finished product is fluid, creative rugby.
Watson has some grand plans that he'd like to see in play in the coming years - such as, inviting other D1 clubs to play a rep-side on its off week during a series AND culminating the series with a three match weekend pitting each of the three Texas rep-sides against some of the top D1/Elite Cup teams from around the country. One day, three matches marketed properly could be some great rugby and possibly a venue making plenty of money to continue such clinics as experienced here.