Jeremy Guscott: If Todd Blackadder’s ruthless he can transform Bath

Todd BlackadderTodd Blackadder arrives at with a great playing pedigree and a good coaching CV, although he has not won much silverware as a coach. During his time with the Crusaders they got to a number of finals without ever getting the T-shirt.
By contrast Blackadder won three Super titles captaining the Crusaders, and although he won just 12 All Black caps, ten of them as captain, he was in the elite tier of New Zealand rugby long enough that he will expect very high standards at Bath. That is important because, while Bath showed in the 2014-15 season that they have ability, they have also proved since then that they do not have consistency.
Blackadder's challenge will be to ensure that a Bath squad with plenty of talent delivers all the time, rather than occasionally. However, he will also have to realise that New Zealand's rugby culture is worlds apart from 's, and while the skill standards are not as high the competitiveness of the is greater than in the Super 18.
Bath will be in a close battle almost every weekend and the season is longer. Life in the Super 18 is relatively comfortable with a lot of wins by big margins.
Blackadder should get an early look at his Bath squad following the Crusaders failure to make the Super 18 semi-finals, and he will have to work out quickly how he wants to play. One key position yet to be filled following Kyle Eastmond's departure to is inside-centre, and the type of player the new coach picks at 12 will be significant in telling the Bath squad and supporters how they will play.
A big, powerful 12 says Bath will be no-frills, while a second play-maker usually brings more attacking options. If you look at the Crusaders in Blackadder's time, then you are talking about inside-centres with good feet, movement and hands – and also very direct – with Aaron Mauger, Casey Laulala, Dan Carter and now Ryan Crotty all wearing the 12 shirt.
The biggest shock for Blackadder will be that the skill level in the Premiership is nowhere near what it is in Super Rugby. He will be surprised by the low-level execution, with a lot of English backs struggling to pass quickly and accurately, and with forwards even more deficient. However, in good weather we see an appetite for running rugby in the Premiership, and have shown that the more dimensions you have to your game the better your chances of winning the big prizes.
It will be a big adjustment for Blackadder, but there is no reason why he cannot have the same impact at club level that Eddie Jones has had with England. He showed at the Crusaders that he is a durable character, weathering criticism for being too conservative, and a earning a reputation for determination and staying power.
Blackadder's head coach at the Crusaders, Tabai Matson, left, is joining him at Bath and will come in above existing coaches Toby Booth and Darren Edwards, as well as the recently appointed Stuart Hooper.
Matson will have a job on his hands, because sometimes the passing I see in the Premiership is woefully short of what I would expect – but it can be rectified with good coaching.
Matson is seen by many as a coach with the kind of pedigree that could one day see him become the ' successor to the genius brain that is Wayne Smith. To have those kind of plaudits in the hierarchy of New Zealand rugby is no mean feat and suggests Matson is a real coaching talent.
He is leaving New Zealand to experience rugby overseas, something that is seen as a real positive by NZRFU; not only does it give him an understanding of another rugby culture but an invaluable insight into Northern Hemisphere players he could be against in the future.
Both recent head coaches of New Zealand, Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, plus Smith, have had deep Northern Hemisphere coaching experience.
I would say if Matson is half as good as  Smith, Bath players will increase their skill sets and start to enjoy their rugby more by being challenged every time they train and play. Much of the playing philosophy will come via Matson with his more day to day contact with the players. It will be interesting to see how quickly he can effect positive change with an inherited squad, that will show how good he is.
Like all transitions it will be made much easier if Bath start winning, and show that they have developed the nous to start beating sides like Saracens. In the 2015 Premiership final the difference between Bath and Saracens was small, but it looked huge because they were not able to execute as well under pressure as their opponents. However, if Bath can raise their skill levels as well as their fitness levels under Blackadder, they could be transformed quickly.
As a New Zealander, rugby is in Blackadder's DNA, and the Bath players have to get that commitment running through their blood every time they pull on the shirt. The most obvious sign of it is in fitness, and in my book if leading players are not fit enough when they arrive for training then he should do what Pep Guardiola has done at Manchester City, by telling them to join the reserves and juniors rather than the senior squad.
Bath have had a blip over the last year, but there is no question that this Bath squad has the playing ability to be built on. They have a strong, aggressive pack, and he will be helped by the arrival of Taulupe Faletau – the Welsh No.8 who is one of the best players in the world – as well as another quality Welsh signing in lock Luke Charteris.
Add that to a squad which already includes England backs , Jonathan Joseph, Anthony Watson and flanker François Louw and there are no excuses.
Another important signing is scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i from .He has one of the quickest passes from the breakdown in the Premiership and might bring the best out of Chris Cook, who has been inconsistent.
The club has been an unsettled environment with coaches of the calibre of Ian McGeechan, Gary Gold and Mike Ford coming and going, and many fans probably do not have great expectations. Three seasons ago the side was run-of-the-mill; after reaching the Premiership final hopes last season were huge…and the squad didn't perform.
This move gives Blackadder a great opportunity to enhance his coaching credentials. If he weeds out the weak and brings the best out of the strong, that becomes infectious – and should Blackadder, who is still only 44, win the Premiership or European Cup titles, then the sky's the limit for the New Zealander.

Leave a Comment