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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
What exactly makes Cian O'Neill such a good coach?
In early 2006, South Africa lit the Kerry bat signal. They were looking for a Gaelic football specialist to tour their Super 14 rugby clubs and teach the fundamentals of fielding. Mickey Ned O'Sullivan, a coaching enthusiast to his bones, answered the call. The invitation came through former Irish rugby international Conor O'Shea, whose father, Jerome, was a Kerry legend. O'Sullivan, a 1975 All-Ireland winner, was managing the Limerick footballers but made room in his schedule for a whirlwind, eight-day odyssey. Also on the trip was former England full-back Jonathan Callard and the two struck up a friendship. A year later, Callard got in touch. He was helping England prepare for the Rugby World Cup and wondered if O'Sullivan would come over to assist. O'Sullivan declined but suggested a meeting instead. Cian O'Neill was over Limerick's strength and conditioning then with Donie Buckley as their coach. 'I was telling Cian about this call,' says O'Sullivan. 'He said he'd love to meet him as well. He was mad to engage in those sorts of conversations. 'Jonathan flew to Cork airport for a meeting. We talked about his coaching and ideas that were prominent in Gaelic football at the time. He wanted to apply some of these principles to rugby. We had a good long chat and he flew back that night.' For over two decades, O'Neill has left fingerprints everywhere he's gone: Limerick, Tipperary, Mayo, Kerry, Kildare, Cork, Galway and now, back to the Kingdom. This is his ninth All-Ireland final. His tally includes 11 provincial titles and two All-Irelands. He has been involved in county titles across Kildare, Limerick and Cork. 'He is interested in connecting with people,' says Ed Coughlan, a lecturer at Munster Technological University where O'Neill works as head of the sports and leisure department. 'The first time I met him was when he came into Mayo. It didn't take long to realise he wasn't another cog in the wheel, he engaged deeply with everything that goes on.' Players crave structure and preparation. O'Neill coached against Kerry in 2020 and 2021, one a victory for the ages and the other a drubbing. His initial impact on that Cork team was visceral. Seán Powter still remembers that covid contest, standing on a rain-soaked pitch, with O'Neill's voice echoing in his mind. 'The first year or so we got real benefits from him. He was the first coach to go properly into video analysis with us. We did 40, 50 minutes of it. 'Cian was the main fella running them. He'd go after patterns that other teams play. We did basic kickouts and stuff before but he would go after the opposition big time. I'll never forget when we beat Kerry in the Páirc in 2020, the stuff he did before that. Clifford will do this three out of four times, so you knew what he was going to try to do. 'Every time Stephen O'Brien or Gavin White got the ball, he said standoff them. They will run down the line themselves. It worked a treat. I remember thinking during the game, this coach really knows his stuff.' Before every gym session, players did 20–30 minutes of ball work beside the bus lane at the back of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Hundreds of touches, nothing wasted. Powter relished all of the detail. Text a question and you'd get an essay back within minutes. Earlier this championship after Cork's win over Roscommon, a message arrived, O'Neill offering heartfelt congratulations. He brought occlusion goggles to Kildare, an innovation met with national scepticism, as if he'd turned up with magic beans. None of that lessened their value. He kept them in his kit and brought it to Cork too. 'We used to call it drunk glasses,' says Powter. 'I remember thinking my ball skills were crap with them. My skills definitely improved under Cian. Every group is going to have cynics but he was big on one percenters. If it benefits someone one percent, why not go for it.' Coaching is a brittle science. The learning curve is relentless. Part of O'Neill's draw is his willingness to ride that curve. In an online coaching and games webinar for Louth GAA a few years ago, he detailed what went right for that 2020 Munster semi-final victory and what went wrong for the final against Tipperary. The two pillars of his philosophy were role clarity and role execution. Against Kerry, they had a long prep window and a clean bill of health. But key players were unavailable for the final, including Powter. Did the replacements fully understand their roles? Did they execute? Was that O'Neill's failing? He admitted he had to learn from it all. The self-critique was candid. 'I think the coaching modules and the coaching systems in the last couple of decades are very much prescriptive,' he said in criticism during the discussion. 'Very much focused on how to perform a skill, how to kick a ball over the bar, how to pick the ball with your dominant foot or non-dominant foot, but very rarely in a coaching course I have been at has there been a real focus on the why. Why did you execute a certain skill at a certain time in a certain context? What was the reason behind that.' In Galway, O'Neill ran video sessions like open forums. The management team would stand together at the top of the room and declare that they were four heads, facing them were 40. Each player had on-field experience of their principles or plays, the coaches did not. He craved input. But that didn't mean he was easily swayed. Rigor in prep demanded rigor in response. 'Every block in training had a learning outcome from it,' recalls Niall Daly, who joined the panel in 2022, the same year O'Neill arrived. 'You could see the planning that went into each drill. It was clear to see what we were aiming to achieve with each session. He was really systems focused. In 2022, the system to beat Mayo with the two wing backs tucking in and our two wing forwards getting back, a lot of time and effort went into that to counter their running game. 'That was my only championship start. The repetition of that system, every single person knew exactly what we were doing. It felt like pieces on a chess board.' The Kildare native has been admirably frank about the entire ride. A car crash in 2002 left him with chronic back issues. Coaching become a kind refuge. As the road miles piled up, so did the pain. He spoke openly about how he tried to make his car an office, scheduling calls and utilising a Dictaphone to record his own journalling. Last year, he let Denis Walsh sit in on a commute from Cork to Galway for training. Nothing was off the table. They explored everything from his tactical systems to his relationship and starting a family. 'I often marvelled at how he did it,' says Daly. 'How can a man maintain a really good job, his wife and a kid with all the travel? We could finish training in Lough George on some miserable evening, and I'm hoping into the car at 10pm. I'm only 15 minutes from training, but you had Cian going back to Cork and PJ going back to Kildare. The commitment players give is often mentioned. You see them give even more.' Cian O'Neill holds a degree in Physical Education and a PhD in Sport and Exercise Science. For Powter, academic credentials were never the clincher. What mattered was the connection. 'I've had many coaches who have Masters and everything but I didn't find them too good. Their personal skills and man-management wouldn't have been hectic. Cian was great at that. Don't get me wrong, if you cross him, he'd let you know how felt as well. 'The main determining factor for me with a coach is the people skills. Can you get along?'
RNZ News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Former Chiefs hardman Jono Gibbes named head coach
Chiefs captain Jonno Gibbes during the Super 14 round 9 rugby union match between the Chiefs and the Bulls at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton on Saturday 8 April 2006. Photo: Photosport Waikato legend Jono Gibbes has been named as head coach of the Chiefs The former Chiefs, Waikato and NZ Maori captain will take the reigns from the departing Clayton McMillian for the 2026 season. A respected rugby leader with deep ties to the Chiefs region, Gibbes brings a wealth of international coaching experience to the franchise. Gibbes has previously served as head coach for European powerhouses La Rochelle, Clermont and Ulster, and most recently was working as an assistant to McMillian in Hamilton. "Being part of the organisation for the past two years has given me a real appreciation for what's been built here and how this team has grown into a consistent, competitive unit," Gibbes said. "My job now is to help maintain that consistency and keep pushing to unlock the full potential of this team. We have a strong foundation and a lot of talent, so I'm excited about what we can achieve." Jonno Gibbes during the All Blacks Test match against England at Carisbrook, Dunedin, New Zealand, on Saturday 12 June, 2004. Photo: Photosport A proud Waikato man, Gibbes captained both Waikato and the Chiefs, earning a combined 132 appearances. He also captained the Māori All Blacks to a historic win over the British & Irish Lions in 2005 and played eight Test matches. Gibbes led Waikato to a National Provincial Championship title as Head Coach, before being appointed to lead the New Zealand U20s in 2023. Chiefs CEO Simon Graafhuis said this was a a natural progression for Gibbes. "He understands the fabric of this club, the importance of our provincial unions, and the aspirations of our team and community. We're excited to move forward with Jono at the helm, and I know he's ready to make our people proud." McMillan said that he leaves the team is in "superb hands." "The coaching, management and playing group has a lot of continuity and cohesion, which is a strong foundation to build from. I have no doubt this group will lead the Chiefs to great things." Jono Gibbes Photo: PHOTOSPORT Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
History of Bulls in Super Rugby and URC finals: Three wins, two defeats
Jake White's Pretoria-based team are now playing in their third URC final in four seasons. Bulls stars Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield and Gary Botha celebrate the team's first major international trophy victory, in Super Rugby, in 2007. Picture: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images The Bulls from Pretoria are regarded South Africa's most successful local rugby team, having captured 25 Currie Cup titles and three Super Rugby trophies. On Saturday at Croke Park in Dublin they will be chasing their first United Rugby Championship title when they clash with Leinster. They have played in two previous finals of the URC, in the 2021/22 season and 2023/24 season, but lost to the Stormers and Glasgow respectively. Leinster will play in their first URC final, having won eight previous titles, when the competition was known by other names and didn't include the four South African teams. In international club and franchise finals, no South African team has performed better than the Bulls. Here is a brief history of the Pretoria-based side's five previous international finals. Super Rugby final 2007 The Bulls had to travel to Durban to face the Sharks in the first all-South African final, and the first to be played in South Africa. Both teams were stacked with 2007 World Cup-winning Springboks, with the Sharks led by John Smit and the Bulls by Victor Matfield. Some interesting team news is that Johan Ackermann played lock for the Sharks, while Bob Skinstad was on the bench. Also, every player, except for flanker Jacques Botes, in the Sharks' 22 played Test rugby. Both teams scored two tries, the Bulls' second try coming in the 82nd minute when Bryan Habana broke through the Sharks' defence to score what would prove to be the winner, with Derick Hougaard kicking the conversion to make it 20-19 to the Bulls. Bryan Habana scores the winning try for the Bulls during the Super 14 final against the Sharks in Durban. Picture: Duif du Toit / Gallo Images Super Rugby final 2009 Two years after winning their first Super Rugby title, the Bulls were at it again, but this time on home soil against the Chiefs from Hamilton, New Zealand, who they hammered 61-17. The Bulls finished top of the table after the round robin phase and like two years prior, beat the mighty Crusaders in the semifinals. While the Chiefs scored first in the match, the Bulls led 34-7 at halftime. In total, the Bulls scored eight tries to the Chiefs' two. Morne Steyn had taken over from Derick Hougaard as the team's No 10 and kicker and he contributed five conversions, two penalties and drop-goal. Only hooker Derick Kuhn of the Bulls' starting XV was not a Springbok player. The team was coached by Frans Ludeke, who'd taken over from Heyneke Meyer after the 2007 final. Bulls players Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Pierre Spies, Wynand Olivier and Derick Kuhn celebrate winning the Super 14 title, after beating the Chiefs at Loftus. Picture: Anesh Debiky/Super Rugby final 2010 The Bulls went back-to-back in 2010, and though the final was a home game for them, they didn't play at Loftus Versfeld, but at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, because of the 2010 Football World Cup taking place in South Africa that June. The Bulls hosted the Stormers in the second all-South African final and won 25-17. The Bulls and Stormers finished first and second respectively on the points table, with the Pretoria-based team beating the Crusaders for a third time in the semifinals, 39-24. Francois Hougaard, selected on the wing, scored a first half try for the Bulls, followed by second half tries by Bryan Habana and Francois Louw for the Stormers. The Bulls' Morne Steyn though kicked six penalties for his team. In interesting selections, Brok Harris, who's just recently retired, started at tighthead prop for the Stormers, while Deon Fourie was the hooker replacement on the bench. Bulls lock Victor Matfield celebrates victory against the Stormers in the Super 14 final in 2010. Picture: Lee Warren / Gallo Images URC final 2021/22 In the very first season of the new United Rugby Championship, which included four South African teams, the top of the table Stormers hosted the Bulls in the final at the Cape Town Stadium. In a thrilling, tight match, the Stormers won 18-13, getting their revenge for the Super Rugby final loss suffered in Orlando in 2010. While Harold Vorster scored an early try for the Bulls, the Stormers hit back with tries by Evan Roos and Andre-Hugo Venter, while Manie Libbok kicked a conversion, penalty and drop-goal. Deon Fourie was picked at openside flank for the Stormers, while Brok Harris filled a spot on the bench. There was also a place among the replacements for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The late Cornal Hendricks started at outside centre for the Bulls while Kurt-Lee Arendse wore the No 15 jersey with the wings Madosh Tambwe and Canan Moodie. Morne Steyn played off the bench. The Bulls suffered a close final defeat to big rivals, the Stormers, in the first season of the URC. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images URC final 2023/24 Jake White's Bulls qualified for their second URC final in three seasons but this time, thanks to their second-place finish on the log and Munster losing in the semifinals, they'd play at home, against Glasgow Warriors from Scotland. Glasgow, coached by South African Franco Smith, shocked friend and foe, as they triumphed 21-16, coming back from being 13-0 down just before half-time. Marco van Staden scored a first half try for the Bulls, with Johan Goosen adding the other points with his boot. But three second half tries by Glasgow, all converted, silenced the Bulls, their coach and all their fans. The victory was the second in the competition for Glasgow, the Scottish side having also won in 2015 when the URC was known as the Pro12 and didn't include the SA teams. The Bulls' match-23 that will feature in Saturday's final against Leinster in Dublin includes 13 players who featured in the final a year ago.
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
As Sharks prepare for URC semi against Bulls, Plumtree won't forget the horror of the 2007 Super 14 final
Bryan Habana won the 2007 SuperRugby final between the Bulls and Sharks with a last-gasp try. Photo: Independent Media Image: Independent Media Springbok great Victor Matfield recently said on social media that perhaps the greatest moment of his glittering career was the Bulls' Super 14 final defeat of the Sharks in Durban in 2007. The Bulls captain's opposite number that day, John Smit, said: 'I will probably never get over it.' This was the unforgettable match in which Bryan Habana scored in the final movement of the game, with Derick Hougaard's simple conversion sealing a 20–19 victory. The Bulls had escaped in that epic encounter, but the door was opened for them because the Sharks were pitifully poor in closing out the game. Their decision-making in the final frantic minutes could serve as a textbook case for coaches around the world on what not to do in a final. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Current Sharks coach John Plumtree was in the coaches' box that day as assistant to Dick Muir, and he might well remind his players of the mistakes the Sharks made as he prepares them for Saturday's visit to Loftus Versfeld for the United Rugby Championship semi-final against the Bulls. This match is the most significant meeting between the sides since that 2007 final. The biggest lesson Plumtree will recall from that heartbreak is this: never, ever substitute your captain when the pressure is at its peak — or your kicker. In the Sharks' case in 2007, they replaced both. The Sharks appeared to have wrapped up the match with three minutes to go, when Albert van den Berg scored a try. It was 19–13, with a relatively straightforward conversion to come. Smit would likely have handed the ball to Percy Montgomery to add the two points and shut out the Bulls with an eight-point lead and barely any time left. But Smit was no longer on the field. Muir had substituted him at the three-quarter mark.
