SM
Thursday, March 28
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

England

Martin Gleeson relishing his new job of turning England into entertainers

:Headline: Martin Gleeson relishing his new job of turning England into entertainers:
Shaun Edwards has been a key figure in the attack coach's switch to union.
Sports Mole

Martin Gleeson has been tasked with turning England into entertainers and the new attack coach has revealed the role Shaun Edwards has played in his journey to this point.

The former Great Britain centre has only been in union for two years but after success with Wasps has been poached by Eddie Jones to join a coaching set-up who are attempting to win the 2023 World Cup.

If the master plan comes to fruition, Gleeson would have been a key reason behind England lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy and inadvertently so would France defence coach Edwards, another to have switched codes.

Edwards, who turned down advances from the Rugby Football Union in 2006 and has regularly been linked with a job at Twickenham, perked the interest of the ex-Wigan and St Helens ace in rugby union during regular conversations while Gleeson coached at Salford City Reds.

The new England assistant explained: "Shaun Edwards was a big influence in me coming to rugby union. When he was the Wales coach, I used to go see him throughout the year and he would ask me stuff about defence when I was still in league.

"How would you defend against this in league and just general rugby chat. He was teaching me some stuff within the game and I'd go to his house and have good conversations.

"It really perked my interest in the game and he was a good reference for me to get into the game when I first went into Wasps.

"Shaun is someone who had success with Wigan where I was from and watching him as a kid growing up was a big influence. After that on the coaching side, he is someone who had a successful playing career, then has gone into coaching so with the success he has had, he is a pretty special guy."

Shaun Edwards spent 11 years as defence coach with Wales before he joined France's coaching staff in 2020 (Adam Davy/PA)

When Gleeson left the 13-man sport to become part of Wasps' coaching staff, he bucked the trend and followed in the footsteps of Paul Deacon at Sale by being involved in the attacking side of the game, not in defence like had been the tradition for those ditching league for union.

Edwards did just that and has been widely credited as one of the best in the business in his field, but his protege is now going to try and unlock such drilled defences.

A long-standing debate over Jones' England has been the entertainment value they provide with some boos coming during their Autumn Nations Cup triumph over France in December. A poor Six Nations campaign months later only further highlighted the need for the shackles to be released.

"I would like England to play with skill, with pace and with power," Wigan-born Gleeson insisted.

"There can be room for both I think, you have got to win but you can win in a way that is entertaining at the same time.

“Shaun Edwards was a big influence in me coming to rugby union. When he was the Wales coach, I used to go see him throughout the year and he would ask me stuff about defence when I was still in league”
- Martin Gleeson

"Certain opposition and conditions dictate parts of the way you play but people pay their money to be entertained as well don't they? I think there is a balance and where you can you want to entertain but sometimes situations don't let it go that way.

"I think if opportunities are there in games, you have to have the ability and knowhow to take them."

Gleeson is part of a new-look coaching staff with Richard Cockerill brought in to assist Matt Proudfoot with the pack.

All four got to grips with each other at The Lensbury this week after England had a 45-man group gather in southwest London on Sunday for a three-day training camp.

Jones' vision for success in France was unveiled to a squad which did not include George Ford, Jamie George as well as Billy and Mako Vunipola. The culling of four veterans perhaps signalled a change of philosophy.

Two-time Super League winner Gleeson provided subtle hints of the rugby he wants England to play with talk of "working in wider channels and creating opportunities on the edge" while he stressed the need for variation.

"We have laid out our vision leading forward for the World Cup," the 41-year-old said.

"People attack in different ways. South Africa attack different to New Zealand, to Australia. We want to develop our game. There could be bits and different elements from those teams, but we don't want to be a one-trick pony and play one certain way.

"We want to have strings to our bow; good set-piece, good defence and good variation in our attack. The one that stands out at the minute is New Zealand, who are playing very well but we want to make our side the number one in the world come two years time. To do that we have to be good in lots of areas, especially attack."

body check tags ::

amp_article__465882 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-09-28 21:04:54:
html db last update - 2021-09-28 21:02:33 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Martin Gleeson

Click here for more stories about England

Share this article now:
EA
Read Next:
Martin Gleeson confident he can help unlock England's attacking potential
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Martin Gleeson Shaun Edwards Eddie Jones Rugby Union
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Martin Gleeson confident he can help unlock England's attacking potential
Pochettino calls for "calm" over Sterling situation at Chelsea

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

1

A'

Record-breaking Arsenal teenager signs first professional contract

2

RA

Man Utd could raise £105m through player sales this summer

NEW

3

MU

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

4

PB

How Chelsea could line up against Burnley

5

HC

Man United 'draw up transfer plan for 18-year-old defender'

6

MU

Preview: Chelsea vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PC

Man Utd 'add Colombia international to defensive shortlist'

8

MU

Chelsea face five fresh fitness concerns ahead of Burnley game

9

CF

Preview: Nott'm Forest vs. Crystal Palace - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PN


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .