1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Is it a bombshell? A is it a bombshell? A 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: moment too weird to properly comprehend? And because of that, 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: is that why it isn't real? And if it's not real, 4 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: not worth speculating on. And yet here I am speculating. 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 1: The Rugby Union approaches Steve Hanson and Ian Foster and 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: asks them to apply for the coach's job. It's that 7 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: the most absurd, bizarre, nutty, unbelievable, possibly stupid thing you've 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:24,959 Speaker 1: ever heard around rugby or perhaps even sport. And yet 9 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: it is suggested it is true in a way. I 10 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: hope it isn't unless it is. But first there isn't. 11 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: I hope it isn't because the union already have enough 12 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: reputational issues without adding to them. The panel of the rules, 13 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: the criteria are, for goodness sake, just get a rock star. 14 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: I mean, surely the all black coaching job still has 15 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: enough prestige that getting great talent is not an issue. 16 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: That's if you haven't already targeted someone, which they should have. 17 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: But then I hope it is true because I love Hanson, 18 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: I love Foster, and I'm an old romantic who fizzes 19 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: over the edge. Of the glass and excitement at what 20 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: could be would be one of the great redemption stories 21 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: of all sports. Surely both have issues with rugby and 22 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: rules and unions. Foster especially got treated abysmally. How good 23 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: could it feel to march back into the dressing room 24 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: and say, hello, lads, now where were we before? I 25 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: was so rudely interrupted? But for the union, this is 26 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: why it can't be true. You don't go to a 27 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: Hanson or a Foster and say, excuse me, have an 28 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: application form and see what you think you beg for 29 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: such talent to frequent your business. And if you're asking 30 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: them to apply, what are you saying to Jamie, Joseph 31 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: and Coe who might be saying, well, why are you 32 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: looking at reheats while I'm here? Which is not a 33 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: bad point. See, it would be way better if none 34 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: of this were true, mind you, It would be way 35 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: better if they had in sacked Robertson midterm with the 36 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: mass payout, in a restraint of trade with no clear 37 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: plan going forward. This is almost so good it can't 38 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: be real, while also being so bad it shouldn't be real. 39 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: The key, of course, is to win the World Cup, 40 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: and if we do that, no one will care who 41 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: the coach is, but that seems a long way off 42 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: when we have currently no coach and in front of us, 43 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: what could be a stroke of genius or Shearon sanity. 44 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: Let's rugby and there's coaching. For more from The Mic 45 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: Asking Breakfast, Listen live to news Talks at B from 46 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,239 Speaker 1: six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.