Favourite Johnson ‘surprised’ at short odds for Wales job

SCOTT JOHNSON was surprised to learn he had been installed as favourite to replace Gareth Jenkins as Wales head coach.

Jenkins was sacked after Wales were sent crashing out of the World Cup in the group stages following a 38-34 defeat to Fiji last Saturday.

The Welsh Rugby Union wasted no time in launching a “worldwide search” for a new head coach and a root and branch review of the elite game in Wales.

Johnson, the Australian who spent five years on the Wales coaching staff before moving back down under to work with the Wallabies, would not be drawn on his post-World Cup plans.

But he did not join the high-profile trio of Eddie Jones, Nick Mallett and Mike Ruddock in ruling himself out of the running for the position.

When told of the bookmakers’ odds, Johnson said: “That is certainly a surprise to hear. No-one has spoken to me. But 3-1 favourite eh? We can have a little wager on this one!

“Seriously, the reality is that I have a job to do here. It is something further down the track and not for me to say.

“At the moment I am worrying about this quarter-final against England.”

The WRU board were meeting today to begin drawing up a shortlist of potential targets. Other names being suggested include Crusaders coach Robbie Deans and Phil Davies from the Llanelli Scarlets.

Jones, Mallett and Gatland have all indicated they would not be interested in the position.

Johnson’s future is up in the air, with Australia head coach John Connolly set to retire following the World Cup. He has spoken before of his desire to return to Wales. Johnson was a key figure in Wales’ 2005 Grand Slam triumph and took over as caretaker head coach when Mike Ruddock left during the 2006 Six Nations.

His imprint was still writ large over the Wales team, whose senior players were determined to play his expansive rugby when Jenkins preferred a more pragmatic approach.

Martyn Williams, who retired yesterday from Test rugby, described Johnson as “the best attack coach we have ever had”.

Johnson urged against the WRU making any radical changes to the domestic structure in Wales.

When announcing Jenkins’ departure the WRU confirmed plans a full review but Johnson does not believe the structure was to blame for Wales’ World Cup failure.

He rates the Welsh regional system to be one of the best around.

Johnson said: “The big reform happened a few years ago and the set-up now is on a par with anywhere.

“We went from numerous club teams to a provincial set-up and two or three years ago we won successive U-21 Grand Slams.

“Those kids will be coming through the system. They are funding academies and have far more resources than I ever saw when I was there.

“Players like Martyn Williams will be hard to replace but the production line will continue.

If the Welsh structure is working well, there have been frequent calls in recent weeks for the WRU to reform the systems within it.

Wales’ kicking coach Neil Jenkins spoke honestly during the World Cup of the need to develop players’ skills with the boot from a younger age.

He believes Hook would already be comfortable kicking off both feet, in the mould of Jonny Wilkinson, if the WRU’s academy structure had got hold of him early. At the moment he is not.

lLast night the board of the Welsh Rugby Union tonight appointed chief executive Roger Lewis, chairman David Pickering and Gerald Davies on a three-man panel to find the new Wales head coach.