Diamond looking to sparkle

A Wallaby, an All Black and a Springbok all failed to bring success to Vicarage Road, but unassuming Mancunian Steve Diamond is being hailed as the man to turn Saracens into a team capable of challenging for top honours.

He was chosen yesterday as the new head coach of Sarries, a job which Rod Kafer opted to stand down from midway through the season.

Australian Kafer had been hoping to succeed where New Zealander Wayne Shelford and South African Francois Pienaar had failed, yet Saracens have endured a poor first half to the Zurich Premiership campaign.

“I am very much looking forward to the role and the challenges ahead,” Diamond said.

“We have a competent pack of forwards at this club and we win a lot of ball. What we need to do is develop an understanding of what it takes to win games in this country.”

Kafer’s decision to quit the club was made so as to allow him the chance to pursue his career elsewhere, with a job in Australia’s new Super 14 franchise Perth mooted.