Porch backs Andy Friend for Wallabies job
Connacht director of rugby Andy Friend arrives at stadium before the Challenge Cup Round of 16 match between Benetton and Connacht at Stadio Monigo in Treviso, Italy. Photo by Roberto Bregani/Sportsfile
Connacht winger John Porch has backed his former coach Andy Friend as a possible successor to Eddie Jones in charge of the Wallabies.
Porch played under Friend for the Aussie sevens and was then brought by him to Connacht.
Former Leinster coach Michael Cheika is the favourite to land a second term in charge of the Wallabies after this week leaving Argentina, while Joe Schmidt has also been listed as a possibility.
Friend, who stepped down last summer after five years in charge of Connacht, has also been linked with the job along with Leicester Tigers’ Dan McKellar.
Friend, who was in charge of the Brumbies for three seasons and also Harlequins for another three, joined Connacht after a two-year stint in charge of Aussie Sevens and Porch reckons he could be a perfect fit as the Wallabies try to re-establish themselves after a disastrous World Cup.
“I think he would be a great fit for that job. I don’t know if that has come up but I do hear the little rumours around it,” said the New South Wales native who represented Australia in the sevens at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
“He is a very good coach. I had him at sevens and then here with Connacht. If he was to get that job I think he would fit into that role really well.”
The main priority for the 29-year old, who is now in his fifth season with Connacht, having chalked up 84 appearances including 79 starts since Friend brought him to Galway, is arresting a four-match losing run when they head to Belfast to take on Ulster on Friday night.
“We just need to improve our accuracy, stick to our game-plan over the course of the entire 80 minutes. It’s a busy time of the season and we just need to take our chances,” he added.
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