The Breakdown | Simon Easterby: welcome to the precarious world of the backroom boss
The Breakdown | Simon Easterby: welcome to the precarious world of the backroom boss
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The Ireland interim coach’s deputy tag may soon be cast off if he leads his country to a historic repeat triumph. History shows it can be done. Back in 2013, with Warren Gatland having stepped away to prepare for that summer’s British & Irish Lions tour, Rob Howley took over as interim Wales head coach and the national side ended up as tournament winners. Beating England by a record 30-3 margin in Cardiff will forever rank among the great Welsh rugby days.
![[Robert Kitson]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/09/Robert-Kitson,-L.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
This time the “deputy dawg” with the interim sheriff’s badge on his tracksuit is Ireland’s Simon Easterby. Andy Farrell will not be too far away but his Lions responsibilities have left his assistant in temporary charge. Win a third straight title, in the process becoming the first nation to do so since the tournament expanded 25 years ago, and the coaching tweak will be a minor footnote. Should Ireland endure a significant dip, though, perceptions can swiftly change.
![[Simon Easterby celebrates scoring a try during for Ireland against Scotland in the 2002 Six Nations.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e55ea75c08a4b9c6595b54b36afed37e8906fb12/0_10_2000_1200/master/2000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Welcome to the precarious world of the backroom boss. No one will be more keenly aware than Easterby that Farrell’s ability to motivate players and send them out at the right emotional pitch is among the latter’s biggest strengths. Which makes his leadership shoes particularly big ones to fill, let alone on the opening weekend of a highly competitive Six Nations.
On the other hand what an opportunity this is for the 49-year-old Easterby to enhance an already quietly impressive CV. Sixty-five caps for Ireland as a back-row forward, six years as captain of the Scarlets in Wales and 11 seasons in the Irish coaching set-up under Joe Schmidt and Farrell are the mark of a highly capable individual who, like Farrell, has an instinctive feel for the needs of the modern player.
