Should National Teams (Including Rugby) Be Coached by Foreign Coaches?

It would be better from a patriotic/Nationalist perspective to have a home-grown Coach/Manager running the Team but in some Countries, it is just not possible. Whether through lack of quality Development programmes, or there just isn't the right man for the job (not being sexist, but I can't see a woman ever Coaching a Men's International Rugby Team...but men can coach the women's teams?). Books and Courses can teach you the theory of effective Management/Coaching but that doesn't make a good operator. A suitable balance between experience, knowledge and enterprise must be found in the Coach/Staff and even then, he must 'gel' with the players or at very least, earn their respect and trust.

The population of a Country decides a lot and then you must see where the Sport comes in National importance: Soccer is the World's no. 1 Sport, so statistically, there should be more native Coaches for Soccer but how many are actually at the standard required?

I'm not a great fan of 'buying' in Coaches: I think it is a disrespect to the ethos and Spirit of the Team but it must be done. The price of Professionalism, eh?

The discusson on the current Socceroos coach is worthwhile. Two 6-0 losses in a row is extremell poor. Up until now Australian soccer has always gone for an overseas coach because that was where the experience was now Australian coaches have improved dramatically so maybe they will pick an Aussie this time. The cricket coach was a disaster waiting to happen. The Australian side has a different ethos to a SA side or an English side or a Kiwi side. It was always going to blow up especially after the "homework" debacle. If they were going to have a coach, Boof should have been it from day 1. Like many I was rapt in having Deans as the Wallaby coach. After not very long in the job he seemed to start playing favourites and getting rid of those he saw as standing up to him - Giteau, Waugh, Smith and Tuquiri. These players may not have had much more game time but they had the experience and skills to help the new blood. These are not problems only of an overseas coach but of any coach. O'Neill didn't help by resigning Deans before thye last world cup. Like other coaches around the rugby world, his fate should have been decided on results. White can feel a trifle unlucky but the ARU would have seen the problems with both cricket and themselves using overseas coaches so White was a victim here but that still doesn't excuse his taking his bat and ball and going home when he didn't get the job.

Edit: In saying that Ireland and Wales have done well with foreign coaches and the Lions had a non UK coach. It depends so much on the country involved.

Tough question Mark. I suppose yes and no. I think the last foreign coach in charge of the Nz Black caps, Steve Rixon, in the late 90s did a good job and the Kiwis were respected on the test scene. Since then, under Kiwi coaches Nz are ranked in the bottom three.

From a Kiwi angle its been a mixed bag in rugby test circles with Graham Henry, Steve Hanson, and Warren Gatland all having poor than better results coaching Wales minus Gatlands success with the Lions this year.

In fact, I cant think of too many Kiwi coaches having much success coaching other National sides - Kirwan with Italy and Japan, Keiran Crowley with the USA, etc, haven't lifted these teams to any significant levels.

Lets not forget Robbie Deans who I thought would take Wallaby rugby to new heights -- not too be.

I'm 50/50 on your question. It can be good and bad depending on the quality of the coaches skills on identifying player talent (new and current players ) relating to players on a personal level and having a sense of National loyalty to that country etc,

P/S Sad to hear about ex-Wallaby coach Eddie Jones having a stroke. Perhaps he is an example of a coach using his coaching talents in a different capacity - assistant to White and SA's 07 RWC win.

Give Bill P. the best answe he basically said the best anyone can be in my opinion it all comes down to how the team works with the coach- so If a Australian team (any sport) isn't working or performing with that coach than get an other one from any where. But the coach doesn't have to be from the country their coaching only that the work well with that team.