Scrumqueens’ VIIs coach of 2014
Support for our winner of the sevens coach of the year was as overwheming as it was international. Readers have commented on the "huge turnaround of team since his introduction" and how "he has developed a very strong group of players who are still young - and could play for years"
Published by John Birch, January 2nd, 2015
3 minute read
The Scrumqueens' Sevens Coach of the Year for 2014 isTim Walshof Australia.
Despite his team finishing runners-up to New Zealand, Walsh received twice as many votes as Ferns' coach Sean Horan, with England's Simon Middleton a distant third. As well as Australia he won support from readers in five other countries (but not New Zealand!).
His impact has been as impressive as it has been immediate. "An inspriation to his athletes and any athlete wanting to achieve great goals in rugby" according to one nominee. "No other coach has come close to the impact Tim has over the past 12 months" said another. "He has taken a young team to second in the world and threatens NZ on every occasion" going from "a good but inconsistent side to two titles and within touching distance of the series title"
In truth, Walsh inherited a very good side from Chris Lane after the Sevens World Cup but he has impressively built on those strong foundations and is also keeping an eye on the future with his side now boasting one of the youngest international squads in the world, without any major effect on performance.
In fact under his watch, Australia have gone from strength to strengh and2014saw them hit some huge highs on and off the field. On it, Australia were second in the World Series and Dubai last month showed that they continue to push New Zealand all the way. Off it, the full centralisation of their programme at Narrabeen in Sydney's Northern Beaches was also a big moment for Walsh and his charges, and his team look all the better for their fulltime training.
Losing the final in Dubai last month after taking a 17-0 lead will be a dismay as his side go into battle in the coming rounds, but you wouldn't bet against the title going all the way to the wire this season given the form of this team with young stars like Charlotte Caslick, Alicia Quirk and Ellia Green getting better and better under his leadership.