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The Western Force are undoubtedly going through difficult times. Even for an observer from the other side of the continent this is a source of great concern. The defection of a number of high profile players after last season weakened the playing roster, and since then the squad has experienced the most wretched run of injuries. Now there is a major distraction with this week's announcement that John Mitchell would not be coaching the team beyond season 2011 but had every intention of continuing to coach them until then.
At the same time there are structural problems due to the fact that the Perth club competition is currently not of sufficient playing standard to produce a strong flow of local players to the franchise. Thus, at least into the medium term, the Force will be heavily reliant on recruiting players from the Sydney and Brisbane competitions who, if they are not used in the 22-man squad, still require hard football on a weekly basis. At present many opt to go back to their eastern state clubs to play.
I see three problems which can be largely solved at the same time:
1. It is by no means clear when John Mitchell will leave the Force. As an ex-All Blacks head coach his services are very likely to be in demand in Europe. For this or other reasons it may be that an early termination of his contract will be negotiated. However, having a lame-duck coach greatly complicates the Force's task of strengthening its roster or retaining its very promising young players.
2. A systematic program of player development needs to be developed and implemented throughout the Perth clubs so that an increasing number of locals can make the transition to Super rugby.
3. The Force needs to have the best academy system in Australian rugby, given the relative geographical advantage that the other established franchises have in topping up their playing lists from the Sydney and Melbourne clubs.
The way forward in both the short and long term is for Rugby WA to immediately recruit Todd Louden, initially to work on Points 2 and 3, but then to take over from John Mitchell when he departs. Such an appointment would make it apparent that rugby in WA is going forward and also that the succession issue has been addressed.
Why is Todd Louden the man for the job?
Firstly because he combines a first class rugby brain with the reputation of being the best development coach in Australia.
Secondly there is his coaching record. He is unique in having dramatically improved the performance of his team in every year he has coached.
In 2004, as Director of Rugby at Sydney University, he created and implemented their EDS (Elite Development Squad) system which is still operating and is the foundation for their status as number one Club in Australia. Force supporters will be familiar with the ease with which young Sydney Uni players are able to make the transition from Club football to Super 14, as evidenced by Ben McCalman and Mitch Inman.
In the first year of the EDS, Uni won the Sydney Club Championship with all nine grades contesting the finals.
In the 2004-2005 season, he was Head Coach of Meiji University, which participates in Japan’s 120 Collegiate Rugby Program. Louden took them from 68th to the top eight.
In 2006, he returned to Sydney as Head Coach of Randwick. Their First XV advanced from ninth to Minor Premiers. They were narrowly beaten in the Grand Final by Sydney Uni, who were forced to make more than 300 tackles during the match.
Louden was named 2006 Sydney Premiership Coach of the Year.
The next season he moved to South Africa as attack coach with Heineke Meyer’s Blue Bulls, who went from fifth to winning the Super 14. They were the first South African team to win a Super title, with their success attributed to their new attacking style.
In 2008, he was appointed attack coach of the NSW Waratahs under Ewen McKenzie. The ‘Tahs went from thirteenth in 2007 to second, before being beaten in the Grand Final. The true story of why Louden was not appointed Head Coach after McKenzie was dumped remains to be told, but it was certainly not due to any doubts about his coaching ability or popularity with players.
Thus, Louden's record in two seasons of Super 14 coaching is a Premiership win and a second.
In the 2008-2009 season Louden went back to Japan as Head Coach of the Ricoh Black Rams, who had been relegated to Second Division status. Under his guidance, Ricoh were undefeated in the Top East League and therefore qualified to play the winners of the other two second level leagues to determine who was to be promoted to the Top League. In the first of these matches, the Black Rams played Mazda Blue Zoomers, winners of the Top Kyushu League, winning by 81 to nil. They then beat Honda Heat from the Top West League 54 to 20.
By winning both games Ricoh not only returned to Top League but also qualified for the All-Japan Rugby Football Championships, playing against Top League teams as well as the top two university teams. Ricoh were eventually beaten at the semi-final stage of the All-Japan Championships. Last season Ricoh consolidated their Top Division status, finishing twelfth.
During Greg Harris's time as CEO of the Force, negotiations were conducted with Todd Louden about working alongside John Mitchell, but these were broken off when the Board was not prepared to offer him a sufficiently senior role. He still remains as the best possible choice to take over from Mitchell, given his coaching record at Super level and his outstanding ability to devise and implement systems to develop and nurture young players.