The Highlanders have announced Richard Whiffin as their attack coach for the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Whiffin is currently focused on his role with the Wales women’s team, who are set to begin their World Cup campaign this weekend against Scotland.
Attacking struggles in 2022
The Highlanders struggled at times on attack, and coach Clarke Dermody is looking to Whiffin’s expertise to transform that aspect of his team’s game.
The Englishman said Dermody was looking for a change in approach and philosophy to what the team has been applying.
“That certainly something that ‘Derms’ made clear when we spoke,” Whiffin said. “He was keen for me to bring those northern hemisphere ideas and something different to what they’d been used to for a fair bit.
“Tony Brown has done a great job down there for a number of years. I think he [Dermody] just wanted a different philosophy on different ways to attack.”
Huge potential
Whiffin sees a lot of potential within the Highlanders squad and will be looking to improve decision-making by boosting the rugby intelligence of the players.
“Part of the interview process was looking at the Highlanders game and seeing how I could influence that,” he said.
“I think there’s some absolute weapons that need to be used in the wider channels, and some real good youngsters coming through in that backline.
“I think if we can work a little bit harder on our connections and our ability to attack as a full 15, I think we can really release some of those options that maybe didn’t get much of an opportunity over the last campaigns.
“It’s certainly been my philosophy to get the ball into the wide channels. I just think there are different ways of being able to do that.
“I think the key thing as well is how we can upskill the rugby intelligence of some of those younger guys to really get that backline hissing.”
“But for now my priority is on preparing Wales women for the Rugby World Cup starting with Scotland on the weekend”.
Dermody worked with Whiffin as a player and looks forward to seeing how the coach can influence the side.
“I worked with Richard when I was player and was impressed by his abilities then, he has since gone on to do a great deal more in some of the toughest competitions in Europe,” Dermody said.
“His experiences with Gloucester, the Scarlets, England U20s and the Welsh women’s team will no doubt add to our environment.
“While his portfolio is attack his background suggests he has the ability to get the best out of our players and get them to improve their all-round game.”
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