The Leadership Coach's Blog
This leadership coach's blog, looks at the extraordinary leaked RFU report, regarding England's dismal failure at the Rugby World Cup.
Leadership: England Rugby - How Not To Lead An Elite Team!
And so the truth begins to emerge. The evidence on and off the pitch, suggested that much was wrong with England's 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign. But know we know the sordid messy detail.
There are so many elements to this collective failure, that it is difficult to know where to begin. But one obvious place is with Martin Johnson and his leadership mentor, Australian Gerard Murphy.
Murphy was known as 'The Buffer' by the players. Meaning that he came between them and Johnson. Normally in sport the manager's second in command is 'The Buffer'. Traditionally the nice guy who has the confidential ear of the players. The man who can read the runes, and report back to the boss when morale needs a lift, or a player is out of sorts.
'The Buffer' should enable the head coach to keep his distance, and keep his focus on the bigger picture and the strategy. So all groups need a 'Buffer'.
But in the case of Gerard Murphy, it appears that in his role as 'The Buffer', he was causing Martin Johnson to exercise restraint, and biting his tongue before laying down the law to his players.
According to 'The Times', Johnson's personality was completely stripped away. When he was about to tear players off a strip, he was help back by Murphy. Leading to a loose culture to develop within the squad.
Why Murphy did this is not clear. But his primary objective should have been to help Martin Johnson stay close to his own personal leadership beliefs and values. Johnson was made head coach, because he demonstrated very clear high-level leadership skills when he was England captain.
A man known for honesty; high standards; frankness; leading from the front. And this is how he should have managed. But his management style appears to have been compromised by doubt and uncertainty. All products of in-experience.
Gerard Murphy, as a detached outsider, should have been alert to the loose culture developing within the England squad. The first time rules of conduct were compromised, should have been a warning sign that things were not right.
But in this England group, no one appears to have taken responsibility for keeping the world cup campaign on track. A self-first mentality appears to have held sway.
The head coach has fallen on his sword. But in reality, perhaps it should be the people he employed who put their hands up and say 'I xxxxxx up!'
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