When your team has just completed their worst start to a Super Rugby Pacific season, generally speaking it’s best to keep the press on your side, where possible. Well, Crusaders coach Rob Penney has decided to go his own way in terms of dealing with his team’s poor form.
Speaking to a room full of journalists, the Crusaders man was forced to defend himself after one reporter posed some pretty straight down the line questions.
Shared by author and freelance writer Jamie Wall on X (Formerly Twitter), Penny showed real frustration towards a journalist when his line of questioning suggested that the players’ faith in their coach may be starting to waver.
Journalist: “What are the players feelings about your performance as coach, have you had much feedback from them?”
Penney: “Yeah get it every minute of every day.”
Journalist: “What have they said to you?”
Penney: “That’s personal conversations which we’re not prepared to share with you.”
Journalist: “What’s the general theme of those conversations, did they support you as coach?”
Penney: “I wouldn’t be here if I felt otherwise.”
The Crusaders head coach was lest frustrated following the interview, even asking who that “c***” was as he was still hooked up to the microphones.
If my team was 2-10 I probably wouldn’t call a journalist a cunt pic.twitter.com/wZoIsG836q
— Jamie Wall (@JamieWall2) May 22, 2024
When asked how much responsibility he takes for the squads poor performances, Penney said: “We’re all in it together. It’s a combination of many things and we’ll endeavour to put on a great performance this week against the Blues.”
When asked what he would do differently, Penney added: “Probably win those critical moments that we’re not able to get across the line. We’ve been close multiple times.”
His responses continued to get shorter, before finally reverting to one word answers.
Journalist: “Do you expect to be in same role next year?”
Penney: “Absolutely.”
Journalist: “Would you consider stepping aside?”
Penney: “No.”
Fans have been debating whether it was a justifiable response from the coach, with the general thoughts being rather mixed.
One fan asked: “Did Rob want Thomas to go there and ask how he’s enjoying their winning streak? Pretty standard line of questioning for a team that’s lost 10 games.”
Whilst another suggested: “Just saying what pretty much every coach wants to say. Albeit, he said it privately. Always great to see private conversations aired publicly. Probably warranted though the comment listening to the journo.”
The frustration building from fans can be felt, however, with one Crusaders supporter saying: “We went from one of the great coaches to prob the worse coach we could of got let’s be honest that isn’t a great attitude from him ur losing n u expect easy soft questions another season this bad next year n hopefully he does get sacked tbh”.
Another fans raised their concerns regarding how this response could negatively affect the changing room, saying: “I’ve never rated him as a coach or a man since he was at Munster. Very prickly then too, and not a smart coach. A little humility can go a long way. This approach to media relations has to rub off on the dressing room negatively.”
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