So many questions flooded my mind when Leinster dropped the bombshell that Stuart Lancaster was joining them until the end of the season.
What exactly is a 'senior coach'? How does this effect Leo Cullen? Will this be the same farcical situation as in Munster, when we don't really know what remit Anthony Foley now has?
Lancaster was presented to the media at lunchtime on Monday to talk about exactly what role he will be filling. Leinster announced that he will be replacing the departed Kurt McQuilkin. McQuilkin was solely a defence coach, and Lancaster confirmed that part of his remit will be looking after Leinster's defence.
Lancaster hasn't always been a defecse coach though. With England he had three different coaches look after the defensive aspect of his teams for him - first it was Mike Ford, then Andy Farrell, and briefly Paul Gustard on a tour to Argentina in 2013 when Farrell was with the Lions.
Lancaster was keen to remind everyone that he won't be acting as a director of rugby like Rassie Erasmus. Cullen will remain in charge of team affairs, and non-playing issues, and Lancaster will be taking on a more hands on coaching role with the players:
I have coached now for 16 years. I think there is a perception in England that I didn’t do any coaching. Andy Farrell clearly led on defence but I was coaching defence not less than three weeks ago in New Zealand with Counties Manukau.
I got a reasonably broad range. Hopefully I think I can influence some of the attacking stuff as well and also reach down a little bit to some of the academy work. I come from a player development background.
WATCH: "I'm here to help Leinster become a dominant force in Europe again." #StuartLancaster pic.twitter.com/HoNtSdGfNb
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) September 5, 2016
Cullen said that Lancaster will start with defence, especially ahead of this week's big game with Glasgow. He'll also help out attacking coach Girvan Dempsey and Peter Smyth with the academy.
Lancaster has kept himself busy since turning England from an underachieving laughing stock to a force before a calamitous World Cup. In July it was announced that he would be consulting with NFL team Atlanta Falcons to assist their tackle technique, and he has been the defence coach of New Zealand NPC team Counties Manakau - Bundee Aki's former charges.
See Also: Rassie Erasmus Has His Say On What Anthony Foley's Role With Munster Will Be
Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
