Scott Johnson (rugby union)

Scott Johnson

Date of birth	(1962-08-19) 19 August 1962 (age 61)
Place of birth	Sydney, Australia
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	79 kg (12 st 6 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Director of Rugby Current team Australian Rugby Union Correct as of 27 November 2014 Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) Parramatta Two Blues () – Eastwood () – Toulon () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) NSW Waratahs () Correct as of 29 December 2007 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1973 Australia U21 Correct as of 27 November 2014 Coaching career Years Team 1999 Penrith 2001 New South Wales (Assistant) 2001 Australia A 2002–2006 Wales (Assistant) 2006 Wales (Caretaker) 2007 Australia (Assistant) 2008–09 United States 2009–12 Ospreys 2012 Scotland (Assistant) 2012–14 Scotland (Interim Head Coach) 2014–19 Scotland (Director of Rugby) 2019–21 Australia (Director of Rugby) 2023 Rugby Canada Correct as of 27 November 2014

Scott Johnson (born 19 August 1962 in Sydney), ^[1] is an Australian rugby union coach, who was the interim head coach for Scotland in 2013 and early 2014 before serving as a Director of Rugby for Scotland between 2014 and 2019 before returning to Australia in the same role between 2019 and 2021.

Playing career

Playing as a fly-half or a centre, Johnson played for Parramatta Two Blues and Eastwood, and was captain of both the New South Wales Waratahs and Australian Under 21s. Playing initially at fly half and then at centre, he played senior rugby for New South Wales Waratahs. ^[1] In the 1980s Johnson also played for French club Toulon in the French championship. ^[2]

Coaching career

Johnson started his coaching career with Penrith in the Sydney First Grade competition, and was named Club Coach of the Year in 1999. ^[1] Johnson then worked as an assistant coach at New South Wales Waratahs in 2001, as well as an assistant for the Australia A team who defeated the British and Irish Lions in Gosford. ^[1]

Following an invitation from Graham Henry, Johnson left Australia to work with the then struggling Wales in the Six Nations Championship as Skills Coach. Working briefly under Henry and then for two years under Steve Hansen, Johnson was an integral member of the Welsh coaching staff during the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He remained with Wales when Hansen left in 2004 and was involved with Wales for their 2005 Grand Slam. Following the resignation of Mike Ruddock in 2006, Johnson took over as head coach on a temporary basis, ^[3] ending his career with Wales in Cardiff after three games: a 31–5 defeat to Ireland in Dublin, an 18–18 draw against Italy in Cardiff, before going down to eventual Champions France 21–16. ^[4]

In light of family pressures, he accepted an approach from new Wallabies head coach John Connolly to become Australia's attack coach in preparation for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. ^[1]

Following a disastrous campaign and the reorganisation of the coaching staff, Johnson was released from this role following the 2007 World Cup and the signing of Robbie Deans as the new head coach of Australia. Johnson was linked with a move to the Cardiff Blues as skills coach, ^{[5] [6] [7]} but decided not to accept this offer. ^[8] Johnson's decision to say no to the Blues led to speculation linking him with the ambitious Ospreys. On 20 March 2008, the BBC reported that Johnson has accepted the head coaching position for the US Eagles national team. ^{[9] [10]}

In January 2009, Johnson was linked with a move to coach the Ospreys. ^{[11] [12]} On 29 January, he was confirmed as the Ospreys' new director of coaching. He joined the team after he served a three-month notice period required by his USA contract. ^[13]

It was announced in December 2011 that Johnson would leave his post with the Ospreys at the end of his three-year contract. ^[14] In June 2012, he joined Scottish coach Andy Robinson as his assistant coach through the 2012 Scottish tour of Oceania and the 2012 Autumn internationals. Head Coach Andy Robinson resigned his position after their 21–15 defeat to Tonga, which ended in the result of Scott Johnson being announced as head coach for Scotland. ^[15] On 3 May 2013, Johnson was announced as Director of Rugby for Scotland Rugby, a post which had been vacant since Sir Ian McGeechan resigned in 2005, and would oversee all rugby in Scotland. However, he remained interim head coach for Scotland until a suitable head coach was found for the national side. ^[16] Under Scott Johnson's leadership, Scotland won two Six Nations games against Italy (one at home and one away), plus a win against Ireland.

On 15 March 2014, Johnson took charge of his final game (Wales V Scotland) making way for Vern Cotter's arrival as head coach. ^[17]

International matches as head coach

Matches (2012–2014)
Matches	Date	Opposition	Venue	Score (Sco.–Opponent)	Competition	Captain
2013
1	2 February	England	Twickenham Stadium, London	18–38	Six Nations	Kelly Brown
2	9 February	Italy	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	34–10
3	24 February	Ireland	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	12–8
4	9 March	Wales	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	18–28
5	16 March	France	Stade de France, Paris	16–23
6	8 June	Samoa	Kings Park Stadium, Durban	17–27	South African Quadrangular Tournament	Kelly Brown
7	15 June	South Africa	Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit	17–30		Greig Laidlaw
8	22 June	Italy	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	30–29
9	9 November	Japan	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	42–17	Autumn Internationals	Kelly Brown
10	16 November	South Africa	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	0–28		Greig Laidlaw
11	23 November	Australia	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	15–21		Kelly Brown
2014
12	2 February	Ireland	Aviva Stadium, Dublin	6–28	Six Nations	Kelly Brown
13	8 February	England	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	0–20		Greig Laidlaw
14	22 February	Italy	Stadio Olimpico, Rome	21–20
15	8 March	France	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	17–19		Kelly Brown
16	15 March	Wales	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	3–51

Record by country

Opponent	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	Win ratio (%)	For	Against
Australia	1	0	0	1	000	15	21
England	2	0	0	2	000	18	58
France	2	0	0	2	000	33	42
Ireland	2	1	0	1	050	18	36
Italy	3	3	0	0	100	85	59
Japan	1	1	0	0	100	42	17
Samoa	1	0	0	1	000	17	27
South Africa	2	0	0	2	000	17	58
Wales	2	0	0	2	000	21	79
TOTAL	16	5	0	11	031	266	397

References

1. "Scott Johnson joins Wallaby Coaching team". Australian Rugby Union. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
2. Scotland's lead "Johnson spent a season playing with Toulon in the 1980s"
3. Johnson 'did not covet' Wales job BBC Sport
4. Johnson agrees to join Wallabies BBC Sport
5. Johnson top of Blues wanted list BBC Sport
6. Young hopeful of Johnson arrival BBC Sport
7. Blues coach role attracts Johnson BBC Sport
8. Johnson rules out move to Blues BBC Sport
9. Johnson set to take top USA role BBC Sport
10. Eagles land Johnson Planet Rugby
11. Johnson discussing Ospreys role BBC Sport
12. Great Scott’s Taylor-made for Ospreys WalesOnline
13. "Ospreys confirm Johnson as coach". BBC Sport. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
14. "Johnson leaves Ospreys for Scotland role". RTÉ News. 27 December 2011.
15. "Scotland turn to Johnson". ESPN. 20 December 2012.
16. Goodlad, Phil (3 May 2013). "Interim head coach Scott Johnson named director of rugby". BBC News.
17. "Six Nations: Scotland interim head coach Scott Johnson eyes last game at helm". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 March 2014.

External links

• Management profiles: Wales Senior Team Welsh Rugby union

Sporting positions
Preceded by Mike Ruddock	Wales National Rugby Union Coach (caretaker) 2006	Succeeded by Gareth Jenkins
Preceded by Peter Thorburn	United States National Rugby Union Coach 2008–09	Succeeded by Eddie O'Sullivan
Preceded by Andy Robinson	Scotland National Rugby Union Coach (interim) 2013–14	Succeeded by Vern Cotter