We were behind Ruddock - Owen
Michael Owen has dismissed suggestions that player power might have been behind Mike Ruddock’s shock resignation as Wales coach.
Ruddock quit on Tuesday night, bringing a sudden end to his 21-month reign, during which time Wales were crowned Grand Slam champions.
Australian Scott Johnson has taken over for Wales’ three remaining RBS 6 Nations Championship games against Ireland, Italy and France, and is a hot favourite to replace Ruddock on a permanent basis.
Johnson though is also being courted by the Australian Rugby Union who are believed to want him working in tandem with new Wallabies chief John Connolly.
The official explanation given for Ruddock’s exit was "family reasons".
But speculation is rife, in the Welsh media especially, that senior players were unhappy with his coaching methods and had told Welsh Rugby Union bosses exactly that.
Johnson and Wales vice-captain Owen attended a hastily-arranged press conference at the Welsh squad’s Vale of Glamorgan training base today, when Owen was immediately quizzed about the player power rumours.
“We were behind Mike, definitely,” said Newport Gwent Dragons star Owen, who accompanied Johnson with team captain Gareth Thomas in France for commitments with his club Toulouse.
“Training has been as good as I can remember it, and we have all been happy. It is unfortunate Mike has decided to leave.
“Personally, I had a good working relationship with Mike, I had a good dialogue with him.
“I was really surprised to see him go, but I know when he started the job, and one of the reasons he didn’t apply for it in the first place, was because of his family.
“It is a high pressure job, and you spend a lot of time away from your family. It is difficult.”
Johnson now has to concentrate on masterminding Welsh preparations for their clash against Ireland in Dublin on Sunday week, and one of his first jobs will be to decide on a possible squad recall for Gavin Henson.
Henson has just completed a 51-day ban after being cited for elbowing Leicester prop Alex Moreno during a Heineken Cup match in December, and is expected to begin his comeback for the Ospreys against Celtic League opponents Borders on Friday night.
