Scott Johnson in Blues' sights

Feb 23 2008 by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo

SCOTT Johnson is set to fly into Wales this weekend for face-to-face talks with the Cardiff Blues.

Johnson has been lined up by the region as the successor to Rob Howley, who will take up a full-time position in Warren Gatland’s Wales backroom staff at the end of the season.

The Echo revealed the Blues first opened tentative talks with Johnson last June and he is now available after his stint with Australia finished following John Connolly’s sacking and the arrival of Robbie Deans.

Johnson has been released by the Australian rugby authorities and is now a free agent with Blues coach Dai Young admitting publicly last week he was keen to appoint him to his backroom staff.

But the Blues could face a challenge from the USA Eagles who are understood to be keen to appoint Johnson as their new coach. They are looking for an innovative appointment to spread the sport’s gospel.

And the forward-thinking Johnson would fit that bill with the Aussie skills supremo demonstrating his ability to think outside the box during a controversial five-year career in Wales.

Johnson worked under three Welsh coaches before three games as caretaker chief two years ago brought his first stay in the Principality to an end.

He arrived as Graham Henry’s skills supremo in 2001, retained his position under Steve Hansen and played a major role as Mike Ruddock’s attack coach in Wales’ first Grand Slam for 27 years in 2005.

Johnson then took over the national side when Ruddock left halfway through the 2006 Six Nations tournament, drawing one match against Italy and losing to Ireland and France before returning to his native Australia to take up his last job with the Wallabies.