Matt Taylor’s seven-year reign as Scotland defence coach has been brought to an end with confirmation that the 47-year-old former Queensland and Border Reivers flanker is to return to his native Australia to take up an identical role with the Wallabies. The Welshman Steve Tandy, who was head coach of the Ospreys from 2012 to 2018, is moving in the opposite direction, leaving his post at the Sydney-based Waratahs to take Taylor’s place in the Scotland backroom team. Pieter de Villiers, the former France prop, is also joining Scotland as scrum coach on a short-term contract. Having played for Aberdeen Grammar, the Reivers and Scotland A between 1999 and 2004, Taylor made his name as a defence coach with the Queensland Reds’ Super Rugby title-winning…

Source: The Times December 28, 2019 00:38 UTC