The past four months have been a real eye opener for Eastern Suburbs coach Simon Kneebone adapting to life in a new country and getting the Beasties on the front foot in the Shute Shield.

Kneebone was already headed this way 18 months ago to take up a coaching role at the Crusaders International Academy that was being set up in conjunction with the University of Wollongong.

But that was all turned on its head by the pandemic and when the opportunity to coach at the Beasties came his way he was quick to put the hand up.

That opportunity came when Pauli Taumoepeau joined the coaching panel at the Waratahs under Darren Coleman.

Easts had a new president and board and an agent of change was what they were looking for to try and break a premiership drought that has hung in the air since 1969.

One from three as we head into Round Four suggests that there is work still to be done at Woollahra but Kneebone says he is seeing progress.

“On reflection it’s been a real eye opener,” Kneebone told Rugby News.

“It’s been a huge learning curve from the way that things have been done at Easts but there are signs that we are emerging from a deep pit.

“We’ve change our shape in both attack and defence and changed our language on the field and how we do that under pressure.

“There are also a number of other nuances in and around the rucks and mauls and it’s just something that takes time.

“The game against Norths was a good lesson for us in Round One but from week to week it’s starting to come together.”

The stand out for the Beasties in their Round Three win over the Two Blues was their fullback Luke Glen, who Kneebone has brought over from Christchurch.

Glen has genuine pace and had a hand in three of the Beasties tries against the Two Blues. 

He can play flyhalf as well as fullback and has had some games for the Canterbury B side as well as some rep games for a Heartland XV.

“Luke’s here working at Scots College and just enjoying everything that Sydney has to offer on and off the field,” Kneebone added.

Next step in the education process for Kneebone will happen this weekend when he travels to Coogee Oval for the big derby game against Randwick.

Kneebone is a former NZ army man and enjoys the pomp and ceremony in and around Anzac Day.

Once that whistle calls time on though, all that will be put to one side and it’s game on!