Leicester Tigers have added former Australia defence coach Phil Blake to their coaching staff.
The 51-year-old is expected to join in August when he finishes his contractual commitments Down Under.
Tigers' defence in their final game of the season against Northampton was astonishing at times.
But they conceded more tries (41) and more points (430) than anyone in the top six of the Aviva Premiership during the course of the regular season.
That compares to 29 tries and 345 points in their title-winning season of 2012-13.
With director of rugby Richard Cockerill also coaching the forwards and his second-in-command Paul Burke just having finished the first year in his role as backs' coach, Leicester clearly felt the need to add another body to the coaching staff.
Cockerill said he was delighted to have Blake on board.
"His is well thought of in the game, is very experienced, and has worked in a number of different environments, including Super Rugby and at Test level in Australia," said Cockerill.
"He joins a very strong group of coaches at this club and we look forward to working with Phil."
Tigers are bringing in a man with a huge amount of experience and someone who is widely-respected Down Under.
Blake was described as a "legend" by the Australian Daily Telegraph when news of his move was covered.
He has vast experience as both a player and coach.
He was the Wallabies' defence coach at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, when Australia conceded just 48 points in four pool games and then beat the fancied South Africans 11-9 in the quarter-finals.
That game prompted former Tigers' Aussie head coach Bob Dwyer to remark afterwards: "How did we win that match? Virtually no ball, no field position, dusted in the line-out, creaky at the scrum, kicking out of hand average at best.
"Our defence was fantastic, that's how. So Phil Blake, as our defence coach, you can take a well-earned bow."
Blake joined Western Force the following season in the Super 15s and is currently back in club rugby, coaching Manly to a 10-game undefeated start in the New South Wales-based Shute Shield.
It was recently announced that Blake would be the inaugural coach of the North Harbour Rays, who will compete in the newly-formed National Rugby Championship starting in August.
However, the chance to join Leicester has seen him turn his back on that opportunity to arrive here before the start of the season.
As a player, Blake played 272 first-grade rugby league games in the 1980s and '90s for a host of clubs, including Manly-Warringah, St George and New Zealand Warriors.
He also played one State of Origin game for New South Wales.
