THERE is a school of thought in some quarters that high-level sport has no need for coaching.

Can the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi really be taught new tricks or play any better than they do on a consistent basis?

Probably not, but the tactical and psychological side of the modern game, and not just in football, is a huge part these days and that is where the cream of the coaching crop come in.

There are plenty of examples around at present – just look at Leicester City and the England rugby team.

Claudio Ranieri won the BBC Sports Personality coach of the year award in December and rightly so after his amazing achievement in steering the Foxes to the Premier League title last season.

Eight months on he is out of a job after those same players seemingly stopped playing for him. There may be other factors involved but how else can you describe their domestic fall from grace when you see the way they have been reinvigorated since his departure?

Is Craig Shakespeare a masterful tactician and a better coach than Ranieri? Unlikely. But the players have clearly go their mojo back and maybe just returning to the tactics than won them the league and massaging a few egos has done the trick.

I suppose the old adage ‘if it isn’t broke then don’t fix it’ applies.

The England rugby team’s transformation has been even more remarkable.

Virtually the same personnel that failed miserably on home soil in the World Cup two years ago, exiting at the group stage for the first time, under Stuart Lancaster now look world-beaters.

Whatever Eddie Jones has done, it has worked with England heading into their final Six Nations clash in Ireland tomorrow looking to stretch a winning streak to 19 matches.

The Aussie’s approach comes across like old school football bosses – straight-talking and disciplined. It is paying off.

But it can work the other way – Pep Guardiola at Manchester City a case in point.

The highly-rated Spaniard took over a City side that had done okay under Manuel Pellegrini, reaching the last four of the Champions League. A year on they were humbled by Monaco in the last 16 this week.

Sometimes a fresh face is needed but players need to buy into any new ethos and getting their minds in the right place is vital.

England’s Six Nations stars certainly have.