Coaching changes at Highlanders
Highlanders high performance coach Jon Preston is leaving the Dunedin-based club after being on their books for five years.
Following the arrival of new head coach Aaron Mauger, who has replaced Tony Brown, a transformation of some coaching roles appeared inevitable.
On Monday the Highlanders announced Canterbury coach Glenn Delaney would be joining them as a defensive coach for the next two seasons and now Preston, who worked under previous head coaches Jamie Joseph and Brown, has declared he is moving on.
Preston, in addition to his high performance and skills role, had coaching roles with the Highlanders Development XV, the Brisbane 10s tournament team and helped prepare the side for their historic victory against the British and Irish Lions this winter.
A former All Blacks and Canterbury halfback, Preston was invited by Joseph to work with the Highlanders and was involved with the side when they won their first Super Rugby title in 2015. Prior to moving to Dunedin he had been involved with the Wellington provincial team as a skills coach.
In a statement Preston said that he had enjoyed his time with the Highlanders.
At this stage Laumape is still something of a project. When players join the All Blacks it can be a very intense experience; a heap of information has to be absorbed, the expectations are high and no-one wants to make a mistake in front of their new peers.
Hurricanes supporters who watched him score 15 tries in Super Rugby, would vouch for the carnage he can cause and even the most casual of observers who watched the Canes’ 31-31 draw in their match against the touring Lions couldn’t have helped but notice the way Laumape kept trying to demolish tacklers in his path.
The Lions’ Welsh first five-eighth Dan Biggar knew all about that.
So we know Laumape has the pedigree to go well. He just needs to be given another chance to prove it.