McLeod to head up ABs defence
WHEN Scott McLeod finished his short career as an All Blacks midfielder in 1998, he always felt he wasn’t done with that famous black jersey. Now he gets the chance to scratch that itch.
To no-one’s surprise at all, McLeod was unveiled as the All Blacks’ new defence coach in Auckland yesterday, appointed to succeed the outgoing Wayne Smith through, initially at least, to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
McLeod, who played 10 tests and 17 games all told for the All Blacks from 1996-98, will finish the Super Rugby season in his equivalent role with the Highlanders, and assume the job fulltime for the end-of-year tour.
He will also join the world champions for the Rugby Championship in an observation capacity, which coach Steve Hansen likened to the player apprenticeship role that has become de rigueur in the national setup.
McLeod revealed he found out he had won the All Blacks job on the Friday before he took over from absent head coach Tony Brown to guide the Highlanders to their win over the British and Irish Lions in Dunedin on Tuesday.
He bottled his excitement, refocused on the task at hand and produced a coaching masterpiece to inspire a magnificent upset from a Highlanders outfit missing a raft of regular frontliners either out with injury or on duty with the All Blacks and Maori.
It was exhibit A in why Hansen described the Waikato native as ‘‘the obvious candidate’’ for the rare All Blacks coaching vacancy. Like the man he replaces, McLeod clearly possesses both an astute tactical appreciation for the complexities of rugby, and talks the language of his players.
He told Fairfax Media at the team hotel yesterday that there was a distinct similarity to the emotions he experienced when he first became an All Black under John Hart in 1996.
‘‘Putting this on for the first time, it really hit home,’’ he said, pointing to the All Blacks-issue polo shirt he was wearing.
‘‘That was very similar to ’96 and being selected. Having a taste way back then as player, I left that environment feeling I wanted more, and just with a deep appreciation and excitement around the All Blacks.
‘‘It has been simmering away for a little while.’’
McLeod demonstrated palpably that his personality will fit splendidly into the All Blacks’ ethos when he made it clear he didn’t see himself filling the boots of the legendary Smith.
‘‘He’s a master coach,’’ said McLeod. ‘‘He’s done a hell of a lot for this team’s performance, environment and culture. I’m sure he’s going to leave a massive hole. But I’m not trying to fill his shoes. I want to come in and do my own fantastic job. So that’s what I’ll be looking to do.’’
It was that sort of attitude, Hansen said, that saw McLeod ace his interview for the job.
‘‘That was massively important,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘You’ve got to come in and be your own person and do it the way you want to do it. All the structures Smithy has set up, he’s familiar with because they talk on the phone a lot.
‘‘But he clearly displayed in the interview he’s got his own ideas, and we’re looking forward to gradually bringing him in.’’
The new All Blacks defence guru name-checked a number of coaching influences throughout his career.
But Jamie Joseph stood out as someone whose philosophies had really imprinted, when the now Japan head coach gathered McLeod, Jon Preston and Brown to launch a major turnaround at the floundering Highlanders. Within a few short years they were Super Rugby champions.
‘‘I could go on for a wee while about [ what I’ve learnt from Jamie],’’ McLeod said, with a smile.
‘‘To be really clear and simple and demand the intensity from those clear, simple plans, and defence fits right up that alley.’’ ENGLAND have delivered the Black Ferns a reminder they’re not the world champions for nothing, with the World Cup just a couple of months away.
In the deciding match of the four-nation series, England showed their class with a 29-21 victory at Rotorua yesterday.
England had ended New Zealand’s run of four successive World Cup titles with victory in 2014, but the Black Ferns had won the previous five clashes between the sides, including two last year, which had them as the No 1ranked side in the world, with England second.
But ahead of the next global tournament, in August in Ireland, the Black Ferns may have a few sleepless nights with the sight of the surging England forwards in their heads.
In a match which featured several intense defensive hits in the drizzly conditions, both sides showed plenty of will to shift the ball, but it became very obvious where things were going, with the English pack taking control and scoring 22 unanswered points after being 14-7 down.
England had looked the more dangerous early, and they opened the scoring in just the third minute, with centre Emily Scarratt finishing well in the lefthand corner.
But the visitors’ lead lasted all of six minutes, with the Black Ferns hitting back in brilliant style, as halfback Kendra Cocksedge produced a sensational individual try, chipping and chasing from 25 metres out to score alongside the sticks.
The hosts followed that up with another stunner when winger Portia Woodman brought the crowd – a big contingent in early on the terraces – alive once more, when she plucked an intercept and scorched 70 metres to run around under the bar.
With a sustained period of pressure inside England’s 22, it looked like New Zealand would add to their lead, but they weren’t able to capitalise, and from there, they were really bullied out of the game.