All Blacks role a poisoned chalice
New Zealand Rugby plans to announce the new All Blacks head coach next month. So far, Warren Gatland has declined to apply because of his commitment to the British and Irish Lions in 2021, while Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie have pulled out.
Joseph has re-signed as Japan coach through to the 2023 World Cup, persuading Tony Brown to stay as his assistant, and Rennie will take charge of Australia. What should be one of the most sought-after jobs does not appeal to everyone - not yet, at least.
There are parallels between Steve Hansen’s departure from the All Blacks after 15 years as an assistant and head coach and the time Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United. Taking over from Hansen after more than a decade of unparalleled All Blacks dominance is a poisoned chalice.
The squad Ferguson left behind at Old Trafford was nowhere near as strong as it had been and things began to spiral as successive managers tried and failed to rebuild the team. The same challenge awaits Hansen’s successor. New Zealand are still a fine team but they are not as strong as they were four years ago. Had the All Blacks won the World Cup, then I hear that Ian
Foster, Hansen’s assistant coach, would have been a shoo-in for the role. As it was, the All Blacks lost to England in the semifinal and have invited New Zealand coaches from across the globe to apply.
When Joseph opted to stay with Japan, NZ Rugby issued a statement saying it ‘‘respected his decision’’, a strong indication that the former All Black flanker was considered a strong contender. Brown has also signed a coaching deal with the Highlanders, and New Zealand were desperate to bring him back into the fold.
However, it is intriguing that the former first-five has opted to remain on Joseph’s coaching team through to 2023. It suggests they know that the opportunity to coach New Zealand together could well present itself again, and potentially at a more appealing time.
NZ Rugby presented Rennie’s decision to succeed Michael Cheika with the Wallabies as a further triumph for Kiwi coaches abroad. The language in its statement of congratulations was different for Rennie – no mention of respecting his decision, which suggests to me that he was never a frontrunner.
Rennie could be a perfect fit for the Wallabies. He is a highly rated coach with an attacking philosophy that should fit with the skill set of Australian players and the style of rugby their public demand. I expect the Wallabies now to redouble their efforts to bring Scott Wisemantel home after his stint coaching England.
Eddie Jones may well have something to say about that. Another promising young individual, in coaching terms, that both England and Australia could have their eye on is Petrus du Plessis, the veteran Glasgow Warriors prop, who has begun cutting his teeth as a coach. Both countries need a scrum coach.
Rennie took du Plessis to Glasgow and he is a real student of scrum coaching. Some of the training methods he uses to strengthen props and work on body position, which he showcases on social media, are fascinating. I see du Plessis as one of the next generation of coaches, along with Richard Wigglesworth, who had a stint with Canada at the World Cup.
So where will New Zealand turn? Gatland has not shut the door on the All Blacks forever but time with the Chiefs either side of a year with the Lions would allow him to build up towards the New Zealand job.
Foster is the establishment figure. He would provide continuity within the All Blacks setup, but how closely tied is he to the previous regime? Can he evolve? How much do New Zealand need to start again?
All the Crusaders people love Scott Robertson but he does things slightly differently. He brands each season differently; one season it could be boxing; another season it could be NFL. One year he built his narrative around Melbourne Storm, the NRL team, and brought players in to speak to the squad. He is a very creative coach and would be more of a maverick appointment.
France is an interesting example of a country recognising the need to break out in a new direction. French rugby stagnated because Guy Noves and Jacques Brunel were rewarded for long service with the top job when they were too old and out of touch.
Now they have Raphael Ibanez as team manager and Fabien Galthie as head coach, with Laurent Labit as attack coach, the same role he filled at Racing 92. They have a crop of exciting young players at Toulouse and I have said before that Shaun Edwards, the defence coach, could be the most important man in France.
If the players respond to him, Edwards will bring order, discipline and consistency of performance while improving their breakdown work - all the fundamentals that could underpin a new attacking vision.
England will have a new coaching team in place under Jones and John Mitchell. Ireland are beginning a new era. So too the Wallabies. Which way will the All Blacks turn?