Plumtree keeps eye on Canes

It’s England, Russia and then home for incoming Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree.

The 53-year-old has spent the past two Super Rugby off-seasons as defence coach for Japan, with varying degrees of success. A win over Tonga last year was followed by a 23-23 draw with France, ahead of wins over Italy and Georgia in June’s test window.

Plumtree then copped a bit of friendly fire on November 3, as Hurricanes Ngani Laumape (with a hat-trick), Matt Proctor and Dane Coles all found their way through or around his carefully constructed defensive system during the All Blacks’ 69-31 win over Japan in Tokyo.

England, at Twickenham on Sunday, then Russia in Gloucester await Plumtree and Japan, before he and new assistant Carlos Spencer fly back to Wellington ahead of the first day of Hurricanes’ pre-season training. Plumtree completed the contracting of next year’s squad from afar and already has the coming months mapped out in detail.

‘‘Plum did a lot of work before he left around scheduling so our schedule, in terms of our week-toweek structure, is locked away and the contracts are locked away,’’ Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said.

‘‘He’s been on the phone to two or three of us every day since he left so he’s not just up there focused on Japan. He’s doing everything he can for Japan, clearly, but he can’t wait to start here.’’

Defence was also Plumtree’s main role in his three years as assistant coach to Chris Boyd, at the Hurricanes, and he’ll look to retain that role under the new arrangement. Technical coaches Richard Watt and Dan Cron remain, along with backline and attack coach Jason Holland.

There will be interest in where Spencer now fits in. An outstanding, if occasionally erratic, first five-eighth in his playing days, Spencer comes to the Hurricanes after lengthy coaching stints in South Africa and Japan.