MARSHALL LORE

Ian Smith, the referee for the Chiefs-brumbies game, was excellent I think. Really refreshing to see a new ref not over-influenced by politics just get on with it and use common sense. Wales Millennium Stadium. In the middle of winter with rain forecast they opt to not close the roof. It rains, people get wet and cold and the ball slippery. Am I missing something here? Goal kicking within all the NZ franchises has been excellent. Aaron Cruden, Colin Slade, Beauden Barrett, Gareth Anscombe and Tyler Bleyendaal are all nailing it. On current form Tamati Ellison might not have seen his last All Black jersey. Could the Highlanders have ever dreamed of getting him in such good nick? a super-human move to dumbfound the opposition with.

Naturally being excited by the discovery, he couldn’t resist talking to you about it rather than later at the team meeting; annoying if you are trying to forget about rugby for a bit but at other times I welcomed the intrusion, and was fascinated as to what the incredabrain had spotted.

I have been coached by over a dozen coaches including the world’s best, Mains, Hart, Deans, Hansen, Henry, Eddie Jones, Jake White but none of these great men has had the rugby knowledge of Smith.

I rate him as the world’s best at researching, creating opportunities and general knowledge of the game. He is quite possibly my best ever coach.