Tew to Smith: Please don’t go
If Wayne Smith remains in New Zealand, something that seems quite possible given Steve Tew’s optimism last week, the next question is what sort of job will NZ Rugby offer the experienced coach?
Smith’s last assignment as an employee of NZ Rugby was as the All Blacks’ defence coach at the World Cup; having taken a sabbatical to spend time with family, he is now assessing his employment options.
We know this: London club Harlequins are interested in hiring Smith as a coach, on what is likely to be a significant salary package, and NZ Rugby are lobbying for him to stay.
Last week NZ Rugby chief executive Tew wrapped his arms around Smith, emphasising they were doing all they could to convince him to keep spreading the rugby gospel in this land. Tew was hopeful a deal would be struck.
Given Smith’s grunty CV, he is in a very strong position to hammer out the deal that suits him best and his analytical brain and experience may be utilised by the All Blacks who will be aiming to retain their No 1 billing.
Outside of that, there are the Crusaders and Highlanders jobs to consider. Todd Blackadder and Jamie Joseph will move on at the season’s end, and Smith, if he still has the desire to live out of a suitcase and work in the tireless grind of Super Rugby, could probably name his price if either role appealed.
It is puzzling that Tawera KerrBarlow wasn’t cited for accidentally jumping on Sam Whitelock’s head during at AMI Stadium last weekend. Chiefs halfback Kerr-Barlow is no grub and didn’t slice open Crusaders lock Whitelock on purpose, but you do wonder whether the incident warranted further investigation for being reckless.
Kerr-Barlow’s act evoked memories of the incident – albeit, a much more dramatic one – involving Alan Whetton and Stephen Bachop in 1991. Auckland flanker Whetton stood on Western Samoa first five-eighth Bachop’s head in a match at Eden Park, resulting in the latter requiring multiple stitches to repair the wound.
Whetton, despite entering a not guilty plea and stating he was trying to avoid Bachop and never intended to stand on him, was grilled and later suspended.
These Crusaders are consistent, if nothing else.
Their 27-21 loss to the Chiefs at AMI Stadium has ensured their run of losses in their first game of the Super Rugby season stretches back to 2012.
The Crusaders could have lost that game, too, surviving a late drop-goal attempt by Piri Weepu to win 19-18 in Auckland. Losses to the Blues, Chiefs, Rebels and Chiefs have since been recorded in their round-one fixtures.
Last Friday night’s game between the Crusaders and Chiefs hadn’t even started last Friday night when one wag noted Joe Moody was in for a busy game. A look at the big screen explained his reasoning: every Crusaders player was listed as being Moody.
New Chiefs assistant coach Kieran Keane had reason to feel cheerful as he climbed in the team bus before it departed AMI Stadium. Keane took aim and carefully squeezed off a few shots at the Crusaders and Canterbury when he left his Tasman job, stating the Nelson-based union got a raw deal from the big brothers in Christchurch when it came to political, selection and financial matters.
His accusations were met with heated denials from all parties. It was first blood to Keane in the latest chapter of this story.
The word is the Crusaders and Canterbury Rugby Football Union are contemplating a naming rights sponsor for Rugby Park, their training and administration base in St Albans.
While the thinking caps are on, how about putting a sign on the modest stand at Rugby Park to acknowledge Richie McCaw and Dan Carter’s contribution to the game in the region? The McCawCarter Stand sounds okay. Between them the pair spent almost 30 seasons on the training ground at Rugby Park.
On the subject of McCaw, he has been sighted at Crusaders headquarters several times in recent weeks. Nope, there is no chance of a dramatic comeback.