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'Becoming like the Warriors': All Blacks compared to New Zealand's 'mediocre' NRL side

By Sam Smith
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images and Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Former Kiwis coach Tony Kemp has questioned whether the All Blacks are heading the same way as the New Zealand Warriors, the NRL club that has underperformed long-term and been associated with mediocrity.

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The stunning comparison comes after the All Blacks have won just one of their last five tests, including losing a historic three-match home series to Ireland, which is well below the standard they have set over the last decade.

In the four wins they have achieved over their last nine outings, two of those include wins over Italy and the USA, while the side has slipped to fourth in the world rankings.

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All Blacks post-match press conference

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All Blacks post-match press conference

Kemp, a former professional rugby league player and coach, offered his thoughts on the All Blacks predicament on the SENZ Breakfast radio show and asked whether the NZR are doing what is right for the side’s success.

“Are they becoming like the Warriors, or too similar to the Warriors with the way that they’re picking their coaches who just aren’t up to scratch?” Kemp said on SENZ Breakfast.

“For me, it’s a really big time to really think about that and iron out the issue before they have the same systemic problem, which is what the Warriors do in hiring mediocrity as part of the system.

“If you have a look at Ian Foster, he’s come through the All Black coaching ranks, yes he’s had some success as an assistant coach, but assistant coaches don’t always make good coaches.

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“His team around him … are they the best (people) … John Plumtree and co, to get the job done?”

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Ian Foster selected John Plumtree, who had just taken over the Hurricanes head coaching role after a long time as an assistant there, along with former Crusaders coach Brad Mooar, and defence coach Scott McLeod as his support staff.

In the case of Plumtree and Mooar, they were part of championship-winning Crusaders and Hurricanes sides as assistants, but had not led Super Rugby teams before.

Foster himself coached the Chiefs to a Super Rugby final but came up short, torn apart 61-17 by a rampant Bulls side in the 2009 Super Rugby final.

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With the calibre of New Zealand coaches around the world, Kemp called the current staff ‘second-rate’ which warranted comparisons to the Warriors.

“Dave Rennie – Australian coach, Razor (Scott) Robertson … Wayne Smith – he’s in there in the women’s team, you’ve got Shag (Sir Steve Hansen) – he’s gone, you’ve got Robbie Deans,” Kemp continued.

“You’ve got all these great New Zealand coaches and yet what we’ve come up with for the All Black team, I think, is nothing but second-rate.

“It’s about putting the best team together. If we can’t do that, then you’re going down the same road as the Warriors.

“You’re just accepting mediocrity as a way forward and hopefully it will get you across the line.”

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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