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Ex-Crusaders assistant coach Tamati Ellison joins All Blacks full-time

Contact skills coach Tamati Ellison looks on during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Forsyth Barr Stadium on July 04, 2024 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Another former member of the Crusaders’ coaching staff has agreed to a full-time role with the All Blacks under Scott Robertson. On Friday, it was announced that Tamati Ellison has accepted a permanent position ahead of the team’s end-of-season tour.

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Ellison was initially brought into the All Blacks’ environment as a part-time contact skills coach, but the 41-year-old has since taken on extra responsibilities. When Leon MacDonald resigned ahead of the trip to South Africa, Ellison’s role with the team expanded.

It seems ‘Razor’ Robertson has rewarded Ellison for his efforts by bringing the four-Test All Black into the coaching setup on a full-time basis. Ellison completes a trio of former Crusaders assistants now coaching the national team, joining Jason Ryan and Scott Hansen.

This appointment means that Ellison will not return to the Crusaders, where he served as the team’s defence coach from 2021 before taking on an assistant coach role this year to lead the attack strategy. But, as Ellison explained, the All Blacks is “the pinnacle.”

“I’m very honoured and excited to step into the All Blacks environment full-time,” Ellison said in a statement. “As a player, it’s the pinnacle of your playing career to wear the black jersey, and it’s no different as a coach.

“I have loved my time at the Crusaders. The high standards expected day to day and the care to support you in achieving those high standards are two things that will stay with me forever.”

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Ellison brings a wealth of experience into the All Blacks’ setup, both as a player and a coach. The former All Black played four Test matches, starting with a debut in 2009 against Italy before facing Ireland, South Africa and Scotland in 2012.

The product of Porirua’s Mana College went on to play 45 games for Wellington at the provincial level, as well as six appearances for Otago. Ellison also donned the famed yellow strip of the Hurricanes during a solid career, as well as stints with the Blues and Highlanders.

Team New Zealand won a Commonwealth Games gold medal with Ellison among their ranks in 2006, and the utility back would also go on to play more than 50 matches for Ricoh Black Rams in Japan. It was quite a career, and Ellison continued to excel as a coach.

“He’s had a huge impact over the last couple of years with us and we thoroughly appreciate his contribution,” Crusaders CEO, Colin Mansbridge, explained.

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“One of the core goals of the Crusaders as an organisation and a rugby club is growing our people whether that be players, coaching or staff.”

Head coach Rob Penney added: “We’re completely unsurprised the All Blacks have seen the value in him assuming a full-time role. To have someone who can coach both sides of the ball at an elite level is rare.

“On behalf of the coaching and playing group, we wish you all the best with the black jersey.”

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12 Comments
B
Bull Shark 246 days ago

So how many coaches does NZ have now? 11? How much coaching do these modern day all blacks need anyway?


I wonder if Razor isn't surrounding himself with pals and yes-men.

J
Jen 246 days ago

Agree. It's pretty ridic. I question how our game plan and messaging to the players can be consistent when they're hearing from so many people. Would also like to see some coaches from somewhere other than the Crusaders. It doesn't feel like there's going to be much innovation when the whole coaching team has just been cut and pasted. Hopefully all my qualms will be put to rest and I will be proven wrong about all of this.

R
Rooksie 246 days ago

Obviously maths wasn't a gd subject at school for u bro ..no idea where u got 11 from ..just more made up crap I guess ..the more crusaders former coaching staff in the all blacks is just mighty fine from us

D
DS 247 days ago

Red collar or red stripe down the shorts as a finishing touch? The old Crusader weakness - the failure to read the room.

R
Rooksie 246 days ago

We can read the room just fine bro ..it sits right next door to our overflowing trophy 🏆 cabinet..don't worry the abs will be all crusaders next year ..old crusaders weakness really where u get that from bro ..for years we put up with the north island running everything now its our turn ..enjoy

Y
YeowNotEven 247 days ago

Sweet, massive depth at coach if we pick up a niggle.

Can he play 10? Bit light there.

D
DS 247 days ago

10 is not the problem, it gets too much attention, year in, year out.

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JW 1 hour ago
Crusaders outlast fast starting Blues to reach another Super Rugby final

Yeah nar, but that’s kinda the thing, I don’t think the old approach was working either!


You might have it right though, leading up, in all rugby/competitions mean, to the last WC it did feel like there had been better discipline/less than the normal amount of cards. Well, at least a certain demographic of teams improved at least, but not so much NZ ones is my point.


I bet you also think going harsher would be the best way to go reducing head contact and the frequency of concussions?


I would hate to have your theory tested as it requires subjective thinking from the officials but..

AI Overview

In Super Rugby Pacific, a red card means the player is sent off for the rest of the match, but with a 20-minute red card, the team can replace the player after 20 minutes of playing with 14 men. If the foul play is deemed deliberate and with a high degree of danger, a full red card is issued, and the player cannot be replaced. A second yellow card also results in a 20-minute red card with a replacement allowed. 

is there to stop that from happening. The whole subjective thing is why we have 20min cards, and I worry that the same leniency that stopped them from red carding a player who ran 30 meters and still didn’t get his head low enough would stop them straight redn them too.


Back to the real topic though, right after that WC we saw those same angles getting red carded all over the show. So do some players actually have control over their actions enough to avoid head collisions (and didn’t gaf after the WC?), or was it pure luck or an imaginary period of good discipline?


So without a crystal ball to know the truth of it I think you’ll find it an immeasurably better product with 20m red cards, there just does not appear to be any appropriate amount of discipline added to the back end, the suspensions (likely controlled by WR), yet.

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