'I didn't feel like I belonged there': Leon MacDonald sheds light on Blues move
Leon MacDonald’s appointment as head coach of the Blues in 2019 came as a surprise not because the former All Black hadn’t proven himself as a worthy Super Rugby coach, but because MacDonald had always been a Crusaders man through and through.
The 43-year-old was born and raised in Blenheim and played his early provincial football for Malborough before shifting south to Canterbury. Over a century of matches followed with the Crusaders before the former fullback was forced into an early retirement due to concussion.
Not long after, MacDonald took up an assistant coaching post with the Tasman Mako then made the step up to Super Rugby, where he assisted Scott Robertson. After just one year with the Crusaders, however, MacDonald called it quits and returned to Tasman as head coach.
The common perception at the time was that MacDonald had pulled the plug early on a two-year deal with the Crusaders, but as he has now revealed on Sky Sports’ The Conversation podcast, that wasn’t the case.
“It was only actually a one-year [contract] with the right to extend – so I wasn’t cutting that short. Just want to make that clear, I didn’t walk out on the contract,” MacDonald clarified. “And the reason it was only a one-plus-one set-up was because our kids were at school at the time and we weren’t ready to shift them. They were starting college and it was sort of those important years at school where we liked to keep them settled.
“I also had this burning desire really to get my teeth into some head coaching because at some point, when I wanted to shift into Super Rugby, I wanted to have some head coaching experience behind me so that if there was an opportunity to step up to head coach, I had that experience to do so. So there was a bit of a plan in place.
“I would have loved to come back [to the Crusaders] but just the unsettled nature of the kids at school at Blenheim and shifting back and forth at the time wasn’t quite right. We just held steady for another three years and as the kids got through their schooling and through the back-end of it, it felt like the right time to make that shift to Super Rugby more permanently.
With Robertson locked in at the Crusaders – and riding high on two straight championships – MacDonald had to look elsewhere for a head coaching role. The Blues had Tana Umaga on their books but he was looking to take a step backwards and move into an assistant role, which presented the opportunity for MacDonald to shift north.
The Conversation co-host Rikki Swannell questioned MacDonald whether it was a tough move, given the heated rivalry between the Blues and the Crusaders.
“Yes and no. No, not really,” responded MacDonald “You know, the Blues hated the Crusaders and the Crusaders hated the Blues – it’s one of New Zealand’s best rivalries, but you’ve gotta be realistic.
“Everybody changes teams, generally, and it doesn’t take long for your new team to become your new colours and become really passionate because you get to know the people and you start to care for them and you start building a bond as a team.
ADVERTISEMENT
View this post on Instagram
“Walking through the doors for the first time at Blues HQ was a bit funny, I didn’t feel like I belonged there. I’m really proud now to take people through there now and it feels like home and there are a lot of familiar faces that make me feel really welcome there so it’s been a good shift.”
Since MacDonald’s move north, the Blues have recorded 10 wins from 23 matches. The 43 per cent win rate may not be worth getting excited about on its own (though it’s still higher than that of the previous two coaches), but the Blues’ Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign last year was a resounding success, with the Aucklanders managing a second-place finish – behind the Crusaders.
Following some excellent performances from a number of Blues players during the All Blacks‘ tests throughout 2020, there’s reason for Blues fans to be hopeful heading into the 2021 season, even with a former Crusader at the helm once more.
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf 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.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments