Joe Schmidt outlines what he will offer the All Blacks as selector
Much has been made of how Joe Schmidt could impact the All Blacks as they look to change their fortunes leading into the next World Cup.
It was announced by New Zealand Rugby [NZR] on Tuesday that Schmidt would replace Grant Fox as an independent selector for the All Blacks, a move that has been warmly welcomed by Kiwi fans given his successful coaching credentials.
However, it has been made clear by head coach Ian Foster that Schmidt will be restricted to just a selector’s role at this stage, but that isn’t expected to weigh down his influence in the All Blacks environment by any means.
In fact, Schmidt pinpointed exactly what will be required of him in his new role when he was unveiled to New Zealand media on Tuesday.
Foster outlined in the wake of NZR’s announcement that Schmidt’s position as a selector isn’t that far detached from a coaching role, but Schmidt detailed the intricacies of what his job will entail and how he can help the All Blacks succeed.
“Having done your homework, for starters,” he said when asked what makes a good selector.
“I’d be a little bit of an analyst geek, so far as looking at players and making sure that I knew a fair bit of how they play the game and, as much as possible, who they are because you tend to play a little bit like the person you are.
“So, when you try to build a profile and a set of combinations, I think being really thorough is the first thing.
“The second thing is… I’m really keen to hear what the other guys have experienced with the different players, and then trying to build a couple of really positive broader conversations with the whole coaching team around what are they looking to achieve, and how they’re looking to go about it so those players who are selected can fit into and expand through that way of playing.”
Schmidt’s impressive track record of fostering and developing talent from his time in charge of both Ireland and Leinster will no doubt have lingered in Foster’s mind when he took it upon himself to offer him a place in the All Blacks set-up.
Under Schmidt’s watch, both teams flourished in their respective arenas, and much of that had to do with his ability to produce players from the lower echelons of the professional game into world-class talents.
An example of that, as Schmidt outlined, was his role in identifying props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong in the Leinster academy and developing them through to the point where they are now first-choice starters for Ireland.
Don’t be surprised to see the All Blacks change the way they pick players after having recruited former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt as a selector. #AllBlacks https://t.co/yYBD1mWufJ
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“I’m pretty nervous about stepping into this role, to be honest, and that’s just how you feel stepping into an All Black environment, but I think there’s some evidence that’s come through with different teams like Clermont,” Schmidt said of his previous selecting experience.
“Even going back to Bay of Plenty and the Leinster experience. A lot of those guys – Tadhg Furlong, for example – came into Leinster when I was the head coach there and he was in the academy. Andrew Porter came in, those front rowers.
“I identified that they looked big and strong, and then we had good people to work with their skillsets. I think you do get better at it, and it does help when you get experience in there.”
Schmidt added, somewhat interestingly, that a strong sense of objectivity is a must-have in his selector role, one that is also shared by Foster and assistant coach John Plumtree.
Perhaps that is indicative that change is imminent in the All Blacks squad, but given Foster vocalised his eagerness to bring Schmidt’s fresh pair of eyes into the squad, that shouldn’t be unexpected.
“I think they’re people before players, so you get to learn, also, that you have to be fair with everyone, but that doesn’t mean you have to be exactly the same with everyone, and so building those relationships and that trust with players, knowing that you’re going to prioritise the team,” Schmidt said.
“As brutal as that sounds, one of the things about a selector is if you compromise the team to make a selection based on loyalty or based on something that’s not maybe in the best interests of a team, then the team members see through that pretty quickly and that can be complicated in an incredibly interdependent environment.”
Comments on RugbyPass
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
2 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
6 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
2 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
6 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
6 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to comments