Neil Barnes delivers strong statement after role confirmation

Former Taranaki head coach and long-time New Zealand Rugby coach Neil Barnes has delivered a strong message to the public after he was announced as Dave Rennie’s new “senior lead assistant”.

Barnes, who loves farming in his spare time, will join the All Blacks coaching staff under Rennie, whom he worked under at the Chiefs.

The 67-year-old has been coaching in the Bunnings NPC with Taranaki since 2021, after experience as a forwards coach with Italy, Canada, and Fiji, where he attended three Rugby World Cup’s in the process.

Current forwards coach Jason Ryan was the only member of Scott Robertson’s coaching staff that was retained, where his portfolio will slightly change with the Barnes addition.

Ryan will continue looking after the scrum and the maul, while Barnes will take over from lineout specialist Bryn Evans, who also departed his specific role in the All Blacks environment.

In the first sighting of Barnes in All Blacks colours since the announcement, in a New Zealand Rugby social media post, Barnes was quick to explain that he knows what he’s getting into.

“Really honoured and excited to be involved in the All Black coaching group, something that I didn’t expect to happen,” Barnes said.

“Unbelievably grateful to all the people I’ve worked with that have shaped me and got me to this level right at the moment.

“I’m under no illusions about the challenges that sit in front of us, especially in the next 18 months.

“So yeah, really looking forward to getting into my work, to get to know the way the boys play, each individual, getting to know them as a person, and as well for my coaching group to connect with them and get aligned on how we want to play the game.”

Barnes explains that the public can expect a game plan and style that they will enjoy watching.

“I think for anyone that knows Rennie and myself, and how we like to coach our teams, I think New Zealand can expect the All Blacks team to be pushed and show the courage to play a game that is a fit for our country.

“So yeah the challenges is in front of us, we’re all going to have to work really hard here.”

 

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In his official press conference in Auckland, Barnes was clear in explaining what’s important for him as a coach.

“With set-piece, there’s a lot of technique involved, I’m massive on getting the basics right first before you go to any of the pretty shit,” Barnes told media in Auckland.

“And that goes right across the whole game, you can’t build a house without a strong foundation under it. So, yeah, all the stuff you guys see in the house, all the windows and the glossy stuff, is a waste of time, if a strong wind comes along if you haven’t got the thing pinned down to the foundations.

“The game is just the same, there’s simple basics from whether it’s midgets right through the All Blacks that you need to adhere to and get that right and then you put the other stuff around it, which will make you strong.”