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WOMENS

33 - 52

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WOMENS

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WOMENS

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International

Stephen Donald's take on a new All Blacks coaching group

By Henry Lee

92 days ago

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Former All Black winning first-five Stephen Donald has weighed in on the vacant All Black head coaching role, and who could partner the head coaches as assistants.

NZR Chair David Kirk announced that All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson would be leaving his role with the organisation on January 15, after two-years in the role, and two years before the Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Robertson’s coaching team though, consisting of forwards coach Jason Ryan, defence coach Tamati Ellison and right-hand-man Scott Hansen, are all still contracted with New Zealand Rugby going forward and may continue with the new head coach.

VIDEO

When Kirk addressed media in Auckland after the massive announcement, he claimed the organisation would “cast the net wide” in search of the new head coach, less than a month away from the start of Super Rugby Pacific 2026.

That search likely includes a number of possible candidates, but the likes of Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph and Kobelco Kobe Steelers boss Dave Rennie could be leading the charge.

Donald, who famously kicked a penalty in the 8-7 victory over France at Eden Park back in 2011, has never been coached by Joseph, but believes he’s the front-runner.

“Well, if you look at it logically, it’s Jamie Joseph, great record, all his international experience sitting here. And look, I’ve never been coached by Jamie but I’ve probably had the same impression every time you bump into him,” Donald said on his Aftermatch Podcast with Kirstie Stanway.

“If you look at the All Blacks right now, and from outside, of course, we’re saying he might be just what they need, and maybe just what the players want, but they don’t know they want that.”

The 42-year-old pundit and commentator is full of praise for one of the other leading candidates, Rennie, who coached him at the Chiefs.

“When I had him as the head coach at the Chiefs, his portfolio was attack and counter attack. But he could cover it all, he could do whatever, but in my experience with him, that was his particular portfolio.”

Stanway then asked Donald whether he thinks Rennie would be keen on being an assistant, even though he’s been a head coach for the large part of his coaching career.

“But it’s the All Blacks, that’s the thing and Rennie would never turn it down, and the reason why you ask that question is, essentially you’re asking, can egos be put to the side? Oh, if I’m a head coach, can I work for someone else?

“Well, Rennie is probably the least ego head coach of that of that ilk that I’ve ever met. So I think if him and Jamie have got a relationship, if Jamie has reached out, I wouldn’t put that past him.

“For me personally, he’s (Rennie) as good as I’ve had, like the whole package with Rennie. So I would love to see Rennie in there.”

Comments

18 Comments

SB 91 days ago

Well, Rennie is probably the least ego head coach of that of that ilk that I’ve ever met.

Unlike a certain someone…….

BM 91 days ago

David Kirk has been successful in his Corporate life.

In this case he has let his bias intrude and has allowed Player INPUT to be put to the side and allowed Player POWER to take over. In time he will regret this move.

He should have known better. Was he not in Australia when Player INPUT went out the door and Player POWER slipped in. Look what happened to the Wallabies. Coaches such as Deans and McKenzie were out.

He should have left his Player Association bias at the behind when he joined the NZR Board

TruthHurts 91 days ago

All the commentators will side with the choice that they think the NZRU will make in order to protect their positions, rather than commenting on the negative side of all of this. NZRU have been hopeles in protecting and fostering the game in the NZ’s biggest population centre (1/3 of NZ’s population) and thus supplier of talent. Rugby in Auckland is almost dead. You rarely see kids playing it any more. But plenty of football, basket ball and in South Auckland, League. The game has been and continues to be poorly managed and this is the issue. It reminds me of the scenario leading up to the last time the RWC was in Australia. But then NZ had a much bigger slice of the talent pie, and still lost out. This change is stupid and cruel and does nothing for the game in NZ and its demise. Reminds me of Wales. Scott Robertson has spent 2 years blooding a pool of new talent, and now the carpet is pulled from under him.

TokoRFC 91 days ago

Agree regarding Auckland, they should win everything and provide half the All Blacks too. It shouldn’t even be close.

But there’s only so much NZR can with an unambitious super franchise and a union riddled with nepotism all the way down to the clubs and schools.

MD 91 days ago

Why don’t anybody mention Carlos Spencer as an assistant. I’m sure he could work with Rennie or Jamie.

frandinand 91 days ago

I would have thought the answer to that was perfectly obvious.

Loosehead 92 days ago

Why is Vernon cotter not mentioned.mor experience than Joseph etc.he has coached both Scotland and fiji,now back at blues.hard old fella.🤔

frandinand 91 days ago

Because he's going to the Reds.

SC 91 days ago

I’m with you loose.

Cotter, as head coach, has won the Champions Cup and Top 14 championship at Clermont, a Super Rugby title with Blues, and led Scotland to a winning record from 2012-2015 and reached the QF and a very narrow and controversial loss 35-34 to Finalists Australia.

He has a more successful record at both club and test rugby than Rennie or Joseph.

And he will unquestionably put up with no BS from players and will give the pack a hard edge. Just need to hire a good backs coach to add flare (perhaps Robbie Deans or Dave Rennie) and an experienced international defence coach (Warren Gatland or John Mitchell).

DC 92 days ago

i would also bring in buck shelford to get them back to doing the haka properly since they havent been doing it the old way teams are not frightened of us and it effects the way we play rugby now

Andrew Nichols 91 days ago

Like..you’re an expert?

Venomenal1 91 days ago

The haka doesn't frighten rugby opponents. Maybe focus on rugby more is ideal.

SM 92 days ago

I hope Jamie stays with Otago they need him ,when all the old ones have gone from the ABS maybe but by then the players association with the help of the rugby union Test rugby will be done here 👍

Rugby 101 - Ed Pye 92 days ago

Joseph and Rennie make a high quality, experienced and complimentary top pair, but what about the wider coaching group?

One of the reasons this sacking has come about is because Razor admitted he didn't have input into the actual coaching and that the coaching group was still learning on the job.

When you look at the total experience of the assistant group, it was fairly weak.

Having experienced coaches like Macdonald leaving left us light. Is he an option to come back?

To address that experience piece, I think they will go with some bigger names in the wider group. Here's my guess...

Head Coach/Forwards: Jamie Joseph

Attack Coach: Dave Rennie

Defence Coach: Tana Umaga

Scrum Coach: Jason Ryan

Lineout: Bryn Evans

SC 91 days ago

Why would you want Joseph as head coach over Rennie?

Karlos G 92 days ago

Yeah me too happy with that setup on paper l guess the proof will be on the field!