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What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role
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What is the point in Jason Holland sticking around with the All Blacks
I can’t say the Jason Holland situation has endeared me to the All Blacks.
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No, news that the team’s set-piece attack and backs coach will leave his post after this Grand Slam tour has rather soured things for me.
First things first, I like Holland. He’s affable, interesting and brimming with ideas and enthusiasm.
Holland loves the game, thinks deeply about it and, again, is just a thoroughly decent fellow.
He just shouldn’t be in Chicago with the All Blacks this week.
If you’re off, you’re off, with no boost to your air points account and no last hurrah with the boys.
When Holland announced he was not seeking reappointment to his position, he should’ve been thanked for his services and left at home. If he needs replacing, then a new coach should’ve been named in his place.
If his vacancy isn’t going to be filled – and at this stage the ever-enigmatic All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson hasn’t said either way – then what use is Holland on this trip?
Once you tell everyone you’re gone, you become irrelevant. Your opinion carries no weight with your colleagues, let alone the players you’re allegedly coaching.
Holland’s less relevant than a relief teacher now.
Where his imminent departure matters is in the pattern that’s emerging. First Leon MacDonald walked the plank and now Holland, which is hardly a ringing endorsement of life within the All Blacks.
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History tells us that the quickest route to the most lucrative and prestigious job in New Zealand sport is via a successful stint as an assistant.
Continuity has become king at New Zealand Rugby, with the preferred method of appointing head coaches being to elevate one of their staff.
When an assistant – and in this case we’ve now got two – decides that pathway is not for them, it makes you wonder if coaching the All Blacks isn’t quite as appealing as we imagine it to be.
So that’s that part of the equation.
The other is that we’re not losing Wayne Smith here. Holland’s area of influence would have to be the least impressive aspect of the All Blacks’ play since Robertson and this coaching team took charge.
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Everyone can see that, which makes you sceptical about whether Holland is really jumping here, rather than being pushed.
If that’s the case, then I go back to the notion that a replacement ought to have been identified, appointed and given this tour to try and unlock the All Blacks’ attack.
Whatever the truth, this is all very untidy. Shambolic even. And further reinforces the idea that this is a team light on leadership and strategic thinking.
We’ve seen panic of this nature before, going back to 1991 when John Hart was hurriedly added to Alex Wyllie’s staff, despite evidence they were poles apart as people and coaches.
We had Brad Mooar and John Plumtree jettisoned from Ian Foster’s coaching team, but at least Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan were immediately named to replace them.
The only planning in evidence here was to spring this on the public and hurriedly board a flight to Chicago, safe in the knowledge the minimal media contingent on tour wouldn’t demand many answers.
I find that rather cynical.
Look, I want the All Blacks to do well on this trip. I’d love them to thrash each of the home nations, bowl us all over with the quality and bravery of their rugby and announce to the world that New Zealand is once again the game’s preeminent test nation.
It’s just that things haven’t exactly started on the right foot.