New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

[Dan54]

Rangi reportedly in talks to take on the Scotland gig:

Super Rugby coach in talks with Scotland

High-flying Scotland ready to ditch coach for former All Black.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Interesting if he does WOB, wouldn't be against it, could help with the CV.

 

[zer0]

B.Barrett could be back for 2025-2027.

Beauden Barrett has revealed he can see himself playing at least four more years for the All Blacks and has admitted the security of a long-term deal holds definite appeal for someone at the stage of career he is.

...

The 31-year-old, 112-cap All Black has even refused to close the door on a return to the Super Rugby Pacific competition, confirming he views his looming second stint in Japan as an interlude that allows him time to make an informed and objective decision on his future. “The proposal at this stage is to go up north and then come back for three years,” Barrett told Stuff. “That’s what another cycle looks like. It’s whether I’m up for that, or whether this World Cup I’m gone for good. There is a lot to consider.”

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Could certainly still be a valuable addition to NZ rugby, but would surely have to be either as an impact player for the Blues, or, if he insists on starting, at another franchise. Makes absolutely no sense for the Blues to risk losing Perofeta (25) or Sullivan (22) for a 30+ Barrett.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ a man can dream, I s'pose...

 

[Dan54]

B.Barrett could be back for 2025-2027.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Could certainly still be a valuable addition to NZ rugby, but would surely have to be either as an impact player for the Blues, or, if he insists on starting, at another franchise. Makes absolutely no sense for the Blues to risk losing Perofeta (25) or Sullivan (22) for a 30+ Barrett.

Spot at the Canes for him, he can come and play with Jordie, and Scott needs to remember Canes is where their old man played!!!!

 

[Dan54]

Real pleased to read that the AB XV are touring Japan in July for a couple of games against Japan.
Excellent!

 

[KiwiM]

Stevenson would have made the AB coaches take notice last night - cripes he was good.

 

[zer0]

Rangi reportedly in talks to take on the Scotland gig:

Super Rugby coach in talks with Scotland

High-flying Scotland ready to ditch coach for former All Black.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Following up on this...

In a clear signal that change is coming, the Blues and MacDonald have, however, reached an understanding that allows both parties to explore their options beyond this year. Blues chief executive Andrew Hore was reluctant to further overshadow Super Rugby’s opening weekend when approached by the Herald but he confirmed plans are underway to futureproof the franchise’s progress in recent years.

...

In terms of a potential replacement for MacDonald the Herald understands Dave Rennie and Vern Cotter are in the mix, should the Blues elect to install an experienced mentor. Robbie Deans is said to have been shortlisted when New Zealand Rugby was on the verge of sacking Ian Foster last year. Joe Schmidt, who worked alongside MacDonald last season before joining the All Blacks mid-year, could be available next year, too.

Internally, Blues assistant Daniel Halangahu is highly regarded as a potential Super Rugby head coach. So, too, is defence coach Craig McGrath while Tana Umaga, who returns this season, has filled the role previously.

Untangling the web: Kiwi Super Rugby teams prepare for coaching upheaval

Three of NZ’s leading Super Rugby franchises may soon be seeking a new head coach.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Lot of names thrown around there. Cotter or Schmidt would be my choice, but Deans would be pretty meme-worthy.

 

[zer0]

That piece also touches on the Crusaders and Hurricanes.

The situation at the Crusaders is more complex in that their head coach and expected preferred replacement are something of a package deal. While Robertson is contracted to the Crusaders until 2024, he has made his intentions clear that this will be his final season.

Crusaders assistant Scott Hansen is understood to be the leading candidate to replace Robertson, having led significant aspects of the hands-on coaching at the franchise in the past three years. Hansen, who can oversee attack and defence, has international experience after working with Canada and Japan, and he impressed last November in MacDonald’s coaching team with the All Blacks XV. Yet such is the tangled web surrounding Robertson, his potential accession to the All Blacks throne is expected to take Hansen with him.

With that scenario front of mind until New Zealand Rugby appoints the next All Blacks coach, the Crusaders are left plotting layers upon layers of contingency planning that is understood to include engaging three potential replacement head coaches.

The likes of Rob Penney, Todd Blackadder, Deans and Cotter are therefore considered strong possibilities to assume the reins if Robertson and Hansen depart. Former All Blacks midfielder Tamati Ellison is a Super Rugby head coach in the waiting but after being unveiled to lead the Wellington NPC side next year, while continuing his assistant role at the Crusaders, his time will come.

Bring Blackadder back pls.

The next All Blacks coaching appointment looms large over the Hurricanes, too, with Jason Holland firmly in Robertson’s test plans. The Hurricanes aren’t as advanced as the Blues and Crusaders in their succession planning yet. They are instead working towards an early April timeframe when they expect the All Blacks appointment to bring certainty about Holland’s future beyond this year.

If Holland moves on, the Hurricanes could attempt to lure Palmerston North-based Rennie who led Wellington to the NPC title in 2000. Former Hurricanes coaches John Plumtree is sitting idle after being cast aside by the All Blacks last year while Chris Boyd is in a mentoring role at the Highlanders. Promoting respected forwards coach Chris Gibbes, who guided Waikato and Wellington before assisting Holland with the Hurricanes, is another option.

 

[KiwiM]

The 2024 AB coach to be confirmed in the next 4-6 weeks.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[zer0]

"Following wide-ranging consultation and after carefully weighing up all scenarios and the key lessons from 2019, New Zealand Rugby is now commencing a process for selecting the All Blacks Head Coach from 2024."

Would be interesting to see what the 'key lessons from 2019' are within the context of appointing the next HC pre-RWC. Noting that Rennie was appointed to the Wallabies pre-RWC, thereby removing him from AB contention...

 

[KiwiM]

"Following wide-ranging consultation and after carefully weighing up all scenarios and the key lessons from 2019, New Zealand Rugby is now commencing a process for selecting the All Blacks Head Coach from 2024."

Would be interesting to see what the 'key lessons from 2019' are within the context of appointing the next HC pre-RWC. Noting that Rennie was appointed to the Wallabies pre-RWC, thereby removing him from AB contention...

Jamie Joseph is another who took himself out of contention last time due to timing.

Jamie Joseph is in contention this time by all accounts.......

 

[KiwiM]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1630777066957447168

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Joe Schmidt reportedly contemplating applying for AB coach. Behind the Hurld paywall but here's a pic of the hard copy:

 

[RebelYell]

It would be the most NZRU thing ever to appoint Schmidt

 

[zer0]

There's nothing more than that in the online version, as far as I can tell.

It does mention his epileptic son, which was the main reason he returned to NZ and took a break from coaching. idk where he lives but, given he worked with the Blues, I'd guess it's Auckland. Assuming that is the case, let him become Blues HC.

EDIT: In saying that, I was well and truly on the Cotter + Schmidt (as it was then) bandwagon for 2011, so would be interesting to see that come to fruition, albeit a decade late. Ryan was originally supposed to work with Cotter's Fiji for the RWC, so that indicates there would be space to retain Ryan in a Schmidt + Cotter setup.

 

[zer0]

Regardless. It seems pretty much any of the realistic options would be far better than the previous two regimes.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

ScoBar has re-signed through to 2025. He's 29 now so you'd think this is his last NZR contract before heading to Japan.

 

[zer0]

Schmidt not applying for the ABs role.

“I have really enjoyed being back on the grass coaching with the Blues and the All Blacks,” [Schmidt] said. “I very much appreciate those opportunities, but presented with a condensed time frame this year, I won’t be applying for any coaching roles that extend beyond the Rugby World Cup. In the shorter term, I will work hard to support the All Blacks in 2023.”

It’s understood that timing and personal reasons were a significant factor in Schmidt’s decision, hence his reference to “a condensed time frame this year” in his statement. Had the process occurred after the Rugby World Cup, Schmidt may well have applied after receiving significant encouragement to do so in the past week. However, the 57-year-old ... ultimately decided the timing wasn’t right to put himself or his family through the rigorous selection process over the next month.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[zer0]

Joe Schmidt Blues HC tenure incoming. Robertson leaving. No Ryan. Whitelock retiring. Mo'unga jumping ship. Cantabs in absolute shambles.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ it's alright @zer0 the Cantabs may be in shambles but as long as there's enough Mako in the squad the CruSadists will be OK. Thanks for the concern, but