With Scott Robertson dismissed, NZ Rugby has launched a 'comprehensive' hunt for the next All Blacks coach. Or so they claim. Despite their assertions of a broad search, involving a five-man panel including notable figures like Board Chair David Kirk and former All Black Keven Mealamu, the whole affair reeks of a well-orchestrated PR charade. They've narrowed the field significantly by insisting on candidates who are New Zealanders with international head coaching experience, a criterion not even Robertson or his predecessor Ian Foster met when they took on the role.
The sudden imposition of these strict criteria has conveniently thinned the herd, with several capable coaches like Tony Brown and Joe Schmidt stepping out of contention. It's a peculiar move, considering the urgency NZ Rugby has expressed about needing a coach who can 'hit the ground running,' as interim CEO Steve Lancaster mentioned. "We simply do not have time for someone to find their feet in international rugby," Lancaster explained.
"We don't believe that at this point in time, we need to go outside of New Zealand candidates,"
Lancaster added, reinforcing the board's preference for homegrown talent.
However, the list of eligible candidates is dwindling fast. High-profile names like Robbie Deans have already declined interest in returning to the international scene, despite some voices like ex-NZ Rugby chief David Moffett advocating for his appointment. "If I was the CEO, I would be getting the winningest coach in recent history by a Kiwi," Moffett stated on Newstalk ZB's Summer Breakfast, pointing out Deans' impressive track record.
What's left now is a shortlist so narrow it might as well be a direct line to Jamie Joseph or Dave Rennie, with the former looking like the frontrunner due to his recent involvement with the All Blacks XV and his successful stint in Japan. The whole scenario seems staged to position a predetermined candidate as the inevitable choice, bypassing a genuinely open selection process.
The transparent thinning of potential coaches under the guise of stringent qualifications not only undermines the credibility of NZ Rugby's search but also hints that the decision might already be made. It's a strategy that appears to be more about managing optics than genuinely exploring all possible leadership avenues for one of the most prestigious roles in world rugby.
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With Scott Robertson dismissed, NZ Rugby has launched a 'comprehensive' hunt for the next All Blacks coach. Or so they claim. Despite their assertions of a broad search, involving a five-man panel including notable figures like Board Chair David Kirk and former All Black Keven Mealamu, the whole affair reeks of a well-orchestrated PR charade. They've narrowed the field significantly by insisting on candidates who are New Zealanders with international head coaching experience, a criterion not even Robertson or his predecessor Ian Foster met when they took on the role.
The sudden imposition of these strict criteria has conveniently thinned the herd, with several capable coaches like Tony Brown and Joe Schmidt stepping out of contention. It's a peculiar move, considering the urgency NZ Rugby has expressed about needing a coach who can 'hit the ground running,' as interim CEO Steve Lancaster mentioned. "We simply do not have time for someone to find their feet in international rugby," Lancaster explained.
"We don't believe that at this point in time, we need to go outside of New Zealand candidates,"
Lancaster added, reinforcing the board's preference for homegrown talent.However, the list of eligible candidates is dwindling fast. High-profile names like Robbie Deans have already declined interest in returning to the international scene, despite some voices like ex-NZ Rugby chief David Moffett advocating for his appointment. "If I was the CEO, I would be getting the winningest coach in recent history by a Kiwi," Moffett stated on Newstalk ZB's Summer Breakfast, pointing out Deans' impressive track record.
What's left now is a shortlist so narrow it might as well be a direct line to Jamie Joseph or Dave Rennie, with the former looking like the frontrunner due to his recent involvement with the All Blacks XV and his successful stint in Japan. The whole scenario seems staged to position a predetermined candidate as the inevitable choice, bypassing a genuinely open selection process.
The transparent thinning of potential coaches under the guise of stringent qualifications not only undermines the credibility of NZ Rugby's search but also hints that the decision might already be made. It's a strategy that appears to be more about managing optics than genuinely exploring all possible leadership avenues for one of the most prestigious roles in world rugby.