Amidst the fresh composition of the All Blacks coaching staff, Stephen Donald is hammering down the assertion that the team won't start mirroring the playing style typically seen in northern hemisphere rugby, despite the new appointment of Mike Blair as attack coach. With a predominantly Kiwi coaching ensemble, head coach Dave Rennie’s decision to bring in Blair, a former Scotland scrum-half with whom he has previously collaborated at Glasgow Warriors and Kobelco Kobe Steelers, marks a notable shift. This move has stirred curiosity about the potential evolution of the All Blacks' style as the Test season looms.
Under the previous leadership of Scott Robertson, the team faced criticism for a perceived lackluster style, spotlighting the importance of revitalizing their attack strategy under Blair’s guidance. Quick to win over the fans, Blair’s challenge is to inject dynamism back into the All Blacks’ back play. Donald, while cautious in his praise, expressed strong confidence in Rennie’s judgment. “How the All Blacks play is important. There was a time where All Blacks fans weren’t just happy with wins, it was how they looked,” Donald remarked on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.
"It’s play what you see and use all our natural talent, the vision and the passing – the pass and catch of all the players, not just the backs."
Despite the integration of a northern hemisphere coach, Donald underscores a significant caveat tied to Rennie’s leadership. “It is interesting that we’ve got a northern hemisphere attack coach but, and I will put in a big but, Rens has clearly got him because he’s worked with him and trusts him,” he continued. With a coaching staff that includes figures like Neil Barnes and Tana Umaga, Donald remains optimistic about maintaining the All Blacks' distinctive flair.
"In Rens we trust, he’s picked him for a reason, I’m very, very sure he will be on the same page."
Donald also stressed that Blair, aligned closely with Rennie’s vision, is unlikely to deviate from the head coach’s strategies. Their prior collaboration suggests a seamless integration. “He’s not going to be able to go rogue, away from what Rens wants. The fact that they’ve worked together, they will already be in tune,” Donald added, highlighting the importance of a unified coaching vision as they head towards the World Cup.
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Amidst the fresh composition of the All Blacks coaching staff, Stephen Donald is hammering down the assertion that the team won't start mirroring the playing style typically seen in northern hemisphere rugby, despite the new appointment of Mike Blair as attack coach. With a predominantly Kiwi coaching ensemble, head coach Dave Rennie’s decision to bring in Blair, a former Scotland scrum-half with whom he has previously collaborated at Glasgow Warriors and Kobelco Kobe Steelers, marks a notable shift. This move has stirred curiosity about the potential evolution of the All Blacks' style as the Test season looms.
Under the previous leadership of Scott Robertson, the team faced criticism for a perceived lackluster style, spotlighting the importance of revitalizing their attack strategy under Blair’s guidance. Quick to win over the fans, Blair’s challenge is to inject dynamism back into the All Blacks’ back play. Donald, while cautious in his praise, expressed strong confidence in Rennie’s judgment. “How the All Blacks play is important. There was a time where All Blacks fans weren’t just happy with wins, it was how they looked,” Donald remarked on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.
"It’s play what you see and use all our natural talent, the vision and the passing – the pass and catch of all the players, not just the backs."
Despite the integration of a northern hemisphere coach, Donald underscores a significant caveat tied to Rennie’s leadership. “It is interesting that we’ve got a northern hemisphere attack coach but, and I will put in a big but, Rens has clearly got him because he’s worked with him and trusts him,” he continued. With a coaching staff that includes figures like Neil Barnes and Tana Umaga, Donald remains optimistic about maintaining the All Blacks' distinctive flair.
"In Rens we trust, he’s picked him for a reason, I’m very, very sure he will be on the same page."
Donald also stressed that Blair, aligned closely with Rennie’s vision, is unlikely to deviate from the head coach’s strategies. Their prior collaboration suggests a seamless integration. “He’s not going to be able to go rogue, away from what Rens wants. The fact that they’ve worked together, they will already be in tune,” Donald added, highlighting the importance of a unified coaching vision as they head towards the World Cup.