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Leon MacDonald's 'inevitable' All Blacks exit is a win and a loss
By Ned Lester
Scott Robertson fronted media on Thursday shortly after the announcement of All Blacks assistant coach Leon MacDonald stepping down in the hopes of ending any speculation around the departure, but some big questions remain.
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Just five games into the new coaching regime’s tenure, a parting of ways was anything but expected, especially from a coaching group selected on familiarity.
Each of the coaches in the current crop have joined forces with Robertson previously in their coaching journeys, and the head coach was clear he had assembled his top-choice group when assuming the reins as Ian Foster’s successor.
Even with that in mind, New Zealand commentator Tony Johnson said while he was “initially” surprised by the announcement, there were signs that the assembly may not be as harmonious as intended.
“The more you look into it, you start to think it was probably inevitable – maybe just not quite so soon – that it was going to happen,” he told RNZ.
“I find it a little bit baffling to hear it said that they just didn’t click when you consider that these two have worked or played together over a 27-year span; Canterbury, Crusaders, All Blacks, New Zealand age group – the U20s back in 2015.
“It’s worth remembering that Leon MacDonald left his job when assistant to Robertson at the Crusaders in 2017, initially it was said it was for family reasons but clearly, you have to think there were some differences that have resurfaced, perhaps even expanded given MacDonald’s time as a head coach in the interim, and these have proved irreconcilable.
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“You do have to wonder who thought that it was going to work in the first place.”
The broadcaster likened MacDonald’s swift exit to “squabbling parents” avoiding arguments in front of their children.
He said ultimately, arriving at this conclusion as soon as they have is a positive and both sides deserve credit for putting the team first.
“I think what they have done is the right thing,” he added. “I know it’s only five games in but clearly they’ve realised that something wasn’t going to work, that there was a potential for this to be… it will be unsettling for the players, particularly those who have a relationship with Leon MacDonald.
“But the potential was there for it to be more unsettling, damaging even if it was going to continue. The players would be very well aware of the fact that two of their coaches didn’t see eye to eye, so they have done the right thing by nipping it in the bud rather than letting it fester on.”
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Fans online appeared to receive the news well, with many noting the contrast in situations to the last time an All Blacks assistant coach left the team; 2022’s dismissal of Brad Mooar and John Plumtree after a string of bad results forced Ian Foster’s hand.
A more proactive approach while sitting at an 80 per cent win rate on the year has left the Kiwi faithful feeling relatively optimistic ahead of one of the sport’s great challenges; playing the Springboks in South Africa.
Johnson said while Robertson answered the big questions well, claiming it just didn’t click with MacDonald, some questions remain.
“I think the other factor is that they’ve got a very large coaching staff, too large in the eyes of many and some of the feedback we’re getting, the rumble is that the players were rather taken aback by the number of different voices, the amount of information they were being fed early on.
“The other thing is too that when you’ve got that many coaches, there’s always the potential that the others, there was a chance they were going to trip over each other and also that someone might feel a little marginalised. I wonder whether that may be the case here.”
Whatever the case, the All Blacks now find themselves en route to Johannesburg with eight days to put the news behind them and prepare for round three of the Rugby Championship at altitude.
“They now have to get over this pretty quickly and convince themselves they’re on the right track ahead of a very tough trip to South Africa.”
I think that the Blues have recruited coaches on their name for years (JK, Tana, Leon) rather than actual coaching credentials. None convinced me there and I was really surprised at Leon to ABs. TBH same with Holland, neither had won anything. Razor has always looked outside rugby and his coaching set up resembles an NFL team. A new management team this large will always take time to come together, in sport or business, plus new players, plus imperative to win every test or face howls of outrage. How the team is performing by year end really is when opinions should be formed.
How will the players respond to Robertson compared to how they responded to an under pressure Foster, with an axe hanging over his head, in SA?
Robertson has zero Int. experience and is just starting out compared to Wily Coyote who has World Rugby on full alert for his next "interpretation" of the laws and rules of rugby.
The only surprise to me is why was MacDonald selected in the first place? His record with the Blues should have been enough evidence.
Robertson clearly didn't appreciate how living in Auckland can wear away those former impeccable Crusader skills and values?
As ever this will reviewed retrospectively with the benefit of perfect hindsight vision, deemed a master stroke if the results against the Boks go razor’s way, or a disaster if they don’t. Win and he’s well on his way with momentum behind a renewed focus, Leon who?? However, heading home with tails between legs on the back of two losses and the inquests will start. Why did he appoint MacDonald in the first place, selection was wrong, game plan not clear, players unhappy etc etc etc…
Personally I struggle to see how the Boks don’t prevail here. They have continuity, balance and clarity from top to bottom across their set up, aspects the ABs can only look at with envy right now. There’s even a possibility Nick Bishops end of year prediction might actually start to look like a thing!!!
Razor has made the right call. MacDonald's coaching record over 117 games, with 3 teams. S/R 67.5%. Schmidt's is 70% over 82 games and Jamie Joseph 220 games over 7 teams with 54%. Former head coaches don't make good assistants.
How any of them can work with the NZRFU amazes me.
It's pretty obvious to me that there seems to be a Canterbury V The Rest split in the All Blacks, with the Barrett brothers and De Groot, being the exceptions.
Couple that with the Auckland boys pissed at Leon and then Ardie Savea, who couldn't Lead Ivy up a wall and we are lucky to win 4 out of 5. Great player just not a captain.
We seem to come right in S. A. when there are outside pressures are upon the team.
I really struggle with South Africa being lauded as the best team in the World.
They won the World Cup by one point, when Captain Cane was sent off. We played for 50 minutes with 14 men. Cane cost us the World Cup.
Why is this man back in the All Blacks?
I think we WIN 2 -0 in South Africa. Razor needs to be Razor and don't bend to the NZRFU, especially that weak gutted, Mark Robinson.
A lot of South African players will retire when the All Blacks "demolish" them 2 - 0
I admire your optimism
It would be an upset if the ABs won either test but we do still have some excellent players
The Boks are a settled team with loads of talent and who know how to win close games
In saying that they struggling to put the 14 man ABs away so I don’t believe they are as dominant as all the Boks fans and media are raving on about
For a start the Irish shorn of a number of first choice players beat them at home in the last game
Cane is still the best 7 in NZ until Peter Lakai is ready.
That was a very, very unlucky red card in the final. Kriel changed direction when cane was retreating, rugby instincts are to make a tackle not dive out of the way. It was a reaction.
I'm interested to know where you think the 2024 ABs have advantages over this present Bok side? Or if you've been able to identify their gameplan yet? There is certainly the potential there to be world's best team - next couple of weeks seems a tad early IMO
Can’t share your optimism for the ABs chances-should be regulation comfortable wins for the Boks in both games.
Inevitable teething problems!
ABs are going to Ellis Park as vulnerable, if not more, than Bombela. THE BIG TASK is to block out the noise and focus on that game. Not going to be easy.
I suspect a similar storyline to Bombela and a bounce back at Cape Town. Best case scenario for the ABs.
The task for the boks. Don’t let them bounce back in Cape Town. Stay on them. Keep them down. Not going to be easy.
Riveting.
Ellis Park holds a very special place in the New Zealand rugby psychology.
A win there fixes a lot of problems as far as the public goes. Hell, it even saved Fozzies job a couple of years back.
If that game was in cape town he probably would have been fired.
We have been asking for innovation from the All Blacks pretty much since 2015, Razor was handed the job on the premise that he is a peerless man manager, and motivator. Which I believe he is, however the loss to Argentina has put everyone on edge, I think most All Black fans were expecting a clean sweep to give us a head of steam and confidence heading to the republic to face an excellent Springbok team, one of their best ever. Losing MacDonald now raises the anxiety levels for fans, as we question if Razor has made the right call. I believe we need to win at least one of the tests in South Africa, two wins? not beyond the realms of possibility but highly unlikely. Advantage Boks on recent form in the first wo games of the Championship, nervous times for AB's fans again.
The amount of fluff for Robertson and abuse for Foster was totally unbalanced in both cases - neither deserved. The loss to Argentina was a wake up call for OTT Robertson fans.
SA seem hot favs but they have been so many times before and still the overall win ratio is in NZs corner.
No big questions remain for me. It's done, let's move on.
well at least the decision has been made remember the hart whylie sitution in 1991 and the plumtree moore sitution with foster
Scott Robertson fronted after making an executive decision and in my opinion the loss in Wellington and the last 33 minutes at fortress Eden Park probably the main issues that sealed the deal...player comments about stripping back playbook strategies now has one less contributor to their information overload....Go the AB's...play smarter not harder... a clearer mind, keener focus with attitude at altitude approach...or not...