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'Becoming like the Warriors': All Blacks compared to New Zealand's 'mediocre' NRL side

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images and Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Former Kiwis coach Tony Kemp has questioned whether the All Blacks are heading the same way as the New Zealand Warriors, the NRL club that has underperformed long-term and been associated with mediocrity.

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The stunning comparison comes after the All Blacks have won just one of their last five tests, including losing a historic three-match home series to Ireland, which is well below the standard they have set over the last decade.

In the four wins they have achieved over their last nine outings, two of those include wins over Italy and the USA, while the side has slipped to fourth in the world rankings.

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All Blacks post-match press conference

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All Blacks post-match press conference

Kemp, a former professional rugby league player and coach, offered his thoughts on the All Blacks predicament on the SENZ Breakfast radio show and asked whether the NZR are doing what is right for the side’s success.

“Are they becoming like the Warriors, or too similar to the Warriors with the way that they’re picking their coaches who just aren’t up to scratch?” Kemp said on SENZ Breakfast.

“For me, it’s a really big time to really think about that and iron out the issue before they have the same systemic problem, which is what the Warriors do in hiring mediocrity as part of the system.

“If you have a look at Ian Foster, he’s come through the All Black coaching ranks, yes he’s had some success as an assistant coach, but assistant coaches don’t always make good coaches.

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“His team around him … are they the best (people) … John Plumtree and co, to get the job done?”

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Ian Foster selected John Plumtree, who had just taken over the Hurricanes head coaching role after a long time as an assistant there, along with former Crusaders coach Brad Mooar, and defence coach Scott McLeod as his support staff.

In the case of Plumtree and Mooar, they were part of championship-winning Crusaders and Hurricanes sides as assistants, but had not led Super Rugby teams before.

Foster himself coached the Chiefs to a Super Rugby final but came up short, torn apart 61-17 by a rampant Bulls side in the 2009 Super Rugby final.

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With the calibre of New Zealand coaches around the world, Kemp called the current staff ‘second-rate’ which warranted comparisons to the Warriors.

“Dave Rennie – Australian coach, Razor (Scott) Robertson … Wayne Smith – he’s in there in the women’s team, you’ve got Shag (Sir Steve Hansen) – he’s gone, you’ve got Robbie Deans,” Kemp continued.

“You’ve got all these great New Zealand coaches and yet what we’ve come up with for the All Black team, I think, is nothing but second-rate.

“It’s about putting the best team together. If we can’t do that, then you’re going down the same road as the Warriors.

“You’re just accepting mediocrity as a way forward and hopefully it will get you across the line.”

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Andrew 855 days ago

Just one clarification on what is an otherwise a good article. John Plumtree has been head coach of a Super Rugby team. He was coach of the Sharks Super 14 side in about 2009.

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JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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