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Ex-Ireland skipper who marched into the Shelford All Blacks haka has retired from coaching

(Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ex-London Irish boss Willie Anderson, the captain of the 1989 Ireland side who marched into the All Blacks’ haka in Dublin, has announced his retirement from coaching. The second row, who won 27 Test caps between 1984 and 1990, turned 65 in April and has decided to step away from his latest role at Ulster.  

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Anderson created headlines around the rugby world when he led a v-shaped Ireland advance over the halfway line at Lansdowne Road which resulted in them going nose to nose with Buck Shelford’s New Zealand while they did the haka 31 years ago. 

After retiring as a player, Anderson commenced a lengthy coaching career that included taking over from Clive Woodward at London Irish, and working under Matt Williams at Leinster and Scotland. 

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    He joined Ulster, his native province in 2016, as an Ulster academy and A team forwards coach, assisting the likes Adam McBurney, Tom O’Toole, Ross Kane, Nick Timoney and Matty Rea make the transition from the fringes to becoming part of Dan McFarland’s senior squad. 

    As a native Ulster man, I have always been intensely passionate about my province’s rugby. It has been an honour to be able to give something back to rugby in Ulster during my final years of coaching,” said Anderson, who signs off at the end of June. 

    Ulster CEO Jonny Petrie added: “It’s without a doubt that Willie’s legacy and influence will be felt for many years to come at Ulster. He has made an immeasurable contribution to rugby over the years as both a player and as a coach – and I can say this as someone who benefited first-hand from his exceptional coaching skills.

    “It’s certain that Willie will remain in close contact with us as a club, and we look forward to seeing the seeds of talent which he has planted come to fruition in the years ahead.”

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    C
    CO 10 minutes ago
    Whose ship has sailed before the first All Blacks squad?

    Based on last weekend there should be no Hurricanes loose forwards in the mix, they all seemed poor with the Brumbies once again fantastic at playing and executing as a team. The Hurricanes were also poor in the halves with the ten invisible and Cam Roigard trying to play up tempo, Helter skelter rugby which is what the Brumbies wanted.


    Roigards passing was telegraphic with his running game and sniping non existent, Ratima also appears to be getting metronomic, devoid of flair and his ten went invisible as well.


    If you can't step up at finals then you need to be punished, yes the blues were poor at times this season but they were right on either the last two games when it really matters.


    CWL is a bit larger but both him and Lakai are down on size for an eight and aren't freaks like Savea. Sotutu has to be in the mix and Dalton, but only if they front this Friday night.


    However six is an ongoing issue, Josh Beehre could be an answer to the lack of height in the loose forwards at Allblacks level, his driving try to ice the contest through a decent Chiefs pack was raw determination even with support.


    As for the previous try being ruled out on the flimsiest of technicalities that highlighted everything wrong with the TMO, it wasn't ‘rabbiting’, his knees dropped one after the other and he then brought his shoulders forward to extend and score, big guys can do that, that's why Sotutu has to be in the mix.


    Sititi looked short of a gallop and the Chiefs might be acting a bit too cute with their bench, the coach is saying all the right things but he's in the departure lounge and the signs are there that the Chiefs expected to be the best team in finals simply because they had the best bench.


    They're now under the pump and the winner of this year's super final will almost certainly be whoever wins this Friday in Christchurch.

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