All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan says Leon MacDonald’s coaching future will have to be overseas after exiting as the All Blacks assistant coach yesterday.
In a shock move, New Zealand Rugby announced MacDonald was stepping down from the role under All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson five tests into the season, and just a week out from their Rugby Championship test against South Africa.
“It’s unbelievable...incredible courage I believe on behalf of both of them,” Kirwan told the Mike Hosking Breakfast on Newstalk ZB.
“If it’s not working out because the status quo would be probably stay there, finish the season. But for them to move on this quicker, I think it’s the best thing for the team.”
‘Some people just can’t be assistants’
Kirwan said there were probably two main reasons for MacDonald to walk away from the role.
“Probably a lack of philosophy around how they are attacking. Once you don’t agree on how they’re going to attack it’s pretty hard to mend,” he told Hosking.
“And the second thing is, I think some people just can’t be assistants as well. Leon’s been a head coach now for a while, and so it’s hard to sometimes go back to being assistant.
Regardless of the timing of his exit, MacDonald will now be highly sought after by any side in need of a coach.
At Super Rugby level, MacDonald led the Blues in 69 games during his four-year tenure, for 45 wins, 23 defeats and a draw.
The Herald understands MacDonald turned down an approach from Scotland in order to sign on with Robertson and the All Blacks.
“I think he’d probably have to go offshore, now. There’s no jobs left in New Zealand,” Kirwan added.
The All Blacks face the Springboks at Ellis Park next Sunday in their first meeting since the Rugby World Cup final. That is followed by a second test a week later in Cape Town. Kirwan said losing a coach midseason shouldn’t be a major disruption for the players.
“I don’t think the players will be affected too much. I think they’ll just carry on. I don’t think he’s going to be replaced, so it’ll be one less voice.
“He’s [Robertson’s] got enough people in there to fill the gap. I just think they’ll carry on.”
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Episode Transcript
So one out of left field back home with the
All Black. So it turns out Leon McDonald Scott Robertson
aren't on the same page coaching. Why so Leon's gone?
They played together, coach together, the whole thing. So it
seems to have come out of left Field's John Cowan's
with us on this John Morning.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Mike, how are you mate?
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Were you as surprised as anyone?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Yeah? It was. That's unbelievable, incredible courage. I believe on
behalf of both of them if it's not working out,
because the status quo would be probably stay there finish
the season. But you know, for them to move on
this quicker, I think it's the best thing for the team.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
What what's happened? Do you think given they know each
other and Razor picked Leon and they're all you know,
how does that break down?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah? I think probably a lack of philosophy around how
they are attacking. So once you sort of don't agree
on how they're going to attack, it's pretty hard to mend.
And the second thing is, I think some people just
can't be assistants as well. So you know, I think
Leon's been a head coach now for a while and
so it's hard to sometimes go back to being assistant.
(01:04):
So I think it'll be those two things.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Okay, is it a razor lead thing. I'm the head coach,
therefore I get what I want and if you can't
fit in with that, you must go. Is that how
it works generally?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well, I don't often be as half as that, but
pretty much I'm the boss. You know, if it's not working,
then we're going to move on pretty quickly.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
What happens to Leon giving he's actually quite good.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, I think he probably have to go ashore now
there's no jobs left in New Zealand, so he probably
have to go shore and get a job.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
And how would that affect the players?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
I don't think the players will all be affected too much.
I think they'll just carry on. I don't think he's
going to be replaced, so it'll be one less voice.
They'll just move on.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
And do you see it as a gap.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
No, I don't say this as a gap. I think
he's got enough coaching staff. He's got enough people in there,
you know, to fill the gap. I just think they'll
carry on.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And for the record, John Kerwan this Friday morning, two
games in South Africa. The final result will be what.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I'd love to say to Noel, but I think, well,
if we can get one, I'd be incredibly happy. This
is just an incredible South African side. Might they are
just so good at the moment, but we've got to
have a great mindset, get over there and really take
them on physics. We've played to our best. It's going
to be one of the one of the best series
of Can't Wait, Mike, Can't Wait. Don't know what the
(02:24):
result's going to be, which is all part of it, right, Yes,
it is.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Indeed, you have a good weekend, appreciate your time as away.
So John Coo and former All Black with us this morning.
For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to
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