Chris Lendrum: NZR General Manager of High Performance on the Black Ferns performance, Allan Bunting's departure

Allan Bunting is departing as Black Ferns coach. 

New Zealand Rugby has undertaken a review of the side's programme after their third at the World Cup. 

Bunting —who's carried the "Director of Performance" title since 2023— has confirmed he won't apply for the new role. 

An appointment is expected by Christmas. 

NZ Rugby GM of High Performance, Chris Lendrum told Piney that they’re looking for someone who will take the game forward. 

“We didn’t achieve our performance goal at the Rugby World Cup, but everybody could see that the team has flashed it’s brilliance.” 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks EDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Twelve past two. The hunts on for a new Black
Ferns rugby coach. Here go New Zealand again. Close Simons
is up.

Speaker 3 (00:19):
On their feet. Away, guys, Lauda here stolen away. Canada
have got it. Call them underdogs, call them dark horses,
no way, call them Rugby worldcome finalists, Timinan, brilliant, ruthless

(00:49):
and efficient Canada are going to the decider, then into
New Zealand's reign and it is so richly, richly deserved.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yes, New Zealand Rugby has undertaken a review of the
Black Ferns program after their third place finish at the
year's Rugby World Cup, and they will begin a recruitment
process for a new Black Fern's head coach. Incumbent Ellen
Bunting has confirmed he will not reapply. New Zellan Rugby's
general manager of Professional Rugby and Performances Chris Lendrum, who

(01:20):
joins us now. Chris, thanks for taking time for us
as always were you always going to go to the
market for this role After the Rugby World Cup.

Speaker 4 (01:29):
Ron A Pioney nice to talk to you again. Yeah, look,
it was always the plan. I mean, this is a
pinnacle team for us. We've obviously had a short rugby
World Cup cycle two and a half years really since
the twenty twenty two World Cup, and the plan was

(01:51):
we would go to market for the following World Cup cycle.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
And Ellen indicated to you what during the review process
before it after it, that he wouldn't be reapplying.

Speaker 4 (02:05):
Yeah, during the process he indicated that he wanted to
pull stumps at the end of his contract. That's them
that you know, it's tinged with a little bit of
sadness for us because we have such a high regard
for the man and his leadership capabilities. He's unique in

(02:29):
his very special person with an amazing skill set in
terms of growing environments of true authenticity and in performance
has proven winner. As I've said to other people over

(02:50):
the last twenty four hours. You know, he came for
the Black Ferns in twenty two actually as part of
a World Cup winning team there. But people will be
familiar with all the success that he had with a
Black Fern sevens program before you reflect back on the
arc of this time in women's rugby, has probably been

(03:12):
one of the not the pre eminent figure through a
period of real growth and professionalization, and we're immensely grateful
for everything he's done, you know, and now it's the
time to chart a new course and we're pretty excited
about what comes next over the next four years, and

(03:34):
excited because we can think we have it. We can
have a real crack at winning the Maybe World Cup
in twenty twenty nine.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
Do you have a preferred candidate in mind to replace him?

Speaker 4 (03:47):
No, we don't have a preferred candidate. We're very open minded.
We want to see who comes forward through this application process.
It's a critical role for us, it's a great role.
There's wonderful opportunity in front of this team, with new
competitions and tournaments in the Lions Series ahead of us

(04:12):
in the next four years, and there's a fantastic base
of players and staff to work with that you know,
the players are absolutely hungry for coaching and knowledge, incredibly
coachable group, wonderful environment inside the team, and so this

(04:33):
is just a gold plated opportunity for somebody to get
and add to the legacy of the Black fans Jersey.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
Do you want it to be another new Zealander.

Speaker 4 (04:46):
I think it's my preference. I'm just talking personally, probably
their pioneer. We open minded as too as to where
the coach might hail from. But what's non negotiable is
two things. First of all, they have to be able
to demon straight that they can maintain and even enhance

(05:14):
the team environment and the fantastic foundation that's been laid
by Allen and his management team and the players over
the last three years, because we do believe there's been
a great foundation laid there. The second requirement is that
they take the rugby forward. You know, we didn't achieve

(05:38):
our performance goal at Rugby World Cup that everybody could
see that the team has flashed its brilliance and we
know what we're capable of, but we just haven't seen
it all click quite as much as we would want to,
and we have to be honest with ourselves about that
and mouse the opportunity for a coaching group to come

(06:00):
together and pack us to the next level.

Speaker 2 (06:05):
And your press release, you said that it's your intention
to have the role filled by Christmas. It's mid November.
That seems optimistic. Is it realistic?

Speaker 4 (06:17):
I think it's realistic. It's practicality that we all keeps turning.
Our Black fans will be in camp late January early
February starting to get ready for the pack for tournament
against Australia, Canada and the United States which in April.
So we need to keep moving. We want to confirm
the rest of the coaching and management staff around that appointment,

(06:43):
and so we'll see. Yeah, I mean you might say
it's an ambitious timeline. We think it's definitely doable. But
you know, we couldn't find the right candidate for whatever reason,
and I don't expect that to be the case. But
if we can't, then we would take stock.

Speaker 2 (07:01):
I guess with any appointment like this, it's natural to
look at those who are coaching at the at the
elite level, and you you know, you go to Super
Rugby Opicky and look at some of the coaches who
are applying their trade there. Do you believe there'll be
a pool of candidates within Super Rugby Opicky coaching circles
who might you know, be tempted to apply for this role.

Speaker 4 (07:23):
I certainly hope. So, I mean you you look at
the likes of the Willie Walker who took the Black
Serns fifteen. This year. Obviously Whitney Hanson who's been around
the Black Sern's environment previously. She was with the team
and twenty twenty two at the World Cup and has

(07:45):
been leading and doing a great job at Matter two
over the past few years. So you know, those about
a couple of names. There's other senior coaches around the traps.
And we also know when you think about compiling a
team of coaches that there's there's other young player and

(08:08):
players coming to the end of their playing careers or
who have just finished their playing careers and who are
transitioning into cop king who, whether or not with this team,
you know, have an opportunity to grow in the passway
and some of those other areas, whether it's tay Peking
or Black Friends fifteen or Friend seven. So we're pretty excited.

(08:31):
As I said, it's a great role. We may be
surprised by who applies and if so, that'll be exciting too.

Speaker 2 (08:40):
And you said before that it's imperative that whoever comes
in grows the team in terms of the way they
play the game. What are the things that you you
think are required there, Chris. You know we've seen England
and how they've jumped their head. You know of the
chasing pack. Other nations have developed the likes of Canada

(09:01):
and others. What do you want to see need to
see from the black ferns to get us back up
to that top table.

Speaker 4 (09:10):
There's an element pioneer that's learned by doing here. We
haven't played enough rugby in the past three years. It's
one of the themes coming back from the review. We
need more games. We need more opportunity for our players

(09:30):
to practice executing their skills under pressure in chaotic environments
when you've got fifteen other people deliberately trying to mess
you up and the ball numbers are we've played less
test matches than in the last three years than our

(09:51):
main competitors England, Trance and Canada. The global calendar changes
in twenty twenty six and we fix that problem. At
international level. We're still playing less rugby and super rugby
opicky then for example in the PWR competition in England.

(10:12):
But Big Fem is about more more purposeful buying and
just practicing those skill sets, decision making under pressure and
against better opposition, and we're going to have the opportunity
to do that all right.

Speaker 2 (10:32):
Well, hopefully by the time you hang the phone up,
a couple of applications will have arrived in your own
box and it'll be a popular It'll be a popular
proposition for a lot of people. So we look forward
to tracking progress on that and maybe catching up before
Christmas when you've got an announcement to make.

Speaker 4 (10:49):
One hundred percent. Would love to do that, and yes,
I say so. People who are listening to you today
and thinking about applying, I would encourage you to do so.
You know, this is a special special team in a
special role in I wrote that some pretty good art
and just ready to launch. So that's the exciting part

(11:11):
of the next few years.

Speaker 2 (11:12):
Bony always appreciate chadding to you. Chris, thanks for taking
the time this afternoon.

Speaker 4 (11:16):
Mate, have a nice weekend.

Speaker 2 (11:18):
You have a nice weekend too, Chris. Thanks indeed, Chris Lendrum,
there the search is on for a new Black Ferns coach.
New Zealand Rugby's general manager of Professional Rugby and Performance
Chris Lendram. Always good to have him on the show.
So there you go, you can apply. I see it's
they're taking applications through the website. I know it's a
niche position. Be very interesting to see who they come

(11:39):
up with. I would love to see Whitney Hanson given
a go. I must say, I think she's done terrific
work at Matatu these last few years. Just seems as
though she might be ready to take that next step.
A lot of mail around about Willie Walker at the Blues.
Of course he's done brilliantly. A few texts heresay that
Wayne Smith is the man we need back in there. Look,

(12:00):
I'm not sure whether he would have the inclination to reapply.
I think he was sort of one and in twenty
twenty one when he came in and did such amazing work,
twenty twenty two, twenty twenty two, whenever it was when
the Black Ferns won twenty twenty two. I don't think
Wayne Smith would have the appetite to take it on

(12:21):
because you'd have to commit to the next Rugby World
Cup cycle, right, Fozzy and the Ferns has a bit
of a ring to it, says Stephen Well. Who knows?
Who Knows?

Speaker 1 (12:33):
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