All black greats want Joe Schmidt in the coaching mix for the Rugby Championship

Former All Blacks coach Alex Wyllie and former test captain Ian Kirkpatrick believe Joe Schmidt should definitely have a direct role for the Rugby Championship.

Schmidt will replace Grant Fox on the selection panel, but Wyllie and Kirkpatrick think it makes sense for the former Ireland coach to be actively involved in training.

Wyllie, who coached the All Blacks from 1988 to 1991, believes that replacing Ian Foster as head coach at this stage could potentially destabilize the opening test of the Rugby Championship looming in South Africa in early August.

“The change of coach now probably won’t happen at this stage,” he said. “If there is a new coach, does he want to choose new players? All it will do is create more uncertainty [for the players].”

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The draw loss to Ireland is being reviewed by NZ Rugby whose board meets on Wednesday.

Wyllie thinks Foster – whose win rate has dropped to 66.67% after losing seven of 24 tests – will still be in charge, but expects Schmidt to provide valuable input.

“Going forward, Foxy walked out of the selection panel and Schmidt came in. Whether Schmidt will have much to do with training I don’t know, but hopefully he’s brought in so they can use his knowledge. ”

Phil Walter/Getty Images

All Blacks adviser Joe Schmidt discussed tactical points with central midfielder Aaron Smith in training before the first test against Ireland.

Wyllie noted that Foster had brought in Schmidt to help prepare for the first test – won by the All Blacks – when three All Blacks coaches were isolated with Covid-19.

He thought it might indicate an intention “to use him more”.

Kirkpatrick, who played 39 tests from 1967 to 1977 and captained the All Blacks in 1972-73, agrees that a change of coach now could be troubling, but he wants to see Schmidt’s talent put to full use.

“Joe Schmidt is in and he should be used more in the directorial role. I think they’ll want to use his skills… he’s highly rated. He might be able to get something.”

Schmidt – once rated “the best coach on the planet” by former Ireland captain Rory Best – has the potential to help in several areas. He had All Blacks assistant John Plumtree as his attacking coach with Ireland in 2013 and 2014 at a time when Ireland’s maul and driving games were booming, and he is also renowned for improving Ireland’s defence. Team Leinster from Schmidt are also renowned for their expansive backplay winning the PRO-12 award and the European Champions Cup.

While Schmidt will certainly be more than just a picky on the sidelines, Wyllie and Kirkpatrick are aware the players have a responsibility to step up too.

Phil Walter/Getty Images

Captain Sam Cane (centre) and his All Blacks team-mates look dejected after losing the friendly to Ireland.

Wyllie, the All Blacks forward in 11 tests between 1970 and 1973, worries that there appears to be no “real leadership on the pitch”. While he said it was easy to make comments from the sideline, he felt captain Sam Cane ‘didn’t play well for 18 months”.

Kirkpatrick said he would be “hesitating to criticize because we weren’t very fast at the time either”, but the All Blacks’ decline is worrying.

“What do you think, ‘have we got the best team?’ I would say we probably have. It will be a concern that our best players are not good enough.”

He feels “two games is enough to judge” that the All Blacks are now trailing Ireland.

“Watching Ireland in the Six Nations over the last few years, I think their defenders looked better than us.”

Wyllie noted that Ireland were more adept at spreading the ball, and were disappointed by their persistent “one run” and inability to make the break.

Too often, he feels the All Blacks used “a buffer or lock on the first receiver just to hit the ball and set up another phase”, whereas the Irish were seen using the ball and passing it “and putting their players into space”.

Wyllie also felt the All Blacks were “not getting a boost”, especially after the two-handed lineout draw, and he was disappointed by the number of lineout losses in the third test.

He feels they have to stick with specialists at No 8, openside and blindside and feels the injured Ethan Blackadder and Crusaders team-mate Cullen Grace can strengthen the back line.

Elias Rodriguez/Photosport

Akira Ioane of New Zealand scored a try in the third test against Ireland.

Kirkpatrick – one of the All Blacks’ best wings – felt Dalton Papali’i could have the potential to develop into a decent blindside and “fill in for Jerome Kaino”, but he said Akira Ioane – the third goalscorer in the third quarter. test – should be used more.

“If he goes, he’s unstoppable, but I don’t know how much they use him. He’s got the ability to beat people, he’s fast and he’s big, what’s the point of him being there if he’s not used to it anymore.”

Kirkpatrick made his test debut in one of the All Blacks’ all-time greatest teams – a 1967 team that toured England and France – and also played as New Zealand rugby went through a difficult period of rebuilding in the early 70s.

He acknowledged “it’s a different game now” and was “physically and mentally demanding” for the current All Blacks who have to play back-to-back tests. “The harder it is physically, the harder it is mentally.”

Losing to Ireland would “leave them completely mentally shaken”, and going to South Africa for “two on-court tests” at Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) and Ellis Park in Johannesburg will be physically exhausting, but, like Wyllie, he hopes to see a turnaround.

Meanwhile, Laurie Mains – who replaced Wyllie as All Blacks coach in 1992 – told radio show Tova Weekdays on Monday that she could sympathize with the pressure Foster was going through, but something had to change.

“You just have to have the knowledge and determination of rugby, that’s what All Blacks rugby is all about, determination pushing to change things, get it right and start dominating again.”

But Mains reiterated: “I have great sympathy for Ian Foster, he has been a rugby steward for a long time and I believe he always does his best, and I will not be joining the crucifixion party.”

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