Scott Robertson says his coaching relationship with Leon MacDonald ended as it “hasn’t quite clicked” because their rugby philosophies are too different.
New Zealand Rugby announced just before midday today on the eve of the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa that assistant coach MacDonald would step down "by mutual consent".
It is an unexpected development only five Tests into Robertson’s reign as head coach and will create waves in every corner of the rugby world. The players were informed this morning.
“It wasn’t meant to start out this way but this is where we’ve got to,” Robertson said during a six-minute address to the media in Christchurch this afternoon.
“We just feel like it hasn’t quite clicked. It hasn’t quite lined up on the rugby side of it. He’s worked really hard. We’ve just got to this point now.”
Not surprisingly given MacDonald’s employment sensitivities, Robertson wouldn’t get into details such as when the decision was made or whether there was a particular crunch point.
Robertson did say, however, that differences over selection decisions were not an issue.
“A little bit of philosophy on rugby,” Robertson said. “How it’s played. We just didn’t quite click on different aspects.
“We just believed for both of us it’s best for the All Blacks to make the call now.”
Robertson and New Zealand Rugby high performance manager Chris Lendrum both confirmed today that MacDonald, an attack coach with an emphasis on the outside backs, would not be replaced.
Scott Hansen, formerly a defence coach, would join Jason Holland on attack, with Tamati Ellison, formerly a “contact skills” coach, taking on the defence portfolio.
“He’s a good man and good person,” Robertson added of MacDonald. “Sometimes things just don’t click… I believe this is the best thing for us.”
What makes the decision all the more intriguing is that the pair have already enjoyed a successful coaching partnership with the New Zealand Under-20s and the Crusaders.
MacDonald, a former fullback who played with loose forward Robertson at the Crusaders and All Blacks, helped the man known as Razor win a title with the red and blacks in 2017, the first year of Robertson's hugely successful reign.
MacDonald left after one season, ostensibly to spend more time with family in Tasman, before quickly taking up a head coaching role at the Blues.
The other aspect which will raise eyebrows is why it has happened now, on the eve of the toughest trip in the Rugby Championship from an All Blacks’ perspective – two Tests in South Africa against the world champion Springboks.
Robertson hinted that the timing was the result of an employment process, adding “the big thing for us is that our focus heads to South Africa now. We’ll have the conversations required with the players and get around them if we need to".
The MacDonald affair carries echoes to this time two years ago under Ian Foster's reign when John Plumtree and Brad Mooar were sacked after the Ireland series defeat before two Tests in South Africa, but those two assistants were the victims of a process carried out due to underperformance.
Robertson and Lendrum today insisted that was not the case with MacDonald, who, after helping Robertson coach the team to four Test victories and one loss, hardly had a chance to prove himself anyway.
In that respect, the decision to part ways so early into a campaign must be classed as unprecedented in All Blacks’ history.
There will inevitably be questions about how Robertson and MacDonald suddenly discovered they were incompatible, but also the make-up of Robertson's coaching team, a large number of which consists of Holland, Hansen, Ellison, plus forwards coach Jason Ryan and a lineout and kicking coach.
Asked about whether the fallout would affect the players, Robertson said: “It’s everything you consider when you make these decisions. For us it’s important we have our eye on the Springboks and prepare them well - at a world class level - as coaches.”
He added that he would be happy to see MacDonald coach another international team. “Wish him all the best.”
Queried on the timing, Lendrum said: "It’s not Plan A is it? The team is travelling in the next 24 hours. They’ll hit South Africa with clear heads. My experience with the team is they won’t tend to get too fazed by this. Obviously they will be there for Leon but they’ve got a massive job ahead of them.
"I’m not worried at all about that, I back the team to get it right."
SHARE ME