Ex-All Blacks coach Smith comes to Scotland to share secrets of success

Published on 25/09/2012 02:45

ONE of New Zealand’s foremost coaches will be in Scotland next month to offer advice to Scottish coaches only weeks before the All Blacks arrive.

Wayne Smith is a long-time friend of Gregor Townsend and, after the new Glasgow head coach spent time with Smith in New Zealand prior to taking over at the Warriors, Smith agreed to repay the compliment and come to Scotland to share his ideas.

The former All Black, who played stand-off against Scotland at Murrayfield in the famous 25-25 draw of 1983, was New Zealand head coach in 2000-1 and had three seasons at Northampton before he returned to the Test arena as New Zealand assistant alongside Graham Henry in 2004, where he remained until last year’s World Cup success.

He quit this year to return to more hands-on coaching with the Waikato Chiefs and duly led the Hamilton side to its first Super Rugby title. He turned down a lucrative request from England coach Stuart Lancaster to join his team earlier this year to stay in the North Island.

But when the SRU came calling, he was more than happy to fix up a fortnight’s trip in the land of his forefathers.

“I’m really excited to visit Scotland and share some ideas,” he said. “I have Scottish heritage and have always cherished touring here in the past with the All Blacks.

“Every coach has different thoughts on how to play the game and hopefully my Antipodean ideas will stir some interest. In my experience, every time you share an idea, you get a few back. From that perspective, I’m sure we’ll have some great conversations over the two weeks and we’ll all get something from them.”

The SRU confirmed that Smith will spend a week with Glasgow Warriors and a week at Edinburgh and present four workshops in that time to coaches of pro, club, age-grade, schools and youth teams.

Workshops for first XV coaches with National League, Championship League and Regional Division clubs and club and school under-18 coaches will take place on Monday 22 October at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow and on Monday 29 October at Murrayfield, both from 7pm to 9.30pm.

Workshops for coaches in the professional teams, RBS Premier Division, national age-grade teams and other selected SRU staff will take place on Wednesday 24 October at Scotstoun and Wednesday 31 October at Murrayfield.

Graham Lowe, the SRU’s Director of Performance Rugby, said: “We are delighted that Wayne will be spending time with our pro clubs, but for us it’s also important that those who are coaching in our clubs and schools have the opportunity to hear his ideas and get the chance to chat around best practice in one of the key areas of the game – the breakdown.”

The SRU’s Coaching Development Manager Jock Peggie added: “We are offering first XV coaches at under-18, school and adult club level the chance to hear at first hand the principles and strategies employed by a world-class expert in the game.

“By the end of each of the workshops, coaches will have an understanding of Wayne’s principles and strategies in try-scoring trends, defensive structure, getting the ball back in the tackle and recognising when the circumstances are right to counter-ruck. This is an extension to the work undertaken by our own Eddie Pollock under his specialist skills programme where a number of Scotland’s top coaches deliver sessions around the country.

“Having Wayne here supplements our existing education and development opportunities. He’s looking mainly at the tackle area, which is a very important part of the game, and I would say to all club coaches that there’s a great chance to take what you believe could work for you and your team from what he has to say.”

Scotland face New Zealand in the first EMC Test at Murrayfield on Sunday 11 November, and tickets are on sale from £10 for students and under-18s and from £20 for adults, with a special group offer of £40 for eight under-18s and two adults who apply through a local youth group or sports club.