1 00:00:06,693 --> 00:00:10,053 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Simon Barnett and James Daniels Afternoons 2 00:00:10,093 --> 00:00:12,013 Speaker 1: podcast from News Talk z'd be. 3 00:00:12,813 --> 00:00:15,893 Speaker 2: Another big story is that of Leon McDonald, all Blacks 4 00:00:15,893 --> 00:00:18,533 Speaker 2: assistant coach and Scott Robertson, head coach of the All 5 00:00:18,573 --> 00:00:21,933 Speaker 2: Blacks parting way. So Leon is not going to remain 6 00:00:22,013 --> 00:00:23,973 Speaker 2: with the group when they attempt to win a couple 7 00:00:23,973 --> 00:00:26,853 Speaker 2: of tests in South Africa. So something's happened. Here here's 8 00:00:26,853 --> 00:00:28,813 Speaker 2: a little clip from Scott Robertson. 9 00:00:29,293 --> 00:00:30,933 Speaker 3: I said, look, he's the hell of a coach. There 10 00:00:30,973 --> 00:00:32,453 Speaker 3: was no intent to get to the point there we 11 00:00:32,493 --> 00:00:34,733 Speaker 3: are now, but we just believe for both of us. 12 00:00:34,813 --> 00:00:37,213 Speaker 3: The best thing is as for the All Back group 13 00:00:37,333 --> 00:00:40,613 Speaker 3: is we make a call now before we move forward 14 00:00:40,693 --> 00:00:44,973 Speaker 3: and early make your decision, you know, to decision. Pray 15 00:00:45,053 --> 00:00:46,573 Speaker 3: for both of us. But we went through a process 16 00:00:46,573 --> 00:00:47,533 Speaker 3: and we've got to hear. 17 00:00:47,973 --> 00:00:50,933 Speaker 2: So that's Scott Robertson speaking just moments ago at a 18 00:00:50,973 --> 00:00:54,693 Speaker 2: press conference. Nick Bewley Christ which sports reporter, was down there. 19 00:00:54,733 --> 00:00:58,493 Speaker 2: He joins us, Nago day, Nick, how are you mate? 20 00:01:00,093 --> 00:01:01,973 Speaker 4: I'm a little bit shell sharks like the rest of us. 21 00:01:02,133 --> 00:01:05,373 Speaker 2: I agreed, agreed that did anybody pick this. Did anybody 22 00:01:05,453 --> 00:01:07,533 Speaker 2: see anything from a couple of weeks back when apparently 23 00:01:07,573 --> 00:01:08,133 Speaker 2: it started. 24 00:01:08,893 --> 00:01:11,933 Speaker 4: Look, I must admit I was completely an Olympic Games 25 00:01:11,933 --> 00:01:14,613 Speaker 4: mode a couple of weeks ago, though I didn't really 26 00:01:14,653 --> 00:01:16,133 Speaker 4: a mine on the born terms of the All Blacks 27 00:01:16,133 --> 00:01:20,573 Speaker 4: all that much. But look, this is rather unprecedented, this 28 00:01:20,813 --> 00:01:25,133 Speaker 4: early in a tenure five tests and two tests against England, 29 00:01:25,133 --> 00:01:28,453 Speaker 4: one against CG and a couple against Argentina for a 30 00:01:28,453 --> 00:01:31,293 Speaker 4: decision like this to be made. Let's not forget Scott 31 00:01:31,373 --> 00:01:35,373 Speaker 4: Robertson when he was going for this vague what was 32 00:01:35,613 --> 00:01:39,493 Speaker 4: eventually made vacant job. In March of twenty twenty three, 33 00:01:40,253 --> 00:01:44,053 Speaker 4: Robertson assembled a team of coaches he wanted on his ticket, 34 00:01:44,093 --> 00:01:49,613 Speaker 4: including Leon McDonald, and then something's obviously happened. They know, 35 00:01:49,653 --> 00:01:52,933 Speaker 4: it's been talks over the course of several weeks, and 36 00:01:53,573 --> 00:01:55,653 Speaker 4: they've landed at this conclusion. 37 00:01:56,293 --> 00:01:58,573 Speaker 2: You often read into things when you know a story 38 00:01:58,653 --> 00:02:01,573 Speaker 2: sort of just unfolded, without necessarily the history, but just 39 00:02:01,653 --> 00:02:04,973 Speaker 2: listening to Raiser. Then in that press conference, I felt 40 00:02:05,053 --> 00:02:09,653 Speaker 2: for a normally confident bloae sparky bloke. He sounded rattled. 41 00:02:09,693 --> 00:02:10,933 Speaker 2: Then is that your perception? 42 00:02:12,333 --> 00:02:15,413 Speaker 4: I'm not sure i'd say rattled, but of course you 43 00:02:15,453 --> 00:02:18,213 Speaker 4: could tell by his body language and the way he 44 00:02:18,333 --> 00:02:20,373 Speaker 4: was very deliberate in the words he was using that 45 00:02:20,413 --> 00:02:24,253 Speaker 4: it's far from an ideal situation. Of course, the optics 46 00:02:24,293 --> 00:02:27,613 Speaker 4: don't look great, do they that Five games into a 47 00:02:27,693 --> 00:02:30,973 Speaker 4: tenure and you're having to make a decision like this, 48 00:02:32,013 --> 00:02:36,293 Speaker 4: But look, he really stressed that there was no animosity 49 00:02:36,733 --> 00:02:39,733 Speaker 4: or ill will against Leon. Let's not forget these two 50 00:02:39,973 --> 00:02:43,453 Speaker 4: guys go back the long way play together at the Crusaders. 51 00:02:43,853 --> 00:02:45,853 Speaker 4: In fact, when Scott Robertson was first head coach at 52 00:02:45,853 --> 00:02:49,573 Speaker 4: the Crusaders in twenty seventeen, Leo McDonald was an assistant coach. 53 00:02:50,213 --> 00:02:55,613 Speaker 4: But Robertson kept stressing just a philosophical difference about how 54 00:02:55,653 --> 00:02:59,293 Speaker 4: the game should be played was ultimately where they couldn't 55 00:02:59,653 --> 00:03:02,053 Speaker 4: agree and they felt the best decision going forward was 56 00:03:02,773 --> 00:03:05,173 Speaker 4: for this to be done. And I suppose the flip 57 00:03:05,173 --> 00:03:06,813 Speaker 4: side of the corners there has to be a bit 58 00:03:06,813 --> 00:03:11,373 Speaker 4: of respect and kudos given there that they've been brave 59 00:03:11,493 --> 00:03:14,533 Speaker 4: enough to make a decision like this now rather than 60 00:03:14,573 --> 00:03:17,293 Speaker 4: trying to, you know, smooth the waters out. And they're 61 00:03:17,293 --> 00:03:20,053 Speaker 4: going to South Africa tonight to hit a two big tests. 62 00:03:20,053 --> 00:03:22,773 Speaker 4: They've got a big interview tool campaign coming up as well. 63 00:03:23,053 --> 00:03:25,253 Speaker 4: You know, if it's been clear up until this point, 64 00:03:25,253 --> 00:03:28,133 Speaker 4: it's not going to work. The best course of action 65 00:03:28,573 --> 00:03:31,813 Speaker 4: obviously has been to rip the band aid and part ways. 66 00:03:32,213 --> 00:03:35,173 Speaker 5: Other members of the All Blacks coaching group are based 67 00:03:35,213 --> 00:03:38,213 Speaker 5: in christ Church. This press conference was just held in 68 00:03:38,293 --> 00:03:40,853 Speaker 5: christ Church just a few minutes ago. So were there 69 00:03:40,933 --> 00:03:43,813 Speaker 5: other members of the coaching group there with Scott Robertson 70 00:03:44,773 --> 00:03:45,573 Speaker 5: Now Jadie it was. 71 00:03:45,533 --> 00:03:51,013 Speaker 4: Just Scott Robertson and the All Blacks media manager. I 72 00:03:51,093 --> 00:03:55,453 Speaker 4: understand New Zealand Rugby Chris Lindrum fronted the media in 73 00:03:55,493 --> 00:03:59,653 Speaker 4: Auckland a short time ago. We have learned as well 74 00:03:59,693 --> 00:04:02,733 Speaker 4: as the story has developed that there won't be a 75 00:04:02,773 --> 00:04:06,853 Speaker 4: replacement for Leon in the sense of another person or 76 00:04:06,893 --> 00:04:09,493 Speaker 4: another coach coming in. But there was a bit more 77 00:04:09,533 --> 00:04:13,733 Speaker 4: clarity around I guess the portfolio that Leon was responsible for, 78 00:04:13,773 --> 00:04:15,693 Speaker 4: which was larger than the All Blacks attack, that'll be 79 00:04:16,253 --> 00:04:20,013 Speaker 4: taken on by Scott Hansen himself, another former Crusader's assistant 80 00:04:20,053 --> 00:04:23,813 Speaker 4: coach who came over with with Robertson and Tomothy Allison 81 00:04:24,093 --> 00:04:27,293 Speaker 4: who's there as a sort of contact specialist coach or 82 00:04:27,453 --> 00:04:30,053 Speaker 4: was in that sort of domain. He'll he'll get some 83 00:04:30,133 --> 00:04:32,933 Speaker 4: extra responsibility, but not to answer your question, it was 84 00:04:33,173 --> 00:04:35,573 Speaker 4: it was just Razor. I understand the team are heading 85 00:04:35,573 --> 00:04:39,013 Speaker 4: out from different cities across the country to South Africa 86 00:04:39,133 --> 00:04:42,773 Speaker 4: tonight and to tomorrow. So yeah, big news on the 87 00:04:43,093 --> 00:04:43,933 Speaker 4: eve of that departure. 88 00:04:44,013 --> 00:04:46,333 Speaker 2: It is very big news. And thanks for giving us 89 00:04:46,373 --> 00:04:48,653 Speaker 2: some insight there, Nick. I wonder how I actually just 90 00:04:48,693 --> 00:04:50,373 Speaker 2: genuinely wonder you won't be able to answer this, Nick, 91 00:04:50,373 --> 00:04:52,413 Speaker 2: because nobody can. But I wonder what impact it has 92 00:04:52,453 --> 00:04:55,373 Speaker 2: on the team, the players themselves, because that's unsettling. 93 00:04:55,973 --> 00:04:57,253 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, it was. It was a question that was 94 00:04:57,253 --> 00:05:00,773 Speaker 4: put forward by colleague Leslie Murder, who's also here, and 95 00:05:00,773 --> 00:05:03,973 Speaker 4: and that's for again Scott Robinson's stress that they thought 96 00:05:04,013 --> 00:05:05,773 Speaker 4: for the for the betterment of the players, not being 97 00:05:05,773 --> 00:05:09,653 Speaker 4: distracted of what's two big tests, this was the best 98 00:05:09,653 --> 00:05:14,333 Speaker 4: course of action. Robinson was also asked whether the players 99 00:05:14,373 --> 00:05:17,853 Speaker 4: were consulted before this decision was made, and it was 100 00:05:18,013 --> 00:05:23,453 Speaker 4: a firm no. This was a decision that Robertson McDonald 101 00:05:23,493 --> 00:05:27,053 Speaker 4: and New Zealand Rugby made as a collective, but the 102 00:05:27,093 --> 00:05:30,733 Speaker 4: players were informed as a poster having a sale, perhaps 103 00:05:30,773 --> 00:05:34,933 Speaker 4: being able to change the opinions of those involved. So interesting, guys, 104 00:05:34,933 --> 00:05:37,733 Speaker 4: I guess that's a summarize. It's a huge development and 105 00:05:37,773 --> 00:05:39,813 Speaker 4: one that I'm sure there's plenty more to come from. 106 00:05:39,933 --> 00:05:42,253 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'll tell you what. As if there wasn't enough 107 00:05:42,253 --> 00:05:44,413 Speaker 2: pressure already being the head coach of the All Blacks, 108 00:05:44,413 --> 00:05:46,973 Speaker 2: there'll be real pressure on Raiser now, Like if it 109 00:05:47,053 --> 00:05:50,693 Speaker 2: goes pear shapped in Africa, people will just really start 110 00:05:50,693 --> 00:05:54,253 Speaker 2: pulling the finger. It'll be Yeah, I hope not, Nick. 111 00:05:54,413 --> 00:05:56,213 Speaker 2: Thank you very much my time mate. Really good to 112 00:05:56,213 --> 00:05:56,693 Speaker 2: get your. 113 00:05:56,533 --> 00:05:57,973 Speaker 4: Thoughts anytime, guys. 114 00:05:58,533 --> 00:06:02,133 Speaker 1: For more from Simon Barnett and James Daniels afternoons, listen 115 00:06:02,253 --> 00:06:05,093 Speaker 1: live to news talks That'd be or follow the podcast 116 00:06:05,133 --> 00:06:06,173 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio.