Assistant leaves All Blacks over differences with coach

[Pelican Press 0]

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Assistant leaves All ******* over differences with coach

New Zealand assistant coach Leon MacDonald has left the All ******* after clashing with head coach Scott Robertson over the direction of the team.

His departure comes ahead of the two-Test tour of South ******* and despite the All ******* winning four out of their five Tests in Robertson’s first season in charge.

MacDonald is a former head coach of the Blues in Super Rugby and also previously worked as an assistant to Robertson at the Christchurch-based Crusaders.

In frank comments in a New Zealand Rugby (NZR) statement on Thursday, Robertson said the relationship with his ******* specialist wasn’t working.

“Leon and I have been having some honest conversations with each other for a little while now,” Robertson said.

“As coaches we have differing views and both agreed it wasn’t working.

“Leon and I both care deeply about the All ******* and we believe we’ve made a decision that’s best for this team.

“There’s a huge amount of respect and appreciation for Leon in the group and the work he’s put in to get us to this point in our journey.

“As a team we have acknowledged that contribution and our focus now needs to be on South *******, it’s going to be two tough Test matches over there.”

Assistant coach Scott Hansen and contact skills coach Tamati Ellison will take on additional responsibilities for the rest of the season, NZR said.

The NZR statement did not include comment from MacDonald, but said it was a mutual parting of ways.

The governing body’s head of professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum endorsed the decision.

“You’ve got two great coaches who have been having some robust but constructive discussions on the approach to drive the All ******* over a ******* of time now,” he said.

“Ultimately, they have made a brave decision that they believe is best for the team.

“Leon is a highly regarded coach and has made a huge contribution to rugby across a number of teams in New Zealand, and we’d love to have him back in our system in the future.”

The All ******* opened the season with two tight wins over England, before fielding a second-string team to thrash Fiji 47-5 in San Diego.

Their Rugby Championship title defence started poorly with a 38-30 defeat by Argentina in Wellington, but they rebounded with a dominant 42-10 win over the Pumas at Eden Park last weekend.

The All ******* face world champions South ******* in Johannesburg on August 31 and in Cape Town a week later.

– with AP

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