Aisle be Back: The Mic Drop

• By Kevin McCarthy 

Well, that was a mic drop moment. Five tests in and Team Razor already has somebody – Leon MacDonald – firing out of the ejector seat.

While everyone is saying the right things, the question that hangs over the falling out between the head coach and one of his assistants is why now and indeed, just why.

Given the pair have been associated for something like a quarter of a century, that would seem plenty of time to work out they don’t quite click. Then again people change, and the dynamics of their partnership can change as well

Is it down to not seeing eye to eye on the team strategy and tactics? That’s what Robertson seemed to say. But it must be pretty major if so. I would have thought having a diversity of thinking would be welcomed – until it isn’t.

If it is the reason, this must have been a big schism. And one where Robertson felt he needed to have the whole coaching operation talking with one voice. We’d heard the rumours that perhaps that wasn’t the case.

From MacDonald’s point of view, it must be quite a wrench to walk away from the role. The All Blacks don’t come calling that often in a career. So, you’d think it must have been more than the odd difference of opinion, although not quite of Grizz Wylie versus John Hart proportions.

The best thing, undoubtedly, is that this has happened fast; one would say unprecedented in its speed.  By the standards of the Fozzie saga of last season, at warp speed.

Otherwise, this would have dragged on with a slowly gnawing away within the team, which would have by normal standards have taken the whole season to drag out.

Credit on that front, and in the optimistic view, this will be quickly in the rear vision mirror. The pessimists may see it instead as a sign that Robertson’s vaunted culture building is not quite as thought.

Ultimately, it won’t matter much if the All Blacks finish the year firmly in the plus ledger.

If they keep yo-yoing, then the narrative will of course change.

The first litmus test f course we al know is coming in a week and the week after. South Africa home.

Never short of confidence, they’ll be alert for blood in the water. Razor sure is having to get up to speed fast.

 

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2024 Rugby Championship South Africa Schedule

Sunday, September 1
All Blacks v South Africa, 3.00AM (NZST), Emirates Airline Park, JOHANNESBURG

Sunday, September 8
All Blacks v South Africa, 3.00AM (NZST), DHL Stadium, CAPE TOWN

The 36-man squad travelling to South Africa is:

Forwards (20)

Hookers
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Codie Taylor (Crusaders / Canterbury)
George Bell (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Props  
Ethan De Groot (Highlanders / Southland)
Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes / Tasman)
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders / Canterbury)
Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues / Northland)
Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Locks
Scott Barrett (Crusaders / Taranaki) (Captain)
Sam Darry (Blues / Canterbury)
Josh Lord (Chiefs / Taranaki)
Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs / Taranaki)

Loose Forwards
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders / Tasman)
Sam Cane (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Samipeni Finau (Chiefs / Waikato)
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs / Waikato)
Dalton Papali’i (Blues / Counties Manukau)
Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika / Wellington) (Vice Captain)
Wallace Sititi (Chiefs / North Harbour)

Backs (16)

Halfbacks
Noah Hotham (Crusaders / Tasman)
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Cortez Ratima (Chiefs / Waikato)

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Blues / Taranaki)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs / Waikato)

Mid-fielders
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes / Taranaki) (Vice Captain)
David Havili (Crusaders / Tasman)
Rieko Ioane (Blues / Auckland)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs / Waikato)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes / Wellington)

Outside backs
Caleb Clarke (Blues / Auckland)
Will Jordan (Crusaders / Tasman)
Ruben Love (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Harry Plummer (Blues/Auckland)
Sevu Reece (Crusaders / Southland)
Mark Tele’a (Blues / North Harbour)

UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY: Patrick Tuipulotu (calf), Stephen Perofeta (calf)

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Can’t ask much more from the Wellington Lions than to make it two from two, defeating Taranaki at Jerry Collins stadium amid the hydro skiing conditions.

The sort of day – even with a few nice muddy patches for the nostalgic – you don’t want to necessarily mix it with a Taranaki pack.

Down 19-5 at halftime, it might have looked a little unlikely that the Lions would boss the second half. But so, it proved.

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