Jamie Joseph, one of the front runners to take over from Scott Robertson as All Blacks coach, is reportedly frustrated with the selection process.
According to New Zealand Herald rugby writer Gregor Paul, Joseph is not impressed with how NZ Rugby is handling the appointment of a new head coach.
Joseph and Dave Rennie are locked in a two-horse race for the position after Vern Cotter and Joe Schmidt ruled themselves out.
Paul has questioned why NZ Rugby is “spending money and time building a dossier of intelligence” on Joseph and Rennie, arguing that such information should already exist within a national body overseeing a business reportedly valued at NZ$3.5-billion.
He believes it’s another “significant failure” that the appointment process has once again come down to both candidates being interviewed by a five-person panel, which will then make a recommendation to the NZ Rugby board.
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According to Paul, Joseph in particular is “miffed” that observers are now sitting in on his coaching sessions to take notes, despite his extensive track record in New Zealand rugby.
Joseph has coached Wellington, the Highlanders, the Maori All Blacks and as recently as last year the All Blacks XV. He guided the Highlanders to their only Super Rugby title in 2015 and famously took Japan to the 2019 World Cup quarter-finals.
Paul suggests Joseph is also perturbed that his fate may hinge on how he performs in an interview, rather than on a body of work that is already well documented.
Rennie, meanwhile, has not coached in New Zealand since 2017 but led the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Rugby titles and remains the last Wallabies coach to beat the All Blacks.
NZ Rugby will reportedly make its decision by mid-March.
Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
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