Rugby: Door open to Super coaching

Tana Umaga. Photo / Getty Images

His age and inability to see out a full campaign mean Tana Umaga will probably miss out on Super 15 next year as a player but the door is open for him to play an ad hoc coaching role with the Chiefs.

As a player, Umaga is an intriguing prospect with plenty to offer. Yet, on balance, his case for inclusion in either the Chiefs or the Blues - the two sides he would potentially be willing to play for - is probably not strong enough.

Assessing Umaga is not straightforward which is why both the Chiefs and Blues are likely to keep an open mind and continue to monitor the former All Black captain up until the selection deadline.

On the plus side, Umaga brings a wealth of experience with 74 test caps, 100-plus Super rugby games and 100-plus provincial games as well as three seasons with Toulon where he operated as both a coach and player.

As he's shown this season with Counties, he can still hunt down and destroy the most deadly attackers while his off-loading out of contact is bettered only by the work of Sonny Bill Williams - whom Umaga mentored in France.

It can't all be put down to one man, but the arrival of Umaga at Counties has been a significant factor in their renaissance.

With franchises able to contract 32 players and the competition extending to a potential 19 weeks, the case to include Umaga has merit.

But there are other factors that weigh, probably more heavily, against his inclusion. He's being carefully managed through the ITM Cup, almost playing one game on, one off. When he does play, it's usually for no more than 60 minutes.

When he has played, he's been effective and his presence is enough to inspire those around him. Yet he's been intermittent in the sense that he's involved for a period then steps back.

The picture is further complicated in trying to determine how Umaga would handle the step up to the next level. The jump in speed, physicality and intensity between ITM Cup and Super 15 is a large one.

Umaga can still cut it at ITM Cup but even this great warrior might struggle with the pace of the next level.

Defending the likes of Jason Shoemark and Hadleigh Parkes in the ITM Cup is not the same challenge as trying to nullify Ma'a Nonu, Isaia Toeava and Robbie Fruean when they are in their respective Super 15 sides.

In his prime, Umaga was the best defensive centre in world rugby. He's close to 38 now and, while he once reigned supreme in Super rugby, could he still find enough gas to cope again?

He's not going to get faster between now and February and it's not disrespectful - it's scientific assumption - to state he'll do well to hold on to what he has in speed and agility.

Umaga's trump card of experience and leadership goes a long way in the development-focused ITM Cup which is loaded with semi-professional and academy players whose exposure to the professional game is limited to non-existent.

Super 15 rugby has a wider pool of experience and leaders with the All Blacks present. The need for an old hand is not so pressing and the key question to be asked is whether he merits a place on the grounds of what he would contribute on the field alone.

Neither the Chiefs nor the Blues are short of options in their back divisions. It's already a struggle to fit everyone in which is why Umaga's involvement next year is most likely to be in a coaching capacity.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster says Umaga has a bright future as a coach and that an invitation to spend time with the franchise next year has been extended.

Last year Foster's back-up team included forwards coach Craig Stevenson and lineout specialist Keith Robinson so Umaga could be used sporadically without overlapping anyone's existing portfolio.