Q: I enjoyed watching JK go off his head at halftime when the Blues played the Brumbies. Which coach gave the biggest halftime spray you can remember as a player? Does it work?
Gary, New Lynn
A: Hands down, Philippe Saint-Andre, the current French coach and my former boss at Gloucester. Philippe lived every single moment of our games and if things weren't going well, he really let you know. For Philippe, the game is all about passion, desire and doing everything in your power to win. In his words, "You must be a warrior, be ruthless and have big bollocks." I thought he was fantastic.
Also right up there, but not a coach, is the former English skipper and my captain at London Wasps, Lawrence Dallaglio. I've never seen a man so animated and verbal in the sheds, but it was powerful stuff and you felt tight as a team running out.
In New Zealand Buck Shelford was colourful and to the point.
Does it work? Time and place, but I think it does. It refocuses the mind and demonstrates how important it is to those around you. And you never want to let your teammates down.
Q: I was interested to see you defending the selection of all the young Blues players [May 17] in the All Blacks. I thought it was strange at the time and given how they've started to go backwards do you think it is too early for them? I must admit I'm a biased Chiefs fan through and through and think our young talent is better.
Matt, Hamilton
A: Don't apologise for being biased, Matt. I love that about our fans. We need to remember, though, that it is easy to be a couch selector as our teams never take the field. I trust the thoroughness and experience of our All Black selectors, so if they see something special in a player that they want to take a closer look at, I'm happy to give them and that player a chance. This Blues form slump cannot be pinned on their new wider training group All Blacks, as it's their personal form and work ethics that have got them there.
In the meantime enjoy how your team is playing and "Go the Chiefs".
