By WYNNE GRAY
There was no leeway, no period of grace for Darren Shand when he took over as manager of the Crusaders in 2000.
He had to be scrupulous. Any shortcuts, excuses or ineptitude would have been seized on and questioned. Many would have suggested it was an invidious promotion for the one-time skiing and rafting guide.
Shand succeeded Robbie Deans who, rather than slip out of the arena like many managers, switched to coach the Crusaders.
Deans was there to impart his experience but was also in the best position to judge the competence and expertise of his new manager.
Since then, Deans has risen to the national coaching ranks but returned to a single portfolio with the Crusaders, while it is Shand juggling twin jobs during the Super 12 before his All Black season starts mid-year.
In that first season he managed the Crusaders, Shand watched the side achieve a third straight title before they plunged to 10th the following year. It was a painful reverse but useful tuition about individual and team responses to the vagaries of sport.
His bank of experiences was building, an education which was a prime ingredient as he outlasted former Rugby Union president Andy Dalton in the contest to be All Black manager.
Shand's elevation was a reward for someone who chose to make sports management his career, who has done his apprenticeship and had that recognised by those who control New Zealand rugby.
He brings a wide range of know-how with him. He has a degree in physical education, tasted working life as a snow and rafting guide in the Queenstown area including a spell with bungy-jumping operator AJ Hackett, switched to sponsorship and marketing roles with Canterbury rugby then the managerial positions.
He has a reputation as someone who is calm, unflustered and most definitely unpretentious, a manager who is always searching for ideas and information, he is never too conceited to ignore others' rugby experiences.
Those close to him say he will remain unassuming and exhibit his common sense, he will be very protective of the All Blacks but never afraid to exert his authority and direction.
Shand also had to satisfy the interview panel of NZRFU chief executive Chris Moller, Mike Eagle and John Graham that he could discharge the pages of requirements in the All Black manager's job description.
The job was downgraded to a logistics operation under John Mitchell but since the World Cup fallout the NZRFU redefined the role.
Shand is in charge of the All Blacks Inc. Everyone from coach Graham Henry down reports to him and in turn Shand must answer directly to Moller.
"I am prepared for it, I back myself, I am ready for the next step and am confident after the process of the last month," Shand said.
"It has given me confidence which has been endorsed further by the overwhelming support from all walks of life and rugby, it has given me a strong belief."
Shand's voyage to All Black manager began 38 years ago when he was born near Havelock North in Hawkes Bay. At St John's College he made the first XI while rugby and hockey jostled for his winter talents.
Hockey prospered because Shand was selected for provincial honours at a young age, and in his seventh form was picked to play for the national under 23 side.
He missed repeat selection in his initial year at Otago University and his sporting interests diversified.
"I got into skiing, biking, multi-sports and triathlons," he said.
After university, Shand moved to Queenstown where he logged several hundred bungy-jumps and worked on the many disciplines which saw him compete, later, for several seasons on the national triathlon circuit.
"Even now I still train for about 10 hours a week," Shane confessed. "It is my time when I can get out and think about things."
So is he ready for the lights, camera, action appearances which many perceive as part of his new portfolio?
"I was reflecting this week," he said, "because people were asking why I had such little profile. Why do I need one? The key is to do the job well and for us, when we get some decent time together, to work out who does what in public.
"We will want to use the various strengths of people but generally, and I am thinking aloud here," Shand added, "discussion about selection, players and the matches are not my domain. That is the area for Graham Henry and the coaches.
"When I am needed, I want to give the right information at the appropriate time, I want to be open and honest but I am not a front man. It does not say that in the 13 pages of the job description.
"There are a lot of other things I have to concentrate on but balance is the critical word."
Shand did not want to comment on how the recent All Black regimes may have been run, nor did he want to project his ideas, yet, about how he might handle hypothetical situations.
He and Henry had not had enough time to sit down and talk in depth.
The job would be hugely consuming but Shand, and his teacher wife of three years Jan, were ready for those demands.
"The key thing I spoke about in the interviews was being able to hit the ground running because I am up to speed on the modern requirements, it is not as if I have to start from nothing.
"I am familiar with many of the systems. I have networks and have made many connections with sponsors, media, provinces and the national union."
The All Blacks had to recognise the wider responsibilities they had than just being players, he said.
"We can't satisfy them all but we can try and give them a slice of the team."
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