Rugby: Camp vital to Magpies redemption

DEVELOPING LEADER: Ash Dixon grew into the Magpies captain's role during the season. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

A pre-season camp will be a priority for the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team next year as they strive to redeem themselves in the wake of a disastrous 2016 Mitre 10 Cup campaign.

"The success of the New Zealand Super franchises meant the late arrival of our super rugby players and so we had to prioritise game planning and new law understanding over our normal team building camp," Magpies head coach Craig Philpott said as he reflected on his team's recently completed end-of-season review following the side's relegation from the Premiership to the Championship with a two-win, eight-loss record.

"We see the camp as crucial and valuable at the development stage of the season and not having one was a mistake. When you've got 17 or 18 players coming back from having played for five different Super Rugby teams using five different forms of defensive patterns that period of transition is crucial in terms of defining our season and learning our systems," Philpott said.

"At the same time those Super players can throw things into our basket which they have picked up at Super level."

Injuries, in particular the loss of quality Super players before the season started was at the top of Philpott's list of factors which contributed to the disappointing season. The Chiefs pair of lock Michael Allardice and outside back Sam McNicol along with the Highlanders pair of prop Brendon Edmonds and loosie Gareth Evans all missed the season with injuries.

Philpott admitted his troops found it tough adapting to the new tackle and break down rules.

"We didn't have the necessary size like Auckland and Counties-Manukau. It was tough to compete against teams with three big loosies and they proved you didn't need a fetcher like Brendon O'Connor or Tony Lamborn. Our 9s and 10s are not big men and this put a lot of pressure on our inside defensive channels," Philpott explained.

He pointed out that while his team's defensive accuracy only dropped 2 per cent from last season, tackles were most often missed in areas where big men were able to target smaller defenders; a bi-product of the new laws creating a rugby league-style approach to attack.

Also prominent on the list of factors was the fact 14 Magpies were unavailable until the first week of the Mitre 10 Cup because their Super teams experienced successful seasons. When quizzed on whether or not it was a disadvantage having so many Super players Philpott replied:

"It's Catch 22 really. The teams which do the best have a high number of Super players. In 2012 [when the Magpies were last relegated] we had nine Super players and last year when we won the Championship we had 18 ... if your team is performing you will get the opportunity of Super Rugby. If you don't play well you won't have as many."

Philpott repeated the call he made when his New Zealand under-20 team head coach role was announced earlier this month and stressed the Magpies were still his priority. His assistant coach Danny Lee has been promoted to a co-coach role for next year and he will have more responsibility.

This is similar to how Peter Russell and Tom Coventry operated towards the end of their five-year stint with the Magpies. There will be no changes to the coaching, management or medical staff for next season.

Luke Stephenson will continue as strength and conditioning coach, Terry Gittings and Brian Jenkinson will have the manager and assistant manager's roles respectively, Peter O'Shaughnessy will be the technical advisor, Mark Nicol the physio and Ian Taylor the doctor.

Philpott said this year's results didn't reflect the Magpies dominant set piece play. They had the second best scrum in the cup.

Highlanders hooker Ash Dixon grew into the captain's role and Philpott said Dixon continued to develop his leadership skills on the recent Maori All Blacks tour.

Philpott and Lee will plan their 2017 training schedules at the end of January and he said there will be some tinkering to this year's sessions.

"We have to keep it fresh," Philpott added.