All Blacks: Mentor and coach knows value of staying calm, cool

Assistant coach Wayne Smith. Photo / Getty Images

Passion and endurance have marked Wayne Smith's time in the fishbowl world of coaching the All Blacks.

There have been tough times like a two-year exit and several World Cup setbacks but the former All Black five-eighths has also surfed the crest of many successes.

He admits the pressure can be suffocating, that he often feels wrung out at the end of each campaign but accepts those issues as part of the deal.

The academic side of Smith seems to be more in harmony with his emotions, he is more balanced than his most taxing times as head coach.

Smith is in his 11th season tutoring, mentoring and guiding the latest All Black crop, a group who began this campaign with an encouraging opening victory helped by Ireland's indiscipline.

"I got into coaching because I couldn't play any more and I still wanted to be part of the contest, part of the team," he explained yesterday.

"Without sounding egotistical about it, it reflects winning, and so as you win you get put into positions higher up the ladder and with that comes pressure.

"But it is where the big boys play and if you want to be part of that you have got to be able to take it."

Smith described his 2001 coaching departure as one of the "interesting" times in his career while he had been linked with a number of overseas offers in recent seasons before signing on again.

The 53-year-old shifted to work on the All Blacks' defence late last season and has retained that portfolio. The side leaked four tries last week at New Plymouth but that came after the side had streaked out to a massive lead. That work will get a stronger test from Wales on Saturday at Carisbrook.

Smith tries to maintain his equilibrium whether he, his cohorts or the All Blacks are being abused or flattered.

"You have to take the same approach to both, I think, and be level-headed, keep working hard, keep trying to improve, be able to think and be proud of the work you are doing. That is basically the approach I take," he said.

"We are acutely aware of the responsibility to the All Black jersey and that creates its own pressure and that is why we are doing it," he said.

"We are passionate about it and choose to be a part of it and feel privileged to have the opportunity."

Smith felt his supremo, Graham Henry, was at the top of his coaching game.

"He is the most inspired I have seen him, he is loving the strategic role but that is also spilling over on to the rugby field and the hands-on coaching," said Smith.

Everyone admired his strategic thinking, he added.

"And he reads the game better than anyone I have ever come across.

"I think we have all learned from him in that area but he also has a great passion and enthusiasm on the field.

"I just think he is getting better with age but he is a young man," said a smiling Smith.