Up and under: Coach's integrity helped his fall

By WYNNE GRAY

When Wayne Smith was whisked into a review of his All Black coaching term, he held most of the aces.

Even after another close loss to the Wallabies, the odds were that he would be reappointed.

Certainly, he had some explaining to do, but that is what a review is generally about. It was up to Smith to detail his plans, explain his tactics, selections, gameplans and strategies.

It was over to him to convince the review group that he was the man to take the All Blacks through to the 2003 World Cup.

The man facing greater pressure was his assistant, Tony Gilbert, who had been charged with delivering improved forward performances, but had been unable to arrest some of the erratic work of the past two seasons.

Fine men both of them: intelligent, humane, dedicated and extremely conscientious.

They could not have tried harder to wring some success from the All Blacks. However, as with the comments from Smith about how the All Blacks played with pride and commitment in Sydney, those factors should be automatic when the nation's premier rugby side is involved.

What was being judged at the review in Wellington was whether Smith and/or Gilbert were the appropriate men for the next two seasons of All Black combat.

Usually, those sort of appraisals are done at the end of a year when the international schedule is complete. But Smith and Gilbert, after consultation with the NZRFU, agreed it was better to have their evaluations after the Tri-Nations.

If the reviews had been left until mid-December, following the trip to Ireland, Scotland and Argentina, and any changes were needed, it would have placed even more strain on the Super 12.

Plans for a mid-September review were confirmed by July, and at that stage the coaching staff probably felt, as NZRFU chief executive David Rutherford did, that it was "reasonably likely" they would be reappointed after their review.

They experienced a roller-coaster Tri-Nations until the final-minute defeat at Sydney. There was no question that the loss was gut-wrenching - it would have tested everyone's fortitude after a similar result in Wellington last year and the calamities at Carisbrook this season.

Smith was one of those victims. Perhaps he took it worse than most. In the low moments after the test, as the staff and players endured Wallaby celebrations and contemplated their own futures, Smith was a desolate figure.

He would be forlorn and dejected, no doubt, for some time.

But he had to start reviews of his players the next day. In hindsight, you might now wonder about those assessments - that was part of the deal.

So was his own review. It was scheduled for 17 days after the Sydney test, not 10 days as Smith would suggest in questioning his preparation time.

As a test coach, part of the responsibility involves leading teams, taking them through the highs and lows of international competition. No matter how strong players are, they will look to the coaches for direction and guidance. That is also part of the deal.

And while Smith may have been the most technical All Black coach in the past 15 years, the equal of any for ideas, endurance and hard work, in the end he did not have the self-confidence or inner strength to carry on.

He knew he had to front the panel and show why he should be retained. It was not a day to cop out. Either through self-doubt or bad advice, Smith did not clear that hurdle.

His confession to the review panel showed that. His repeat admissions in subsequent media interviews about his insecurity and indecision were a public demonstration of that fallibility.

Had Smith preferred an end-of-year rather than mid-term review, and taken three wins from the tour of Ireland, Scotland and Argentina, he would likely have strolled through the review.

But he always put other interests before the pursuit of personal glory.

He deserves sympathy and gratitude for his time at the top. But it was time to move on; he showed that.