Marshall targets Meads and Hart

Justin Marshall

Justin Marshall has fired parting shots at former All Black coach John Hart and All Black legend Colin Meads in his revealing new biography Justin Marshall which goes on sale tomorrow.

Marshall claimed there was an "uneasy feeling" about Hart in the leadup to the 1999 World Cup, saying he did not believe Hart was the man to lead the team to victory.

"There was a lack of confidence in his coaching," Marshall says in his new biography.

"There was a lot of players who had issues with him.

"The reason John Hart was so successful as a coach in 1996 and 1997 was that he inherited a great team from Laurie Mains.

"The players just did not get enough good coaching from him (Hart) basically."

Marshall also took a swipe at Meads, saying many of his public statements illustrated an ignorance towards the professional game.

The 81-test veteran last night played what may be his final match for the All Blacks in the 38-19 test series whitewash against the Lions at Eden Park last night.

All Blacks legend Zinzan Brooke said Marshall - who will join Leeds Tykes next season - would be sorely missed by New Zealand. "He's has made a huge contribution and cemented his place in New Zealand rugby history," Brooke said.

"He's had to fight his way back so many times and that shows you the character of the man.

"You need people like him in your side when you're up against it."

The 31-year-old made his Test debut back in 1995, and captained the New Zealand for five Tests in 1997. Although he was out of favour from time to time during his All Blacks career, he always managed to force his way back into the reckoning to eventually become New Zealand's most-capped scrum-half of all time.

"He's a real fighter, and to stay on the All Blacks scene for as long as he has is an incredible achievement in itself.

"It makes me feel a lot older now he's stepping down as he's one of the only guys in the team that I actually played Test rugby with," said Brooke.

Even though last night's match was to be Marshall's last with the All Blacks, coach Graham Henry signalled his career in the black jersey may not be over.

Henry said last week Marshall - who would be 34 by the time the 2007 World Cup rolls around - may yet play again for the All Blacks, "so it may not be a farewell".

Assistant coach Wayne Smith said he was also convinced Marshall was capable of playing test rugby again after his two-year stint with Leeds.

He said that Marshall, a determined character with a history of bouncing back quickly from serious injury, did not lack in either department.