Rugby chiefs tap cricket for leadership

By WYNNE GRAY

When it came to finding a manager, New Zealand Cricket was the model for New Zealand rugby. Getting advice was easy for the interview panel which contained recently retired NZC manager John Graham.

"It was all about us looking at the success of John Graham and Steve Rixon at cricket, a system which left Steve free to coach and John dealing with some of the stuff which needed to happen with the leadership of the squad," said NZRFU chief executive David Rutherford.

Rutherford had several discussions with his NZC counterpart, Christopher Doig, to work on the scheme while a group of All Black icons and the board delivered their selection criteria.

The answer came yesterday when SAS commanding officer Colonel Andrew Martin was appointed for a two-year term.

An interesting choice because Martin is not from the board nor is he an All Black legend. He had originally applied to manage the Blues before the dramas in East Timor ambushed his Super 12 aspirations.

How will Martin's role with the All Blacks differ from those men who directed operations before him? Until we observe his style we will not know, though Rutherford said the main advance would be in developing players' leadership and taking a lot of heat away from the coaching staff.

"We want to create an expectation among ourselves and New Zealanders that the All Blacks can win every game and never accept anything else," Rutherford said.

Martin captained both Wanganui and Counties as a prop during a 13-year first-class career from the early 1980s. He also captained the NZ Combined Services side in 1987.

He is the senior NZ officer and chief of operations for the UN forces in East Timor, posts he returns to today. A former member of the NZ contingent to Bosnia he was the head of the SAS for three years.

While Martin's appointment as All Black manager has been revealed, it is understood the rest of the All Black management group has also been decided, though that group may not be announced until its members have signed contracts.

Sources suggest Gilbert Enoka, another part of the NZC hierarchy, will be responsible for player welfare, John Mayhew will remain as team doctor, while the Highlanders' Paul Annear will be the new physiotherapist and the Crusaders' Mike Anthony the new trainer. John Durning, of Christchurch, will handle media liaison.

Former national selector Peter Sloane is tipped to be the coach of the NZ Colts, with assistance from Bruce Robertson. The team will be managed by former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick.