By WYNNE GRAY
New Zealand rugby should be looking for its own ideas on how to play rather than following the lead of others, says departing former All Black skipper Todd Blackadder.
The pool of playing talent here was enormous, he said yesterday, but there was a similarity about coaching from the top to the bottom grades which was not bringing results.
"We have got to be more innovative, there have got to be new ideas," Blackadder said as he confirmed he was leaving in November on a three-year deal to play for Edinburgh Reivers.
"The All Blacks have a new captain and have learned a lot of tough lessons. There is a saying that if it does not kill you it will make you stronger, but we should be sick of learning lessons from others.
"New Zealand teams are not as forward-thinking about how they want to play the game rather than following others."
Blackadder said the Wallabies were physically inferior to the All Blacks, but tactically superior.
New Zealand rugby had to get smarter, right through the NPC, Super 12 and All Blacks. There were erratic results throughout those competitions.
"We have to get mentally tough on a consistent basis."
Blackadder said All Black coaches Wayne Smith and Tony Gilbert would be feeling the pressure of their review this week.
They had to explain some of the inconsistency which remained with the All Blacks.
"The panel will assess the coaches and they will be hard on them, they will get a grilling," Blackadder said.
"We should be results-driven. We have got the talent, but we have to get consistent with our selections, pick players for consistent workrate.
"We have to ask, 'Is what we are doing ... getting the best out of the players'?"
Blackadder, who turns 30 this week, was asked a couple of months ago whether he was interested in going to play in Scotland.
He was a little uneasy about leaving New Zealand and an 11-year career in first-class rugby, but he would be back.
He was honoured to have captained the All Blacks and , it was not until he was dropped that he realised how exhausted he had become.
"But I can proudly say, even though I was tired, I gave the All Blacks absolutely everything."
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