The All Black forwards will find life tougher if new coach John Mitchell enlists former prop Richard Loe as one of his assistants.
Named Wednesday to replace Wayne Smith, Mitchell (pictured) has wasted no time in making his presence felt, and says Loe is someone he'll be talking to as he sorts out his support staff.
Staff are clearly a priority now that Mitchell will take charge of the end-of-season tour to Ireland, Scotland and Argentina. "He's very, very good at what he does," Mitchell said of Loe.
The New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) made it clear in its job specification it wanted the right man to take the All Blacks "to the next level", and the forward-laden selection panel clearly believed the forwards were the weak link in the All Blacks chain.
Mitchell bases his approach to the game on a baseline of "contest and secure possession", indicating a concentration on hardline specialists in the forwards. Loe and Mitchell played many games together for Waikato, and Mitchell used the former All Blacks strongman as a front-row adviser in his season with the Chiefs this year.
Mitchell said he would enlist an assistant as coaching co-ordinator, but will call in specialist help "whenever and wherever needed".
Mitchell has been given the right to enlist his own staff, with NZRFU approval, and his backline help could come under the guidance of another Waikato figure, his long-time friend and Chiefs coaching partner Kevin Greene.
Mitchell would not name either man as a potential starter on Thursday, other than to say he would be talking to Loe, among others. However, he made it clear he will make considerable changes to tour arrangements.
That includes cutting the number of touring players from 36 to probably 30, and changing the physical "profile" of his team. "Everything's up for grabs," Mitchell said when asked whether the All Blacks captaincy was an issue.
"And there will be changes and casualties." Mitchell will talk to present captain Anton Oliver in a few days and says he will name a mid-week captain as well for the upcoming tour, the position he filled when he toured with the All Blacks to Britain in 1993.
Mitchell immediately becomes convener of the selection panel, with Smith, Gilbert and Peter Thorburn under him. They will choose the team for the tour, but Mitchell made it clear "it will be my team" and said a further priority was to meet the present panel and make clear to them what his team profile was.
His support coaches will accompany him on tour, with Smith-Gilbert-Thorburn ceasing their All Blacks duties at that stage. Team manager Andrew Martin and present medical staff will, however, tour. - Sapa-NZPA