It's Hammerlander time
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="584038" data-time="1464591436">
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<p>At the top level, his talent and commitment was unquestioned. But at super level, <strong>at one point nobody wanted to offer him a contract. </strong> Only a last minute deal at the Blues kept him in NZ.</p>
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<p>The fact that nobody was running up to be the first to sign him isn't Hammet's fault. It shows something else.</p>
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<p>No idea, honestly. But I do remember Hammett having the full support of the board when he made his decisons.</p>
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<p>this is a myth - The blues still wanted him when he left for the highlanders - recall all the hoopla about a handshake deal and we feel betrayed coming from JK . Then he spent a year at the highlanders and decided Dunedin wasn't his thing and told tem he was moving on. They were quite happy for him to stay but understood why he wanted to leave.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gary" data-cid="584127" data-time="1464615581">
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<p>this is a myth - The blues still wanted him when he left for the highlanders - recall all the hoopla about a handshake deal and we feel betrayed coming from JK . Then he spent a year at the highlanders and decided Dunedin wasn't his thing and told tem he was moving on. They were quite happy for him to stay but understood why he wanted to leave.</p>
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<p>I also seriously doubt if he absolutely had to he would have been welcomed to the Crusaders. Even if Nonu was as bad off the field at Super level as what MR and others suggest with McCaw, Read and Carter there I reckon they absolutely would have gone in to bat for him and handled whatever issues the same way they are in the AB environment - similar to Ali Williams.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Given the embarrassment of riches at the time and to prevent the perception of preferential treatment from the NZRU they laid low on Nonu.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="584105" data-time="1464605604"><p>Rugby is a results game, so I wouldn't have Hammett anywhere near a super rugby head coaching gig. And the same goes for Fozzie, heaven help us the day he ever gets a go at the head coach ABs job or tries to go back to super rugby</p></blockquote><br>
Fozzie is taking over Byrnes kicking duties in the ABs...woulda thought Fox woulda been the logical option? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="584146" data-time="1464634802">
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<p>Fozzie is taking over Byrnes kicking duties in the ABs...woulda thought Fox woulda been the logical option?</p>
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<p>Foster said he and Fox would be sharing the role previously performed by Byrne. I'm not sure Fox is with the team 100% of the time either.</p> -
<p>Mark Hammett - the 2010's John Mitchell</p>
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<p>It's John Key's fault!</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stockcar86" data-cid="584208" data-time="1464652386">
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<p>Mark Hammett - the 2010's John Mitchell</p>
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<p>pffft yea, like Hammer could ever win the Bledisloe back</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="584213" data-time="1464653485">
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<p>pffft yea, like Hammer could ever win the Bledisloe back</p>
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<p>I have a feeling he holds the record for longest ever TSF thread though</p> -
<p>It might just be that Hammer is best suited to higher management roles as a change agent. Certainly the reports are the culture at the Canes is more professional.</p>
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<p>Joe Schmidt is expected to announce after the tour to SA that he is stepping down from Ireland head coach to return to NZ at the end of his contract (i.e the 2017 6Ns). A number of Irish papers are running with an interview with the IRFU DoR/High Performance Director today in which he says the IRFu would love Schmidt to stay through the 2019 RWC but that Schmidt has particular family circumstance (a son has very bad epilepsy) and that the IRFU is prepared if Schmidt announces his decision to leave at the end of his contract. <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.the42.ie/irfu-joe-schmidt-back-up-plan-2797743-Jun2016/'>http://www.the42.ie/irfu-joe-schmidt-back-up-plan-2797743-Jun2016/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Vern Cotter's contract also runs to the end of 2017, I think.</p>
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<p>If Rennie departs for Europe, would Schmidt be a strong candidate for them or has Kieran Keane the inside track for that role?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Brian9848" data-cid="584584" data-time="1464790683">
<div>If Rennie departs for Europe, would Schmidt be a strong candidate for them or has Kieran Keane the inside track for that role?</div>
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<p>I think Keane will take over from Rennie.</p>
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<p>Speaking of Ireland, Isaac Boss is back in the Waikato and will be playing NPC rugby this season. He is now 36 yrs old but I suppose with TKB having AB commitments and Weber going back to HB, we've lost a fair bit of experience. Boss is on the bench for Monday's Ranfurly Shield defence vs Thames Valley.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="584576" data-time="1464785819">
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<p>Anyone know if Rob Penney, Vern Cotter or John Schmidt have applied for either of these roles?</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/379520/rugby-penney-latest-coach-rule-himself-out'>http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/379520/rugby-penney-latest-coach-rule-himself-out</a></p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(230,230,230);">Penney had been mooted as a contender to step into Jamie Joseph's shoes but he told the </span><i>Otago Daily Times</i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(230,230,230);"> yesterday he would not be considered for the job.</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(230,230,230);">Penney said he was not in the loop for the job and was not in a position to consider himself for the post.</p>
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(230,230,230);">Asked if he was chasing the Crusaders head coaching position, given Todd Blackadder is moving on at the end of the season, he said that was also unlikely.</p>
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(230,230,230);">He declined further comment.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="584663" data-time="1464823497">
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<p>I posted in the Crusaders coach thread about Schmidt.</p>
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<p>A guy I know who works there told me he has applied for the job. Unsure if he has applied for the highlanders role too.</p>
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<p>Very interesting. I heard that there was a good chance Schmidt was probably going home at the end of the SA tour and asking for an early release from his contract. This makes a fair amount of sense, although the Chiefs job would be available at the end of his contract. </p>
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<p>The Irish coaching position will probably be the plum assignment up North as I don't see any other Test positions opening up. Wonder if Rennie has been contacted.</p> -
Yeah I'm hearing whispers from Irish mates about Schmidt leaving Ireland. <br><br>
I'm not sure about him coaching the crusaders. His Irish backline selections have been very conservative recently. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585545" data-time="1465329938">
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<p>Yeah I'm hearing whispers from Irish mates about Schmidt leaving Ireland.<br><br>
I'm not sure about him coaching the crusaders. His Irish backline selections have been very conservative recently.</p>
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<p>So he'd fit right in as long he is happy keeping one giant Fijian?</p> -
<p>What a surprise Nepia liked the post above....</p>
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<p>I want Schmidt, I think he's a good coach. I think he's done much better with Ireland than either Hansen or Henry did with Wales.</p>
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<p>My main concern would be that he's been out of the NZ system a while, so keeping Robertson, Hewitt and Fatson on as assistants would be ideal from a selection point of view.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585745" data-time="1465420121">
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<p>What a surprise Nepia liked the post above....</p>
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<p>I want Schmidt, I think he's a good coach. I think he's done much better with Ireland than either Hansen or Henry did with Wales.</p>
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<p>My main concern would be that he's been out of the NZ system a while, so keeping Robertson, Hewitt and Fatson on as assistants would be ideal from a selection point of view.</p>
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<p>Come on, you didn't think it was funny? And to think you were accusing me of not having a sense of humour. ;)</p>
