Ranger happier with White

Editor

Former All Black winger Rene Ranger admits he struggled to give his best under former Montpellier coach Fabien Galthié.

Galthié was suspended in December after a run of eight losses in nine games, with Jake White having come in as a consultant to take over the Top 14 side.

The former France scrum-half is currently in the process of trying to agree to an amicable parting of ways with club president Mohed Altrad.

In the meantime, White has overseen a slight upturn in performances from Montpellier, and Ranger explained to the Midi Olympique that his simplified tactics are working well for the team.

And he admitted that having struggled with Galthié's more unstructured game plan, he had struggled to give 100% for the team.

"Jake's coaching style is similar to what you get in New Zealand," he told the Midi Olympique.

"In the past Montpellier wanted the forwards to dominate whatever happens. That's fine but there is a lot of talent in the team and we want to play with movement. Jake has made our game very simple, very direct and very fluid. Before it was disorganised, we were inconsistent. 

"I wasn't giving it everything. I'm not sure why. I guess when you aren't enjoying yourself. If you don't like the game plan, you can't play at your best.

"Jake has really simplified our game. What he wants is to put all the players, French and from abroad, on the same wavelength. He's trying to create a team where everyone knows exactly what he has to do. 

"On a day-to-day basis the preparation is different. The training sessions are shorter, the injured players have more time to recover. Everything is more simple."

While Ranger is happier with the current set-up at the club, he will leave at the end of the current season. And he explained it was for off-field reasons, with a personal matter that needs resolving back in New Zealand.

"I've got some family problems and for me family comes first," he added. 

"I can't do much from here. If I could stay, I would, because I love Montpellier. But my priority has to be with those closest to me."