All Blacks legend claims Munster are bringing in ‘world-class’ coach as New Zealand Rugby suffer ‘huge loss’
Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan, who is heading to Munster, and All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson.
All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson believes that Clayton McMillan has been the “difference” for the Chiefs and that his departure will make it significantly harder for the franchise.
The Waikato outfit have been the dominant force in Super Rugby Pacific in 2025 and finished the regular season at the top of the table.
McMillan became head coach in 2021, taking over from Warren Gatland who had a pretty disastrous stint, and has built the team impressively.
However, he will leave after the campaign has finished to take over at Munster and Wilson insists that the Irish province are getting a “world-class” operator.
The Chiefs’ best chance
The former New Zealand wing feels that this will be the Chiefs’ best chance to win Super Rugby, with McMillan leaving a gaping hole.
“The Chiefs need to win the competition this season because it’s going to get significantly harder for them going forward because their head coach is heading away after this year,” he said on The Breakdown.
“I think he’s been the difference for this organisation. You think where Warren Gatland had this team; they were struggling.
“After Covid they needed a shift and he came in when Warren Gatland went to the [B&I] Lions, and they’ve got better and better ever since.
“This is a team that’s competed for titles. You get the sense that he knows how to drive players and get the best out of them. The fact that there’s a respect there, pushes them hard. You see that face, you know what’s expected. I think it’s a huge loss for New Zealand Rugby.
“It’s going to be harder for the Chiefs from hereon because he, to me, is a world-class coach and the players who are in that environment won’t get the betterment of his expertise.
“I’m going to miss his post-match interviews as well because you always get quality from Clayton every single week, win or lose.”
McMillan’s replacement
McMillan’s replacement has not yet been confirmed but it has been reported that Jono Gibbes will take over ahead of the 2026 season.
Gibbes has plenty of experience around the world having coached at Leinster, Clermont Auvergne, Ulster and La Rochelle before returning to New Zealand, but Wilson is not convinced by his potential appointment.
“I think it’s always been the intention [for Gibbes] to come in, but I still don’t think he’s had the benefit of what Clayton’s gone through and where he’s got to,” he added.
“Head coaching is a difficult proposition, at any level but particularly at the professional level. The expectations are that you should win.
“Once you get inside a professional organisation, where you’re talking about millions and millions of dollars, it’s time to perform and deliver.”
