All Blacks legend ‘surprised and astounded’ by Leon MacDonald and Scott Robertson fallout
Ex-New Zealand back-row and former All Blacks assistant coach Leon MacDonald.
Legendary New Zealand openside flanker Josh Kronfeld said the news of Leon MacDonald stepping down from his position as All Blacks assistant coach has left him “surprised and astounded”.
The rugby world was shocked to its core on Thursday when New Zealand Rugby (NZR) announced that MacDonald had left his role as the All Blacks’ attack coach after just five Tests as part of head coach Scott Robertson’s backroom staff.
Although MacDonald has not commented on the matter yet, Robertson revealed that his former Crusaders team-mate did not agree with his coaching philosophy and although their difference of opinion could not be rectified, there was no animosity between the pair.
NZR revealed that the duo agreed on an amicable split after holding numerous discussions about their strained relationship.
Kronfeld, who represented the All Blacks in 54 Tests between 1995 and 2000, said he was shocked by MacDonald’s departure and the timing of it.
‘It’s really early in the piece’
“I was quite surprised and astounded, as much as anybody else,” the 53-year-old told Stuff. “It’s really early in the piece to be making a decision like that.
“The only thing I can think of, they clearly knew they weren’t a good fit, so they’ve moved on the way they have.
“It seemed quite amicable, the way they presented it.“
MacDonald’s exit came mere days after the All Blacks’ 42-10 Rugby Championship win over Argentina and on the eve of their back-to-back Tests against the Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
During their playing careers, Robertson and MacDonald were team-mates at the Crusaders and also played together at Test level for New Zealand.
Apart from their brief stint together on the All Blacks coaching staff, MacDonald was also part of Robertson’s backroom team at the Crusaders in 2017.
While Kronfeld said he is unsure for the exact reason behind Robertson and MacDonald’s fallout, he added that there are always people in working environments who “don’t get on”.
“Even in the highest teams, there are cliques and quirks, players that don’t get on 100%,” he said.
“But, if they can work together and perform, that’s the job. In every workplace, there are people you don’t quite get on with. It doesn’t matter if it’s rugby or city council.”
NZR’s head of professional rugby and performance, Chris Lendrum, said MacDonald is currently taking a break but would be welcomed to coach at Super Rugby or NPC level again.
Wallabies set sights on MacDonald’s services
Meanwhile, former Australia centre Tim Horan has urged Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt to add MacDonald to his coaching staff.
Schmidt, who was an All Blacks assistant coach for two years before taking over the Wallabies coaching reins earlier this year, was a coaching mentor to MacDonald at the Blues during their 2022 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Kronfeld said he would not have a problem if MacDonald joined the Wallabies’ coaching staff.
“It’s about these boys looking after their own security and future with their families,” Kronfeld said.
“It would be a massive leap in a different direction and another surprise, but you can’t begrudge any of the boys looking after their future if there’s a job overseas.
“They are rugby coaches, first and foremost, and go where the work is.”
READ MORE: All Blacks: Leon MacDonald falls victim of too many big voices in Scott Robertson’s team
