Dave Rennie’s ‘most important comment’ as Jeff Wilson insists NZ Rugby ‘will be listening’ after All Blacks boss’ bold claim
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and an inset of ex-winger Jeff Wilson.
Former All Blacks trio Jeff Wilson, John Afoa and Aaron Cruden have all backed the continuation of the NPC after Dave Rennie’s recent comments.
New Zealand’s head coach last week described it as the “best provincial competition in the world” despite it having its critics.
With the purse strings potentially needing to tighten due to the financial concerns NZ Rugby face, there has been plenty of debate over the structure of the game in the country.
Debate over NPC’s future
Some therefore believe that the NPC needs to change or possibly be axed altogether but Rennie has given his backing, which Wilson believes is crucial.
“This is probably the most important comment for me around the NPC because that’s the All Blacks coach,” he said on The Breakdown.
“He’s got an affiliation to this competition because that’s where he started his professional coaching career.
“When he’s saying that, he sees it as an important piece of the pathway. If you’re going to develop into an All Black, there’s a level there and a layer there that other countries don’t have, so I think the NPC is clearly important.
“I think New Zealand Rugby will be listening, I’m fascinated when they start going through what their future’s going to look like.
“It’s important, if he’s seeing that as a critical part of our game in New Zealand, we have to find a way to keep it in some shape or form.”
Ex-All Blacks prop Afoa, who is currently on the coaching staff at Counties Manukau, then chimed in and questioned whether it would benefit the game in New Zealand if they only had Super Rugby to develop players.
“How would it work if we just had Super teams and academies? There are not enough eyes looking because there are so many guys who are late developers who come through the NPC,” he said.
‘A lot more heated discussions’
Cruden agreed with his fellow former All Black and was pleased that Rennie spoke up in support of the competition, but admits that it will continue to be debated fiercely.
“I love it. With what Rens has said there, he wants to build strong foundations and, as you say, New Zealand Rugby will be listening,” he said.
“I’ve said it before this season, but club rugby and NPC have been the heartbeat of New Zealand rugby and if there’s just Super Rugby and then academies, how does that mix? How does it work?
“There are going to be a lot more heated discussions over the next 18 months.”
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