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Excerpts from interviews with Graeme Moody – Radio Network

High Performance Players’ and Coaches’ Courses
June 2005

Milan Yelavich is the North Harbour Rugby Union's development coach and was sent on the course by his union.

"From a coaches point of view you have to come on this course with an open mind. It's re-affirmed a few things and given me a chance to brush up on techniques and consider different approaches."

"Ian Jones did a session on lineouts which was just fantastic, Grant Fox is very good with his game planning and I spent valuable time with Richard Loe learning the "art" of front row work as only he could describe it! (much laughter)"

"A lot of the ideas you pick up come from being exposed to different ways of viewing things - so sitting around a table discussing issues with coaches from around the world, either as a student or a teacher, is really worthwhile. Take contentious spots like the tackle ball, and the view on that is so different between us and the Poms. They reckon we go off our feet and should be penalised a lot more. It's ideal, the Lions tour is on at the moment, it adds to the banter!"

"It's good we're all a little different in the way we look at the game or rugby could lose its flair. No one way is right - and what was successful two years ago may not work now."

"The North Harbour Rugby Union decided to invest in their future and send me on the course. Every guy I've spoken to who has attended previous courses believes they've got good value from coming here."

"I take away a hell of a lot of new ideas. Any guy aspiring to improve his coaching and go further in the coaching world would benefit from this experience."

Mark Hewitt is an academy coach at the Gloucester club in England. He was interviewed the week after the Lions lost to the NZ Maori and was asked (tongue in cheek) if he was enjoying what they'd achieved so far on tour?

"Hahahaha ....yeh, not that convincing at the moment but hopefully they get it right come test time." (Sorry Mark - three weeks on we can confirm they didn't!)

"The tackle is the big talking point. There's more competition for the ball at the breakdown down here - while back in England they decide if they can't get their hands on the ball to get back into the defensive line. The challenge is to take the best of both approaches and work out what's best for you."

"On this course David Nucifora has impressed me with the detail he puts into his stuff and his enthusiasm for the game, and the knowledge of Grant Fox blew me away. They were the highlights for me. I'd pinpoint those two as having the greatest impact on me."

"There will definitely be someone else from one of England's premiership club academies coming out next year and it should also be seen as a great opportunity for some of our younger players to come here and broaden their horizons. I'd recommend to the boss that he finds the money to send one of our players next year."

"The only criticism I'd have is that after observing for the first week, we coaches are unleashed on the kids attending the players course - and it could be a bit mind-blowing for the kids, with so many different and mixed messages going their way. But overall, it's been really positive."

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones recommended Australian elite development coach Manu Sutherland attend our July course. Sutherland says, "Jones was impressed with what he saw when he tutored at an IRANZ course earlier in the year", adding "It takes a bit to impress Eddie!"

So did Manu find it a worthwhile course?

"Absolutely ... my job over there (Australia) specifies teaching individual skills, but it's learning to marry these into game-planning and sequence plays that has made the difference. It's really taken me to the next level of coaching. It's opened my eyes really. We've been individually skilling and not taking it to the second and third phase in sequence."

Which tutors impressed him most?

"Well, funnily enough mate - it's the one who came from Australia, David Nucifora, who I found absolutely brilliant. Australia has lost a good coach!"

"Jeez, I'm taking half a ream of paper home with me. It's been very beneficial but I'm feeling a bit weary now."

Does he have any criticisms about what IRANZ offered?

"The overload (of information) is worth what you make of it. After all, you are here to learn and it's (the pressure) tapered off towards the end, which is great because you need a bit more down time. The overall concept is great and it's a huge advantage to have all the experts like Foxy and Loey on hand, for the coaches and the players."

Prompted by some high-powered South African rugby men, 19 year old South African Ashley Johnson decided to get on a plane to New Zealand and attend the June IRANZ High Performance Players’ Course.

Johnson says South African coach Jake White and the Springboks most successful coach ever, Nick Mallett, want him to shift from number eight to specialising as a hooker.

"Jake White told me if I was willing to make the positional change then he'd support my receiving a Tanalised scholarship to attend IRANZ. White and Mallett hold the International Rugby Academy in high regard."

Johnson says, "Coming to New Zealand to spend three weeks on the course has been tremendous value. In fact, I'd like to repeat the experience in a couple of years to keep pace with the changing demands of the game."

"Getting to pick the brains of all the specialists had my head spinning with new ideas, and you just have to pick them out and write them down before you forget. Loey, Paul Mitchell and David Nucifora all offered a heck of a lot of inside knowledge on the goings-on in the front row. I learnt a few tricks."

"But probably the most important lessons were on the most visible job for a hooker and that's throwing the ball into the lineout. They impressed on me that it's all about keeping the core of the body steady and stable during the throw, no matter whether it be to the front or to the back. It then comes down to timing. They concentrated on that a lot."

"It (IRANZ) is definitely a step up on the training we get at the South African Academy.. The academy work at home is largely team based. The difference here is that you get individualised specialist coaching in your position. I believe it's lifted my game by as much as 20 per cent."

Fetu'u Vainikolo is an Auckland under 21 rep and plays for the Marist Premier side at fullback or in the three quarters.

He became known as "fats" on the course because "a lot of the overseas guys couldn't pronounce my name!"

Fetu'u says the course has really helped him build the basics of the game.

"I didn't really know what my role was on the field until I came here. I prefer to play centre so talking to Frank Bunce about lines to run and the timing of the pass was really interesting."

"Learning to eat healthily should also help me a bit. You've got to be careful what you eat before games. I'm more a KFC boy than a Macs boy, but I've given up takeaways altogether."

"Taking us shopping to look for the right foods was quite good, finding out where to find the healthy food rather than takeaways."

"Murray Mexted's course on mental toughness was good in teaching different ways to prepare for a game. I used to just turn up to the changing room and put on my boots, sit there quietly and say a little prayer."

"The big lesson I take out of this is that you have to practise the weakest links in your game."

"You not only learn about rugby, you also learn things about life and meet new friends. It's been a good experience."