Cory Jane – assistant coach of the Hurricanes and the All Blacks ..
What do you think of the All Blacks' level of performance at the moment?
They're not yet at their best, that's for sure. When I watch them play, I find that they are so talented that they don't need to be very structured to perform well. As soon as they go outside the patterns of the cell game, they can become very dangerous. They still have a discipline problem, although it was better against Ireland. They have a whole new staff, I think we need to give them time. They didn't have a good Rugby Championship, losing to Argentina and South Africa; so this tour in the North is very important in their development process.
They are no longer as dominant as when you were a player. For what ?
I have the feeling that other nations have always had quality players available but have not always used them well: Ireland for example. It still has strong and powerful players but has spent a long time kicking without using them. What's the point? Same for South Africa: I have always found that this nation has the best back triangle on the world circuit. Except that until 2018-2019, the Springboks did not use it! Every time we faced them, I knew I was going to be showered with candles. Other nations have progressed, New Zealand faces new competition. The All Blacks have always found a way to be a little ahead of the others. They will have to be creative to regain this lead.
Which players are you most excited about at the moment?
I have always been a big fan of Billy Proctor (Hurricane center, Editor's note). I think he deserves many more selections than he currently has (2 capes). I have seen him play for several years at the Hurricanes and he needs more playing time with a black jersey on his shoulders. He is very complete, he knows how to do everything. I really like Damian McKenzie too. When this guy is free, anything can happen. He knows how to adapt to the patterns of play but honestly, he's not the guy you should ask to pass and give, pass and give and kick play. We have to let him do what he wants, like he does to the Chiefs. That's how he's the best. The new phenomenon is called Wallace Sititi. We discovered him two years ago with the under-20s, and I didn't think he would be ready so quickly for the international level. But obviously he is.
Scott Robertson won everything with the Crusaders, the expectations surrounding his appointment were immense… Is he the man for the job?
Once again, the fans want us to win everything. Now that I am a coach, I realize that the pressure is enormous, as are the expectations. Everyone thought they would win everything but it doesn't work like that. He has a brand new staff and hasn't had much time with his group yet. When players come out of Super Rugby, they arrive at the selection with their game plans and it takes time for everyone to get on the same page. We clearly saw that in Robertson's first tests, the players did not fit together. It will come.
You meet Ardie Savea on a daily basis. Tell us about him…
This guy is incredible. He has such a competitive spirit, he is so strong… And then outside of rugby, he is loved by everyone: he is kind, caring, positive, respectful. The players around him want to follow him and learn from him. And then it's hard. Watch him when he plays: sometimes he gets up from contact, you feel like he can barely walk. And a few seconds later, you see him in the lane, clearing defenders or throwing a slow ball, knocking guys on their ass. And the worst part is that he's far from being the biggest of them all. I think his childhood with his big brother Julian, who is stronger than him, served well: constantly measuring himself against those stronger and more powerful than him toughened him. Next year he will play with the Moana Pasifika and I can tell you that it's a big loss for us, even if we have some good young players in the third line. We are losing a big caliber but I think it will do Moana a lot of good.
Who are the French players that you like?
I have always liked Gaël Fickou. I saw he was benched for the first time in his career last week, right? I really like your number 8 too, Greg Alldritt, and Peato Mauvaka. I think the latter could play absolutely anywhere in a team: third row, number 8, center, even 10… I also think that your scrum half is not too bad… (laughs)
Should the All Blacks implement an “Anti-Dupont” plan?
Hard to say. I'm sure they will have something planned for him but the risk is to forget the guys around him. Furthermore, Dupont is not selfish. He always plays around him and doesn't try impossible things solo. He's so damn strong… He can do everything. He hits hard, he goes fast, he tackles well, he has great passes… They will have to watch him closely, that's for sure.
Have you always been interested in the defensive sector? When we mention your name, we tend to think of the attack…
No way. I was interested in defense by default. You are right: my whole career has been based only on attack. As a kid, I only took goose steps! And I didn't have good tackling technique, I aimed too high, a bit like the thirteen players, which drove my coaches crazy. But as I got older, I could see that I was losing speed. Even more so because of the injuries. So I had to reinvent myself. To stay in the game and continue to contribute to the team, I focused on defense since it was my only way to stay competitive. It immediately interested me. How to close spaces, how to cut attacks… There is a part of study that I really like. So I got more and more involved in this mission, to the point that my teammates came to ask me on the pitch how we were supposed to defend in this or that area of the pitch! (laughs). We ended the season by winning the Super Rugby title, I had another season with the Canes, during which I really worked to set up my own defensive system, I spent two seasons in Japan in the meantime, and on my return I was asked to become defense coach of the Wellington Lions, the NPC team. Then two years later, I was asked to join the Hurricanes staff in Super Rugby. And since then, I've been enjoying it!
