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It was intriguing watching new skills coach Mick ‘The Kick’ Byrne in action at Wallabies training in the lead-up to Saturday’s first Bledisloe.
I took my four-year-old son along to Central Coast Stadium to check out the open session last week.
In between a trip to the ice cream cart, throwing a mini footy around, games of hide and seek, two toilet stops, wrestling with him over my mobile phone, and constant reassurance that we were indeed getting the train home (his favourite part), I managed to snatch glimpses of what was going down on the training paddock.
When I could, I kept a close eye on Byrne, who only joined the Wallabies last month after a celebrated 11-year stint at the All Blacks.
The former AFL ruckman is credited with playing a big part in developing the world champs’ peerless skills sets – from kicking to catching high balls, tackling to lineout throwing, and lots in between.
All this during a time when the All Blacks were ranked world No.1 for 125 of 134 weeks, and won two World and 11 straight Bledisloe Cups.
Immediately apparent is that he has been afforded a roving commission by coach Michael Cheika.
He prowled around all the drills – passing, ruck clean outs, defensive hit pad work, ruck and runs, high-ball reception – regularly taking players, and in down-times fellow coaches, aside to impart his hands-on wisdom.
One drill in particular caught my eye. It was a simple three-man catch-and-pass set up, but with a twist. Instead of the drill starting with the ball passed to or held by the first distributor, as is normally the case, it was kicked hard to him by Byrne. From close range. This turned what is normally a placid affair into the extreme sport of ‘catch the missile’.
More often than not, the ball would cannon off the bloke trying to catch it – his reflexes not quite up to the lightening speeds required. The rare occasions players did manage to snaffle the projectile were met with whoops of delight.
I’m pretty sure this honing of ball skills at warp speed is a Byrne special, no doubt one he used on the All Blacks over the years. I’d love to know how long it took the Kiwis to master it – there was more than a trace of its residual impact when former All Black wing Cory Jane held on to that miracle catch to score a try for the Hurricanes in this year’s Super Rugby final.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09tz6F2NITM
Cheka neatly summed up what Byrne brings to his team to Fox Sports this week:
“The whole thing is around the acquisition of skills at a better level and being able to do that under pressure.”
And he’s been at pains to assure that he won’t be mining Byrne for the inside oil on All Black strategies and tactics.
“I’m not the type of guy that’s going to go and ask Mick ‘what do New Zealand do,” the coach said.
“It’s cheap, that’s not why we wanted Mick to come over.
“We wanted Mick to come over and coach with us because he’s brilliant at helping develop skills.
“We’re not looking to take the lift, you know what I mean, we want to take the stairs.”
Still, it’s impossible to imagine Byrne won’t be divulging the odd bit of enemy IP to help his new team get its eager hands on Lord Bledisloe’s prized cup for the first time in 14 long years.
Maybe it’s that thought that has All Blacks coach Steve Hansen in a prickly, grenade-lobbing mood this week.
Regardless, Byrne’s shift of camps is a tasty subplot to a mouth-watering contest this Saturday.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.