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.
Timbo (L)
Guest
Great article and observations. I wonder if there is a causal link between "Catch the missle" and MacMahon's Shnoz Injury?
Timbo (L)
Guest
Wow, this is an odd forum to have a legal/ethical debate. My 2 cents: Ethically: Mick can teach the Wallabies how to kick catch and pass better - this is is the service he offers. Mick cannot teach the wallabies how to attack or defend against the Kiwi play book that he may has been privileged to see and isn't yet public knowledge. This would be considered trade secret until it is used on the field. Mick cannot give privileged information about players' condition.
Morsie
Guest
Zero, but it makes the narrative for more interesting. Nicely done.
Arnie453
Guest
Because he's not coaching rugby. He's coaching skills. Catching and kicking a footy are the same regardless of the code and there is a strong argument to be made that AFL players execute those skills better under fatigue than their counterparts in the Rugby codes. Mick Byrnes job is to bring the players up to a such a standard that the Rugby coaches can pick whatever game plan they deem most appropriate confident their players will be able to execute.
Chris
Guest
How can I guy from a Aussie Rules background be such a success in Rugby Union without playing the game ??
Zack
Roar Rookie
The All Blacks coaching groups have always had very high regard for Byrne's work with the players and within the All Blacks structures, so no one can belittle his value to the All Blacks for 11 years or so. Byrne was one of the very few (perhaps the ONLY one) specialists who have served under different All Blacks coaches and has provided continuity in his specialist field. After 11 years, he's decided to return home, and while the NZRU might have wanted to keep him on, the close familial culture within the All Blacks environment meant they all appreciated Byrne's reasons for wanting to return home - and agreed without any hesitation to release him, with great appreciation for his significant contribution to the All Blacks. It would have felt like a family member moving away - that's how tight the All Blacks are as a group. For his part, Byrne must feel a tinge of sadness at leaving, and has on his own accord gone public that he would not divulge any All Blacks IP he was privy to: that's not a declaration of someone leaving one coaching gig for another. I believe it comes from the heart, and it would appear the feeling is mutual based on Steve Tew's, Hansen's and Foster's public endorsements of Byrne's abilities and likely contribution to the Wallabies. I suspect the non-disclosure of IP information would have been a key clause in any appointment agreement Byrne executed with ARU. I for one wish him all the best and would like to publicly thank him for his unstinting commitment, dedication and loyalty to the All Blacks and his not insignificant contribution to the evolution of All Blacks play which has generated great results in the 11 years we've been honoured to have him.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Precious, Zack.
Zack
Roar Rookie
Yeah right!! Hope the meat inspector's team takes the meat cleaver to the Wallabies...
Matt Porter
Roar Guru
Zack, you've got totally the wrong end of the stick. I made the reference to Hansen's previous occupation as a meat inspector to suggest that he is a no-nonsense type of character who doesn't waste words and beat about the bush - hence the comment that him calling Byrne a "goody" is quite lavish praise for a taciturn character that Hansen is. That you interpreted it as a derogatory reference, I'm afraid, is wholly a figment of your imagination. I could have just as easily attached this trait of Hansen's to being a former cop, but most people know he was that. I thought I'd throw in a bit of info that maybe not a lot of people in the wider rugby community know about him.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Why is a meat inspector less desirable than being a cop? I'd rather spend my day with dead sheep than drug-addled thieves.
Markus
Guest
Apart from lineout calls, I can't really see what secrets Byrne will be able to divulge that could be used against them anyway. The big "secret" to the All Blacks success is largely being fitter, faster, better disciplined and significantly more skilled across the park.
Zack
Roar Rookie
"That’s highly effusive praise from the former Canterbury meat inspector". Not derogatory?? He could easily have written "..from the former cop" but didn't, the intent being that "meat inspector" reads a lot less of a desirable occupation. Don't try to make crap smell like roses...
James in NZ
Guest
For the last 11 seasons Mick Byrne has been sitting in the coaches box next to Hansen during test matches, watching and listening to Hansen's orders and contributing his own input no doubt. So you'd think he'd have an insight to the way Hansen thinks and reacts. Now he's going to be sitting next to Cheika, who next to E.Jones would probably be Hansen's biggest current rival, not only doing the exact same role, but also with that added insight to how Hansen thinks and how he would be reacting to the game (speaking in vast generalities here). If I was Hansen, that'd be getting under my skin too a bit, as he seems to genuinely like the bloke and probably is feeling a bit jilted. Like Cheika stole his best mate or something. I know this is the world of professionalism, full stop.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
1 - Byrne's skills coaching techniques and training are his to sell. 2 - The reference to ABs IP is about all the other things he will have picked up by being part of strategy and team sessions for a decade. 3 - Byrne won't disclose any of that because the ABs no tossers policy will extend to the coaching staff. He wouldn't have lasted a decade if he was the kind of guy who'd sell them out. So even if Chieka asked "what do the ABs do" (which I doubt) all Byrne would have answered with is "these are the drills I used with them, but here are the ones I think your team needs".
Dave H
Roar Rookie
I am confident that all the Mick Byrne concepts and strategies for skills development are now well entrenched with the AB and SR franchise training structures and there was little to be gained in retaining his services further. He has done a great job but his presence is now no longer required. I wish him well with the Wallabies but doubt he will have the same level of success as the culture is very different. The knowledge and experience he has gained in turn from the AB team management leaving NZ is of no concern as the ABs and NZ rugby in general is constantly evolving and his departure is no different to the many other NZ coaches plying their trade around the world with great success.
Buk
Guest
Thanks Matt, interesting article. The Corey Jane observation particularly. I knew a tennis player who used to practice volleying the ball from only a few feet in front of the volleyboard wall. It looked crazy, as he was way way closer than conventional, and had to repeatedly stop to get a fresh tennis ball after only a few volleys. Then I saw him play a doubles match, and his play was just phenomenal - people watching were saying 'what great reflexes that guy has'. But it was a developed art.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
I was also recalling that Nonu piece yesterday afternoon...
Wardad
Guest
Catching bream around oyster leases takes some beating I reckon .
Wardad
Guest
The last small thing that made my kids happy was an I-ohone 7!
Wardad
Guest
NZ may well find someone as good if not better than Byrne ,I would imagine that a lot of his technique would be ongoing with the ABs in any case .