The New Era of All Blacks’ Attack
Mike Blair, a former Scotland scrum-half and captain, has been appointed as the new attack coach for the All Blacks. His role is to lead the team’s offensive strategies this season, but he acknowledges that head coach Dave Rennie will also play a significant part in shaping the attack.
Blair’s experience working with Rennie during their time at Glasgow Warriors and with Kobe in Japan has given him a deep understanding of how the head coach operates. This collaboration is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the All Blacks’ attack, which has seen frequent changes in leadership in recent years.
A History of Change
The attack coaching role has had several different faces in the past few seasons. Brad Mooar was the first attack coach under Ian Foster in 2020, but he left the coaching team in 2022. During that time, the head coach took on more responsibilities alongside Joe Schmidt until the Rugby World Cup. Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland then took over during Scott Robertson’s first year, and when Robertson departed, Scott Hansen also contributed to the attacking structures.
Now, with Rennie at the helm, Blair is tasked with creating a clear identity for the All Blacks’ attack while ensuring it remains adaptable to different oppositions.
Rennie’s Influence
Rennie’s experience with attacking structures is a valuable asset for the team. Blair highlighted that Rennie has traditionally focused on turnover and counter-attack strategies, a philosophy that Blair also adopted during his time coaching at Glasgow with Rennie.
“We’re pretty aligned now in what that looks like,” Blair said. “It’s a really interesting collaboration because Rens has done a lot of the turnover and counter-attack game.”
Blair emphasized the importance of having a clear plan for breaking down defenses, while also being open to making adjustments based on the opposition. He noted that Rennie’s ability to quickly identify key points in video analysis helps in refining strategies.
Passion for Attack
Blair’s passion for attacking rugby has been a driving force throughout his career. He started his senior coaching journey at Glasgow Warriors, where he worked under Gregor Townsend and Rennie, while also serving as an assistant coach for Scotland between 2016 and 2021.
In 2021, he was appointed as the head coach of Edinburgh, the team he represented as a player for over 160 matches between 2002 and 2012. However, he stepped down from the role in 2023, citing a lack of support from the board and the absence of a director of rugby as key factors in his decision.
Focus on Attack
Blair explained that his primary focus has always been on the attack. He enjoys the detail involved in developing strategies to beat specific defenses and believes that the head coach role at Edinburgh took away from his ability to fully concentrate on attack.
“I found with the head coach role at Edinburgh, there wasn’t a huge support from a director of rugby or CEO or anything like that,” he said. “So a lot of the recruitment, the man management, everything fell on my plate and as a result, that took away from my ability to coach the attack.”
He described his decision to step down as a bold move, considering the limited number of club head coach positions in Scotland. However, he felt it was the right choice for him to focus solely on the attack.
Looking Ahead
Blair’s appointment marks a new chapter for the All Blacks’ attack, and his collaboration with Rennie is expected to bring a fresh approach to the team’s offensive strategies. With a clear vision and a strong partnership, the All Blacks are poised to make a strong comeback in the upcoming seasons.
