Ufuk Talay got an interview on the back of pushes from certain sectors of the media.
1. They were never going to put an Aussie in charge.
2. Most certainly doesn't fulfill McKinnon Report recommendations.
3. Had to give him interview in order to not break down NZF/Phoenix relationship.
Hard pill to swallow for some (i will cop a fair bit from his supporters no doubt)....but let's take the blinkers off for a second.
Time to move on from appointments and let's support the teams!
1. They were never going to put an Aussie in charge.
2. Most certainly doesn't fulfill McKinnon Report recommendations.
3. Had to give him interview in order to not break down NZF/Phoenix relationship.
Hard pill to swallow for some (i will cop a fair bit from his supporters no doubt)....but let's take the blinkers off for a second.
Time to move on from appointments and let's support the teams!
Absurd to suggest NZF wouldn't appoint an Aussie. We have had a number of Poms in charge. Schmid from Switzerland. Why not an Australian.
The no 1 problem with appointing Talay is he just wouldn't be focused on the job 100%, and you risk going backwards in the very important preparation & analysis space, for the AWs. Something that has come on in leaps & bounds since Ricki (as it should with a full time gaffer), but would likely regress with a part time coach, busy preparing his club team only a few days before the AWs play.
Plus then of course the large risk that what if Uffie no longer coaches the Nix some way through the WC cycle (2026 would see him being at the club 7 years, a lifetime in club football). What happens then?
Absurd you say? All Blacks wouldn't put an Aussie in charge. Neither will the All Whites. Think most fans wouldn't take to that.. apart from his club supporters that have a man crush.
His best bet it to do a Kevin Muscat - wiggle his way to a small European league then into Asia. end of.
If you look at fan sentiment across social media people seem absolutely behind Talay.
Rugby Australia has appointed Kiwi coaches in the past...
Could you picture and imagine Chris Wood listening to Talay an Australian giving it to them whilst we 2-0 down at halftime against Australia. If you think so you in la la land.
Football is the largest international sport and players play all over the world, wherever they choose or are told to go. If the NZ AUS rivalry was such a big deal do you think we would catch NZ players playing for AUS clubs or NZ players playing under AUS coaches.
Heres a thought, maybe having an Aussie as a coach for the All Whites would help us in the mostly made up 'rivalry' we have with the Aussies? It has certainly helped other teams in rugby when they take NZ coaches! Not to mention the fact that having an Aussie coach would pump up the 'rivalry' that you seem to care so much about.
Edit - and just to be clear I don't even want Talay for the All Whites job but to pretend that our rivalry with the Aussies is the reason he didn't get it is just dumb. He simply isn't as experienced as the other options, that is all.