Sir Wayne Smith on All Blacks Career & Culture, Black Ferns, Future of Rugby
Oct 22, 2023
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Sir Wayne Smith, a respected figure in New Zealand Rugby, discusses coaching men and women, desired rule changes, his dismissal as All Blacks coach, memorable moments, and his role as a performance coach. They also reflect on sharing knowledge, overcoming adversity, and the challenges of being a head coach. Enjoy this fascinating insight into one of World Rugby's greatest thinkers!
Coaching men and women requires different approaches and adaptations.
Resilience is a crucial quality in overcoming setbacks and achieving success.
Building a dedicated and supportive team environment is essential for achieving goals.
Deep dives
Wayne Smith's Rugby Legacy
Wayne Smith, one of the most respected figures in New Zealand rugby, discusses his coaching career, the differences between coaching men and women, rule changes in the game, and the hardest moments of his career. He emphasizes the importance of resilience and shares insights into his coaching philosophy.
Passion for Rugby and Learning
Wayne Smith's deep passion for rugby and continuous learning is highlighted. He describes his early rugby experiences and the influence of mentors like David Gallagher and John Wooden. He emphasizes the importance of being open to sharing ideas and having robust discussions to improve as a coach and a person.
Overcoming Adversity and Resilience
Wayne Smith reflects on the setbacks he faced, including being sacked as All Blacks coach and losing in crucial games. He discusses the role of resilience and the lessons learned from failures. He also shares personal experiences, including his son's journey with cerebral palsy, and how these challenges have shaped his coaching and perspective on life.
A Journey to World Cup Victory
The challenges faced during the 2007 World Cup are discussed, such as injuries to key players and a quarter-final loss against France. Wayne Smith highlights the resilience and determination displayed by the team, and the ultimate triumph in winning the World Cup in 2011.
Building a Committed and Supportive Team
The podcast discusses the importance of building a team of committed individuals dedicated to the same goal. The speaker highlights the hard work and dedication of the coaching staff and players, emphasizing the working environment that pushes the boundaries of fatigue. The support from families is also acknowledged, with particular emphasis on the role of Trish, who has been a pillar of support for Wayne Smith throughout his coaching career.
Creating a Winning Culture
The podcast episode explores the journey to winning the Women's World Cup, highlighting the team's focus on developing exceptional skills and a winning mindset. The speaker describes the use of dojo training to condition players for combat in a safe environment and foster a competitive spirit. The importance of teamwork, leadership, and individual accountability is emphasized, with examples of players stepping up as leaders and the role of mentoring and support from the coaching staff. The speaker also reflects on the impact of small margins and sliding door moments in the team's success.
Sir Wayne Smith is one of the most respected and accomplished figures in New Zealand Rugby history – an absolute legend of the game.
He was a 17-cap All Black who went on to win three World Cups - two as All Blacks assistant coach, and one with the Black Ferns.
He’s also been the All Blacks coach, won four Super Rugby titles as a coach, two with the Crusaders and two with the Chiefs, and currently works as the Performance coach to both the All Blacks and Black Ferns.
In this episode we talk about the differences between coaching men and women, what rule changes he’d like to see in the game, why he was sacked as All Blacks coach and the hardest moments of his career in 2007, his fair tale ride with the Black Ferns, where his resilience comes from and much, much more.
There’s a reason Wayne is considered one of World Rugby’s greatest thinkers, and this was a fascinating insight into how his brain works. It was a real honour getting to share so much of his time, and it’s easy to see why his players are all so connected to him as a person and a coach.
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This episode was brought to you from the Export Beer garden studio. Enjoy.
