Smart move appointing Keane as Makos coach

BY JOHN ALEXANDER

OPINION: The Tasman Rugby Union's decision this week to appoint Kieran Keane as head coach of the Makos for the next two years was a smart one.

The former All Black is widely recognised, not only in Marlborough and Tasman, but also in wider circles as one of the most astute rugby brains in the country.

He has a proven track record at this level with Marlborough and Hawke's Bay. He's coached winning New Zealand under-16 teams, was a New Zealand under-20 selector last year and in 2009 moulded the Tasman Makos forward pack into one of the most cohesive in the competition.

For too long the door to advancing his coaching career from secondary school to the top provincial division and above seemed blocked for reasons which could only be non-rugby ones.

From the hard-nosed Alex (Grizz) Wyllie school in Canterbury and of Irish descent, political correctness has never been a part of Keane's make up. However, by his own admission, he has mellowed considerably as far as his once autocratic style is concerned and the players obviously warmed to his firm but fair approach based on an astute tactical brain and attention to detail.

Already a back coach of the highest quality, he proved his versatility by moulding a fine Makos forward pack last season.

Keane now has the added security of a two-year contract and is employed on a fulltime basis. He proved in 2009 that his motivation for doing the job certainly wasn't for financial gain.

This year the Makos will be rebuilding. If Keane can mould a successful team and make the top seven of the Air New Zealand Cup, his chances of coaching Super rugby would be further enhanced.

Keane's appointment was bad luck for Bevan Cadwallader, a man who gave sterling service to Nelson Bays and the Makos on and off the field over a long period.

However it was obvious following player and coach reviews that both Cadwallader and Keane wanted out of the co-coaching role – so one had to miss out.

The board's decision was unanimous. They should be applauded for the fine job they have done under chairman Nick Patterson and CEO Peter Barr for turning around the TRU's financial fortunes to the point where they are set to record a significant operating surplus at the next AGM.

Marlborough's representatives Graeme Taylor and Murray Hunt have clearly played key roles – Taylor as a member of the rugby subcommittee charged with, among other things, selecting the coaching staff.

The question now is who will Keane's assistant be?

The job is being advertised later this week and an appointment is expected to be made soon after that.

Former All Black and Red Devil Leon MacDonald is home from Japan over the holiday period and he's approaching the end of his playing career. When he concludes his Asian contract he would seem the ideal person to assist Keane, who coached him at Marlborough Boys' College in the early 1990s. Watch this space.

Keane's appointment consolidates Marlborough's representation in the Makos management and coaching structure and will ensure players based here get a fair crack at making the team, something that wasn't always evident in the early years. With several players from last season having left, Keane has already said he would rather develop local talent so the ball is very much in their court.

The TRU could help in that respect by directing any new players coming in this year to Marlborough clubs.

A more equal distribution of playing strength at club level between Marlborough and Nelson Bays is an area which still needs to be addressed.

- The Marlborough Express