Chiefs boss gets All Blacks XV job

NEWS: Clayton McMillan has been announced as head coach of the All Blacks XV and will lead the team on a two-match northern tour.

He will be assisted by Jamie Mackintosh (forwards), David Hill (attack) and Cory Jane (defence).

McMillan, current head coach of the Chiefs Super Rugby Pacific team, said it was fantastic to be involved with a team starting to create its own legacy.

"The ability to work with different coaches and players is hugely valuable, and the team will be exposed to different levels and styles of rugby up north. It’s great to have three highly regarded assistants in David, Jamie and Cory.

"Cory and Jamie had a great season with the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific, while David has been with the All Blacks for several seasons so to have his knowledge and understanding of that environment is critical.

"Preparations are well underway for the tour north, I spent last week with the All Blacks to see how they operate and had some good discussions around selections for the All Blacks XV with the squad announcement coming next week."

Commenting on the two matches against Munster and Georgia, McMillan expects two tough encounters with both teams having the benefit of being in the middle of campaigns.

"Munster is sold out, so we’re set for a great match up in front of passionate fans there and Georgia is a competitive team, they came close to Australia (29-40) and beat Japan (25-23) in July so we’re expecting an intense clash."

The match against Munster will be played in front of a crowd of 25,000 at Thomond Park in Limerick. While the Georgia test will see both teams play away from home at GGL Stadium in Montpellier.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Head of High Performance Mike Anthony said: "These matches are an opportunity for our next tier of talent to experience different playing styles and get exposure to overseas touring.

"Clayton has been with the programme since its inception and he and the wider coaching team bring a broad range of experience from different Super Rugby environments.

"I look forward to working with them and the All Blacks XV management team as we continue to build depth of talent. The alignment with the All Blacks is also a critical piece as we commence a new RWC cycle.

All Blacks XV 2024 Management Team:

Head coach – Clayton McMillan

Forwards coach – Jamie Mackintosh

Attack coach – David Hill

Defence coach – Cory Jane

Team manager – Martyn Vercoe

Strength and conditioning coach – Brad Mayo

Performance analyst – Adam Foy

Team doctor – Theo Dorfling

Team physio – Neil Tucker