Enforced coaching role seen as a positive

Otago defence coach Lee Allan at Otago training at the Edgar Centre yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
Otago defence coach Lee Allan at Otago training at the Edgar Centre yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
It has been a swift promotion up the ranks for Lee Allan, but one he is taking in his stride.

Only last season, Allan was suiting up for Otago in a playing capacity, taking the field as a loose forward for the Otago side.

But a series of concussions caught up with him and he was left with simply no option - for the sake of his health he had to give the game away.

But as one door closed another opened.

He was already a coaching development officer with the Otago union - starting early last year - and then this year has become the defence coach with the Otago Mitre 10 Cup team.

Allan, who is only 26, admits his new role is a challenge.

``It is about being at a different end than being a player, so you have to come at it from a different approach,'' he said.

``But we are lucky here in Otago in that we have some really intelligent players, who are really receptive to ideas.''

But how tough is it coaching guys that only last year were team-mates on the field?

After all, Allan's last game for Otago was on October 14 last year against Manawatu, and only a year later he is barking instructions to many of those he played with.

``To be honest, I'm not thinking of it as being a negative. I'm using it as more of a positive for me. I have got really good relationships with the players. I understand most of the systems the side has had. At my age I can relate to them a lot more.''

Defence was about attitude, he said.

``There are little things and details around defence and the way you align. But a massive amount of it is around attitude. And that can have a flow-on to other parts of the game.''

He hails from the South Otago town of Kaitangata, which is where current Otago coach Cory Brown and former Highlanders coach Tony Brown also come from.

Allan simply wanted to go as far as he could with his coaching. But he admits he would still love to be out there playing the game.

``It can be pretty tough sitting on the sideline watching the guys play. But it is awesome to be so close and see all the young guys coming through. And we have plenty of young talent.

``I want to go down the coaching line, but to me it is one step at a time. I was like that as a player - never get too far ahead of yourself and just play one game [at a time].''

Allan is in for a busy next few days as Otago prepares to take on Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup championship semifinal in Tauranga on Saturday.

``I think we were all pretty disappointed in the way we played against them [Bay of Plenty] a few weeks ago. We need to come with the right attitude against them. It is going to be a tough battle, but as a defence coach it is important we get things right.

``Games like this, a semifinal, [are] going to be decided by defence. They have some real flair players and skilful players, so we have to back our skill sets.''

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