Rugby: New coach has paid his dues

New Otago co-coach Andy Hunter: "To me it is about setting standards in place and making sure there is a level of accountability there." Photo by Peter McIntosh.

Hunter was confirmed as Otago co-coach yesterday and will team up with Phil Mooney in trying to lift Otago rugby back from its disastrous last place last season.

Hunter (44) has coached Otago teams right through the grades, starting with schoolboy teams, and has now been granted the top job.

"It is a reasonable apprenticeship and something which I think is good for local coaches here. If you spend the time in the jobs, then the chance will arrive," he said.

"It is something I have always aspired to. I applied for the job two years ago and didn't get it and that was fine. But when I got asked this time I didn't have to think long about it."

He will take leave of absence from his job as principal of Balmacewen Intermediate School in early July and return to the school in early September.

Hunter said he was not a ranter or a raver as a coach, but was one who set high expectations and attempted to set an environment which got the best out of players.

"I've never been involved in the Otago A team but, like most Otago rugby followers, I'm aware of the lean period we've had.

"Player changes we've made for this season mean we are obviously going to have a different group involved. I made training last night [Tuesday] and was impressed with what I saw. There are some guys working really hard.

"To me, it is about setting standards in place and making sure there is a level of accountability there. The players need to be extremely well drilled in their core skills and understand what is expected of them.

"There is no point being there if you do not want to be the best you can be. With this new group of players and me being there, then there must be change. We've got to be successful and work hard."

He was excited about the new players Otago had signed and getting experienced first five-eighth Tony Brown back.

Hunter said he had a good relationship with co-coach Phil Mooney and was looking forward to working with him.

An Otago squad, not including Highlanders players, had already started training four nights a week, and Hunter said early preparation was important to a successful season.

"That was one of the things that came out from last year, that our level of conditioning needs to be slightly better. We were fading at the end of games. But again that is part of that mental thing - about expectations and what is acceptable and not acceptable."

Hunter has coached both forwards and backs, although he is likely to look after the forwards with Mooney coaching the backs.

His father John was the president of the Otago union in 2009.

Otago Rugby Football Union chairman Wayne Graham said Hunter was selected because it was felt he had the necessary abilities which the board felt were needed.

These included accountability, intensity and getting results.

The coaches would have to report to a coaching committee of board members John Faulks and Laurie Mains, with Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph acting as a consultant.

Graham rejected suggestions Hunter had been appointed as a puppet for the board.

"Andy Hunter is his own man. He is putting his credibility on the line and makes his own decisions."