Mr N. J. McPhail: The "Grey Eminence' Of N.Z. Rugby

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 11

Mr N. J. McPhail: The "Grey Eminence' Of N.Z. Rugby

'J'HE Springboks described him as the “Grey Eminence.” It was an apt description of Mr N. J. McPhail, one of the most successful and astute Rugby coaches and selectors in post-war Rugby, who retired last week from the position of chairman of the All Black selection panel.

As a provincial coach, Mr McPhail had a high degree of success with Canterbury teams when they held the Ranfurly Shield and beat the 1956 Springboks and the 1957 All Blacks. But his fame will rest with the New Zealand teams that he helped select and coached from 1961 to 1965.

During those five years New Zealand experienced one of its most successful periods ever in international Rugby. Of the 22 test matches played by the All Blacks in that time only two were lost—against Australia in 1964 and South Africa in the thrilling match at Lancaster Park last year. And behind all these successes was Mr McPhail. His deep well of Rugby lore was used to plot and plan many of New Zealand's test wins and he had the ability to inspire the teams he coached; not so much with any fluent oratory but with his very sincerity and capacity to convince the players that he was almost another Moses leading New Zealand Rugby out of- any possible Rugby wilderness.

Mr McPhail became chairman in 1961 and his first test series—against France —was an unqualified success culminating in the brilliant performance in the third test at Lancaster Park when France, until then in their own minds the cock of the Rugbv walk, were humbled by a 32-3 defeat In 1962 the All Black teams won four tests against Australia and England lost both matches in its short tour the following year. A tour of the British Isles is perhaps the final test for an All Black team and the 1963-64 All Blacks with Mr McPhail as coach had an almost triumphal march.

Only one game was lost and four of the five internationals were won. Then as the natural corollary came the other great trial of New Zealand Rugby —the series against the Springboks. Mr McPhail ended his selecting and coaching career on the highest possible note when New Zealand won the fourth test and the series when the Springboks were beaten 20-3; New Zealand's biggest ever margin over the Springboks.

The grey-headed Mr McPhail, dressed in his black track suit, was an integral part of All Black training and in his way just as much a personality as the Meads, the Whinerays, and Clarke, who were members of his great teams. As referee of the touch Rugby which always preceded the more strenuous part of the training sessions he was in his element as advocate, judge and jury of proceedings. And when the teams were divided into “youngies” and “oldies”; the “youngies” theoretically being those under 25, there was more than a hint of slight bias in his rulings towards the “oldies.” His gruff and at times abrupt manner earned him the nick-name of “Grumpy” from his players but it was an affectionate term for he is held in the highest regard by the All Blacks he has been asociated with; not only for his deep knowledge of the game but also for his understanding of the stresses and strains that are associated with international Rugby and his loyalty to his players.

A protagonist of the driving forward play, Mr McPhail helped produce some of the finest play ever seen from All Black packs. He regarded the forwards as just as much an attacking unit as the backs and his coaching probably reached its zenith when the All Black pack smashed the London Counties with their crunching driving and sweeping short passing rushes. This was perhaps, with the Barbarians game, the most brilliant display of

Rugby seen on the 1963-64 tour. At times Mr McPhail has been chided for not placing greater emphasis on back play. That probably is an over-simplification of his approach to Rugby. Always he has insisted that the backs should be used at every opportunity but not suicidally when the backs are being given bad possession. He believes that the forwards should be used to attack as much as the backs. Often he has said: “It would be stupid When you have men such as Whineray, Colin Meads, Kel Tremain in your team not to use their weight, strength and speed to the best advantage.” Perhaps the greatest test of Mr McPhail’s coaching ability came with the fourth test against the Springboks last year. After their resounding defeat at Dunedin the Springboks were not expected to match the All Blacks at all in the third test. It is now history how the brilliant Springbok backs confounded the New Zealand defence and from being 5-16 down at halftime South Africa won 19-16. Mr McPhail then had the task of trying to find counters for the sudden emergence of the Springbok pack, particularly Hopwood and Naude, and the skill and speed of Gainsford and Roux in the mid-field.

He altered his tactics in the forwards, using Conway to plug the possible defensive hole in the mid-field and planned how Lochore, Meads and Gray would try and reduce the effectiveness of Naude and Hopwood. Like all Rugby tactics it was basically simple but it was most effective and this time it was the Springboks who had to try and struggle out of the enveloping tactics of the opposition. They panicked when their own tactics were not successful and they lost decisively. Mr McPhail, when commenting on his retirement, said he would miss very much not being associated with New Zealand Rugby. He can be certain that New Zealand Rugby will miss him too.