According to a poll by New Zealand Reader’s Digest, the most trusted rugby union coaches in New Zealand…aren’t in New Zealand.
Although much is being made of the fact that new Australia coach Robbie Deans (ranked 35th) is ranked above current New Zealand coach Graham Henry (ranked 46th), the most trusted coach on the list is Japan’s John Kirwan (ranked 6th-tie).
To be fair, the just-released poll was conducted in March, and Henry has picked up three consecutive test match wins since then. Obviously, though, New Zealanders appreciate Kirwan’s high-profile role in a television public service ad campaign dealing with depression, as well as his famous New Zealand performances as a player. One such performance, a legendary individual try from the 1987 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, is below (first in slow-motion, then at speed):
