Munster lured by Penney's pedigree

ROB PENNEY, the 48-year-old lineout specialist, appointed yesterday by Munster to replace Tony McGahan, comes from the heart of a rugby environment responsible for producing the All Blacks greatest modern players.

Penney has been coach to Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and even gave Sonny Bill Williams his first start in New Zealand’s provincial system.

Penney played 101 first-class games for Canterbury himself, primarily as a number eight, between 1985 and 1994, captaining the province for two seasons.

The All Blacks came calling in 1991 but a trial was the height of his achievement at a time when Michael Jones and Zinzan Brooke were at the zenith of their powers.

Lineout specialist and a former number eight, he sounds very similar to Anthony Foley.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of yesterday’s announcement was the stipulation that Foley will continue to coach the Munster pack. Every other position on the management team is to be sorted after “consultation” with Penney.

There is also the presumption that the “subject to him securing a valid work permit” issue will be resolved in the next two months (yet it was mentioned in the opening paragraph of Munster’s statement yesterday).

Anyway, the Christchurch native’s arrival at Munster’s preseason training in July will make him the third Kiwi head coach in four Irish provinces, joining Joe Schmidt in Leinster – whose chief executive Mick Dawson confirmed this week he will not be lured back to coach the Auckland Blues next year – and the relatively unknown Mark Anscombe in Ulster.

But Penney is faced with a far more daunting task than his new counterparts because Munster are blatantly moving in the opposite direction to their main rivals.

The on-field leaders are ageing, while the next crop are not yet ready to fill the inevitable void.

The province went backwards under McGahan’s stewardship, one Celtic League title and no European finals since taking control in 2008/’09, yet his achievements did not diminish his reputation as a world-class coach. The Wallabies knew enough about McGahan to bring him back home.

“We conducted a thorough search to find a replacement for Tony McGahan and were delighted with the calibre of the candidates,” said Garret Fitzgerald of interviewing Penney, Tana Umaga and Foley. “Rob Penney’s record speaks for itself.”

It certainly does.

A strikingly successful coach at provincial level in New Zealand these past four years, winning the ITM Cup each season, he has sought a promotion for some time now. Despite being a candidate for head coach of Super Rugby franchises the Hurricanes and the Chiefs, he was passed over.

However, the NZRU clearly realised recognition was needed, handing him the reigns of the “Baby Blacks” for next month’s Under-20 World Cup in South Africa.

His route to becoming head coach of one of the biggest European clubs is impressive, largely progressive and screams of a man with director-of-rugby material.

He was chief executive of the since amalgamated Marlborough Rugby Union from 1996 to 1999, all the while coming through the correct stages of the coaching pathway – NZRU development officer and the Canterbury Academy before the first significant leap came when appointed assistant coach of Canterbury in 2003.

He was promoted to the head coaching role in 2006 and a wave of success followed.

Unlike Anscombe in Ulster, having been released by Auckland before landing the Ulster job, Penney departs with the full backing of his employers.

“Rob has been a great servant for Canterbury rugby. We are very sorry to lose a talented coach, but this is a fantastic opportunity for him and we wish him all the best,” said Canterbury RFU chief executive officer Hamish Riach.

It’s true that Canterbury have been the primary source of All Blacks in recent times, but Penney’s potential value to Munster was also apparent these past four years. He was forced to turn over 20 players from one season to the next while still producing silverware on New Zealand’s ultra-competitive provincial scene.

The man is a rebuilder, a natural leader too, who can boast a back catalogue of coaching achievements that dwarfed the two men also interviewed by Munster king-makers Fitzgerald and John Hartery – branch chief executive officer and financial controller. And he has 10 years on Umaga and Foley.

It is a two-year contract.

The original plan in Munster seemed to be to keep Foley in McGahan’s slipstream for a while yet. His career has already moved rapidly, only taking over as Munster forwards coach last summer, he was then fast-tracked into the Ireland camp during the Six Nations when Gert Smal took ill.

Another interesting anecdote about Penney was uncovered yesterday. The head coach of Canterbury also found the time to put the Christchurch Boys High School Under-16s through their paces. All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen helps to run the under-13s.

“Rob has built a reputation for turning young Canterbury sides, with many players away on All Blacks duty, into championship winning teams,” said NZRU general manager of professional rugby Neil Sorensen. “He has proven his ability to get the best out of our future stars.”

Right now, that’s just the type of coach Munster need.

Rob Penney

Age: 48

Played: 101 games in the Canterbury backrow (1985-94);

All Black trialist 1991 – never capped

Chief executive of Marlborough rugby union (1996-1999)

Canterbury assistant coach (2003-2006)

Canterbury Crusaders assistant coach (2005)

Canterbury head coach (2006-2012)

New Zealand under-20s (2012)