Gavin Cummiskey tries to prise some secrets from the strength and conditioning coach to the All Blacks
As Jake Heke remarked, after dispatching a drunken hulk in a memorable scene from Once Were Warriors, a powerful story of a contemporary Maori family in urban New Zealand: "Too much weights and not enough speed work." As strength and conditioning coach for the All Blacks and Canterbury Crusaders, Ashley Jones's brief is to develop an equilibrium between these essential traits.
Ireland's tidal-wave season eventually breaks with their opening game in the 2007 World Cup 12 months from today. The national team may be sitting pretty in business class but only one country is sipping champagne behind the curtain.
New Zealand are everybody's favourites to finally reclaim the William Webb Ellis trophy after a 20-year gap since their solitary title at the inaugural tournament on home soil. Graham Henry appears to have cheated modern technology by cloning a replacement player in every position. It's not a perfect science but Ronan O'Gara, for one, can testify that Luke McAlister is not a bad shadow for the great Dan Carter. Can anyone stop them? Of course they can, but it's going to take a performance superior to anything that has gone before. That means topping the 2003 Martin Johnson-led English display in Wellington or France's magnificent Twickenham reversal in the 1999 World Cup semi-final.
Henry has all his ducks in a row and Ashley Jones is one of them. Philip McLaughlin, of McLaughlin Sports, must be credited with enticing the highly respected trainer (who is actually an Aussie) from south of the equator to hold training clinics all round the country this week.
It's not just for the rugby fraternity either. Friday brought him to Cookstown in Co Tyrone for a tutorial with the GAA's Ulster development officers. Then it's back to St Michael's College, in Ballsbridge, today, before Cork and Limerick early next week, where coaches will be privy to Jones' insight into, among other things, how to make the correct decisions at full pace in a highly pressurised environment.
"Vision is important. Particularly under pressure because when people are under pressure their point of focus reduces so they only see what's in front of them. How many times have you heard commentators or coaches screaming and yelling "look at your left" or "the pass was open to the left and he went himself or passed inside when the cover defence was coming across".
But we want to hear about the boys in black. One immediate question springs to mind: shouldn't he be keeping the trade secrets of New Zealand rugby under wraps. Especially in a World Cup year. "I think my head coach at the Crusaders, Robbie Deans, explains it very succinctly when he says success is a moving target. For example the Bulls (South African Super 14 franchise) head coach and strength and conditioning coach are to meet with Robbie and I in Christchurch. They are direct competitors in the Super 14 but as far as information goes, if we can increase the athleticism of rugby players that grows the game internationally so from a Crusaders perspective we are happy to let people know what we are doing, particularly non competitors."
Jones deals with excellent raw material on a daily basis but can he explain why the All Blacks have pulled clear of the peloton in recent times? "Preparation is only as good as the provincial preparation. Often it's a poisoned chalice when you get hold of the national team because if the provincial and franchise strength and conditioning coaches haven't done their job well you only have a very small window to do anything.
"I think we are very lucky in New Zealand that we have five very good franchise strength and conditioning coaches. We are reporting all the time to the national fitness advisor (Graham Lowe). The same process works from the provinces up and national team down." The following comment would be baulked at in some quarters of the Irish professional set ups.
"There are bi-annual meetings between every franchise. There is a genuine desire to share information. Even though the Hurricanes played the Crusaders in the Super 14 final, I sat down with the Hurricanes strength and conditioning coach after and we shared what we are doing. It means we have a better outlet to select from for the All Blacks."
It's working. Everyday Jones goes to work with two of the greatest players the game has or ever will see. The Crusaders openside and outhalf are his for moulding. "Not that I had much to do with it, I think Mr and Mrs McCaw are due a huge vote of thanks. Fantastic players make strength and conditioning coaches look good. I have been blessed with Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, who are the great players of this decade yet they are in the same team, at the same time. Then you throw someone like Aaron Mauger into that mix - a wonderful team man - who gives wonderful encouragement to young players around him although he is only 25."
How did Ireland measure up in last June's two Test series in New Zealand? "I don't think they are that far off at all. Without reopening old wounds, I don't think the New Zealand public got to see Brian O'Driscoll during the Lions series. In the first Test in June it was great to see him create an opportunity out of absolutely nothing - just on half-time when he kicked over (Ma Nonu) and just took him on. When he scored the try, well, it was something very special. I think he was outstanding.
"Your two twin tower lineout jumpers are wonderful athletes and great ball winners. Physically dominating at times. It would be nice to train some of these guys."
