I worked with Mike Blair - I am sure he will thrive in All Blacks role

Blair, Scotland’s most capped scrum-half, is part of Dave Rennie’s backroom team following the latter’s appointment as New Zealand’s head coach.

Rennie, who replaced the sacked ‌Scott Robertson, has overhauled his coaching staff, dispensing with all but one of Robertson’s assistants.

He has appointed former All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga as defence coach, Taranaki’s Neil Barnes as his senior assistant coach and placed Blair in charge of the attack. Jase Ryan retains his role as forwards coach.

It’s a huge honour for Blair, the former Edinburgh head coach, and one he will embrace, according to Stevie Lawrie, who worked alongside him at the capital club. But it is also a role that comes with huge expectations.

High expectations in ‘rugby daft’ nation

“I spoke to him last week about it and I'm really pleased for him,” said Lawrie, the Edinburgh forwards coach. “He's an excellent attack coach. I've also worked with him and he’s a good man.

“So I'm pleased for him and his family and I think he'll know that the hard work starts now as well. That nation requires excellence, as we all do of course, but it's a rugby-daft nation and what a fantastic opportunity for him. But also, a job that's going to come with a bit of expectation as well, which is brilliant.”

The All Blacks have long been seen as the world’s preeminent rugby nation but have had their thunder stolen in recent years by South Africa who have won the last two World Cups and currently top the world rankings.

A trusted lieutenant

Rennie, the first New Zealand head coach with Pacific islander heritage, has been appointed to try to restore the All Blacks’ lustre and has turned to Blair, a trusted lieutenant. The pair first worked together when Rennie was head coach at Glasgow Warriors and were reunited when Rennie took Blair to Japan to work alongside him at Kobe Steelers

The pair will see out the Japan Rugby League One season before moving to their All Blacks roles.

Blair, 44, had stints as an assistant coach at Glasgow and Scotland before becoming Edinburgh’s head coach in summer 2021. He spent two seasons at the club before deciding he wanted to concentrate on being a specialist attack coach. Lawrie said his former colleague was an “innovative” thinker who has now accumulated experiences of different environments.

“I'm sure he'll thrive,” said Lawrie. “He's got a top group there and obviously he's worked with Dave [Rennie] a lot, both at Glasgow and at Kobe, so I wish him all the very best.”

Blair said in a statement: “I’m proud and honoured to be joining the All Blacks coaching group. The history and expectations around this team are well known, and I’m looking forward to playing my part in continuing that tradition. I’m excited to get to work maximising the talent of the players and collaborating with the staff to help drive the team forward.”

Rennie, Blair and co’s first job will be to prepare the All Blacks for the inaugural Nations Championship which takes place in July ⁠and November. The summer Tests will see New Zealand host ​France, Italy and Ireland, while the autumn series will involve a tour to Europe which begins for them against Scotland at Murrayfield on November 7, followed by further Tests against Wales and England.

Rennie has also brought in Phil Healey as the All Blacks’ head of performance, having worked with the ​strength and conditioning trainer at the Waikato Chiefs, Glasgow Warriors ​and Kobe ⁠Steelers.