Canterbury fan Tim Cronin suggests Munster fans be patient with Rob Penney, he’s the real deal.
Sitting here in little old Christchurch, New Zealand, I’m still basking in the glory of Canterbury winning their fifth-consecutive national title, and I’ve spent the last week or so talking to various people about what drives this team to set such unyielding standards, and how they’ve managed to achieve such consistency in a competition which should provide much more of a level playing field than in past eras. And it’s become evident to me, that, despite the fact he might be coaching at Munster at the moment (!), Rob Penney’s departure may have been Canterbury’s loss, but it could well prove to be a huge gain for Irish Rugby.
Under the shadow of Penney’s legacy it was a huge ask for new coaches Tabai Matson and Scott Robertson this season, with little to gain and much to lose, but their transition proved to be a seamless one, and much credit has to be to the systems which Canterbury employ and the culture they have created – systems and culture developed primarily by Penney.
While he’s had some teething problems at Munster, it took him a couple of seasons to get the mix right in the head role at Canterbury too, but when he did the red and black dynasty became a run-away train. A common theme when you talk to anyone about Rob Penney is how good he was at building team culture; at making his players respect the history of the jersey, and making them passionate about adding their own chapter to that history.
On the field, the systems Canterbury have used over the last few seasons have been relatively straight-forward, with an onus being on execution, more so than trying to re-invent the wheel every play. Critical to that execution are two factors which Canterbury have obviously nailed – ensuring that each and every player understands the plan, and that every one of them has the necessary skills to put it into action.
That’s where I think Irish Rugby across the board will reap the rewards. Canterbury, comprehensively more than any other province in New Zealand, has an incredible ability to help players realise their true potential, and to get them to perform at the highest level. There have been examples stretching back to the early days of the Crusaders, when players like Ron Cribb and Norm Berryman famously turned around potential packed yet disappointing careers to become All Blacks shortly after moving to Canterbury.
But, while that example used players with undoubted potential and pedigree, what Penney has been unrivalled in over the last few years is discovering unrecognised talent, and turning these guys in to players capable of winning a national championship in New Zealand. This year, even though he wasn’t involved, his legacy was still evident. Already without their top players including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks and Luke Romano, the Canterbury ITM Cup side suffered a horrendous string of injuries.
However, because they were operating in an environment which fostered confidence, using on-field systems which were straight-forward and team-orientated, rather than relying on individuals shining, the players they bought in, who may previously not have been considered capable of playing at that level, slotted in seamlessly.
Penney is renowned for his ability to spot talent and to foster the development of those players with potential, and I am sure it’s not only those wearing the Munster jersey but Irish rugby in general , that will benefit from his experience and his commitment to helping rugby players be the very best they can be.
Tim Cronin is a Rugby fan and full time writer based in the rubble of the Canterbury Crusaders’ home town, Christchurch. Tim is a part of the Pukeko Sportsteam, where his role is watching, writing, and complaining about all things rugby.
