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Short, sharp training sessions a hit for the returning Luke Jacobson
By Online Editors
All Black loose forward Luke Jacobson has revealed less is more when it comes to Warren Gatland's coaching sessions at the Chiefs.
The date of Jacobson's return is still up in the air as he makes his way back from concussion issues but he is building up his contact work.
Quality not quantity appears to be the hallmark of training sessions under Gatland, the former Welsh boss who has coached in Europe since the 1990s.
"He's made a few little changes. At the start he was quiet and observing, he's slowly bringing the changes in now," said Jacobson.
"The main one is shorter training which is top stuff. There's an hour training in the afternoon, in previous years it might have been two hours, two and a half hours.
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"Our first training in the morning is not until 9.30 so you've got a bit of time to sort your things out.
"Most of the time you come in anyway and do pre-hab or are looking at some footy, but there's a bit more time on your hands which makes things more enjoyable."
Gatland built a reputation for coaching a very physical and controlled type of game known as 'Warrenball' at odds with how the Chiefs are perceived to play.
Jacobson said: "We'll still be playing an exciting brand of footy, it's in our DNA and a point of difference. Our counter attacking game can break things open when there isn't much there.
"We will be using our strengths to the best we can, but I'd imagine Warren will bring a little bit of a different spin on things. It will be cool to see how we work those together."
Jacobson won't play the opening encounter against the Blues at Eden Park on Friday next week, and hopes his return comes in round two or three.
"Everything has been going good and I'm back into full training," he said.
"I could have been back earlier, but we thought I might as well make the most of the time off, try and make sure it's right when I get out there."
Jacobson went to Japan with the All Blacks but headed back home before the World Cup started.
"It was a really exciting time getting named in the All Blacks, and it wasn't the nicest thing and pretty tough to take especially as I didn't get a game out there."
He said the Super Rugby season had "come around bloody quick – it feels like we've just got back from our break…that's good, less pre-season."
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
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I think it was a better rugby destination for him.
He was developed in Melbourne and had a relatively brief stint there. I think he was possibly dropped out of the squad for the return of someone like To'omua (also a Melbourne local) in 2019 ahead of the RWC. But then he wasn't picked up by another Australian team and went to play in Japan when he only really seemed to play a hat full of top level games (maybe injured for long periods??) before he went on to Scotland. But it was only in Scotland that he started to get a lot of consistent game time and selection.
The thing is, no one talked about him being a missed opportunity in Australia before he left - a little like Mac Hansen. But he has been able to forge a top level career since leaving. Both men only had a handful (5 or 6?) games at Super Rugby level before they made a decision to leave (or had it made for them I suppose). Other countries have gone on to develop them and that is great for them and it is probably good for the global game as it means the best players are rising to the top - if not in their birth country than in another. I think there are a lot of issues with poor player development in Australia but I don't know if these two blokes are very good examples of it.
Go to commentsOk I understand. Give them my number please Nick.
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