Photo via BBC Sport

'Weird and cool' - Blair relishing All Blacks adventure

Former Scotland scrum-half and captain Mike Blair has embraced a rare opportunity as attack coach for the All Blacks under head coach Dave Rennie. Having represented Scotland in 85 international matches, Blair transitioned into the Kiwi coaching staff just days after concluding a three-year stint with Rennie in Kobe, Japan, following previous tenures together at Glasgow Warriors and his own term leading Edinburgh.

Seven matches into his international tenure, Blair has overseen victories against France, Ireland, Italy, and South Africa, balanced against three losses to the reigning world champions during the intense Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.

Blair prepares for a unique November return to Murrayfield, trading his native blue colours to confront his home country from the New Zealand coaching box. While mentoring premier talents like Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett, and Jordie Barrett, Blair highlighted that the current New Zealand squad views the Scots with genuine caution rather than dismissal.

Contrasting the current atmosphere with his own playing days when All Blacks struggled to identify opposing players, Blair noted that modern standouts like Jordie Barrett readily identify every member of Scotland's attacking backline ahead of the upcoming clash.