My All Blacks Regret, Rassie Erasmus & the Truth About Coaching

"I may have made a mistake going into the All Blacks as forwards coach." Former All Blacks assistant coach, Hurricanes Super Rugby champion and Sharks head coach John Plumtree joins Ben Herring on the Coaching Culture Podcast for a remarkably open conversation about the highs, lows, regrets and realities of a lifetime in professional rugby coaching. Having coached across New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Wales and Japan, Plumtree has experienced just about everything the professional game can throw at a coach. In this episode, he opens up about his time with the All Blacks, why he questions his decision to move away from defence coaching, and what he learned from one of the toughest periods of his career. He also shares his admiration for Rassie Erasmus, the importance of authenticity in leadership, and why the greatest rugby cultures are built around quality people, strong relationships and a genuine love for the jersey. From winning Super Rugby with the Hurricanes alongside Chris Boyd to bringing the Currie Cup back to Durban with the Sharks, Plumtree reflects on the people, environments and experiences that shaped his coaching philosophy. IN THIS EPISODE: His biggest learning and regret from coaching the All Blacks Why he admires Rassie Erasmus and his authentic leadership style The Hurricanes' winning culture and his partnership with Chris Boyd The importance of quality people in building successful teams What makes the Sharks, Hurricanes and Springboks environments special Lessons from Wayne Bennett, Wayne Smith and some of rugby's greatest coaches Why coaches need strong relationships with CEOs and senior management The personal sacrifices and family pressures of professional coaching Why coaching should never become your entire identity The importance of staying true to yourself as a leader Please visit my website to get more information: https://www.coachingculture.com.au/ 📰 Subscribe to my newsletter for more updates and personalised thoughts: https://www.coachingculture.com.au/ne... 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.    / @coachingculture   ⭐⭐⭐Audio Podcast is currently on your favourite platforms: Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1i9vfYY... ApplePodcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast... 🔗 Stay Connected With Me. LinkedIn:   / ben-herring1   Facebook:  / 61572316521973   Instagram:   / coachingculturewith_benherring   Website: https://www.coachingculture.com.au/ ============================= 🎬Suggested videos for you: ▶️    • The Coaching Mistake That Destroys Trust |...   ▶️    • Johan Ackermann: Culture that answers to a...   ▶️    • Frans Ludeke’s Secrets to Building Strong ...   ▶️    • Joey Mongalo’s Leadership Philosophy: Buil...   ▶️    • Wayne Smith’s Winning Rugby Culture: Leade...   ▶️    • Mike Cron's Coaching Philosophy: Honesty, ...   ▶️    • Steve Hansen On Leadership: Ego, Authentic...   ▶️    • How Chris Boyd Builds Winning Cultures in ...   ▶️    • Mike Friday On Coaching: Why Rugby Is What...   ▶️    • Aaron Smith on Leadership: Why Great Coach...   ================================= ✅ About Coaching Culture with Ben Herring. Welcome to Coaching Culture, where I host candid conversations with top rugby coaches and leaders from across industries to explore what it truly takes to build lasting, high-performing cultures. In each episode, we go beyond strategy to discuss trust, leadership, emotional intelligence, and the values that drive long-term success. From international rugby to grassroots sport, I aim to offer insights that will inspire and educate coaches and leaders everywhere. My focus is on the cultural side of coaching – how to connect with people, deliver impactful messages, and create environments that foster growth. Whether you’re a rugby coach or a business leader, you’ll find valuable lessons. Join me to learn how we coach, lead, and create high-performance environments. 🔔 If you're looking for coaching & leadership skills, hit subscribe! Stay tuned for candid conversations, expert insights, strategies, & inspiring stories.    / @coachingculture   ================================= Hashtags Title