WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw accepts that as a Scotsman and a sevens coach in Super Rugby, he’s a fish out of water.
When the Hurricanes win, Laidlaw’s background isn’t an issue. He can’t be sure what the reaction might be if they lose because they haven’t yet lost under his guidance.
The Wellington-based Hurricanes beat the Hamilton-based Chiefs 36-23 in a top-of-the-table match Saturday to stay unbeaten through eight rounds.
“You’ve always got a point to prove in professional rugby, it doesn’t matter if you’re a Scotsman or a New Zealander,” Laidlaw said in a radio interview. “I have coached sevens previously, so at 15s I guess if I lose I’ll be Scottish and a Sevens coach and if we win I might get a little more grace.”
Laidlaw accepts that his coaching trajectory, leading him from the Jed club in the Scottish Borders to the Hurricanes on the other side of the world is an unusual one.