Coaches were almost falling over themselves at an All Black training session yesterday at the University Oval.
Not only were the usual suspects from the All Blacks there in Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith and others, but former Warriors coach Ivan Cleary was also watching proceedings.
Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby and assistant coach Yvette McCausland-Durie were two more watching the national team train.
All Black assistant coach Ian Foster said later there was nothing sinister in the appearance of the coaches on the sideline.
Coaches often came to watch trainings and pick up on what they were doing and the All Blacks also went and visited trainings of other sports teams, Foster said.
Cleary is not coaching a team in the NRL at present after being dumped by Penrith before the start of the season. He is a consultant to the NRL and is held in high regard in New Zealand after a successful stint with the Warriors when he took them to the final in 2011.
The All Black set-up was also bolstered by the sight of retired University of Otago professor of medicine David Gerrard giving a hand.
Gerrard has been a fixture on the sideline of rugby games in Dunedin for many years as the medical officer but is retiring from the role as he moves to Auckland to be nearer family.