New Highlanders assistant coach Peter Russell wants to turn some close losses into wins and is looking forward to teaming up with an old coaching partner.
The Highlanders franchise and the New Zealand Rugby Union confirmed yesterday Russell (45) had been appointed assistant coach for the Highlanders for the next two years, replacing Murray Roulston.
He was selected from a shortlist of five candidates.
Russell has an impressive coaching background, and is head coach of Hawkes Bay, which has been an Air New Zealand Cup semifinalist in the past two seasons.
Highlanders coach Glenn Moore said it was a coup for the franchise to get Russell.
"Peter's appointment is a significant step forward in the Highlanders' planning," Moore said.
Russell said the record of the Highlanders last season, when it won just three games, had to be studied closely, and had not put him off seeking the position.
"How many of those games did they almost win? They grabbed seven bonus points. The squad is quite steady and if we can get the best out of the players then we can turn those close losses into wins," Russell said.
"It's a big step for me, something to be excited about it. Some players are returning, some are coming in new. But this is a full-on competition which keeps everyone on their toes.
"It will be good to be involved with a franchise that has a clear vision of where it wants to be."
Russell coached the backs in Hawkes Bay, a role he would undertake with at the Highlanders.
Steve Martin works on defence for the franchise, while Moore looks after the forwards.
Russell said he was a stickler for details, and not just on the field.
"There are a lot of peripheral things which can affect a team - things like planning, player development, fitness. If we can get everyone on the same page then things can start to happen."
He has already coached with Highlanders coach Glenn Moore.
They teamed up to coach the New Zealand Divisional side in 2005 on its tour to Fiji, where it lost both its games to Fijian national sides.
Russell said he and Moore had got on well on the divisional tour.
Russell said yesterday from Napier, where he was completing work with the Hawkes Bay side, he would meet Moore this week in Hawkes Bay for planning and squad selection.
Super 14 coaches will meet in Wellington next week to discuss teams, with squads due to be announced on October 31.
The Highlanders squad is due to go into camp on December 1.
•Daniel Carter will be getting his knees muddy today for the first time since the All Blacks' victorious Tri-Nations campaign when he joins a camp preparing for next month's Bledisloe Cup test in Hong Kong and subsequent tour of Great Britain and Ireland, NZPA reported.
Carter is to link up with the 25 wider training group members who assembled in Auckland yesterday.
The bulk are in contention for the end-of-year tour, though several players from Canterbury and Wellington, which battle for the national provincial title in the capital on Saturday night, will obviously figure in coach Graham Henry's plans.
Carter has been excused Air NZ Cup duties although he is on standby should current Canterbury first five-eighth options Colin Slade and Hamish Gard break down during training.
