All Blacks still bare the scars of RWC'99
Huw Turner
November 12, 2003

Just before the start of the 2001 Tri Nations series, I did an interview with the All Black coach at the time, Wayne Smith. I contacted him at his office in Christchurch, only to be told that he was at the dentist's.

He returned my call shortly afterwards and we had an interesting chat about his teeth, his side's prospects in the forthcoming Tests and life as the All Black coach.

The current furore about media access reminded me of that episode and probably underlines quite neatly the difference between recent previous All Black management regimes and that of John Mitchell. I can't imagine circumstances in which anyone would be likely to be discussing his dentures with Mitchell, so firmly clenched are his gnashers whenever he makes any public utterances.

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