Munster skills coach Mike Pettman: 'I wouldn’t be big on too much structure. I like to play what’s in front of us'

Pettman describes his Munster technical skills development coaching role as ‘quality control’

FRESH THINKING: New Zealander Mike Pettman, a former student of Joe Schmidt at Palmerston Boys’ High, was recruited by Munster Rugby as the province’s Technical Skills Development Coach

If ever there was a theme running through conversations with rugby coaches during the lockdown, it was their collective frustration and the spirit of improvisation borne out of it.

Coaches are not by their nature ones to sit idly on their sofas for too long. When the opportunity to impart knowledge to players appears blocked, as it was by the Covid-19 restrictions, it was only natural for them to find different ways to get the job done.