The coach of Italy needs a bed. Not as in a bed for the night; but a bed as in somewhere where he can lay down his Kiwi frame for the next two years.
“And if I don’t get my bed between now and the time we go into final camp before the Six Nations, then I’ll …”
And here Brad Johnstone stops. Because he’s coached already in Italy. And for the past five years he’s been the coach of Fiji. And if anyone in the world knows how to press a cork in an ultimatum it’s Brad Johnstone.
Later he’s back in Rome in the offices of the Italian Rugby Federation in the Olympic Stadium. At the end of the upstairs corridor dedicated to rugby, there is the usual cabinet full of the bric-a-brac of 73 years of international competition. In less than one week, all the trophies will appear as trifles as Italy finally make their entrance, and the Five Nations Championship becomes Six.
Johnstone is just back from watching his new team, playing in white, complete a demolition of the rugby-playing republic of the former Soviet Union, also playing in white because they had no kit.
“There are 54 people working here, employees of the Italian Olympic Organisation, and I don’t know what 50 of them do.”
He’s four-and-a-half weeks into his new job, he’s the third coach of Italy – after George Coste and Massimo Mascioletto – in 12 months, his team were wiped out in the World Cup, and he’s faced with a French conspiracy. Beziers are doing their damnedest to deny him the services of centre Christian Stoica and full-back Matt Pini. “Even when they got to Livorno, the Beziers coach was on the phone telling Stoica to get straight back to France.” Pierre Berbizier, former national coach of France, should know better.
For a man with no bed, Johnstone, frank as former All Black props tend to be, somehow takes it all lying down. He knows the way things work in Italy.
A decade ago he was coach for two seasons in L’Aquila, the rugby enclave high in the Appennine Mountains. “Nothing is ever plain black and white here. There’s a load of grey to go through …”
Like the appointment of his assistant. He wanted former All Black Craig Green to be his No 2, but Calvisano wouldn’t release him.
Fted as a World Cup success story, Johnstone was on his way back to New Zealand with the Order of Fiji around his neck and with no intention of doing anything except watching the Americas Cup in Auckland.
He was home long enough to see what his countrymen could do to a rugby coach who failed: “I was at a do with John Hart and … they might force him to leave New Zealand. Nobody should have to go through that.”
Then Italy called and he’s back in the firing line. “I guess they were looking for a New Zealand coach, and my experience with Fiji persuaded them that I might be able to do something.” What he gave Fiji in his five years there was order. He sorted out the politics, which at one time kept the stars of the all-conquering seven-a-side squad out of the national 15. He sorted out the scrum, making them strong. “They looked great and could run all day, but at first there were two players in the pack who couldn’t do a chin-up.”
Italy are a different proposition. “There’s no shortage of good players here, although we only have two native Italian fly-halves in the top league. But I guess that’s a common problem in Europe. No, the immediate problem is the minds of the players. They had a disastrous tour of South Africa last year and then the World Cup was even worse.”
Here, Johnstone might be in his element. He’s an old-fashioned team man who stresses enjoyment and the power of collective will: “People say the Latin temperament is a weakness. But it can be a strength.” It’s a Kiwi speciality. Look at Wales under Graham Henry.
It’s possibly not the best name to mention. There may be three New Zealanders coaching in the Six Nations – Warren Gatland being the third – but you pick at common threads at your peril.
You gather there is a certain chill between the two Aucklanders, between Henry, the former headmaster, coach of the dominant Blues and now of Wales on a R10- million contract, and Johnstone.
When Henry was coach of the Auckland Colts team, Johnstone was coach of North Harbour Colts. “I guess I found him back then … difficult to like,” says the new coach of Italy. What next? “Signor Brad, your bed is here,” one of the 50 Federation employees tells him – we’re about to find out.
ENDS