Rugby: Cotter-watching Kiwis say a bit of Celtic plotting likely in face of NZ threat

A year on from Ireland's last-gasp loss to the All Blacks, everyone is looking to latch on to that sort of rugby recipe.

Ireland and coach Joe Schmidt don't get a repeat crack this tour but their tentacles will have stretched across the sea to Scotland where their Celtic brothers direct their brand of rugby at the tourists.

Former All Blacks Kevin Schuler and Dave Hewitt are inquisitive souls who know Scotland's new coach Vern Cotter and are intrigued to see how he tackles tomorrow's task after last week's stirring defeat of the Pumas.

Schuler is sure the Skype hookups between Edinburgh and Dublin will have been extensive in the off-season, with Kiwis Cotter and Schmidt swapping ideas on how best to prep for tests this month, through the Six Nations and into the World Cup.

"Hell yeah, they'll be helping each other with their analysis about the All Blacks and how they can nail them," Schuler said. "They'll have been comparing notes and thinking up schemes."

Many teams in the past year have succeeded in patches as England did, while the Wallabies claimed a stalemate before the Springboks hit the tape first at Ellis Park. Next to try are Scotland and Cotter against an All Black side with just Richie McCaw and Ben Smith from their regular top XV.

Scotland will not have to claw their way past the All Blacks aura but Schuler believes they'll confront a bunch of very motivated players.

The psychology around this test fascinates him. "Vern is a clear thinker who articulates well and commands attention and I think he will get the very best out of his team.

"A lot of it will come down to management and he will need to have his team calm because they need to nail both attack and defence.

"Motivation for such an occasion will not be a problem, in fact Vern may have work on keeping them composed because organisation and keeping on task will be the big messages for the entire game."

Hewitt played for the Crusaders when Cotter was forwards coach and has watched his progress in Europe with Clermont and now his move to test rugby with Scotland.

"He did well with us when we had a lot of experienced players like Reuben Thorne, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Richie McCaw and he would have been apprehensive about coming into that sort of environment.

"He was not a ranter or raver or someone who bashed the table. He was technically focused rather than operating on emotion and that will have helped him with his career. He has lots of experience now."

Cotter, 52, played 10 years at No 8 for Counties, then a decade in Europe before he switched to coaching while still keeping an interest in his sheep and beef farm in the Bay of Plenty.

"Scotland," said Hewitt, "will be a challenge for anyone because of their lack of numbers. But Vern has made his mark in tough competitions in Europe and he will carry those ideas and attitude through to this job."

The All Black selection for this test would offer Scotland encouragement, said Schuler, but they would face a group who needed to perform to be up for the World Cup.

Cotter would see the All Black selection rationale, he would not be insulted. "He knows the All Blacks need to play their entire squad but the crafty coach in him will see ways maybe to manipulate guys who are not so used to starting.

"The top All Black side can handle any pressure but he may see an advantage of a tactical kicking game or another area where he can have a crack at a few individuals.

"He knows anyone who puts on the black jersey is a high-level rugby player," said Hewitt. "He won't take any offence at the selection but he may use it as motivation for his men which is another issue."