Shock as All Black attack coach Leon MacDonald quits on eve of Bok Tests

The former Blues head honcho joined the All Blacks coaching group after Scott Robertson became boss of the national team.

MacDonald was hand-picked by Robertson to be his attack coach when he succeeded Ian Foster following the Rugby World Cup, but the 46-year-old has now quit on the eve of their Test matches against the Springboks in South Africa.

Scott Hansen and Tamati Ellison will take on extra responsibility following the departure of MacDonald. Hansen will help the All Blacks attack alongside backs coach Jason Holland while current skills guru Ellison will be on the defence for the rest of the season.

"Leon and I have been having some honest conversations with each other for a little while now. As coaches, we have differing views and both agreed it wasn't working," Robertson said in a statement.

"Over the period of time since we started coaching together, we just feel like it hasn't quite clicked.

"We haven't lined up where we need to on the rugby side of it."

"Leon and I both care deeply about the All Blacks and we believe we've made a decision that's best for this team.

"There's a huge amount of respect and appreciation for Leon in the group and the work he's put in to get us to this point in our journey.

"As a team we have acknowledged that contribution and our focus now needs to be on South Africa, it's going to be two tough Test matches over there."

MacDonald and Robertson played together for both the Crusaders and All Blacks, but their coaching careers went in different directions.

While the latter headed up the Christchurch outfit, the former left to join their arch-rivals the Blues.

He spent four years in Auckland before the duo reconnected at the All Blacks, with MacDonald becoming an assistant coach and heading up the attack.

However, he lasted just five matches with Robertson and New Zealand Rugby making it clear that there was a clash of philosophies.

"You've got two great coaches who have been having some robust but constructive discussions on the approach to drive the All Blacks over a period of time now," NZR's head of professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said.

"Ultimately, they have made a brave decision that they believe is best for the team.

"Leon is a highly regarded coach and has made a huge contribution to rugby across a number of teams in New Zealand, and we'd love to have him back in our system in the future. For now, I'd like to thank him on behalf of NZR and wish him all the very best."

While it could well prove to be the correct decision long-term, it is a blow heading into their crunch Rugby Championship encounters against South Africa.

On August 31, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in Johannesburg before the two once again go head-to-head a week later in Cape Town.

READ MORE: Former captain lauds incredible state of Springbok rugby