Wallaby legend on MacDonald: 'It's worth a phone call'

SPOTLIGHT: Tim Horan believes the Wallabies should be in talks to get Leon MacDonald on board after he walked away from the All Blacks.

On Thursday, assistant coach MacDonald left the All Black coaching staff on the eve of their Rugby Championship Tests in South Africa due to a clash of coaching styles.

Head coach Scott Robertson and MacDonald mutually agreed to part ways after discussions about their working approach, New Zealand Rugby said.

MacDonald left after just five games under Robertson, who took charge of the All Blacks this year following erratic results under predecessor Ian Foster.

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In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Wallaby legend Horan said the time is right for Wallaby head coach Joe Schmidt to add MacDonald to his coaching staff.

Schmidt and MacDonald previously worked together at the Blues.

“It’s worth a phone call,” said Horan.

“If you are Joe Schmidt and you have been coaching colleagues in the past, it has got to be worth a phone call.

“Even if it is not a full-time coaching opportunity, it could be a ‘come over, have a look, tell us what you see and what you think’.”

Horan added: “Leon may not be looking for another job but he knows Joe well.

“The big challenge would be, given how much IP he has about the All Blacks, how much would he be prepared to give to the Wallabies.”