When Scott McLeod finished his short career as an All Back midfielder in 1998, he always felt he wasn't done with that famous black jersey. Now he gets the chance to scratch that itch.

To no one's surprise at all, McLeod was unveiled as the All Blacks' new defence coach in Auckland on Saturday morning, appointed to succeed the outgoing Wayne Smith through, initially at least, to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

This, in all likelihood, is an appointment that will stretch far beyond that.

GETTY IMAGES Highlanders assistant coach Scott McLeod is to be the All Blacks' new defence coach.

McLeod, who played 10 tests and 17 games all told for the All Blacks in a career spanning 1996-98, will finish the Super Rugby season in his equivalent role with the Highlanders, and assume the job fulltime for the end-of-year tour. He will also join the world champions for the Rugby Championship in an observation capacity, which coach Steve Hansen likened to the player apprenticeship role that has become de rigueur in the national setup.

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McLeod revealed he found out he had won the All Blacks job on the Friday before he took over from absent head coach Tony Brown to guide the Highlanders to their epic upset of the British and Irish Lions at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium last Tuesday.

GETTY IMAGES All Blacks coach Steven Hansen

Somehow he bottled his simmering excitement, refocused on the task at hand and produced a coaching masterpiece to inspire a magnificent upset from a Highlanders outfit missing a raft of regular frontliners either out with injury or on duty with the All Blacks and Maori.

It was exhibit A in why Hansen described the quietly spoken Waikato native as "the obvious candidate" for the rare All Black coaching vacancy. Like the man he replaces, McLeod clearly possesses both an astute tactical appreciation for the complexities of rugby, and talks the language of his players.

He told Fairfax Media at the team hotel on Saturday morning that there was a distinct similarity to the emotions he experienced when he first became an All Black under John Hart in 1996.

"Putting this on for the first time, it really hit home," he said, pointing to the All Blacks-issue polo shirt he was wearing. "That was very similar to '96 and being selected. Having a taste way back then as player, I left that environment feeling I wanted more, and just with a deep appreciation and excitement around the All Blacks.

"It has been simmering away for a little while."

McLeod demonstrated palpably that his personality will fit splendidly into the All Blacks' ethos when he made it clear he didn't see himself filling the boots of the legendary Wayne Smith who has spent a full two decades in the team as a player or coach.

"He's a master coach," said McLeod. "He's done a hell of a lot for this team's performance, environment and culture. I'm sure he's going to leave a massive hole. But I'm not trying to fill his shoes. I want to come in and do my own fantastic job. So that's what I'll be looking to do."

It was that sort of attitude, Hansen said, that saw McLeod ace his interview for the job.

"That was massively important," said Hansen. "You've got to come in and be your own person and do it the way you want to do it. All the structures Smithy has set up, he's familiar with because they talk on the phone a lot.

"But he clearly displayed in the interview he's got his own ideas, and we're looking forward to gradually bringing him in. The opportunity to spend some time in the Rugby Championship will be massive because the All Blacks is an overwhelming place. He's been there as a player, so he's got some idea, then he goes on the end-of-year tour and takes over in his own right. He'll be flying by then."

The new All Blacks defence guru name-checked a number of coaching influences throughout his career, firstly as a player with Waikato, the Chiefs, All Blacks and Toshiba in Japan, then as a coach with Waikato, the Chiefs, New Zealand under-20 and the Highlanders.

There was John Boe, John Mitchell, Ian Foster, Larry Greene at club level in Hamilton and even Hansen and Robbie Deans.

But Jamie Joseph stood out as someone whose philosophies had really imprinted, when the now Japan head coach gathered McLeod, Jon Preston and Tony Brown to launch a major turnaround at the floundering Highlanders. Within a few short years they were Super Rugby champions.

"I could go on for a wee while about [what I've learnt from Jamie]," McLeod said, with a smile. "To be really clear and simple and demand the intensity from those clear, simple plans, and defence fits right up that alley."

McLeod's defensive philosophy is so simple you might call it brilliant.

"It's pretty easy. It's just to get the ball back. And if you can do that in certain parts of the field, then it opens it up to the attack taking full opportunity of what's in front. I appreciate international rugby is a different level but I just have to keep finding those opportunities to get the ball."

He now gets to do that with the best team on the planet. No wonder you couldn't wipe the smile off his face.