Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore feels he had little choice but to step down, as the fallout from a review into his team's culture and high-performance environment threatened to overshadow their World Cup campaign.
Moore, 62, was initially retained by NZ Rugby, but made the call to stand down, wary his ongoing involvement would prove a distraction for a team eyeing back-to-back World Cup victories.
The past five months have been some of the most difficult of Moore's coaching career.
On Saturday, it came to a head, as he stood down as Black Ferns coach, after a scathing review of the side he led for six-and-a-half years.
"It just had the ability to continue to distract me," Moore told Newshub. "I wanted the team to have the best opportunity to win."
The review was sparked by Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate's social media post, detailing how she broke down on the northern tour, after missing selection.
She claimed Moore told her she didn't deserve to be in the team and was only there to play guitar, but Moore disputes those claims.
"I don't agree with what's been said there, around those allegations," he continued. "In particular, the completeness of some of them and it lacked total context.
"I've only spoken to her once. I wouldn't say things are cleared up."
What was clear in the review was a lack of high-performance practices, while there was also a cultural disconnect between management and players.
Claims of favouritism, 'ghosting' and body shaming were also prevalent throughout the review, which Moore again disagreed with.
"I've never thought like that," he said. "They're not my words, they're not my values, they're not my beliefs."
Moore admits he's read the 30-page review several times. It's been brutal and, at times, overwhelming for the 62-year-old and his family.
"It definitely has an impact. You'd be lying if you said it didn't, but the part that has the biggest toll is seeing it on your family."
Still, Moore leaves the Black Ferns as a very successful coach.
For most of his tenure, they maintained a 90 percent winning record, won a fifth World Cup and became the first women's team named World Rugby's Team of the Year.
Now, he's ready for a break. Asked what comes next, Moore responded: "Hopefully, a cold beer tonight and a half-decent sleep."
