OK so we may not quite be ready to do the Haka before a Premier League game yet but that does not stop Swans boss Garry Monk taking some inspiration from a New Zealand philosophy that sees them favourites to lift a second successive World Cup next month.

The All Blacks will be in Wales this Friday on the next step of their title defence but there is a little part of them already here thanks to the reading habits of Monk and his desire to improve and take ideas from elsewhere.

We know that Garry likes to continually improve both himself and his team and he doesn't just take ideas from football as he looks to implement a winning mentality within his team and there are not that many sporting entities better at their sport than the All Blacks.

“I read a lot on books about management — not just in football, but in all different sports. It’s interesting to see how other managers approach things" said Monk.

“I recently read on my computer the ‘Legacy’ book on the All Blacks which was excellent. It’s all about their code of conduct and how they approach things. It’s about their leadership, too, not just from the management, but from the players themselves.

“I think that’s a vital compound. It’s vital that the players manage themselves and that it doesn’t always come from me. It must come from within, as well as from outside. I have always thought that anyway, but when you read about others doing it at such a high level, it is really fascinating. I really enjoy reading about it in other sports. It is always the same principles, but in different sports.”

Photo: Action Images

Swansea City Polls