All Blacks 2026
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
Why wasn't he concerned in 2022 when Foster was dragging the team down to this level?
He was. Difference is Foster listened to his players and engaged with them. BB has spoken openly about it.
I spent the best part of a week in Tokyo RWC at same hotel as ABs. Very clear that Shag and Fossie were pally with vast bulk of players.
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Too many posts to go back over, unsure if already posted but this new page popped up on my SM, shameless
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I don't think much of that actually panned out:
Hansen is not gone, up to the incoming coach if he is wanted or not.
JJ is not in, they are going to go through an application/selection process.
Schmidt / Smith would be great, but only if they want to apply.
Razor went peacefully. -
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2026:
Full respect to David Kirk having the balls to make the tough call .
Mind you if you listen to what Kirk said, it was whole board made the call after 2-3 hour meeting. he said included Steve Lancaster who is acting CEO.
Personally I happier to hear that these decisions are made by full board. -
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
I'm not really a fan of BB as starter.
That’s a very nice way of putting it. As a starter he rarely challenges the line, shovels ball sideways. Cross kicks incessantly especially under advantage which is such an all or nothing play. But has uncanny ball skills and acceleration - plays his best rugby in the broken field situations you more often get at the end of a game.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@westie_boy said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
It was fascinating to hear Paul mention Joseph, Brown and Rennie together as a team, as it had already been hinted at by someone in this thread I think.
The discussions from Kirk about giving freedom to choose / select assistants was welcome, we might have some movement towards NZRU being a professional organization now that Robinson is finally fucked right off.
Paul also mentioned another name for possible coach, Ian Foster….
Doubt he'd be interested after the way he was treated.
Doubt we'd be interested after the way his teams underperformed.
Would probably make a good manager though. -
@kev said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
I'm not really a fan of BB as starter.
That’s a very nice way of putting it. As a starter he rarely challenges the line, shovels ball sideways. Cross kicks incessantly especially under advantage which is such an all or nothing play. But has uncanny ball skills and acceleration - plays his best rugby in the broken field situations you more often get at the end of a game.
Used to. A long time ago.
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@kev said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
I'm not really a fan of BB as starter.
That’s a very nice way of putting it. As a starter he rarely challenges the line, shovels ball sideways. Cross kicks incessantly especially under advantage which is such an all or nothing play. But has uncanny ball skills and acceleration - plays his best rugby in the broken field situations you more often get at the end of a game.
... and at fullback, not 10.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
Would probably make a good manager though.
Ironically, would seemingly be a great HR vibes guy.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
@Darren more that most of those comments were directly from here
Oh yeah, SF totally broke the news. George and Landers
Be nice if the social media people would give credit when it is totally due. -
@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
Would probably make a good manager though.
Ironically, would seemingly be a great HR vibes guy.
Yep, and you have to wonder whether player loyalty to Foster meant there was a bit of angst at him being treated badly, which easily translates into anti-Robertson feeling when things aren't going well. Combine that with factions within the team and shit can go south quick.
Regardless of that, the right decision has been made this time - whereas last time it was a shit-show. You can't say you're firing someone then back down under player power, then neuter them by installing assistants. That's a recipe for disaster, for players getting too big for their boots. The stuff on a new coach choosing assistants is good, it makes plain where the buck stops. The crucial next step is making sure the players are in their box from now on. -
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
Yep, and you have to wonder whether player loyalty to Foster meant there was a bit of angst at him being treated badly, which easily translates into anti-Robertson feeling when things aren't going well. Combine that with factions within the team and shit can go south quick.
Yep. Foster def. to blame for Robertson's departure.......
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
Yep, and you have to wonder whether player loyalty to Foster meant there was a bit of angst at him being treated badly, which easily translates into anti-Robertson feeling when things aren't going well. Combine that with factions within the team and shit can go south quick.
Yep. Foster def. to blame for Robertson's departure.......
Oh piss off mate. You're even going to come to his defence for imagined slights now?
Amazing Ian Foster 1 point loss with 14 men to best everest Boks!
Or in reality: worse coaching record than the guy who just got deservedly sacked. -
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
Yep, and you have to wonder whether player loyalty to Foster meant there was a bit of angst at him being treated badly, which easily translates into anti-Robertson feeling when things aren't going well. Combine that with factions within the team and shit can go south quick.
Yep. Foster def. to blame for Robertson's departure.......
Oh piss off mate. You're even going to come to his defence for imagined slights now?
Amazing Ian Foster 1 point loss with 14 men to best everest Boks!
Or in reality: worse coaching record than the guy who just got deservedly sacked.Defence? Accused of that - and more - multiple times when I argued the problems weren't all down to Foster.
Remind us again how the magic solution of swapping the coaching team went.....
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Was trying to imagine what the factions inside camp were. Realised that alongside the Crusaders and the Islanders, the other faction must be the golfers. The crusaders were walking around like teachers pets having bants, inside jokes and glory days with Razor, the islanders would do morning prayer and a cup of tea with Jason Ryan and then try to avoid the crusaders crew - meanwhile the golfers are actively avoiding scott hansen and trying to set up meet ups with PGA bros and new sponsorships, editing golf clips and coming up with business ideas. All adding up to major disharmony in the camp
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
Reading that piece, i have to ask who in NZR was looking after Robertson and providing feedback and guidance when he was clearly and obviously out of his comfort zone/depth. If the NZR Board were shocked or surprised by the player feedback, why were they?
Sounds like poor man managament wasn't just in the AB dressing room.
