All Blacks 2026
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Reflecting on the
axingmutually agreed termination of Scott Robertson's role as head coach, one key reason given by Kirk was 'trajectory'.As in, a few losses can be accepted as part of building towards the World Cup, but the improvement and plan across the cycle has to be clear. I would also speculate that the Board has expectations that we still win other silverware along the way. One of my observations is that the All Blacks struggled a bit when Plan A didn't work which could be a sign of coaching inexperience in different competitions - basically, Plan A worked at all levels until this one, and adjusting on the fly wasn't encouraged/trained for.
As a one-eyed Cantabrian, when I put my other eye back in for 5 minutes, I can see why the Board had reservations about trajectory. I also don't think Robertson was shoddily treated - there was a review, the review obviously concluded that there were issues about the team culture, results and likelihood of success at the next world cup (trajectory), and leaving another year would be too late if the coach needs to move on.
Sports coaching is a results-driven business, and the buck stops at the top. His results weren't good enough for the Board, he presumably didn't have a convincing plan for addressing that in time for the next World Cup, so the buck stopped.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
I would welcome seeing Sir Steve Hansen back involved with the All Blacks either as a coach or a selector or an adviser. Smart guy, driven, humble, always there for his players.
Nah, he fucked up 2019 and set up the last few years (IMHO).
Advisor, yes.
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@KiwiMurph and this is probably going to be more normal going forward, players and coaches alike., especially when it seems NZ is keen to continue to push players into coaching roles with limited real world experience, but I guess this is the nature of professioanl sport.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
Very interesting article from Gregor Paul today
Did he write any articles about his concerns/observations before today?
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2026:
The "Ruben Love isnt ready", "its too early for Fabian to be thrown in" kind of talk has to stop.
I think a lot of fans and journalists tend to just follow along with what the coaches are saying.
In social media comments, you’ll see a lot of people directly quoting things coaches have said that sound good to them, for example, ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ and any questioning of the coaches is met with, ‘I suppose you think you could do better?.’
If the new coaching group comes out with a less conservative approach, the general public will follow along.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
Very interesting article from Gregor Paul today
Did he write any articles about his concerns/observations before today?
He spent most of the last 6 years lobbing grenades at NZ rugby.
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@ShaquilleOatmeal to be fair, prior to Foster and late period Hansen, there was a long period where most did trust fully and didnt questions them (look at Bunce/Nonu Super vs Int) and the team all but picked itself, calls for DC/McCaw prior to 2015 to be dropped etc.
Thinking back, do they even do sports talkback like that now? Man some nutters used to call up!
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal to be fair, prior to Foster and late period Hansen, there was a long period where most did trust fully and didnt questions them (look at Bunce/Nonu Super vs Int) and the team all but picked itself, calls for DC/McCaw prior to 2015 to be dropped etc.
Thinking back, do they even do sports talkback like that now? Man some nutters used to call up!
Haha I still remember the calls to drop DC before the 2015 world cup. Think a lot of us were just bored back then.
That and how the 2015 team was gonna end up like the 1991 side.
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I’m surprised they pulled the trigger, didn’t think they would.
Things in camp clearly weren’t right when you look at the manner of our losses. Losses can be accepted if you put your best foot forward and are just beaten by a better team.
I’m hopeful now with a new coach, like I was with Robertson when he came in, that we’ll see some better selections and clear game plan.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2026:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
I actually just remembered something that Goldie Wilson said on Breakdown. He hopes we go back to traditional All Black rugby, as we have drifted away from it.
Anyway, I just waiting to see who get's the gig now. I am a JJ fan, and had wanted him for sometime , just a feeling I have, no great knowledge or anything. And as much as anything , if he gets it who will he get in his group,Is it fair to say Jamie Joseph was a bit of a grub as a player?
Remember a bit of biff from him against the English, not that I'll hold that against him.
He was a grub as I recall
Thats what we need.
Rassie wasnt exactly mr gentle as a player
Although Jonah sat him on his arse in the most emphatic way at Ellis Park in 2000.
Funnily enough in a game where both Rassie and Razor came off the bench.
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@Bovidae This is when he lost me. Sticking with the same lineups after poor performances showed me he was only coaching to keep his job. Had enough of him by the time the grand slam tour rolled around. The fact that we're already halfway through this RWC cycle and still trotting out Beauden and DMac as the only options at 10 is diabolical.
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We need to invade SA and get our man back.
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Theres talk in some media about the potential for Ronan O'Gara to apply for the head coach role. I don't have any issues with a non NZ'er coaching the AB's, if they are the right person for the job but wouldn't it be better to bring someone like that in as an assistant coach first and see how they go after being mentored by a kiwi coach? Would a Jamie Joseph (HC) and Tony Brown and Ronan O'Gara (Assistant coaches) work?
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@allblackfan2 I'd love to see O'Gara involved, and if he wants to apply for HC then fair play to him. At the moment people in the mix appear to be JJ, Brown, O'Gara, Schmidt and Cotter (I'm likely forgetting someone). I don't think I can overstate how much better every single one of those coaches are than anyone in Razor's team. All of them are an absolutely huge upgrade.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2026:
@allblackfan2 I'd love to see O'Gara involved, and if he wants to apply for HC then fair play to him. At the moment people in the mix appear to be JJ, Brown, O'Gara, Schmidt and Cotter (I'm likely forgetting someone). I don't think I can overstate how much better every single on of those coaches are than anyone in Razor's team. All of them are an absolutely huge upgrade.
How many of them would be able to work together? I'd realy like to see a strong team put together, made up of various experts in different areas.
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@ShaquilleOatmeal yeah that's the key question. Exciting times again for AB fans! Bring on 2026!
