All Blacks 2026
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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!
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@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
How many of them would be able to work together?
Brown and Joseph obviously
Brown and Cotter at the Blues in 2024
Cotter and Schmidt have worked together -
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
How many of them would be able to work together?
Brown and Joseph obviously
Brown and Cotter at the Blues last year
Cotter and Schmidt have worked togetherI think you have listed the most likely duos in the appropriate (descending) order for likelihood of selection. A big question mark is Tony Brown and his SA contract, he seems to love it there as well.
4th or 5th: I'm not suggesting this is at all likely (or even my preference) but Cotter also was assistant to Robbie Deans for 2 years and I think they are still friends. -
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
I think you have listed the most likely duos in the appropriate (descending) order for likelihood of selection
I would like all of them. Joseph (head coach), Brown, Cotter as the main coaches. Schmidt as a high performance manager who joins later working with SR sides and the ABs.
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@allblackfan2 said in All Blacks 2026:
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?
I suspect being close to Razor, the lack of international head coach experience, and how close it is to RWC with him not having recent links to NZ rugby would count against him. Otherwise, he'd probably be good news for the backline, at the very least.
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I'd say the process was very regular.
HP manager conducted a review
Board chairman and a couple of others reviewed the HP managers report.
Those reviewing the report came to a conclusion and made a recommendation to the board.
Board meets, considers, and approves the recommendation
All very proper.
Kirk is a board animal.Happy Lancaster is the acting, and not Lendrum.
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
I think you have listed the most likely duos in the appropriate (descending) order for likelihood of selection
I would like all of them. Joseph (head coach), Brown, Cotter as the main coaches. Schmidt as a high performance manager who joins later working with SR sides and the ABs.
Don't forget Tony Brown!
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@Fale009 said in All Blacks 2026:
@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.
What surprised me after all the hype , he appeared nervous and under the pump from the very beginning, it never really got going at all .
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
I think you have listed the most likely duos in the appropriate (descending) order for likelihood of selection
I would like all of them. Joseph (head coach), Brown, Cotter as the main coaches. Schmidt as a high performance manager who joins later working with SR sides and the ABs.
I agree. From far away a a year or two ago, it seemed to me that Japan's culture suited him as coach but I was worried that Joseph was too old school and inflexible (especially without Brown) but I think (and hope) I was wrong.
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@Duluth yeah I asked yesterday if JJ and Cotter together could be an option.
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Fuck, this Gregor Paul article is scathing.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
@Duluth yeah I asked yesterday if JJ and Cotter together could be an option.
I quite like those Wayne Smith odds (as an advisor/mentor). How many times has he said emphatically no to any sort of international coaching and then had his arm tweaked?
Edit: and those Eddie Jones odds are frankly terrifying. -
@nostrildamus Vern Cotter gets things moving specifically the pack .
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
O'Gara doesn't have any international experience, and he's tainted by association with Robertson. His past comments make him sound like a Crusaders loyalist. Not interested.
That's fair, though I do think he's a much more astute thinker than Razor (shit that's a low bar), and I did like how he sought out experience down here to get out of his bubble up north. If he's part of the above coaching group I can't see that being an issue but take your point!
