All Blacks 2026
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@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
To make it very clear, Robertson needed to go. But, there is no way in hell this team is suddenly going to turn it around in 12 months. No way. Don’t have the cattle, don’t have the skills. After all, beating the ABs last year was literally down to kicking contestable kicks. At the end of the year we could likely be looking at:
- First loss at our fancy new Stadium to what will be a 1st string French team
- First loss at Eden park in how every many years (against Ireland)
- Potentially the Bledisloe gone (least likely)
- How much are Scotland fancying their chances on that first Nh game?
Strap yourself in guys. This could get seriously ugly
Well at end of year we could be looking at anything, whether likely I would find hard to agree with until we see who is coaching and playing .
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@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
To make it very clear, Robertson needed to go. But, there is no way in hell this team is suddenly going to turn it around in 12 months. No way. Don’t have the cattle, don’t have the skills. After all, beating the ABs last year was literally down to kicking contestable kicks. At the end of the year we could likely be looking at:
- First loss at our fancy new Stadium to what will be a 1st string French team
- First loss at Eden park in how every many years (against Ireland)
- Potentially the Bledisloe gone (least likely)
- How much are Scotland fancying their chances on that first Nh game?
Strap yourself in guys. This could get seriously ugly
One thing I just don't buy is that we don't have the cattle. We do. It's about finding ways to get the best out of this cattle.
It's acceptable to say a side like the Highlanders don't have the cattle, but I don't accept for one second that this AB side doesn't have the cattle. It's a cop out.
The skills? Under the previous regime, yes, some of the skills in certain areas were lacking, but I do put some of that down to the coaching team.
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris find that hard to believe.
NZR will have there next group lined up if not signed up who ever it maybe.
Time is running out fast.so you think theyre lying when they said it would be an open process and hes lying when he says he hasn't heard from them?
any chance NZR was arrogant enough to assume everyone would come running....and they wont?
I do think the kind of person we need (as well as the obvious pedigree) is the confidence to think they can go to SA and win
edit: i notice he said till the next world cup rather than 2031 like Rassie, there were reports he was pushing to have all his assistants signed up to the same
Yep. Having a fair idea of the type of coach they want and letting potential candidates they are looking to put the job spec out there isn't incompatible with an open process.
Well, I hope so anyway.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
To make it very clear, Robertson needed to go. But, there is no way in hell this team is suddenly going to turn it around in 12 months. No way. Don’t have the cattle, don’t have the skills. After all, beating the ABs last year was literally down to kicking contestable kicks. At the end of the year we could likely be looking at:
- First loss at our fancy new Stadium to what will be a 1st string French team
- First loss at Eden park in how every many years (against Ireland)
- Potentially the Bledisloe gone (least likely)
- How much are Scotland fancying their chances on that first Nh game?
Strap yourself in guys. This could get seriously ugly
One thing I just don't buy is that we don't have the cattle. We do. It's about finding ways to get the best out of this cattle.
It's acceptable to say a side like the Highlanders don't have the cattle, but I don't accept for one second that this AB side doesn't have the cattle. It's a cop out.
The skills? Under the previous regime, yes, some of the skills in certain areas were lacking, but I do put some of that down to the coaching team.
And some down to players reclining form some due to miles on the clock.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
I noticed that Brown didn't dismiss the job out of hand, he's just not heard anything.....
Well he has now, says he with Boks until 2027, no out clause.
He was never going to be coach, only maybe an assistant anyway. -
@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
To make it very clear, Robertson needed to go. But, there is no way in hell this team is suddenly going to turn it around in 12 months. No way. Don’t have the cattle, don’t have the skills. After all, beating the ABs last year was literally down to kicking contestable kicks. At the end of the year we could likely be looking at:
- First loss at our fancy new Stadium to what will be a 1st string French team
- First loss at Eden park in how every many years (against Ireland)
- Potentially the Bledisloe gone (least likely)
- How much are Scotland fancying their chances on that first Nh game?
Strap yourself in guys. This could get seriously ugly
I said more then once last year that I expected this season to be ugly anyway, based on our lack of progress with Razor. This is a high risk manoeuvre by the NZRU, but I'm not convinced Razor was about to turn the corner so the next lot can't do much worse. As many have said, if they stick to basics and build unity that will be a solid start
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris find that hard to believe.
NZR will have there next group lined up if not signed up who ever it maybe.
Time is running out fast.so you think theyre lying when they said it would be an open process and hes lying when he says he hasn't heard from them?
any chance NZR was arrogant enough to assume everyone would come running....and they wont?
I do think the kind of person we need (as well as the obvious pedigree) is the confidence to think they can go to SA and win
edit: i notice he said till the next world cup rather than 2031 like Rassie, there were reports he was pushing to have all his assistants signed up to the same
Yep. Having a fair idea of the type of coach they want and letting potential candidates they are looking to put the job spec out there isn't incompatible with an open process.
Well, I hope so anyway.
was more specifically to George saying he would be surprised if they didnt already have someone signed up
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris find that hard to believe.
NZR will have there next group lined up if not signed up who ever it maybe.
Time is running out fast.so you think theyre lying when they said it would be an open process and hes lying when he says he hasn't heard from them?
any chance NZR was arrogant enough to assume everyone would come running....and they wont?
I do think the kind of person we need (as well as the obvious pedigree) is the confidence to think they can go to SA and win
edit: i notice he said till the next world cup rather than 2031 like Rassie, there were reports he was pushing to have all his assistants signed up to the same
Yep. Having a fair idea of the type of coach they want and letting potential candidates they are looking to put the job spec out there isn't incompatible with an open process.
Well, I hope so anyway.
Of course not surely. Like any job that is advertised, you let applicants know what skills etc you looking for, -
@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
To make it very clear, Robertson needed to go. But, there is no way in hell this team is suddenly going to turn it around in 12 months. No way. Don’t have the cattle, don’t have the skills. After all, beating the ABs last year was literally down to kicking contestable kicks. At the end of the year we could likely be looking at:
- First loss at our fancy new Stadium to what will be a 1st string French team
- First loss at Eden park in how every many years (against Ireland)
- Potentially the Bledisloe gone (least likely)
- How much are Scotland fancying their chances on that first Nh game?
Strap yourself in guys. This could get seriously ugly
A lot of people were saying that 12 months ago. But that didn't happen - even with a Head Coach who had lost the changing room.
I'd imagine a less dysfunctional coach who actually works with the players rather than against them would likely do much better.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
I noticed that Brown didn't dismiss the job out of hand, he's just not heard anything.....
Well he has now, says he with Boks until 2027, no out clause.
He was never going to be coach, only maybe an assistant anyway.I still wouldn't charactise Brown's comments as dismissing out of hand.
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@Kiwiwomble Ah, OK. Mis-read on my part.
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@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
To make it very clear, Robertson needed to go. But, there is no way in hell this team is suddenly going to turn it around in 12 months. No way. Don’t have the cattle, don’t have the skills. After all, beating the ABs last year was literally down to kicking contestable kicks. At the end of the year we could likely be looking at:
- First loss at our fancy new Stadium to what will be a 1st string French team
- First loss at Eden park in how every many years (against Ireland)
- Potentially the Bledisloe gone (least likely)
- How much are Scotland fancying their chances on that first Nh game?
Strap yourself in guys. This could get seriously ugly
It is a very tough schedule, but I'm a bit more positive than that.
Fixing the kicking strategy is straightforward.
Fixing the high ball stuff shouldn't be that massive a task.
Fixing the exits isn't that hard either.
Remove the handbrake at 10.
Pick at least one worker in the loosies.Despite us being very disappointing, we were still there or thereabouts most games. Just those things ought to be a significant improvement and are relatively quick fixes.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
To make it very clear, Robertson needed to go. But, there is no way in hell this team is suddenly going to turn it around in 12 months. No way. Don’t have the cattle, don’t have the skills. After all, beating the ABs last year was literally down to kicking contestable kicks. At the end of the year we could likely be looking at:
- First loss at our fancy new Stadium to what will be a 1st string French team
- First loss at Eden park in how every many years (against Ireland)
- Potentially the Bledisloe gone (least likely)
- How much are Scotland fancying their chances on that first Nh game?
Strap yourself in guys. This could get seriously ugly
I said more then once last year that I expected this season to be ugly anyway, based on our lack of progress with Razor. This is a high risk manoeuvre by the NZRU, but I'm not convinced Razor was about to turn the corner so the next lot can't do much worse. As many have said, if they stick to basics and build unity that will be a solid start
Completely agree. It will get worse before it gets better but it’s going to hurt
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris find that hard to believe.
NZR will have there next group lined up if not signed up who ever it maybe.
Time is running out fast.so you think theyre lying when they said it would be an open process and hes lying when he says he hasn't heard from them?
any chance NZR was arrogant enough to assume everyone would come running....and they wont?
I do think the kind of person we need (as well as the obvious pedigree) is the confidence to think they can go to SA and win
edit: i notice he said till the next world cup rather than 2031 like Rassie, there were reports he was pushing to have all his assistants signed up to the same
Maybe Brown hasn’t heard from NZR but Joseph has and any conversation about his (Browns) involvement with the AB’s has been informal with JJ at this point. I wouldn’t make a very good conspiracy theorist, all this theorising is hurting my head, I need facts.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
To make it very clear, Robertson needed to go. But, there is no way in hell this team is suddenly going to turn it around in 12 months. No way. Don’t have the cattle, don’t have the skills. After all, beating the ABs last year was literally down to kicking contestable kicks. At the end of the year we could likely be looking at:
- First loss at our fancy new Stadium to what will be a 1st string French team
- First loss at Eden park in how every many years (against Ireland)
- Potentially the Bledisloe gone (least likely)
- How much are Scotland fancying their chances on that first Nh game?
Strap yourself in guys. This could get seriously ugly
One thing I just don't buy is that we don't have the cattle. We do. It's about finding ways to get the best out of this cattle.
It's acceptable to say a side like the Highlanders don't have the cattle, but I don't accept for one second that this AB side doesn't have the cattle. It's a cop out.
The skills? Under the previous regime, yes, some of the skills in certain areas were lacking, but I do put some of that down to the coaching team.
And some down to players reclining form some due to miles on the clock.
Yup I can accept that. I also alluded to a lot of them falling into bad habits towards the end of last year, essentially doing what they want. But lack of cattle? Absolutely not, don't agree with that at all.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris find that hard to believe.
NZR will have there next group lined up if not signed up who ever it maybe.
Time is running out fast.I think Brown would know, all these reported sightings of Joseph and Brown together I am sure they would talked about it
Why would he say that if he didn't think it..Here in Australia, in afl and nrl , when players and coaches are questioned on contracts, you take their answers with a grain of salt .
They are like politicians.Yes best to say nothing but he has said a fair bit.which he didn't need to but knowing Brown he is an honest person.
The problem is , even if he’s going to take the job , he can’t say that yet,
But the fact he mentioned he is contracted probably indicates he can’t take it even if he wanted to .
I suspect there is fibs no one has spoken to him though , find that part hard to believe. -
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
I noticed that Brown didn't dismiss the job out of hand, he's just not heard anything.....
I am sure he is interested after the WC.
With his family in NZ that must be a consideration.
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i want a coach the firmly believe in the idiom a champion team will always beat a team of champions
too long we've picked the best individual players and then slotted people in around them rather than the best combinations
i would have no problem with a whole front row being picked form the same super team even if they were the second and fouth best probs individually....as long as theyre the best front row...same with loose forward trio, centre pairing and probably 9/10
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
i want a coach the firmly believe in the idiom a champion team will always beat a team of champions
too long we've picked the best individual players and then slotted people in around them rather than the best combinations
i would have no problem with a whole front row being picked form the same super team even if they were the second and fouth best probs individually....as long as theyre the best front row...same with loose forward trio, centre pairing and probably 9/10
Didn't really think our props are the problem! Loosies, 10, midfield, maybe 15...
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@nostrildamus didn't mean so much they were a problem, just an example of players that need to work well with each other
