All Blacks 2026
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@Cyclops said in All Blacks 2026:
But maybe too much success has gone to his head
Yeah it feels like that would be the most likely occurrence - just perhaps lost himself up his own arse and went down the wrong track as to where his success actually came from. His "fame" was quite largely based on him being the quirky innovator with the big happy clappy outlook.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
There is a suggestion that Brown might have a release clause in the event that Joseph is the AB coach.
The Trojan Brown ploy!
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@Cyclops said in All Blacks 2026:
Perhaps he struggled with the transition from clearly delineated campaigns to the endless death struggle of test rugby.
not to mention being fragmented too; camps, inbound games, break up, TRC, break up, EOYT, players from different environments, coaching philosophies at NPC/Super etc, whereas at the Crusaders he had time and only his constant message.
He is obviously a good coach, but like some players arent made to play test rugby, maybe Razor isnt made to coach test rugby.
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2026:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:
I'd love to see the smile on Sotutu's face right now.
Any chance he can cancel that Newcastle contract?
Would he even be interested in doing that and staying now does anyone reckon?
Once he's actually been to Newcastle he's likely to be very keen!
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
He is obviously a good coach, but like some players arent made to play test rugby, maybe Razor isnt made to coach test rugby.
Could well be, feels a bit similar to Deans. Clearly coaching quality matters at Super Rugby or Blackadder would have won a title between Deans and Razor, but also clearly, tier 1 test rugby is a big step up, and a different beast from Super etc.
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@hikastags said in All Blacks 2026:
A rumour i've heard from a current NPC Wellington player:
At some point this season Ardie & Rieko started being left out of the leadership meetings. Can't imagine that went down well if true.
That’s a good thing isn’t it?
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
@Cyclops said in All Blacks 2026:
Perhaps he struggled with the transition from clearly delineated campaigns to the endless death struggle of test rugby.
not to mention being fragmented too; camps, inbound games, break up, TRC, break up, EOYT, players from different environments, coaching philosophies at NPC/Super etc, whereas at the Crusaders he had time and only his constant message.
He is obviously a good coach, but like some players arent made to play test rugby, maybe Razor isnt made to coach test rugby.
Felt like the job just swallowed him whole - too big for him.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
Surely the 2024 review wasnt glowing either, so this latest one was just the petrol on the fire.
I dont think Anthony held back this time; knowing he was out the door.
Probably said what he really thought; as you can do in that type of situation.I know everyone is chattering about the new AB coaching set up; but what about his position, it's quite key.
Thinking Schmidt would be good there. -
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
So he's autistic.
Whitelock alluded to that in his book. Didn't matter with the Crusaders so shouldn't have mattered with the ABs
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Just watched the Kirk presser.. Impressed. Thoughtful, honest, respectful to all involved, measured and cut down any rumours.
Get the feeling the whole coach/NZR Board fiasco we've seen in the last few years has been identified and addressed.
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@hikastags said in All Blacks 2026:
I want to know who’s going to replace him. Because if it’s Jospeh, we’re honestly fucked
I've been asking around people I know on the rugby scene all morning for info.
There are rumours swirling around (from the sponsorships side) that it is Jamie Jo & Tony Brown to come in.
Take with a grain of salt as I'm not convinced getting Tony back will be easy.
Who know, he might be enjoying his time in Sa too much!?
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Funnily enough this article surfaced just after the Boks delivered the hiding in Wellington, and although issues in the camp have obviously existed for a while, to me that feels like a fairly significant moment in the timeline... not just for the result, but also for that fact it is probably the last time Brown was in NZ 'in rugby mode'.
He was surely aware of the situation in the All Blacks, so it is no coincidence to me that when Rassie's extension till 2031 was announced, there was no extension announced for Tony Brown - in fact the article from the SA Rugby press release says, "An announcement on the contract negotiations with other members of the Springbok coaching team will be made in due course."
Seems way too coincidental, and generally, where there is smoke there is fire.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2026:
Foster selected BB at 10, and was absolutely getting fired until he made the change and shifted him out for good.
Razor put BB back at 10, kept him there, and now has been fired.
New coach better look at patterns
Rumour has it even BB was scathing in his review of that decision.
All BB wants at this age is a big pay cheque, little minutes, and the perks that come with being an AB.
Cant blame him. Sounds fucking ace!
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Not sure if this appropriate right now but here it is anyway
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https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-197/
Some fairly blunt talk from Gregor Paul. A mention of "halftime meltdowns". Interesting ...
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I am impressed at how the NZRU Board and especially David Kirk have handled this. It is an amazing turnaround to some of the oversights and odd decisions that lead things to this point.
I was staggered at a lot of the stuff reaching media and social media. The way Ian Foster was treated, rankled with me. The regular demands to bring back offshore players undermined those committed to the cause. Then LF fast tracked back in when others like Dmac correctly had to wait through a process.
The most notable thing from this era is the 'stealth influencing'. The AB culture must be bad when there are constant insider leaks about everything. And whenever a controversial move or statement is about to come, the same journalists and social media people amazingly post articles seemingly designed to influence support.
The article featuring two stuff journos last week really irked me, as if it was trying to justify things that had not yet happened. Does make me wonder just how influentially calculated a lot of the information we read is nowadays.I have read a few comments on social media and am appalled at how venomous and uninformed so many people are. Can't believe the venom against Ardie in particular, and the Barretts.
Razor tried to inject some positive change into his role and gave it everything he had. But it was simply not what the team need for the international arena. It was not a mutiny by selfish players. End of story.
