All Blacks 2026
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@kidcalder said in All Blacks 2026:
@Dan54 That will be the most interesting watch when the new coaching team is assembled what they do with those 2..
I think most likely both stay in the squad due to their experience etc but hopefully less game time (bench roles prefer) but put down to better player welfare/management.
Others will be given time in the saddle to develop depth and test match experience and hopefully they thrive and the others then begin to be phased out slowly but surely.
Thats how I see it - injuries always come into selections and if DMac and all the loosies fall over then you may need a safety net for big tests.
I see that more likely than say JJ gets the role and wants to wield his axe dropping what he doesn't want onto the scrap heap..
Its been done before though - Laurie with the Whettons etc but times have changedYeah.
In this era you could not do what Laurie Mains did. Frank Bunce (who considers Laurie his best coach) has said exactly that.
With the younger generations of millennials and Z you got to be a little more cautious in your approach. They don't respond to being dealt with abrasively.
A part of the problems between the coaches and players seems to me to be a generational divide.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@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.....
I think the more relevant reminders might be of the nature of the dreadful defeats and lack of improvement in obvious problem areas we suffered under Foster, rather than every 2nd time you mention him bringing up one game (which remember we actually lost) as if that were the appropriate measure. The equivalent would be someone harping on about Robertson actually defeating the Boks last year in one game - but nobody is doing that.
I agree with you - and so does just about everyone else - that there were problems beyond Foster. That doesn't make him any good. And it is quite reasonable to suggest that a shit removal process with a previous boss who you liked is going to influence your opinion on his replacement - especially given the circumstances. Nowhere did I suggest that was Foster's fault, but you leap to his defence like always? -
I think both Ardie and BB have alot to offer, but both need to play within patterns, my assumption is that both were given free reign to play how they wanted, and as evidenced in the 2nd bok test, it didn't seem the hearts were in it, so this will have been a factor in play too
Both probably would be better impact players at this point of careers, imo.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
Ok I got question for posters going forward this year. We have opinions on BB , Ardie etc being in team. If they are still picked by new coach, are you still going to get behind them, or are you perhaps going to admit that they should be there? Or are we smarter than even another AB coach? Remembering they pick players for how they want team to play, and with all the info on them, not from watching a bit on tv (with just a few angles) and occasional trip to a game. I will be interested to see responses from whatever players etc are picked.
'My eyes tell me they are playing shit, but the coach picked them so I guess they must be playing great'
yeah nah. -
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
Ok I got question for posters going forward this year. We have opinions on BB , Ardie etc being in team. If they are still picked by new coach, are you still going to get behind them, or are you perhaps going to admit that they should be there? Or are we smarter than even another AB coach? Remembering they pick players for how they want team to play, and with all the info on them, not from watching a bit on tv (with just a few angles) and occasional trip to a game. I will be interested to see responses from whatever players etc are picked.
What is your thinking if the coach selects these two and they play poorly as they have and we keep losing.
Is the coach poor are these two poor or is it just close eyes and hope. -
Right, as suggested ive gone through this thread right to the beginning to get a timeline and break down the events that lead to yesterdays dramatic turn of events.
This is just based on this thread alone. Not from anywhere else..-
Thread begins innocently November 26th by @nzzp with the fixtures for this year
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1101537
shit posting ensures, not exactly positve for the incoming year.. -
Things start getting interesting November 27th with @Young-Hamiltons post re Scott Hansen is the one actually coaching the AB's, not Robertson
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1101798 -
December 3rd and the dreaded 'review' is first mentioned by @Frank
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1102832 -
December 7th its announced the Coaching set up is looking at making changes as posted by @Tim
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1103653 -
December 10th @Landers92 comments that Nick Evans is the new assistant
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1103958 -
December 13th the cracks behind the scenes start to show as posted by @Tim
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1104316
@canefan called it..
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1104339 "I can't see how this improves trust unless they bin the coaches"
Rumors and talk of Dalton Papalii turning down being selected for the team on last years NH tour are brought up.
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1104412
We need to fast forward a few weeks....
- 3 days ago @Landers92 posts some juicy goss
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1107200
"Been pretty slack posting over the Christmas break but here’s what I’ve been told that I can post.
Beauden Barrett is heavily trusted by Razor and co to the point he is effectively running the trainings. Dmac has a say but by all accounts BB is the guy who has final say.
Yes your 10’s usually run your team runs etc, but from what I’m told BB is doing more than just that. Makes you wonder what the roles of these current coaches actually are.
There was also a high profile All Black that was out after the England game until 5am which broke curfew, he didn’t get dropped or punished which is a bit of a double standard as EDG was kept out of a couple games for the same thing on last years EOYT.
By all accounts, and I’m pointing out the obvious here, it’s pretty toxic in camp"-
Its mentioned the review is done and the final decision is on hold...not for very long in the end apparently
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Then @george33 posts a couple of interesting tidbits of info including news that Ardie is unlikely to play again under the current coaching team
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1107216
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1107257
- things get juicer later that day...
@george33 commenting hes heard Robertson is likely to walk followed by news Kirk is going to sack him
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1107283
@george33 comments again
So have heard from another source is that Razor is gone or stepping away .
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1107323- @MacDazzler with the understatement of the year award..
This thread has gotten very interesting.
Cue lots of shit posting and usual Fern chatter....
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Then 2 days ago
@george33 with more great sauce My source came back and said coaches will be told this but no official announcement until new coaches are signed on he's hearing Joseph and Brown .That's all he's hearing. How it plays out have to wait and see. -
A day later the NZ Herald gets into the act as shared by @Tim
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1107596
@george33 posts that Robertson is gone
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1107694More online news sites publish stories all but confirming Scott Robertson is going to be sacked, somehow a news site in Ireland is first to pick this story up (Pay wall)
https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/scott-robertson-to-depart-all-blacks-head-coach-role-as-player-power-forces-nzr-hand/a1191576889.htmlLocal sites start picking the story up
https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/01/15/scott-robertson-axed-as-all-blacks-coach/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360924724/speculation-mounting-all-blacks-coach-scott-robertson-could-be-sacked@Chris updates with more sauce Ok so this what I have amongst all the rumours etc take it for what it is.
The Board is being presented the Review findings today.
Razor has not officially been sacked yet the Board has to vote on it.
Probably will happen as the Board normally goes with the recommendation's from the Review.
Razor has asked to present to the board before any final decisions are made.
From a good source but there is many different stories out there.
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1108211- Then its confirmed
The fern
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@ARHS said in All Blacks 2026:
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.This is meant to be a high performance environment Of one of the greatest teams in sport.
Coaches are paid incredibly well for their expertise and ability to handle the pressure of winning every week.
Foster knew this. Foster accepted this. He was not treated badly. He was failing.
Same thing with Razor. Scrutiny, transparency, accountability and pressure is a daily part of your life as AB coach.
You are hired for your ability to absorb pressure and create a team to match and improve the All Black legacy.
For some time the AB’s felt like they were very un all black like and we were not a high performance environment.
Today was proof that we do not accept the drop in standards and performance.
We are the All Blacks. Its the first time, in a long time that we have acted like it.
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If you think pointing out the absurdity of an argument that Foster's ability to create a decent team environment & inspire loyalty somehow caused Robertson's downfall is defending Foster, then be my guest.
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2026:
Foster knew this. Foster accepted this. He was not treated badly. He was failing.
Foster knew this. He was treated badly - but only by having a board and CEO without a backbone. Foster should have had one of two things, either moved on quickly and painlessly, or endorsed and supported. He got both with no indication of whether he was meeting expectations or not.
Kirk is a breath of fresh air. The last boards should hang their heads in shame - they screwed Super, sold part of the family silver to the 'lake and botched coaching appointments and high performance.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
If you think pointing out the absurdity of an argument that Foster's ability to create a decent team environment & inspire loyalty somehow caused Robertson's downfall is defending Foster, then be my guest.
If you think that's what I said, you need to work on your reading comprehension. You are defending Foster when there has been no attack (other than on his shit results).
To be as clear as I can: the fault lies not with Foster but with NZR in that they handled the Foster process so badly that it is quite possible that players with loyalty to Foster would be pissed off with Robertson. -
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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.
Take no shit sort of guy too.Likes putting the players on edge.
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Another thing about Razor, is he put himself forward as this 'culture coach' which is all well and good if things are going well, but with all the reports on here, he seemed to fail miserably at it and flog everyone off to either Scott Hansen or just ignore every issue (along with treating Dalton Papali'i like a dog).
It baffles me that he was seen as that guy who put culture first, and did the complete opposite to it.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
Ok I got question for posters going forward this year. We have opinions on BB , Ardie etc being in team. If they are still picked by new coach, are you still going to get behind them, or are you perhaps going to admit that they should be there? Or are we smarter than even another AB coach? Remembering they pick players for how they want team to play, and with all the info on them, not from watching a bit on tv (with just a few angles) and occasional trip to a game. I will be interested to see responses from whatever players etc are picked.
What is your thinking if the coach selects these two and they play poorly as they have and we keep losing.
Is the coach poor are these two poor or is it just close eyes and hope.Ok Chris, I know I different to you and a few, but I genuinely don't think I know more than the coaches on what they want from players. I have no problem admitting that .
My opinion if the coach keeps picking the players and we keep losing? That perhaps we just not good enough to win? I usually have an opinion on how players are going, but genuinely as I said, just my opinion, and have never really thought I know more than the coaches etc. Or anyone for that matter, just I realise that if enough experienced and pro coahes etc think differently, I perhaps realise I should admit they have the data, plans etc that I am ignorant of, -
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
Ok I got question for posters going forward this year. We have opinions on BB , Ardie etc being in team. If they are still picked by new coach, are you still going to get behind them, or are you perhaps going to admit that they should be there? Or are we smarter than even another AB coach? Remembering they pick players for how they want team to play, and with all the info on them, not from watching a bit on tv (with just a few angles) and occasional trip to a game. I will be interested to see responses from whatever players etc are picked.
What is your thinking if the coach selects these two and they play poorly as they have and we keep losing.
Is the coach poor are these two poor or is it just close eyes and hope.Ok Chris, I know I different to you and a few, but I genuinely don't think I know more than the coaches on what they want from players. I have no problem admitting that .
My opinion if the coach keeps picking the players and we keep losing? That perhaps we just not good enough to win? I usually have an opinion on how players are going, but genuinely as I said, just my opinion, and have never really thought I know more than the coaches etc. Or anyone for that matter, just I realise that if enough experienced and pro coahes etc think differently, I perhaps realise I should admit they have the data, plans etc that I am ignorant of,Ok I just was interested in how you would think if that happened.
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@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
I’m not trying to twist and turn so apologies if I am. I just see him (and Beuden) as part of the systemic rot in the ABs environment and he needs to go
Fair enough. I'd like to see Ardie in the 23 but something isn't working and other players need to be tried. With Beauden he surprised me in that English game but the backline isn't working and it seems to me DMac (who isn't everyone's favourite here) gets that ball moving better. I can't understand why Beauden can't improve his kicking, he improved his tackling from when he started but his kicking is - not international standard IMHO.
Plus they really have to build depth at 10. It's been one of my personal gripes. I have been disappointed with how conservative Razor's mob have been with that backline. -
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
Too many posts to go back over, unsure if already posted but this new page popped up on my SM, shameless
From sources inside nzr? Has TSF changed its name?
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:
Foster knew this. He was treated badly
Ditto Robertson in many ways. I hope Kirk questions how much assessment & support they gave the tyro manager they appointed as AB Coach. The problems which came to a head today, didn't just suddenly manifest themselves
