The Silver Fern

You'd have to think that with Kirk's experience of senior players undermining him as captain post Boks tour he wouldn't have much time for that sort of behaviour.

@frugby Yep. Player power shouldn't have saved Foster, and nor should it see the end of Robertson. You take the feedback sure, but any sort of 'him or me' shit means that person should go.

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:

Don't mind Rennie, seems to build team spirit up nicely. Doubt it would be him though. And his Wallabies record would count against him.

Jesus you'd hope theyd look past the result and look to the cattle he had and what he was trying to achieve.....nope, you're right....they'll just look at the scores

Looking at the results immediately afterwards might be an idea...

@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:

I can live with Robertson getting fired but not if Jason Ryan, Ardie Savea and Beauden Barret carry on in their current positions.

I agree with a previous poster that said it was unacceptable no new players where selected on that EOYT but I would go further and say that generational athletes like H Sotutu and A Ioane where unnecessarily thrown on the scrap heap in a humiliating manner (whether or not they actually where bound for greatness) and lost to NZ rugby and maybe now to be followed by Dalton Papali'i is unacceptable. Jason Ryans head needs to roll also along with Savea who has been the crutch for supporting the destruction of our loose forward talent.

Yep. You can get away with not picking the outstanding Super player of the year if your ABs are dominant without him... But if the ABs are then a bit shit, with our loose forwards regularly outplayed, that decision looks incredibly poor.

Ardie has turned into a poor man's David Pocock. Doesn't do enough other things, and with less turnover highlights (and more chip kicks).
BB seems like a nice guy who cares a lot about the ABs, but he's never really been a 1st 5, and he's old. The backline is simply far superior when he's not at 10.

@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:

Will Razor's ego allow him to stay if NZR guy his team and install new coaches?

I wouldn't call it ego necessarily, but if someone forces assistants you don't want on you at the expense of someone you have worked with for a long time and have loyalty to, some people would walk.

@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:

@junior
told they are goooorn
yeah feels like they are trying to get the alternates lined up.
Joseph/brown would be my most favoured option right now if they are going for a full clear out
Heaps of OE
Joseph definitely not a huggy.

brown and razor will cost them; but maybe not the rest so much.

I find JJ somewhat hard to judge, as experience seems to me to have been more in taking lesser teams to play above themselves, rather than maintaining excellence and consistency. Nevertheless he speaks plainly and well, and makes sense when he talks - which is a big improvement in itself.
If I were NZR, I'd still look at Rennie pretty closely.

@Chris so leaving after his decisions piss heaps of people off, or leaving cause his recommendations aren't going to be followed?
or just the paycheck.

@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2026:

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.

Jesus, what a mess.
BB is the single biggest problem player-wise for the team's performance.
How can you have BB running the team, when he's going to get the chop for Mounga next year, what sort of strategy is that?

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

A caretaker coaching team made up of the 5 SR head coaches this year, winner gets head.

You heard it here first.

I thought Robertson was at pains to point out how much care he was taking?

@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:

@Chris said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

Can confirm ACL.

Gone for SR then that is normally at least 6 months .
Shearer in to the squad from WTG ?

I lesson for myself and others on the Fern. Let’s stop hyping young players up because they always seem to end up on the sidelines.

Super guttering. Was looking forward to seeing the whippet go.

A lesson for NZ rugby too I reckon: pick people when they deserve it because if you don't injury might cost you the next opportunity.

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@African-Monkey for years Ardies game.has unbalanced our loose trio, not so much because he isnt able to play the way required, we have had many coaches let him play how.he plays and try to fit people around him.

This has lead us to current Ardie who is undroppable, despite doing probably less work than previous years, and still affecting our loose trio.

Hopefully the lighter load in Japan will see him refreshed and hungry for some real work when he gets back...

That's also the issue I have with guys like Ardie going to Japan all the time. It's virtually touch rugby up there where he doesn't have to do any hard work and can do what he want, whilst having a holiday in the process. At least Rieko and Jordie have gone up north to challenge themselves a bit, why can't more of our players go up there for a stint?

I actually think Ardie better to have a season in Japan, than carry MP on his back for another super season. Doesn't seem to hurt the Boks players in Japan, as Malcolm Marx , Kwagga Smith etc have shown as players get older they probably help themselves to not get hammered every week , but have a few easier game to help you see out season.

Don't forget he did that the year before Dan, and was underwhelming on his return, after being world player of the year before going to Japan.

It's almost like the Aussies are taking the piss eh. Give them a thrashing without your best bowlers, apart from Starc, who destroys them.
Next up, our best bat won't play and Starc won't get any wickets, and we'll still thrash you.

@Canes4life I used to really dislike him as a player, thought he was a bit dirty and didn't have much going on, but I'm a convert now. He's got a great attitude: a great super season meant he got a taste of the top level where he didn't set the world on fire, and his response is to come back early and get training.

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

But no fluffybunny is not going to the ground because the beer is Lion Red or Tui ...

Afternoon games would help the gate.

So being able to have better and cheaper piss and food elsewhere while watching the game isn't a valid reason to tip people over into not going, but a 7pm kick-off being after their poor little bed times is?

The positives need to outweigh the negatives, and better and/or cheaper piss and food would be a positive - simple as that. So would afternoon games.

"all of the above"

the casual fan if going to be swayed more by all the other small stuff around the rugby, the food and drink, stadium amenities, convenience, price and time etc

Exactly. The whole 'who cares about that aspect' is the marketing equivalent of not worrying about scrum training because lineouts and rucks are more important.

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

But no fluffybunny is not going to the ground because the beer is Lion Red or Tui ...

Afternoon games would help the gate.

So being able to have better and cheaper piss and food elsewhere while watching the game isn't a valid reason to tip people over into not going, but a 7pm kick-off being after their poor little bed times is?

The positives need to outweigh the negatives, and better and/or cheaper piss and food would be a positive - simple as that. So would afternoon games.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Darren said in Hurricanes 2026:

If he is that good, give him a Billy Proctor contract.

Oh god, if he's 16 now that means we have 9 years of @Canes4life going on about him before he finally makes the ABs.

Will never be worse than the McLutchie hype from you fellas. How did that one turn out?

I won’t have to hype up Cooper once he turns pro anyway, the rugby community will door that for me.

Never be worse than suggesting a player should be given a go by their supposed home Super team (something you yourself even suggested on occasion) while that organisation not only picked Hohepa but also has the second best 10 from our team on their books? Sure ...

I’m also not the one that has a chip on their shoulder and has to bad mouth the Canes or Wellington in almost every post I make. Move on man.

Damn, coulda sworn you were that guy.

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

@Nepia There are several factors stopping people going as frequently as they used to. The price, as you say - and not just the tickets. Better quality streaming and TVs. A bit of over-saturation of rugby. More competition from other entertainment. Lower-quality competitions, with no All Blacks in the NPC, etc.

This one might just be me, but Super Rugby seems to have lost its appeal a bit with all the changes to teams and competition structure, South African teams leaving, Australian teams underperforming.

I also think atmosphere decline feeds on itself. Smaller crowds create a vicious cycle: empty seats reduce atmosphere, poor atmosphere discourages new or casual fans and once a ground feels quiet, people assume it’s not worth going.

MY personal experience is also the time, we had so many years of night games creeping later and later, am i miss remembering they got to 805pm kickoff? it just became a thing lots of families wouldnt do....and if you dont go with your family i think your less likely to go as an adult, i dont have kids but i would struggle to get mate to come to the pub or even at someone's house...clashed with bed time or bath etc...and when people did come it was always talked about "beautiful day this avo and was looking for something to do with the kids"...now we're getting some more day games which is good but its definitely not peoples routine

Taking the kids to a night game does seem like it'd be a bit too difficult. Our one kid is too young to sit and watch a game and, yes, his bedtime is (conveniently for watching at home) bang on 7:00. But people must have used to either go with the family or without them. Something's changed there - the cost, time, a different attitude etc - that wasn't an issue before. There were more afternoon games pre-professionalism but that's now a long time ago.

The thing that has changed is the convenience of watching it at home, and the general attitude of convenience. Games at night it certainly a factor, but needing tv money since professional came is the big reason for this. TV pays the money, wants the product at night for good viewing times, and it pretty easy to stay at home and watch it in comfort.
I mean one of fasting growing things is uber eats, just sit at home and have everything brought to you there. Have a peek t how many music festivals etc are shutting up shop as well, it's too hard to go out for some.
Apart from young kids everything else about shit food and beer etc is just an excuse really. My experience is ( I been going to rugby, etc for long time), the food and even beer is probably better now than ever was, usually more choice in both, but crowds are still dwindling.

No Dan. You are ignoring that the beer and food quality in NZ outside of rugby grounds has got a shitload better. Nobody is comparing the offerings at the footy and going "man, how lucky are we? this is way better than it was in the 70s!". They are comparing it to what they can have elsewhere now.

I understand that, but I go to concerts still, and beer isn't great. Mates that go to cricket reckon they don't get great beer either. What sports etc do you go to that has really good beer etc? Genuinely interested. I can get craft beer at a Naki game, and they have food caravans selling a reasonable selection. I will bet I probably get as good beer and food at stadiums in NZ as I got at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and cricket at the Gabba. You can't have or feed thousands of people like you do at a restaurant mate, it doesn't work. And you go to any game whether test, super or NPC in NZ and have a look at people lined up to buy a drink or food.
And if people aren't saying how lucky are we it's better than the 70s, they weren't going to rugby in 70s, as you couldn't buy any beers in stadiums then, and that was up until 90s, and don't even recall seeing food stalls there, though no doubt you could get hotdog on a stick. I still say if anyone says they not going to rugby because beer and food not up to standard is just not admitting really they just can't be bothered, which is ok. Just be honest.

Why do you have to turn it into some 'these people don't care about rugby as much as I do' thing? The reason for anybody not going to anything could be classed as "couldn't be bothered", and there is a different threshold for everyone at which they can be bothered - some people have kids etc. One of the reasons people can't be bothered is because the food and beer is shit and/or overpriced - improving it would get more people to the footy.
Same thing with day games, but there is a bigger hurdle there with TV timing.
Food trucks are a good option, but the prices need to be reasonable, not venue-enhanced.
A chiller, mobile eftpos machines and a few people to hand out beer is not a huge expense.

More people at the ground, no matter where rugby fits in their list of priorities is a good thing isn't it?

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

@Nepia There are several factors stopping people going as frequently as they used to. The price, as you say - and not just the tickets. Better quality streaming and TVs. A bit of over-saturation of rugby. More competition from other entertainment. Lower-quality competitions, with no All Blacks in the NPC, etc.

This one might just be me, but Super Rugby seems to have lost its appeal a bit with all the changes to teams and competition structure, South African teams leaving, Australian teams underperforming.

I also think atmosphere decline feeds on itself. Smaller crowds create a vicious cycle: empty seats reduce atmosphere, poor atmosphere discourages new or casual fans and once a ground feels quiet, people assume it’s not worth going.

MY personal experience is also the time, we had so many years of night games creeping later and later, am i miss remembering they got to 805pm kickoff? it just became a thing lots of families wouldnt do....and if you dont go with your family i think your less likely to go as an adult, i dont have kids but i would struggle to get mate to come to the pub or even at someone's house...clashed with bed time or bath etc...and when people did come it was always talked about "beautiful day this avo and was looking for something to do with the kids"...now we're getting some more day games which is good but its definitely not peoples routine

Taking the kids to a night game does seem like it'd be a bit too difficult. Our one kid is too young to sit and watch a game and, yes, his bedtime is (conveniently for watching at home) bang on 7:00. But people must have used to either go with the family or without them. Something's changed there - the cost, time, a different attitude etc - that wasn't an issue before. There were more afternoon games pre-professionalism but that's now a long time ago.

The thing that has changed is the convenience of watching it at home, and the general attitude of convenience. Games at night it certainly a factor, but needing tv money since professional came is the big reason for this. TV pays the money, wants the product at night for good viewing times, and it pretty easy to stay at home and watch it in comfort.
I mean one of fasting growing things is uber eats, just sit at home and have everything brought to you there. Have a peek t how many music festivals etc are shutting up shop as well, it's too hard to go out for some.
Apart from young kids everything else about shit food and beer etc is just an excuse really. My experience is ( I been going to rugby, etc for long time), the food and even beer is probably better now than ever was, usually more choice in both, but crowds are still dwindling.

No Dan. You are ignoring that the beer and food quality in NZ outside of rugby grounds has got a shitload better. Nobody is comparing the offerings at the footy and going "man, how lucky are we? this is way better than it was in the 70s!". They are comparing it to what they can have elsewhere now.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

I agree, anyone who was death riding rugby (at Super and NPC level) this year just wasn't watching.

I was really impressed by what I saw of NPC this year, seemed better to my ignorant eyes than the hoopla of Super. Messier, maybe, but far less diluted, and more exciting!

Yeah I'm on board too, the actual footy has been great fun.

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:

@Nepia

Agreed, I reckon a Giteau rule is the start of the end of NZ's domestic game being anything more than a development league for other comps. It's worth noting that would help Lam btw, but also his rationale was on this aspect was faulty all the way through, so I'd recommend listening to the interview in full.

Edit:

On live games, I'm not going given how much it costs - no only in terms of money, but also the 1 hour drive there and back again, plus traffic, and the shitty food, and shitty beer. I'm surprised people actually go.

Going to rugby has always been thus mate. In fact it used to be you couldn't buy a beer there anyway. But I genuinely think if people don't go to rugby because of shitty beer, they were never going for rugby anyway. Probably same for food, my only concern would be price for people in family groups, but the same in any sport or where there temporary food stalls. I (and mrs) usually have something to eat before a game, and same with having a beer etc.Geez and I drive always an hour for NPC games, never under 2 hrs for a super game and about 3.5 hours for tests.
It's ok to say I don't want to get off couch, got a brother in law who says exactly that, why go out when I can watch it from couch.
I go to games because I love the game, think it deserves my support, and above all else can actually see more.

Just because something is a bit shit doesn't mean it has to be.
Just because the rugby is the main attraction, there's no harm in the ancillary stuff being good.
If you make it easy and affordable and a good experience, people will go and more importantly will come back, and they'll also bring friends who maybe aren't as into the footy. If people come away with a mild sense of regret at how much it cost and disappointment re quality vs price of what they got, or hold off on buying drinks and food... they don't come back and we get empty grounds.