All Blacks 2025
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I don’t think there’s any question that Robertson was the right appointment. NZR handled the process poorly, however. Ideally, Robertson should have been surrounded by other top-level coaches, not just his mates. And while he deserved the job, that doesn’t guarantee he’s up to it. He still has time to turn things around, but at this stage it looks far from promising.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
I don’t think there’s any question that Robertson was the right appointment. NZR handled the process poorly, however. Ideally, Robertson should have been surrounded by other top-level coaches, not just his mates. And while he deserved the job, that doesn’t guarantee he’s up to it. He still has time to turn things around, but at this stage it looks far from promising.
I think Joe Schmidt would have been a better option. Presumably he was available as a head coach of an international side given he has been the head coach of an international side since 2024.
Probably he could have made it work since half the games are in NZ.
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@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
I don’t think there’s any question that Robertson was the right appointment. NZR handled the process poorly, however. Ideally, Robertson should have been surrounded by other top-level coaches, not just his mates. And while he deserved the job, that doesn’t guarantee he’s up to it. He still has time to turn things around, but at this stage it looks far from promising.
I think Joe Schmidt would have been a better option. Presumably he was available as a head coach of an international side given he has been the head coach of an international side since 2024.
Probably he could have made it work since half the games are in NZ.
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
I don’t think there’s any question that Robertson was the right appointment. NZR handled the process poorly, however. Ideally, Robertson should have been surrounded by other top-level coaches, not just his mates. And while he deserved the job, that doesn’t guarantee he’s up to it. He still has time to turn things around, but at this stage it looks far from promising.
I think Joe Schmidt would have been a better option. Presumably he was available as a head coach of an international side given he has been the head coach of an international side since 2024.
Probably he could have made it work since half the games are in NZ.
My recollection is that Schmidt signalled limited interest in the top job at the time. He was appointed Wallabies head coach nine months after Robertson was given the All Blacks job.
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Its just hard to see Razor as a good coach because the ABs have tended to be worse in the second half of games, after his team talks and his substitutions. In fact I think the time immediately after half time is when the team seems to be at its most ineffective .
Also lost the rematch tests v Pumas and Boks quite heavily having won the first. Their coaches made adjustments in their tactics and selections and were able to win comprehensively. He was not able to back those wins up.
Also, the team does not seem like it's improving, it's hard to point to progress having been made since the end of the super season. Have any players significantly enhanced their reputations since the end of Super? Its hard to point to any one player who is thriving in the AB environment or playing above expectations. His selections are by and large conservative and he doesn't seem willing to take risks or try something new if he can avoid it.
Personally I think he could and should be getting more out of this group of players.
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@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2025:
Solution is clearing clone good players instead of picking mediocre Cantabs and Chiefs.
How good that they are both wearing the classic style predators as well with the big tongue
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@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
I don’t think there’s any question that Robertson was the right appointment. NZR handled the process poorly, however. Ideally, Robertson should have been surrounded by other top-level coaches, not just his mates. And while he deserved the job, that doesn’t guarantee he’s up to it. He still has time to turn things around, but at this stage it looks far from promising.
I think Joe Schmidt would have been a better option. Presumably he was available as a head coach of an international side given he has been the head coach of an international side since 2024.
Probably he could have made it work since half the games are in NZ.
My recollection is that Schmidt signalled limited interest in the top job at the time. He was appointed Wallabies head coach nine months after Robertson was given the All Blacks job.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
I don’t think there’s any question that Robertson was the right appointment. NZR handled the process poorly, however. Ideally, Robertson should have been surrounded by other top-level coaches, not just his mates. And while he deserved the job, that doesn’t guarantee he’s up to it. He still has time to turn things around, but at this stage it looks far from promising.
I think Joe Schmidt would have been a better option. Presumably he was available as a head coach of an international side given he has been the head coach of an international side since 2024.
Probably he could have made it work since half the games are in NZ.
My recollection is that Schmidt signalled limited interest in the top job at the time. He was appointed Wallabies head coach nine months after Robertson was given the All Blacks job.
He lost interest after being pissed with Robertson getting AB job so early.
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@Kirwan sheesh, I posted that a couple of weeks back
Scarily alike huh, think he is pretty quick too, I saw some chatter in the socials about him being eligible for Ireland as well, be interesting to see his progress.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@Kirwan sheesh, I posted that a couple of weeks back
Scarily alike huh, think he is pretty quick too, I saw some chatter in the socials about him being eligible for Ireland as well, be interesting to see his progress.
Way behind in my Ferning, too much work
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2025:
But it isn’t and his coaching comes under the microscope more and more if we aren’t dominating, like people were expecting when the messiah takes over .
Next 2 weeks will tell if it's a "Big Hat, No Cattle" situation
Im expecting we will hold onto the bledisloe but not be overly convincing doing it , so much of the same .
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2025:
But it isn’t and his coaching comes under the microscope more and more if we aren’t dominating, like people were expecting when the messiah takes over .
Next 2 weeks will tell if it's a "Big Hat, No Cattle" situation
Im expecting we will hold onto the bledisloe but not be overly convincing doing it , so much of the same .
There is another 3 losses coming in the calendar year for sure. And I don’t think that’s acceptable whatever way you dress it up.
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@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2025:
Solution is clearing clone good players instead of picking mediocre Cantabs and Chiefs.
How good that they are both wearing the classic style predators as well with the big tongue
@DurryMexted said in All Blacks 2025:
@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2025:
Solution is clearing clone good players instead of picking mediocre Cantabs and Chiefs.
How good that they are both wearing the classic style predators as well with the big tongue
There has never been a boot as good as the predator accelerator.
I’ll die on that hill.
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I think the coaching at international level argument is valid but not particularly applicable to Razor in this instance.
He is getting plenty wrong at the selection table before he even coaches them.He got his coaching team wrong too by virtue of the fact Leon left so early into his tenure.
Before we even talk about tactics, has he picked the right assistants and has he picked the right captain and players?
I’d say it’s a clear and resounding no, before a ball has been kicked in the training paddock.
I can’t think of any turds he has polished either.
Nobody has improved under him.
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@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
I don’t think there’s any question that Robertson was the right appointment. NZR handled the process poorly, however. Ideally, Robertson should have been surrounded by other top-level coaches, not just his mates. And while he deserved the job, that doesn’t guarantee he’s up to it. He still has time to turn things around, but at this stage it looks far from promising.
I think Joe Schmidt would have been a better option. Presumably he was available as a head coach of an international side given he has been the head coach of an international side since 2024.
Probably he could have made it work since half the games are in NZ.
My recollection is that Schmidt signalled limited interest in the top job at the time. He was appointed Wallabies head coach nine months after Robertson was given the All Blacks job.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
I don’t think there’s any question that Robertson was the right appointment. NZR handled the process poorly, however. Ideally, Robertson should have been surrounded by other top-level coaches, not just his mates. And while he deserved the job, that doesn’t guarantee he’s up to it. He still has time to turn things around, but at this stage it looks far from promising.
I think Joe Schmidt would have been a better option. Presumably he was available as a head coach of an international side given he has been the head coach of an international side since 2024.
Probably he could have made it work since half the games are in NZ.
My recollection is that Schmidt signalled limited interest in the top job at the time. He was appointed Wallabies head coach nine months after Robertson was given the All Blacks job.
As Dan mentioned he didn't want to work with Razor who was basically guaranteed the job as head coach.
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I think with Razor it's just as much as lack of diverse coaching experience as being the problem.
He's coached Canterbury and the Crusaders.
His coaching network is small - and even some of those he has had a falling out with (Leon MacDonald).
Therefore you end up with a weak coaching staff.
Foster had a similar issue in his tenure but was luckily able to pivot to Ryan and Schmidt.
Based on the evidence I question how much goodwill Razor has in coaching circles.
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Not sure if this has already been posted, but a couple of quotes from Holland in the Herald article by Superman:
Among the areas highlighted by the review, Holland said that how the side were using possession needed to be addressed.
“There’s a couple of things we’re working away at. I touched on our possession and what we’re doing with our ball. There’s times, especially in the South African game and it has happened earlier on, where we give the ball back to the opposition when we don’t need to,” the coach said.
“Whether it’s a kick too often or whether that’s losing the battle in the air, as we know, there are a couple of key things that we feel the pressure is released from the opposition and we feel like that’s where we can really go hard on things.”Well, fuck me, come on down Sherlock Holmes. They are promising comments at least, but I'll believe it when I see it.
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@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
I don’t think there’s any question that Robertson was the right appointment. NZR handled the process poorly, however. Ideally, Robertson should have been surrounded by other top-level coaches, not just his mates. And while he deserved the job, that doesn’t guarantee he’s up to it. He still has time to turn things around, but at this stage it looks far from promising.
I think Joe Schmidt would have been a better option. Presumably he was available as a head coach of an international side given he has been the head coach of an international side since 2024.
Probably he could have made it work since half the games are in NZ.
My recollection is that Schmidt signalled limited interest in the top job at the time. He was appointed Wallabies head coach nine months after Robertson was given the All Blacks job.
As Dan mentioned he didn't want to work with Razor who was basically guaranteed the job as head coach.
@brodean and I think that was also addressed earlier, the process was a big part of the problem with several potential candidates either not applying or ruling themselves out as they felt the decision had already been made.
I have no issues with Razor getting the job, if he was an amazing regional manager applying for the national manger job in a business, I doubt they tell him to go work for the opposition for a while and then come back when another role opens up in 2-4 years depending on their success.
What is an issue, is NZR have given him the full 4 years, one woudl hope this included a review after 18 months, 2 years or so, with an option to terminate if performance was not up to scratch, but despite having the opportunity to learn from those sort of mistakes they made with Foster, I expect the contract he has is 4 years come what may.
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Not sure if this has already been posted, but a couple of quotes from Holland in the Herald article by Superman:
Among the areas highlighted by the review, Holland said that how the side were using possession needed to be addressed.
“There’s a couple of things we’re working away at. I touched on our possession and what we’re doing with our ball. There’s times, especially in the South African game and it has happened earlier on, where we give the ball back to the opposition when we don’t need to,” the coach said.
“Whether it’s a kick too often or whether that’s losing the battle in the air, as we know, there are a couple of key things that we feel the pressure is released from the opposition and we feel like that’s where we can really go hard on things.”Well, fuck me, come on down Sherlock Holmes. They are promising comments at least, but I'll believe it when I see it.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Not sure if this has already been posted, but a couple of quotes from Holland in the Herald article by Superman:
Among the areas highlighted by the review, Holland said that how the side were using possession needed to be addressed.
“There’s a couple of things we’re working away at. I touched on our possession and what we’re doing with our ball. There’s times, especially in the South African game and it has happened earlier on, where we give the ball back to the opposition when we don’t need to,” the coach said.
“Whether it’s a kick too often or whether that’s losing the battle in the air, as we know, there are a couple of key things that we feel the pressure is released from the opposition and we feel like that’s where we can really go hard on things.”Well, fuck me, come on down Sherlock Holmes. They are promising comments at least, but I'll believe it when I see it.
I could have told them that 10 tests ago after 8 pints.
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@brodean and I think that was also addressed earlier, the process was a big part of the problem with several potential candidates either not applying or ruling themselves out as they felt the decision had already been made.
I have no issues with Razor getting the job, if he was an amazing regional manager applying for the national manger job in a business, I doubt they tell him to go work for the opposition for a while and then come back when another role opens up in 2-4 years depending on their success.
What is an issue, is NZR have given him the full 4 years, one woudl hope this included a review after 18 months, 2 years or so, with an option to terminate if performance was not up to scratch, but despite having the opportunity to learn from those sort of mistakes they made with Foster, I expect the contract he has is 4 years come what may.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean and I think that was also addressed earlier, the process was a big part of the problem with several potential candidates either not applying or ruling themselves out as they felt the decision had already been made.
I have no issues with Razor getting the job, if he was an amazing regional manager applying for the national manger job in a business, I doubt they tell him to go work for the opposition for a while and then come back when another role opens up in 2-4 years depending on their success.
What is an issue, is NZR have given him the full 4 years, one woudl hope this included a review after 18 months, 2 years or so, with an option to terminate if performance was not up to scratch, but despite having the opportunity to learn from those sort of mistakes they made with Foster, I expect the contract he has is 4 years come what may.
He definitely deserved the gig, he was the outstanding candidate at the time (Schmidts familial issues in mind) but he also now deserves to be fired.
Thats the issue.
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I think with Razor it's just as much as lack of diverse coaching experience as being the problem.
He's coached Canterbury and the Crusaders.
His coaching network is small - and even some of those he has had a falling out with (Leon MacDonald).
Therefore you end up with a weak coaching staff.
Foster had a similar issue in his tenure but was luckily able to pivot to Ryan and Schmidt.
Based on the evidence I question how much goodwill Razor has in coaching circles.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
I think with Razor it's just as much as lack of diverse coaching experience as being the problem.
He's coached Canterbury and the Crusaders.
His coaching network is small - and even some of those he has had a falling out with (Leon MacDonald).
Therefore you end up with a weak coaching staff.
Foster had a similar issue in his tenure but was luckily able to pivot to Ryan and Schmidt.
Based on the evidence I question how much goodwill Razor has in coaching circles.
Yeah, he never did it outside of one particular city/province who also were the teams he played for.
Also, a guy like Steve Hansen has tons of life experience outside of rugby what with working in the meat industry and being in the police force, has Razor got much life experience out of the confines of professional rugby?..
He just seems like a one dimensional.candidate and does not have a broad array of professional and management experience to draw from.
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@brodean and I think that was also addressed earlier, the process was a big part of the problem with several potential candidates either not applying or ruling themselves out as they felt the decision had already been made.
I have no issues with Razor getting the job, if he was an amazing regional manager applying for the national manger job in a business, I doubt they tell him to go work for the opposition for a while and then come back when another role opens up in 2-4 years depending on their success.
What is an issue, is NZR have given him the full 4 years, one woudl hope this included a review after 18 months, 2 years or so, with an option to terminate if performance was not up to scratch, but despite having the opportunity to learn from those sort of mistakes they made with Foster, I expect the contract he has is 4 years come what may.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean and I think that was also addressed earlier, the process was a big part of the problem with several potential candidates either not applying or ruling themselves out as they felt the decision had already been made.
I have no issues with Razor getting the job, if he was an amazing regional manager applying for the national manger job in a business, I doubt they tell him to go work for the opposition for a while and then come back when another role opens up in 2-4 years depending on their success.
What is an issue, is NZR have given him the full 4 years, one woudl hope this included a review after 18 months, 2 years or so, with an option to terminate if performance was not up to scratch, but despite having the opportunity to learn from those sort of mistakes they made with Foster, I expect the contract he has is 4 years come what may.
Given that, and this goal of his to win two World Cups with different teams, I would have expected him to be significantly less conservative in his approach and less afraid of losing in his first two years. He also could have used the goal of winning the World Cup to buy himself some forgiveness when things didn't go so well.
