All Blacks 2026
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
If they are just complaining that their spots maybe under jeopardy next season then that is going to be worse for the team
If they simply wanted to keep their spots, they wouldn't be complaining about poor communications and trust issues though. The last thing they would do would be to rock the boat and get in Robertson's and Head Coach Hansen's bad books.
I can't see how this improves trust unless they bin the coaches
Exactly. Senior players talking about trust issues with the coach would be terminal for their selection prospects
Presumably the reviews are held in confidence?
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@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
They are a bit ironic also given Josh Kronfeld said similar about the GOATS intial selection
As an out and out 7, I have Kronfeld ahead of McCaw, probably how Josh was thinking at the time.
But a bit more to Richies game than just 7 play. -
@Tim Liam Napier's Rugby Direct podcast episode from December 8 mentioned players having those same issues with the coaches. Now he is reporting that they have been confirmed in the NZR review.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
The Herald understands feedback from players and staff presents a deeply concerning picture of the All Blacks environment, with multiple sources pointing to widespread internal frustrations.
Two assistant coaches, Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland, voluntarily departing in the last two years sparked red-flag concerns with how the All Blacks are being run. But the fresh, stinging feedback from within – with communication, trust, strategy and selection all believed to have been raised – cannot be ignored.
All teams have unhappy players with selection, but concerns with the All Blacks environment are believed to spread well beyond individuals alone.
Support from senior players proved powerful in Ian Foster retaining his position as All Blacks head coach in 2022 – as the players approached then NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson in his Johannesburg hotel room to strongly voice their views.
This time around, the opposite could be true.
At this stage, NZ Rugby is likely to allow Robertson further time to deliver significant improvements but if the players aren’t satisfied with the initial post-season All Blacks review findings and solutions – which could range from changes in coaching personnel to roles and responsibilities – they may request a second review is conducted.
I find this a strange article the Review is coming the 2nd week in January when the team is going in to camp for that very reason,interviews and feedback are then being assessed.
I am not sure what Napier is talking about as there has been no review or interviews as yet. -
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@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris
I think Liam Napier's information is coming through conversations with certain players, either first hand or second hand.I also think he knows the problems are far more serious than what is generally being reported.
Yeah maybe but a lot of players senior ones stayed in Europe for Holidays some came back and took their families to the US the islands and Europe so haven't been around.
The players association and NZR have a 6 week window for the players away from Rugby until the mid Jan review camp.
The players I don't think are talking to a journalist about problems knowing he will publish it, they are putting their heads on the block because this coaching group will not change it will go through to the WC. -
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
He's getting his information from somewhere.
He's also a pretty careful and solid enough journalist.we will see I have also seen from stuff from him that has been way of the mark.
Napier is about as trustworthy as it gets in terms of information
Just because you dont like the information doesn't make it false
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
He's getting his information from somewhere.
He's also a pretty careful and solid enough journalist.we will see I have also seen from stuff from him that has been way of the mark.
Napier is about as trustworthy as it gets in terms of information
Just because you dont like the information doesn't make it false
Who said I didn't like it I have roasted the coaches and playing staff over the last year.
I am as sick of the shit as anyone.
and just because you like the information does not make it true either. -
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
He's getting his information from somewhere.
He's also a pretty careful and solid enough journalist.Put it this way, I don't think he's probably making this up
I’m scratching my head trying to make sense of this
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
The players I don't think are talking to a journalist about problems knowing he will publish it, they are putting their heads on the block because this coaching group will not change it will go through to the WC.
How are they putting their name on the chopping block? The players aren't named.
I also dont buy that this coaching group absolutely won't change
A) certain coaches within the group have already changed and there could be further changes
B ) ABs have an extremely tough tour of RSA next year - if it all goes sideways have a RWC where they are due to face the Boks in the quarters
C) By next year neither the CEO or Chairman appointed this coaching group and the Chairman has just publicly criticised the process that got the coaching group selected.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
The players I don't think are talking to a journalist about problems knowing he will publish it, they are putting their heads on the block because this coaching group will not change it will go through to the WC.
How are they putting their name on the chopping block? The players aren't named.
I also dont buy that this coaching group absolutely won't change
A) certain coaches within the group have already changed and there could be further changes
B ) ABs have an extremely tough tour of RSA next year - if it all goes sideways have a RWC where they are due to face the Boks in the quarters
C) By next year neither the CEO or Chairman appointed this coaching group and the Chairman has just publicly criticised the process that got the coaching group selected.
You don't think the coaches will know.
No changes just an add on. -
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
The players I don't think are talking to a journalist about problems knowing he will publish it, they are putting their heads on the block because this coaching group will not change it will go through to the WC.
How are they putting their name on the chopping block? The players aren't named.
I also dont buy that this coaching group absolutely won't change
A) certain coaches within the group have already changed and there could be further changes
B ) ABs have an extremely tough tour of RSA next year - if it all goes sideways have a RWC where they are due to face the Boks in the quarters
C) By next year neither the CEO or Chairman appointed this coaching group and the Chairman has just publicly criticised the process that got the coaching group selected.
You don't think the coaches will know.
No changes just an add on.Well Holland leaving is certainly a change
And if there are calls for a second review there could be further changes. There's also reference to changes in responsibilities to those that remain.
And no I dont think coaches will know.
All teams have unhappy players with selection, but concerns with the All Blacks environment are believed to spread well beyond individuals alone.There's certainly a list of things adding up
- Leon leaving almost immediately
- Holland leaving
- Hoskins by all accounts not happy
- Papalii turning down an AB jersey this end of year tour
- suggestions Scott Hansen is the one who does the hands on coaching
- Criticism of the coaching hire process
- now negative feedback from multiple sources including both players and staff
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
The players I don't think are talking to a journalist about problems knowing he will publish it, they are putting their heads on the block because this coaching group will not change it will go through to the WC.
How are they putting their name on the chopping block? The players aren't named.
I also dont buy that this coaching group absolutely won't change
A) certain coaches within the group have already changed and there could be further changes
B ) ABs have an extremely tough tour of RSA next year - if it all goes sideways have a RWC where they are due to face the Boks in the quarters
C) By next year neither the CEO or Chairman appointed this coaching group and the Chairman has just publicly criticised the process that got the coaching group selected.
You don't think the coaches will know.
No changes just an add on.Well Holland leaving is certainly a change
And if there are calls for a second review there could be further changes. There's also reference to changes in responsibilities to those that remain.
And no I dont think coaches will know.
All teams have unhappy players with selection, but concerns with the All Blacks environment are believed to spread well beyond individuals alone.There's certainly a list of things adding up
- Leon leaving almost immediately
- Holland leaving
- Hoskins by all accounts not happy
- Papalii turning down an AB jersey this end of year tour
- suggestions Scott Hansen is the one who does the hands on coaching
- Criticism of the coaching hire process
- now negative feedback from multiple sources including both players and staff
I never said it was all good just questioning the articles sources.
There is clearly problems looking from
The outside selections and they way we are playing with no apparent game plan just a couple,
Hanging on to old players who are only there on past reputations one of my big issues.
But the coaches will stay, some players will pay the price. -
Yeah, all adds up.
And this sort of vibe type thing can start feeding on itself.Read an article last week by journo (not a Kiwi) who actually wrote that Scott Hansen had been "moved on."
Thought, news to me!
Had a look around; and decided it was just a "freudian slip," so didn't mention it until now.
But, it sums up the present vibe, when people start making that sort of slip.Originally thought Robertson would be retained for sure; maybe still, but I definitely think there will be changes now.
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@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
The same group loved Foster for his great communication and trusting relationship and what did that get the team?
A one-point loss in a RWC Final with 14 men? Can you imagine this lot displaying that level of fortitude, because I can't. Robertson's teams simply give up when times get hard - something I've never, ever seen in an AB team.
Robertson pushed himself forward with the aid of his media-fluffers as a coaching wunderkind. Looks increasing like he's just hopelessly out of his depth.
He's handed over the actual coaching to Hansen so he could concentrate on "Culture and Well-being". The result? He seems to have lost the dressing room
