All Blacks 2026
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2026:
I think getting back to basics is important.
David Kirk set the tone. Simple honest words everyone could understand.I don't mind losing if we aren't good enough.
But, for years we have had post match riddles, learnings, improvements in that space, dinks, cross kicks and confused game plans. PainfulAny team coached by Jamie Joseph, Joe Schmidt, Vern Cotter or Warren Gatland is going to focus a lot less on the high-risk, Play Station, ADHD stuff than Robertson did and more on winning the collisions, being masters at the breakdown, being more direct in attack and making good decisions based on field position and executing those correctly.
That said, I think Cotter and Gatland's style might be a bit drab for our sponsors and the younger sections of fan base.
So Joseph and Schmidt are the obvious favourites to be the next AB coach.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
@booboo Not beating France by more than a point in the final and Corey Jane and Izzy Dagg breaking curfew to go to the pub.
Great to see the Sunday Times with their finger on the pulse of the hot issues that really matter.
He went all the way back to ancient history - 15 years to make his point. Maybe he should have brought up the Keith Murdoch incident for good measure?
NH scribes who write disparaging articles about the All blacks are almost always either
a). poorly researched
b). lazy or
c). writing out of envy/jealousy.The quality of their writing reflects that.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
When Razor applied for the job, and spoke to the board, what did he promise? Does anyone know?
Yes, Lendrum made some comments about Robertson's HC presentation some time ago.
Before the start of the 25 season. Cant remember where it is.
When I heard it, I thought, oh, that explains why we are so shite!
But what Razor did in his two seasons was pretty much exactly what he said he was guna do.
So you cant just blame him for what happened.I dont think the board were paying much attention and just rubber stamped the selection committees recomendation.
He was the next man up, and just cruised thru the process.
Not just the board tho, I think everyone was the same.I'd say they board is paying attention now!
They would've asked him what his plans were going forward, and he probably reeled out the same shite that he did when he originally got the job.
Board were actually listening now and didn't wanna hear it, and that was that.Selection process is guna be a lot more intensive this time, for sure.
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So our alternates to the shit show are:
Jospeh: how has an objectively terrible coaching record. One super rugby title, five seasons of absolutely terrible results against Kiwi and South African super rugby teams and dropped Japans winning % by about 20% from Eddie Jones’ Japanese team
Schmidt: Led Ireland to two RWC quarter final thrashing in a row and if you think Robertson’s selection mistakes were bad, look at Schmidt’s outdated and old 2019 Ireland squad!
Rennie: Couldn’t buy a super rugby title and the Wallabies were ok and is now coaching (wait for it) in Japan…
Crotter: Never finished above 4th in the six nations, had an ok record in France, got one super rugby title before usual service resumed once the Crusaders sorted themselves out.Don’t pretend any of these guys will be any good. 2027 will be a shit show and 2028 will have to be a full reboot
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@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
So our alternates to the shit show are:
Jospeh: how has an objectively terrible coaching record. One super rugby title, five seasons of absolutely terrible results against Kiwi and South African super rugby teams and dropped Japans winning % by about 20% from Eddie Jones’ Japanese team
Schmidt: Led Ireland to two RWC quarter final thrashing in a row and if you think Robertson’s selection mistakes were bad, look at Schmidt’s outdated and old 2019 Ireland squad!
Rennie: Couldn’t buy a super rugby title and the Wallabies were ok and is now coaching (wait for it) in Japan…
Crotter: Never finished above 4th in the six nations, had an ok record in France, got one super rugby title before usual service resumed once the Crusaders sorted themselves out.Don’t pretend any of these guys will be any good. 2027 will be a shit show and 2028 will have to be a full reboot
A bit glass half empty imo.
Blues were poor first half of last year but Cotter turned them around - best Chiefs in Hamilton, came close in Christchurch.
Also, Schmidt turned Ireland from pretty much a laughing stock/unserious rugby nation into one who regularly win 6n titles & win v the elite teams. Didn't take them over the final hurdle of a quarter final win but their baseline is much higher.
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The main difference between them and razor is they have experience overseas (outside their comfort zone) and they have all struggled and persevered.
You will learn a lot coaching Scotland, trying to turn water into wine with such limited resources.
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@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
So our alternates to the shit show are:
A coach who can engage with the players and, well, actually coach?
We heard all the arguments about how winning SR titles or with other teams was an indicator of coaching greatness when the Robertson PR was turned up to 11. That theory turned out to be utter bollocks
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@jimmyb That's a negative spin on things.
Here are their coaching career highlights:
Jamie Joseph: 2015 Super Rugby Champion with the Highlanders; Led Japan to their first-ever Rugby World Cup quarter-final in 2019; Popular and successful coach of the All Blacks XV in 2025 on their undefeated northern tour.
Joe Schmidt: Won two Pro12 titles with Leinster; Won three Six Nations titles with Ireland, a Grand Slam in 2018; Guided Ireland to world Number 1 ranking; Assistant Coach of the All Blacks who made the World Cup Final in 2023.
Dave Rennie: Coached Wellington to their first NPC win in 14 years; Coached New Zealand under 20s to three consecutive world titles; Coached the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Titles; Coached the Wallabies to back-to-back victories over the Springboks in 2021 and second place in the Rugby Championship.
Vern Cotter: Won European Challenge Cup and the Top 14 with Clermont Auvergne, Runners Up in the Heineken European Cup; Reached the 2015 Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals with Scots before going out to Australia in a controversial manner, coached the Blues to their first Super title in 20 years.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
@jimmyb That's a negative spin on things.
Here are their coaching career highlights:
Jamie Joseph: 2015 Super Rugby Champion with the Highlanders; Led Japan to their first-ever Rugby World Cup quarter-final in 2019; Popular and successful coach of the All Blacks XV in 2025 on their undefeated northern tour.
Joe Schmidt: Won two Pro12 titles with Leinster; Won three Six Nations titles with Ireland, a Grand Slam in 2018; Guided Ireland to world Number 1 ranking; Assistant Coach of the All Blacks who made the World Cup Final in 2023.
Dave Rennie: Coached Wellington to their first NPC win in 14 years; Coached New Zealand under 20s to three consecutive world titles; Coached the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Titles; Coached the Wallabies to back-to-back victories over the Springboks in 2021 and second place in the Rugby Championship.
Vern Cotter: Won European Challenge Cup and the Top 14 with Clermont Auvergne, Runners Up in the Heineken European Cup; Reached the 2015 Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals with Scots before going out to Australia in a controversial manner, coached the Blues to their first Super title in 20 years.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
@jimmyb That's a negative spin on things.
Here are their coaching career highlights:
Jamie Joseph: 2015 Super Rugby Champion with the Highlanders; Led Japan to their first-ever Rugby World Cup quarter-final in 2019; Popular and successful coach of the All Blacks XV in 2025 on their undefeated northern tour.
Joe Schmidt: Won two Pro12 titles with Leinster; Won three Six Nations titles with Ireland, a Grand Slam in 2018; Guided Ireland to world Number 1 ranking; Assistant Coach of the All Blacks who made the World Cup Final in 2023.
Dave Rennie: Coached Wellington to their first NPC win in 14 years; Coached New Zealand under 20s to three consecutive world titles; Coached the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Titles; Coached the Wallabies to back-to-back victories over the Springboks in 2021 and second place in the Rugby Championship.
Vern Cotter: Won European Challenge Cup and the Top 14 with Clermont Auvergne, Runners Up in the Heineken European Cup; Reached the 2015 Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals with Scots before going out to Australia in a controversial manner, coached the Blues to their first Super title in 20 years.
None of that is to write home about and the results are more average than not. It’s not negative, it’s realistic and not cherry picking one off domestic titles
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:
@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
Rennie: Couldn’t buy a super rugby title
It was a decent rant, but I'm still trying to figure this one out.
Oh I have got that completely wrong and forgot he was coach in 2012 and 2013. My mistake. They were seriously good and I now see Rennie as a more viable alternative
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@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:
@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
Rennie: Couldn’t buy a super rugby title
It was a decent rant, but I'm still trying to figure this one out.
Oh I have got that completely wrong and forgot he was coach in 2012 and 2013. My mistake. They were seriously good and I now see Rennie as a more viable alternative
Fuck man, that's hardly an oopsie. Oh just slipped my mind he won back to back titles straight away because that's pretty forgettable.
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@jimmyb Two more for your consideration.
John Mitchell - Coaching the All Blacks to their record away wins in both South Africa and Australia; Coaching the All Blacks to back-to-back wins in the Tri Nations; Coaching the USA to their visit win in the All Americas Championship; Undefeated in three years as coach of the England women's team; 2025 Women's World Cup winner; reigning World Coach of the Year.
Warren Gatland - Has coached over 200 rugby tests; Runner Up in the Six Nations with Ireland; Coached Waikato to the NPC title; three English Premiership and a European Title with Wasps; three Grand Slams and Six Nations Titles with Wales; Reaching the Rugby World Cup Semi Finals twice with Wales; Coaching the British and Irish Lions to their first series win in 16 years and a series draw in New Zealand.
We can't complain that we are short of potential Head Coaches with very impressive Coaching CVs indeed.
The questions are:
Do any of them fancy taking on the shit show?
Are any of them able to make the All Blacks more competitive with the best teams in the world and fast?
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@Bones Gats' record with Ireland and Wales is staggering given the resources he had available. One of the great coaches of all time. My concern is that he shit the bed with the Chiefs around Covid times. The trajectory of his career is in the wrong direction.
Even though I hate him, John Mitchell is an outstanding coach. I hope he applies.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Do any of them fancy taking on the shit show?
Easier now Robinson has gone and Kirk has his feet under the table.
New coach isn't going to be undermined or left to swing a la Foster and poss. Robertson. -
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Even though I hate him, John Mitchell is an outstanding. I hope he applies.
Get him as defence coach.
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@sparky unless I can't read, his "stint" with Ireland was quarter of a fucking century ago. Makes that article about 2011 look new age. Robertson was an AB!
Like I said, he doesn't do quick turnarounds, seems anytime he's brought in for that he does the opposite. He's a slow burner and not what we need.
It's down to Rennie.
Or Jones.
