All Blacks 2026
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@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2026:
Not to bash a dead horse but some more confirmation about what I posted way up the thread.
I had a catch up with a former All Black today that is still heavily in rugby circles. He said what he was hearing in his circles was that Razor had completely lost the locker room and that it was very much unresolvable(the fern already knew this) and a matter of time before it happened. The fact he had palmed things off to Scott Hansen only made things worse as a lot of the players didn’t like him. Was a pretty unanimous decision by all accounts.
Said no doubt he’s a decent coach but did say it makes you wonder how much having top quality cattle at the Crusaders masked over other deficiencies. It’s clearly a different beast at international level as was exposed pretty quickly.
Good to know that it isn’t just your average joes out here hearing stuff like this and running with it. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Yeah, he had a quality squad at the Crusaders, especially pre covid years. Their pack in those years would be up there with some of the best the comp has ever seen.
It probably wasn't as strong towards the end of his tenure, but still had key players in key positions, mixed with solid toilers to compliment them. Something those sides always had were natural leaders, and more than just one or two of them at a time.
The Blackadder years were different because guys like Carter and McCaw didn't give a shit about Super Rugby during the end of their careers. They just used it to get fit for international campaigns. Razor would just play the senior players into the ground at Super Rugby.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
IIRC, Cotter did good jobs turning around BOP and Clermont: BOP from 2nd division to winning the shield and making NPC semis, Clermont from 8th to three consecutive Top 14 finals (one win). Also got a couple of Super Rugby titles as Crusaders forwards coach.
Schmidt worked with Cotter at BOP when they won the shield too. Would be cool if they could team up again for the All Blacks (obviously unlikely given Schmidt's indication he is moving away from top level coaching).
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It's Joseph versus Rennie (coming off contract soon) versus possibly Cotter (is he also keen)?
I assume Pat Lam needs to coach at a higher level first as HC but is respected in over in Ireland...
And we seem to assume Joseph is keen but he's playing a straight bat
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/joseph-needs-time-digest-robertsons-sacking
Edit yes Schmidt has the pedigree but hard to believe he'd take HC... -
@allblackfan2 Nope, not what I said.
A robot cannot possibly understand a battle scarred and passionate AB fan.
I read stuff in other places but there is nothing else that I have found that even comes close to this joint.
Long live the Fern.
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@allblackfan2 said in All Blacks 2026:
@Jimmy-Jimmy said in All Blacks 2026:
@Yeetyaah I agree.
Fuck AI.
How the hell can a fucking robot understand the emotions involved in being an AB supporter.
I want to be on here with people who know the joy and the angst that comes with bleeding black.
It sounds like your saying a passionate and battle scarred AB fan shouldn’t look at info from other sources ? Or did I get that wrong?
The whole point of a discussion forum is multiple viewpoints. This is not at all the same thing as an AI aggregate pulled from multiple sources.
And if AI is 'writing' people's posts for them here, and then AI is aggregating info from here i.e. its own posts... well, quality is bound to ensue. -
A lot of coaches I think will be standing back and looking at the shedule for 2026.
The sacking of the previous coach etc and maybe deciding the timing is not right, I will make my run at it after the WC.
If Joseph,Rennie,Cotter all say not yet and Rennie also thinks it maybe a poison chalice ATM, Schmidt because family and the same reasons could also opt out and he is contracted to the Wallabies until July.It might be easier to have a clean out of players after the WC if you wanted to start afresh.
Where are we with a coach.
All of this is possible, if I was a Rugby coach in line for this, I would step back and wait it may make your position even stronger if the next 2 years do not go well.
Everyone assumes all these coaches are champing at the bit to get this job right now.
Maybe they are not just yet. -
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
It still feels like Schmidt's most likely role would be a high performance director as opposed to HC based on his family situation
Schmidt's situation, plus Cotter had been talking about retirement (hadn't he?) gives a bit of extra life to that 'dream team' type scenario, where people would be prepared to be part of it in some role that isn't HC and just want the best for the ABs.
To try to give a more positive spin than @Chris ...
In fact your idea could play into it too though mate, e.g. if a HC candidate thought it might well go tits-up, and then think perhaps an assistant role - involvement without the ultimate responsibility - might be the better option for a couple of years? -
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
It still feels like Schmidt's most likely role would be a high performance director as opposed to HC based on his family situation
Schmidt's situation, plus Cotter had been talking about retirement (hadn't he?) gives a bit of extra life to that 'dream team' type scenario, where people would be prepared to be part of it in some role that isn't HC and just want the best for the ABs.
To try to give a more positive spin than @Chris ...
In fact your idea could play into it too though mate, e.g. if a HC candidate thought it might well go tits-up, and then think perhaps an assistant role - involvement without the ultimate responsibility - might be the better option for a couple of years?Taking a coaching role you are looking at 2 situations most of the time.
1.The team is starting to move upwards or you see the potential for immediate success and you can add to that and take it to the next level.
2.The team is not in a good spot so you need to change structures and attitudes, which normally means a clean out of players as some players don't react well to change and fight it, you need everyone on board they have to go,or those players do not fit your vision.
this to me doesn't look like a year to achieve that so you may have to tread water dangerous for you coaching rep. -
While the situation with Razor is not ideal, hopefully the candidates can take more confidence in things sans Robinson and should therefore be more professional.
But it does put the ball firmly in the court of the applicants
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I think/hope there are some maybes on the edge of selection who might excite potential candidates. But I agree the tour list is a bit daunting. I think Joe for one with his family needs would hate it..
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@Jimmy-Jimmy said in All Blacks 2026:
@allblackfan2 Nope, not what I said.
A robot cannot possibly understand a battle scarred and passionate AB fan.
I read stuff in other places but there is nothing else that I have found that even comes close to this joint.
Long live the Fern.
I agree re ‘ long live the fern’ , and whilst a robot doesnt inherently embody the same passion and experiences as human sports fans (notably AB fans) they can produce data sourced from multiple sources - both shit and quality sources and everything in between. I have my perspective on the use of AI and you have yours - that’s the beauty of places like TSF. -
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris flip side is the players could be gagging for something that actually works and isn't toxic. Those that aren't, are easily replaced.
That is possible too.
Strike while the iron is hot eh, the players will be hurting too and will have a point to prove, coaches would look forward to harnessing that energy.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
While the situation with Razor is not ideal, hopefully the candidates can take more confidence in things sans Robinson and should therefore be more professional.
But it does put the ball firmly in the court of the applicants
It also puts the ball firmly in the NZR Board's court. Looks like a new page has been turned with Kirk and you'd assume potential coaches would recognise that.
No reason NZR can't allay potential coaches fears and assure they'll be treated professionally from now on
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris flip side is the players could be gagging for something that actually works and isn't toxic. Those that aren't, are easily replaced.
That is possible too.
Strike while the iron is hot eh, the players will be hurting too and will have a point to prove, coaches would look forward to harnessing that energy.
Maybe but you still look as a coach at the schedule, the players you have,The culture,
And do you have the tools given to you to succeed, no restrictions on what you need to do,
On the reverse side of your comment are there bitter players,or players who want more control than they should, is the camp divided.
Are you setting yourself up for a major fail, could hurt you IP as a coach massively. -
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
On the reverse side of your comment are there bitter players,or players who want more control than they should, is the camp divided.
I'd suggest that's often the case, regardless of the situation. Coaches should be expecting it and have methodology to deal with it, or even better, cut out the poison.
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