All Blacks 2026
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@DaGrubster Robinson dropped the ball on a lot of stuff.
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John Mitchell's current contract with the RFU at coach the England women runs out at the end of June 2026.
He's expressed an interest in leading the British and Irish women's Lions tour to NZ, but I suspect that might change if he thought he could return as All Blacks coach.
And Joe Schmidt's contract runs out in June as well.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
John Mitchell's current contract with the RFU at coach the England women runs out at the end of June 2026.
He's expressed an interest in leading the British and Irish women's Lions tour to NZ, but I suspect that might change if he thought he could return as All Blacks coach.
And Joe Schmidt's contract runs out in June as well.
Joe Schmidt's contract includes the July Tests, no?
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Mitch could be good with the right people around him and have an interpreter from him to the players and him and the media...
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What about the other John i.e., Plumtree - for one of the assistants roles? I see he has left the Sharks earlier than contracted due to 'personal reflection and intense pressure of the role'. Maybe an assistant coach role may be more suited to him? He's an ex player and has coaching experience outside of NZ.
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@allblackfan2 said in All Blacks 2026:
What about the other John i.e., Plumtree - for one of the assistants roles? I see he has left the Sharks earlier than contracted due to 'personal reflection and intense pressure of the role'. Maybe an assistant coach role may be more suited to him? He's an ex player and has coaching experience outside of NZ.
And his SA knowledge/experience would surely be an asset?
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2026:
Dave Rennie is off-contract in June. Cully states that NZR needs a Director of Rugby to oversee all NZ rep coaches.
- Rennie has 3-2 winning rate against Rassie Erasmus and ability to connect with players and staff.
- Coach didn’t contest job after Steve Hansen’s exit as overseas-based coaches lost faith in NZ Rugby.
- NZ Rugby unlikely to rush new appointment before start of Super Rugby.
Well Rennie didn't probably really apply for ABs job because Aus had already given him job well before the AB job was even open . Aus were desperate to get him, and once he was fired, I can understand him getting out of test environment for a while. He was handed shit on a plate by that arsehole McLennan the RA chairman. No way could Dave do a test team for a while after that if he even wanted too. Bit of a problem if he tied up until June though, but suspect if they want him $s will sort it out.
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@allblackfan2 said in All Blacks 2026:
What about the other John i.e., Plumtree - for one of the assistants roles? I see he has left the Sharks earlier than contracted due to 'personal reflection and intense pressure of the role'. Maybe an assistant coach role may be more suited to him? He's an ex player and has coaching experience outside of NZ.
Hard no. He wasn't up to snuff in mailing and hard core forward role.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwidom said in All Blacks 2026:
John " we are all on a journey". Mitchell ? No thanks
Wouldn't mind a Schmidt/ Rennie duo as coaches for now
Joseph and Brown to then takeover from 2028I hate him forever for ending Christian Cullen's All Blacks career.
But his best work with the ABs was excellent (record away wins in South Africa and Australia) and he's coached the England women to long undefeated run.
That Cullen debacle was such a stain on an otherwise good coaching stint. It's not his fault they disallowed Mils's try.
Plus he was a weird guy who was tough to relate to.
He has given us Daryl Mitchell though !
Comfortably his best contribution to NZ sport.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
Mitch could be good with the right people around him and have an interpreter from him to the players and him and the media...

You don't let Myxomatosis back in the burrow. Only way is as an assistant, and he never gets to talk to the players without a minder

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Mitchell got dumped from the Lions via player complaint if I recall correctly. Maybe that's a bit close to home...
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@JA said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwidom said in All Blacks 2026:
John " we are all on a journey". Mitchell ? No thanks
Wouldn't mind a Schmidt/ Rennie duo as coaches for now
Joseph and Brown to then takeover from 2028I hate him forever for ending Christian Cullen's All Blacks career.
My memory is hazy but wasn't CC kind of average after his knee (?) injury? I remember when he went to Munster or one of the Irish clubs thinking it wasn't a massive loss.
Sacrilege as is he still is one my favourite players ever.
don't start this again, they won't budge. The narrative is Mitch sacked 1996 CC
Mitch is quite clearly a very good coach, who has a very definite shelf life with every team he takes charge of. Like Razor, he seems like a lovely guy when you meet him, but some part of his method obviously gets old.