All Blacks 2026
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:
I still strongly disagree with this. All the review and discussions with players did was provide information about issues to be resolved.
If Razor addressed those issues effectively and articulated a credible plan to improve he'd still have a job.
If they hadn't already decided what they were guna do (re the dismissal) they would have definitely thought that they might have to move him on, or they wouldn't have been doing their jobs.
Razor would have had the opportunity to articulate a credible plan to improve and address the issues effectively, but he couldn't, and now he doesn't have a job.
If that is what happened, and it's probably pretty close to it, I'd consider that good governance.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
Am hearing from good sources those players were asked.
I can not see NZR not asking them it would set up a lot of problems going forward in a lot of areas.It defies belief that a proces with Kirk involved would seek so obviously to undermine good governance.
I see Sumo is embarrassing himself with conspiracy theories around all of this too.
The simple reality is ;
he was appointed without good process,
removed a bunch of support staff with good institutional IP,
selected terribly,
wasn't coach,
clearly failed at what he was supposed to be good at culture, commonality of purpose etc.)
oversaw terrible results without progress.I'm astonished anyone can think he's been hard done by now that NZR are running like a high performance organisation.
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@restofit said in All Blacks 2026:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
Gee I just had a look at coaching history of JJ, and all the talk he only good with Tony Brown? Best figures were MABs in about 2012 where he has 83% winning record, no Tony Brown , and last year's ABXV .
They kind of make a fallacy of him needing Brown to coach.
And sorry Tim, just saw your post mate, and these figure aren't 20 years out of date,
Got 7 years to spre.i think my feeling is the ABXV is a good test of bring a international squad together and running a wee tour.....but the quality of opposition isn't the same as the top job and so having someone like TB would be the little bit extra needed
I think doing good domestically and with the ABXV can get you to an assistant role, but even then it would be better to have something outside NZ, such as a bit of time with an overseas club or with another international team. Ryan's path looks like a very good one for a specialist (e.g., forward) coach.
For head coaches, I'll admit it is tricky, but I believe that there is a huge difference between season-long rugby and International, especially in a age of WC preparation. I personally wouldn't choose Joseph without Brown, but he has taken a group through a WC cycle.
If it were me, I'd be chasing Rennie with Schmidt as DOR.
Not really arguing strongly for or against anyone mate, just I believe JJ is a more than competent coach with or without Brown. I just pointed out both MABs and ABXV to show that I genuinely believe that Brown isn't or (in my opinion) the ace in sleeve anyone should need. I a Rennie fan too, but once again a critic could ask what international success he has had, and his Super coaching success was only when he had Wayne Smith as his assistant, once Smith went Chiefs didn't win. But once again I happy with either as coach.
Just pointing out we should take coaches on their own ability etc.Rennie has had success with multiple different teams & variety of assistants - Joseph hasn't, only with Brown has he looked good - for example taking 6th place Quarter Finalists under Dermody in 2024 to dead last in 2025 without Brown.
Yep and Joseph has good success with MABs and ABVX without Brown. Rennie was how successful with Wallabies without Smith 38%? He did just ok with Glasgow and Kolbe Steelers. Rennie was (I thought very) successful with NZU20s. He won 2 titles with Chiefs (with Smith) and missed out next 3 years, so team regressed?. Rennie coached Manawatu for 6 years with no success.
Both very good coaches with very little between them at international level, and would be happy with either. I genuinely believe too much is made of the Tony Brown assistance, mainly because usually his teams have a good forward pack. -
This is the second article by Richard Knowler where he says that Mike Anthony was not involved in the review.
NZ Rugby's decision to not include Anthony in the all-important review spoke volumes.
There were whispers that the players pushed for an independent review, and when ex-All Black/board member Keven Mealamu and Kirk, with former NZ Rugby high performance boss Don Tricker providing oversight, started digging they didn't like what they found.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:
The simple reality is ;
he was appointed without good process,I was about to make that comment.
When you hear how he articulates in public, it's a wonder how he managed but to articulate well enough to get the job in the first place.
But that'd be because it didn't matter what he said then; he already had the job.
Now that is not good governance.And because of that, i'd imagine the process now initiated will be hell of a lot more thorough, and proper, than any since the time Henry was appointed.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2026:
This is the second article by Richard Knowler where he says that Mike Anthony was not involved in the review.
I saw that.
But I find that hard to believe.
An annual review is a very comprehensive exercise, interviewing all players/coaches, cant see Kirk/Tricker/Mealumu doing all that.
And it would be very bad governance.
Were the three "looking over Anthony's shoulder" to see what he was coming up with, sure. -
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
Rennie coached Manawatu for 6 years with no success.
This is unfair
He took over the Turbos as part of the new 2006 NPC with 14 teams
Turbos had effectively come 16th in the country in 2005 as they came 6th in division 2.
In his last season in 2011 he had the Turbos humming as part of the split competiton (Premiership and Championship) - they topped the regular season ladder (teams 8-14) of the lower Championship and lost the Championship final by 5 points.
In the 2011 turbos he was lucky to have Aaron Smith and Aaron Cruden as his halves - I distinctly remember Cruden having an excellent NPC that year - it felt like it had finally clicked for him following his AB debut the year earlier and struggling at the Hurricanes.
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@KiwiMurph did he also have time there with O'Halloran?
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
Rennie coached Manawatu for 6 years with no success.
This is unfair
He took over the Turbos as part of the new 2006 NPC with 14 teams
Turbos had effectively come 16th in the country in 2005 as they came 6th in division 2.
In his last season in 2011 he had the Turbos humming as part of the split competiton (Premiership and Championship) - they topped the regular season ladder (teams 8-14) of the lower Championship and lost the Championship final by 5 points.
In the 2011 turbos he was lucky to have Aaron Smith and Aaron Cruden as his halves - I distinctly remember Cruden having an excellent NPC that year - it felt like it had finally clicked for him following his AB debut the year earlier and struggling at the Hurricanes.
I agree it unfair, but trying to point out that coaches (both JJ and DR) are still stuck with teams they have. I just pointing out that there too much made over TB being assistant to JJ and ignore the fact that Rennie wasn't overly successful without Smith, and we should just look at them both as good coaches. We can pick the successful teams they coached (Chiefs a couple of years) Wellington 1 year NPC and U20s for Rennie (without Smith). And MABs for Joseph 2006 and 2012-3 without Brown.
No way am I trying to disparage Rennie (I a fan), but I a fan of JJ too, and think they both should be judged the same re assistants etc.
Hardest thing is to judge coaches who do different teams on results, I try to do it more on how teams improve under them as they go along.
I was incredibly impressed with Highlanders winning 2015 final with a a pack that was really almost full of vitual no names compared to Hurricanes, and they beat them up a bit. I still think you win games with good forward packs. -
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
Am hearing from good sources those players were asked.
I can not see NZR not asking them it would set up a lot of problems going forward in a lot of areas.It defies belief that a proces with Kirk involved would seek so obviously to undermine good governance.
I see Sumo is embarrassing himself with conspiracy theories around all of this too.
The simple reality is ;
he was appointed without good process,
removed a bunch of support staff with good institutional IP,
selected terribly,
wasn't coach,
clearly failed at what he was supposed to be good at culture, commonality of purpose etc.)
oversaw terrible results without progress.I'm astonished anyone can think he's been hard done by now that NZR are running like a high performance organisation.
Yes agree NZR under Kirk would have I would think gone through due diligence before sacking someone,otherwise they would be opening up some horrible wounds and court cases.
Kirk as an astute business man wouldn't be that reckless. -
On Vern Cotter with Scotland:
In May 2017, Cotter left his position at Scotland with a 53% win rate (19 wins from 36 games), then the most successful coach of the professional era and the most successful since Ian McGeechan between 1988 and 1993.
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@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
Love to see him as forwards coach, at a minimum.
Seems to have a great temperament, a hard taskmaster but also got all of the Maori Pacific Island players in the Blues on board in a way no one else has for years. So clearly has solid man management skills
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:
But am interested in his comment at 10:50 about crisis meeting "late last year".
Any details?
He just says people at the highest levels... then everyone denied it, including peeps supposedly there.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:
But am interested in his comment at 10:50 about crisis meeting "late last year".
Any details?
He just says people at the highest levels... then everyone denied it, including peeps supposedly there.
That video appeared to be some ignorant American just making shit up for content.
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I haven't really formed an opinion about who should be next.
But, I certainly hope the recruitment process is a great deal different to what many of us would have experienced applying for a job - where you turn up and talk to a bunch of people who you've never met - do a few tests and wait for a phone call.
Everyone who will be in contention for this job are largely known quantities. You can look at their records on the internet. You can watch their body of work in videos.
They've all had good seasons - and they've all had bad. And no-one should be able to pull much wool over anyone's eyes.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
Love to see him as forwards coach, at a minimum.
Seems to have a great temperament, a hard taskmaster but also got all of the Maori Pacific Island players in the Blues on board in a way no one else has for years. So clearly has solid man management skills
He's a bit of a dark horse.
The media seem to view Joseph as the heavy favorite, followed by Rennie.
