Scott Robertson
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[mod edit - forked from another thread]
Interesting article by Shayne Currie - quite long so summarised.
• Emotional coaching style, notably an incident at Twickenham, raised concerns among some New Zealand Rugby (NZR) leaders, though it’s unclear if this was formally addressed in the review.
• Robertson’s communication style and management methods were criticized, particularly his reliance on assistants for difficult conversations and a perceived lack of direct engagement with players.
• Integrating players from rival Super Rugby franchises, especially the Blues, proved challenging, with some players and management feeling overlooked or poorly treated.
• The departure of assistant coach Leon MacDonald and issues around team discipline (e.g., the Damian McKenzie bus incident) highlighted internal tensions.
• Some sources felt Robertson was under immense pressure, leading to a change in demeanor from his Crusaders days, and that he became a scapegoat for broader organizational issues.
• Issues were allowed to build over time rather than being addressed as they arose.
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[mod edit - forked from another thread]
Interesting article by Shayne Currie - quite long so summarised.
• Emotional coaching style, notably an incident at Twickenham, raised concerns among some New Zealand Rugby (NZR) leaders, though it’s unclear if this was formally addressed in the review.
• Robertson’s communication style and management methods were criticized, particularly his reliance on assistants for difficult conversations and a perceived lack of direct engagement with players.
• Integrating players from rival Super Rugby franchises, especially the Blues, proved challenging, with some players and management feeling overlooked or poorly treated.
• The departure of assistant coach Leon MacDonald and issues around team discipline (e.g., the Damian McKenzie bus incident) highlighted internal tensions.
• Some sources felt Robertson was under immense pressure, leading to a change in demeanor from his Crusaders days, and that he became a scapegoat for broader organizational issues.
• Issues were allowed to build over time rather than being addressed as they arose.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
Some sources felt Robertson was under immense pressure, leading to a change in demeanor from his Crusaders days
I just read the same article and I thought this was the most interesting part. From the Currie piece:
Boiled down to a basic storyline, it is that of a celebrated, highly popular Super Rugby coach thrust into his first major international gig and allegedly coming up short for several reasons, not all of them of his making.
“It was difficult from the start,” one insider said. “You had Crusaders players saying, ‘We don’t recognise this guy. He’s totally different to the Scott Robertson that we worked with in the Crusaders’.
“They said that in the Crusaders he was upbeat, he was fun, he was energetic.”
But in the All Blacks, the source believed Robertson was “just on edge” and “always tense”. He claimed the “fun stuff was gone”, which made it “difficult right from the start for everyone”.“The only thing I can think of as being the reason for that is the pressure.”
When Robertson got the job in 2024, one of his main attractions as a coach was that he was seemingly able to combine a fun and relaxed team environment with just impeccable mental resilience. Some of those Crusader teams looked like they couldn't even fathom losing tight games.
In a lot of ways, it felt like that was what the ABs needed: a coach who could help players deal with the pressure of being an All Black while instilling some much needed self-belief. Throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s, a lot of AB teams looked remarkably low on confidence, for no apparent reason at all. I genuinely expected Robertson to be able to fix this.
I guess nobody took into account the option that the coach himself wouldn't be able to deal with the pressure. Reading about Robertson's many own insecurities, perhaps we should've seen that one coming.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
Some sources felt Robertson was under immense pressure, leading to a change in demeanor from his Crusaders days
I just read the same article and I thought this was the most interesting part. From the Currie piece:
Boiled down to a basic storyline, it is that of a celebrated, highly popular Super Rugby coach thrust into his first major international gig and allegedly coming up short for several reasons, not all of them of his making.
“It was difficult from the start,” one insider said. “You had Crusaders players saying, ‘We don’t recognise this guy. He’s totally different to the Scott Robertson that we worked with in the Crusaders’.
“They said that in the Crusaders he was upbeat, he was fun, he was energetic.”
But in the All Blacks, the source believed Robertson was “just on edge” and “always tense”. He claimed the “fun stuff was gone”, which made it “difficult right from the start for everyone”.“The only thing I can think of as being the reason for that is the pressure.”
When Robertson got the job in 2024, one of his main attractions as a coach was that he was seemingly able to combine a fun and relaxed team environment with just impeccable mental resilience. Some of those Crusader teams looked like they couldn't even fathom losing tight games.
In a lot of ways, it felt like that was what the ABs needed: a coach who could help players deal with the pressure of being an All Black while instilling some much needed self-belief. Throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s, a lot of AB teams looked remarkably low on confidence, for no apparent reason at all. I genuinely expected Robertson to be able to fix this.
I guess nobody took into account the option that the coach himself wouldn't be able to deal with the pressure. Reading about Robertson's many own insecurities, perhaps we should've seen that one coming.
(After a bad on-field event) Scott Robertson stood, briefly leaving his seat in exasperation.
As he left his seat for a few seconds, he looked in the direction of the dignitaries, including New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chief executive Mark Robinson, some 10-15 rows behind, and mouthed words to the effect of “fuck it”, according to one source with knowledge of the incident.
“In [Robertson’s] mind, it was just stepping back mentally for a moment in a really full-on environment,”
Three sources spoken to by the Herald have confirmed that Robertson’s emotion in the coaching box generally – and, more specifically, any impact it might have had on performance – was a concern for some leaders at NZR.
Seems at though NZR thought something very, very wrong after the Twickenham defeat.
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Well, the people who weren't in favour of Razor said in as many words that he wasn't ready for a big job like this. You have the whole country to answer to with high expectations, not just the Canterbury region who back their men like no other (apart from Rob Penney).
To the football fans out there, you can win as many titles as you like with Celtic in the Scottish Premier League. Does it make you ready to take on the Real Madrid job? Absolutely not. I got similar vibes from when this appointment was made.
I remember him having an interview with Justin Marshall at a bar about a year back. There was a Blues jersey behind them. Justin Marshall started making a few jokes about it and wondered if they could change tables (said it as a joke but meant it), to which Razor laughed along to. Sounds like a non event, but when you are coaching the national side, you have to now work with everybody, not against. It got men thinking that Razor still hadn't quite grasped that concept and was still in Crusaders mode. Even the breakdancing over the years maybe came back to haunt him, virtually shitting infront of opposition players on their home turfs with guys who he then had to work with. Again, seems like nothing, but I'm sure the players from other sides in camp have that lingering memory of him.
JJ has his critics, but at least we know that he will be virtually an independant coach with no luggage. I can only see it as beneficial once he eventually signs on.
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(After a bad on-field event) Scott Robertson stood, briefly leaving his seat in exasperation.
As he left his seat for a few seconds, he looked in the direction of the dignitaries, including New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chief executive Mark Robinson, some 10-15 rows behind, and mouthed words to the effect of “fuck it”, according to one source with knowledge of the incident.
“In [Robertson’s] mind, it was just stepping back mentally for a moment in a really full-on environment,”
Three sources spoken to by the Herald have confirmed that Robertson’s emotion in the coaching box generally – and, more specifically, any impact it might have had on performance – was a concern for some leaders at NZR.
Seems at though NZR thought something very, very wrong after the Twickenham defeat.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
(After a bad on-field event) Scott Robertson stood, briefly leaving his seat in exasperation.
As he left his seat for a few seconds, he looked in the direction of the dignitaries, including New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chief executive Mark Robinson, some 10-15 rows behind, and mouthed words to the effect of “fuck it”, according to one source with knowledge of the incident.
“In [Robertson’s] mind, it was just stepping back mentally for a moment in a really full-on environment,”
Three sources spoken to by the Herald have confirmed that Robertson’s emotion in the coaching box generally – and, more specifically, any impact it might have had on performance – was a concern for some leaders at NZR.
Seems at though NZR thought something very, very wrong after the Twickenham defeat.
I read that earlier and thought it was making a mountain out of a molehill. Saying ‘fuck it’ during a game and then trying to use that as a significant moment as to why someone was wrong for a job is pretty fucking crazy and a massive reach.
NZR is a corporate environment. I have worked in corporate environments for over 2 decades (tech companies such as Oracle, MSFt, Dell and much much smaller scale ups.).
Mavericks are tolerated in corporate environments if everything is going well. Smashing sales targets etc…its all good they just have a different approach etc…
The moment things arent going as well, the mavericks are out of favour very very quickly - “he doesnt do things our way, doesnt understand our culture,” etc.
This is a tale as old as tall glass building’s!
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
(After a bad on-field event) Scott Robertson stood, briefly leaving his seat in exasperation.
As he left his seat for a few seconds, he looked in the direction of the dignitaries, including New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chief executive Mark Robinson, some 10-15 rows behind, and mouthed words to the effect of “fuck it”, according to one source with knowledge of the incident.
“In [Robertson’s] mind, it was just stepping back mentally for a moment in a really full-on environment,”
Three sources spoken to by the Herald have confirmed that Robertson’s emotion in the coaching box generally – and, more specifically, any impact it might have had on performance – was a concern for some leaders at NZR.
Seems at though NZR thought something very, very wrong after the Twickenham defeat.
I read that earlier and thought it was making a mountain out of a molehill. Saying ‘fuck it’ during a game and then trying to use that as a significant moment as to why someone was wrong for a job is pretty fucking crazy and a massive reach.
NZR is a corporate environment. I have worked in corporate environments for over 2 decades (tech companies such as Oracle, MSFt, Dell and much much smaller scale ups.).
Mavericks are tolerated in corporate environments if everything is going well. Smashing sales targets etc…its all good they just have a different approach etc…
The moment things arent going as well, the mavericks are out of favour very very quickly - “he doesnt do things our way, doesnt understand our culture,” etc.
This is a tale as old as tall glass building’s!
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
I read that earlier and thought it was making a mountain out of a molehill
I wonder of that incident was when the penny dropped or the straw that broke the camel's back. If he was under so much pressure, then you'd have hoped NZR would know the concept of pastoral care.
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
I read that earlier and thought it was making a mountain out of a molehill
I wonder of that incident was when the penny dropped or the straw that broke the camel's back. If he was under so much pressure, then you'd have hoped NZR would know the concept of pastoral care.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
I read that earlier and thought it was making a mountain out of a molehill
I wonder of that incident was when the penny dropped or the straw that broke the camel's back. If he was under so much pressure, then you'd have hoped NZR would know the concept of pastoral care.
The interviews after Twickenham struck me as revealing Razor was shattered. He referred to many of the players being devastated, but his body language was fooling no one.
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(After a bad on-field event) Scott Robertson stood, briefly leaving his seat in exasperation.
As he left his seat for a few seconds, he looked in the direction of the dignitaries, including New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chief executive Mark Robinson, some 10-15 rows behind, and mouthed words to the effect of “fuck it”, according to one source with knowledge of the incident.
“In [Robertson’s] mind, it was just stepping back mentally for a moment in a really full-on environment,”
Three sources spoken to by the Herald have confirmed that Robertson’s emotion in the coaching box generally – and, more specifically, any impact it might have had on performance – was a concern for some leaders at NZR.
Seems at though NZR thought something very, very wrong after the Twickenham defeat.
@Victor-Meldrew Just read the full article. Probably not 100%, but clearly very well informed.
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One source told the Herald that as time went on, they believed that some All Blacks team management “just lost all faith”. Those in the environment reflected on how they were under the impression that Razor was “the guru”, but actually didn’t see much or any of his coaching ability on display.
As an example, the source said, Robertson would play videos to the team to “gee everyone up” at meetings.
“He’d play the clip, and at the end of the clip, he’d go, ‘Everyone good? Cool, let’s go.’ You were not getting any inspirational speeches, you were not seeing any rugby IQ, any innovation.
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One source told the Herald that as time went on, they believed that some All Blacks team management “just lost all faith”. Those in the environment reflected on how they were under the impression that Razor was “the guru”, but actually didn’t see much or any of his coaching ability on display.
As an example, the source said, Robertson would play videos to the team to “gee everyone up” at meetings.
“He’d play the clip, and at the end of the clip, he’d go, ‘Everyone good? Cool, let’s go.’ You were not getting any inspirational speeches, you were not seeing any rugby IQ, any innovation.
@Tim said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
One source told the Herald that as time went on, they believed that some All Blacks team management “just lost all faith”. Those in the environment reflected on how they were under the impression that Razor was “the guru”, but actually didn’t see much or any of his coaching ability on display.
As an example, the source said, Robertson would play videos to the team to “gee everyone up” at meetings.
“He’d play the clip, and at the end of the clip, he’d go, ‘Everyone good? Cool, let’s go.’ You were not getting any inspirational speeches, you were not seeing any rugby IQ, any innovation.
Lol, wondering what videos he played to the team now.
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@taniwharugby I've seen shit performances,thru the years - individually and by the team as a whole.
But I've never seen an AB team simply give up like they did against SA in Wellington last year. Absolute low point.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@taniwharugby I've seen shit performances,thru the years - individually and by the team as a whole.
But I've never seen an AB team simply give up like they did against SA in Wellington last year. Absolute low point.
I agree, and funnily enough I saw 2 test teams give up this year, other one was the Boks against Wallabies at Ellis Park, just have no idea why either happened .
I agree not a high point of year, and yet I thought the English test worried me more , we looked lost whole test. -
One source told the Herald that as time went on, they believed that some All Blacks team management “just lost all faith”. Those in the environment reflected on how they were under the impression that Razor was “the guru”, but actually didn’t see much or any of his coaching ability on display.
As an example, the source said, Robertson would play videos to the team to “gee everyone up” at meetings.
“He’d play the clip, and at the end of the clip, he’d go, ‘Everyone good? Cool, let’s go.’ You were not getting any inspirational speeches, you were not seeing any rugby IQ, any innovation.
@Tim said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
One source told the Herald that as time went on, they believed that some All Blacks team management “just lost all faith”. Those in the environment reflected on how they were under the impression that Razor was “the guru”, but actually didn’t see much or any of his coaching ability on display.
As an example, the source said, Robertson would play videos to the team to “gee everyone up” at meetings.
“He’d play the clip, and at the end of the clip, he’d go, ‘Everyone good? Cool, let’s go.’ You were not getting any inspirational speeches, you were not seeing any rugby IQ, any innovation.
While taking it all with a few grains of salt , because it from the Herald, certainly shows there earlier stories blaming Ardie and a few players for a somehow bringing him down as crap doesn't it? They seem to have a different story for each month! Mind you ths does line up with what Kirk said, he specifically daid they had talked to management too, a fact conveniently overlooked by a few.
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The more we hear the more the parting of ways was the correct call, even if it leaves us in this mess.
It will be tough for a new coach coming in now, but they do hold a good.hand for negotiating a contract, I hope though that both they and NZR can see the bigger picture and include good kpis and review process with options to extend or part ways.
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Great backgrounder - I think it portrays Razor as sadly out of his depth - and perhaps at the end he realised it too.
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Great backgrounder - I think it portrays Razor as sadly out of his depth - and perhaps at the end he realised it too.
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
Great backgrounder - I think it portrays Razor as sadly out of his depth - and perhaps at the end he realised it too.
These reports might cause some test nations to pause at the thought of signing Razor on as coach
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Great backgrounder - I think it portrays Razor as sadly out of his depth - and perhaps at the end he realised it too.
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
Great backgrounder - I think it portrays Razor as sadly out of his depth - and perhaps at the end he realised it too.
I'd be interested to hear from those in the game how quickly / how late they started hearing rumours of things not going well.
On him being out of his depth, there were a few posters here who questioned why Razor wouldn't come into the AB environment (or another) as a an assistant. The story was 'well, he's only a HC now' but it seems equally clear that international rugby is not the same world as NZ's domestic league. Who'd have thought? (Apart from Duluth, Kirwan and a few others here).
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@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
Great backgrounder - I think it portrays Razor as sadly out of his depth - and perhaps at the end he realised it too.
I'd be interested to hear from those in the game how quickly / how late they started hearing rumours of things not going well.
On him being out of his depth, there were a few posters here who questioned why Razor wouldn't come into the AB environment (or another) as a an assistant. The story was 'well, he's only a HC now' but it seems equally clear that international rugby is not the same world as NZ's domestic league. Who'd have thought? (Apart from Duluth, Kirwan and a few others here).
