All Blacks - New Coach Selection
-
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
The new group come in at a considerable disadvantage. Right now I see us behind SA, France and England in the race for RWC27
Seems like a bit of catstrophising.

Under Razor's tenure we played each of England and France four times and won three against each.
SA are clearly the best team in the world, but even then we beat them last year.
If we're expecting significant improvement under a new regime, nothing looks particularly insurmountable.
Razor never faced France's full strength team (not his fault). That game in Wellington was galling, as was the capitulation at Twickenham
@canefan Did he not play them in France and just lose by a point - somewhat unluckily as I recall?
There were two shockers in his tenure (England and SA) - but, if we're to assume he was fucking hopeless as a coach then there's very little ground to be made up by his successor on anyone except SA.
-
@canefan Did he not play them in France and just lose by a point - somewhat unluckily as I recall?
There were two shockers in his tenure (England and SA) - but, if we're to assume he was fucking hopeless as a coach then there's very little ground to be made up by his successor on anyone except SA.
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan Did he not play them in France and just lose by a point - somewhat unluckily as I recall?
There were two shockers in his tenure (England and SA) - but, if we're to assume he was fucking hopeless as a coach then there's very little ground to be made up by his successor on anyone except SA.
We lacked direction and discipline. If the new coach can restore that we can close the gap
-
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan Did he not play them in France and just lose by a point - somewhat unluckily as I recall?
There were two shockers in his tenure (England and SA) - but, if we're to assume he was fucking hopeless as a coach then there's very little ground to be made up by his successor on anyone except SA.
We lacked direction and discipline. If the new coach can restore that we can close the gap
-
@sparky said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@Kirwan said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
Warren Gatland would be a terrible choice IMO.
Over 200 tests coaching experience, three Grand Slams, two RWC Semi Finals, a European Cup, an NPC title and almost unrivalled knowledge and understanding of the game.
But he really stank the joint out with the Chiefs a few years ago.
Life wouldn't be dull with Gats at the wheel.
People forget that, before COVID, the Chiefs were doing very well. I am not trying to give him the COVID pass, but it is worth pointing out that his entire time at the Chiefs (and in NZ for that matter) was not entirely shit.
In any case, I can only see him getting the job if neither Joseph nor Rennie are willing to take this job on as a 2 year rescue job with the potential for a renewal after 2027 if things go OK. That's actually a pretty realistic outcome when you think about the circumstances in which they are taking the job and the range of potentially bad onfield outcomes in the next couple of years.
For a 2-year rescue job, we could do so much worse than Gats.
-
@canefan said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
The new group come in at a considerable disadvantage. Right now I see us behind SA, France and England in the race for RWC27
Seems like a bit of catstrophising.

Under Razor's tenure we played each of England and France four times and won three against each.
SA are clearly the best team in the world, but even then we beat them last year.
If we're expecting significant improvement under a new regime, nothing looks particularly insurmountable.
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
The new group come in at a considerable disadvantage. Right now I see us behind SA, France and England in the race for RWC27
Seems like a bit of catstrophising.

Under Razor's tenure we played each of England and France four times and won three against each.
Two of those games we won against England were after terrible performances when we limped home. England hammered us out of sight in the most recent game at Twickenham. And they didn't get out of third gear.
The wins against France were against France C when most of their superstars at home. And they were unconvincing wins.
And then there was losing to Argentina home and away too.
We are not going to forget for a long time how woeful the performances were under Robertson's tenure.
-
@canefan Other than SA, I'm far from convinced there is a gap.
SA gave France a decent thumping.
Get the likes of Jordie, Lomax, Patty T. and Richie the Mo back and we should be more than competitive with England and France.
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan Other than SA, I'm far from convinced there is a gap.
Genuinely think there's now a very big gap in self-belief, handling pressure and closing out games.
That said, If we can get back to the sort of discipline and self-belief we had in RWC, then that gap pretty much disappears. Actually think the skills and cattle are there - and probably better than they were in 2023.
-
@junior said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
People forget that, before COVID, the Chiefs were doing very well.
Didn't the chiefs win the cut down comp immediately after Gatland left, during COVID?
@Bones said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@junior said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
People forget that, before COVID, the Chiefs were doing very well.
Didn't the chiefs win the cut down comp immediately after Gatland left, during COVID?
No - they were playing quite well until Covid (lost to a late Hurricanes penalty in their final game before the comp halted which I think was their only loss).
Then the cutdown NZ only comp started and they couldn’t win a game. -
@junior said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
People forget that, before COVID, the Chiefs were doing very well.
Didn't the chiefs win the cut down comp immediately after Gatland left, during COVID?
@Bones said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@junior said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
People forget that, before COVID, the Chiefs were doing very well.
Didn't the chiefs win the cut down comp immediately after Gatland left, during COVID?
They made the 2021 SRA GF but lost
-
Here's the Chiefs seasons people are talking about:
https://silverfern.rugby/sr-results?type=team&season=2025&opp=all&loc=all&teamseason=all&team=chiefs&start=2020&end=2021Won 4/6 before the lock downs. The streak was 11 losses in a row. No wins for a calendar year
-
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan Other than SA, I'm far from convinced there is a gap.
Genuinely think there's now a very big gap in self-belief, handling pressure and closing out games.
That said, If we can get back to the sort of discipline and self-belief we had in RWC, then that gap pretty much disappears. Actually think the skills and cattle are there - and probably better than they were in 2023.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan Other than SA, I'm far from convinced there is a gap.
Genuinely think there's now a very big gap in self-belief, handling pressure and closing out games.
That said, If we can get back to the sort of discipline and self-belief we had in RWC, then that gap pretty much disappears. Actually think the skills and cattle are there - and probably better than they were in 2023.
I believe gaps in belief etc can be closed pretty quickly , at various times we witnessed teams do it to us when we were front runners
-
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan Other than SA, I'm far from convinced there is a gap.
Genuinely think there's now a very big gap in self-belief, handling pressure and closing out games.
That said, If we can get back to the sort of discipline and self-belief we had in RWC, then that gap pretty much disappears. Actually think the skills and cattle are there - and probably better than they were in 2023.
I believe gaps in belief etc can be closed pretty quickly , at various times we witnessed teams do it to us when we were front runners
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan Other than SA, I'm far from convinced there is a gap.
Genuinely think there's now a very big gap in self-belief, handling pressure and closing out games.
That said, If we can get back to the sort of discipline and self-belief we had in RWC, then that gap pretty much disappears. Actually think the skills and cattle are there - and probably better than they were in 2023.
I believe gaps in belief etc can be closed pretty quickly , at various times we witnessed teams do it to us when we were front runners
These basic problems should be relatively easy to remedy
- Select better. BB should be done, he's cooked. Pick a bruiser in the back row instead of 2 small guys to go with our show pony
- Improve tactics. We lacked a decent plan last season. Aimless kicking and constantly trying high risk low benefit moves put us under massive pressure and expose our defence unnecessarily
- Get everyone on the same page
If we do just those things we will be at least 10 points better per game
-
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan Other than SA, I'm far from convinced there is a gap.
Genuinely think there's now a very big gap in self-belief, handling pressure and closing out games.
That said, If we can get back to the sort of discipline and self-belief we had in RWC, then that gap pretty much disappears. Actually think the skills and cattle are there - and probably better than they were in 2023.
I believe gaps in belief etc can be closed pretty quickly , at various times we witnessed teams do it to us when we were front runners
These basic problems should be relatively easy to remedy
- Select better. BB should be done, he's cooked. Pick a bruiser in the back row instead of 2 small guys to go with our show pony
- Improve tactics. We lacked a decent plan last season. Aimless kicking and constantly trying high risk low benefit moves put us under massive pressure and expose our defence unnecessarily
- Get everyone on the same page
If we do just those things we will be at least 10 points better per game
@canefan who's this big bruiser gonna be?
-
@canefan Did he not play them in France and just lose by a point - somewhat unluckily as I recall?
There were two shockers in his tenure (England and SA) - but, if we're to assume he was fucking hopeless as a coach then there's very little ground to be made up by his successor on anyone except SA.
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan Did he not play them in France and just lose by a point - somewhat unluckily as I recall?
There were two shockers in his tenure (England and SA) - but, if we're to assume he was fucking hopeless as a coach then there's very little ground to be made up by his successor on anyone except SA.
If he started DMac at 10 instead of reverting to fucking BB we would have pumped France. Early dominance that BB was unable to turn in to points. France got belief and got back in to the game
-
@canefan who's this big bruiser gonna be?
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan who's this big bruiser gonna be?
That's a very tough question. Part of the problem was our obsession with going wide instead of playing more direct. If we tighten that up a bit perhaps the the back row will be more successful at keeping position and recycling the ball
-
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks - New Coach Selection:
@canefan who's this big bruiser gonna be?
That's a very tough question. Part of the problem was our obsession with going wide instead of playing more direct. If we tighten that up a bit perhaps the the back row will be more successful at keeping position and recycling the ball
@canefan therein lies part of our problem, that do extend beyond Razors time, we have tended to steer away from big bruisers...sure we have a few running around but none are on the cusp, Parker is closest but he doesnt use his size.
It is the same with 10, the obsession with BB over the past few years has seen very little development behind him and Dmac, that we have talents like Love, Jacomb, Reihana, but all very untested where they are only really finding thier.feet at super.
Development has been pretty poor in multiple positions, coupled with lack of direction or style of play has really bought us back into the pack.
-
The All Blacks had just two really impressive matches last year; the win over France Baby squad in Wellington 43-16 and the win over the Boks at Eden Park. Both were the only games when Wayne Smith got involved in the training week.
Now that Smith's gone, we need an equivalent rugby mind involved in the setup - Rennie, Schmidt, or Brown, come closest to that in my opinion, and only Rennie is available.
We needed Schmidt to manage our brilliant WC run in 2023 and still lost the final (albeit by a single point and 14 men). World Cups can be notoriously fickle & often the best side doesn't even win it.
If we are to have a hope of winning in 2027, we need a technical mind such as Rennie (at the very least in an advisory role).
-
The All Blacks had just two really impressive matches last year; the win over France Baby squad in Wellington 43-16 and the win over the Boks at Eden Park. Both were the only games when Wayne Smith got involved in the training week.
Now that Smith's gone, we need an equivalent rugby mind involved in the setup - Rennie, Schmidt, or Brown, come closest to that in my opinion, and only Rennie is available.
We needed Schmidt to manage our brilliant WC run in 2023 and still lost the final (albeit by a single point and 14 men). World Cups can be notoriously fickle & often the best side doesn't even win it.
If we are to have a hope of winning in 2027, we need a technical mind such as Rennie (at the very least in an advisory role).
-
The All Blacks had just two really impressive matches last year; the win over France Baby squad in Wellington 43-16 and the win over the Boks at Eden Park. Both were the only games when Wayne Smith got involved in the training week.
Now that Smith's gone, we need an equivalent rugby mind involved in the setup - Rennie, Schmidt, or Brown, come closest to that in my opinion, and only Rennie is available.
We needed Schmidt to manage our brilliant WC run in 2023 and still lost the final (albeit by a single point and 14 men). World Cups can be notoriously fickle & often the best side doesn't even win it.
If we are to have a hope of winning in 2027, we need a technical mind such as Rennie (at the very least in an advisory role).
