All Blacks 2026
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@restofit said in All Blacks 2026:
Thoughts? Why on earth wasn't Wayne Smith (NZR's director of high-performance) consulted before the decision was made?
Prolly because it wouldn't have made a difference in the outcome?
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@restofit said in All Blacks 2026:
Thoughts? Why on earth wasn't Wayne Smith (NZR's director of high-performance) consulted before the decision was made?
Why wasn't Wayne Smith called on to help guide Razor? I seem to recall he spent time in camp at various points in the season, did he not realise things were going bad?
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Meh. Sumo trying to stay relevant.
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@restofit said in All Blacks 2026:
Thoughts? Why on earth wasn't Wayne Smith (NZR's director of high-performance) consulted before the decision was made?
First of all, love that this is an article about an article about an article.
Second, the whole Wayne Smith is a little bit perplexing.
Know Smith struggled a little bit working with Robertson so wouldn't expect him to have jumped to Razor's defence (and laud his competence). Suppose it's possible to not gel with someone but still think they deserve time in the saddle but it's a little odd.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
Meh. Sumo trying to stay relevant.
Seems like he's off base. Where was he when Robinson was CEO? I don't remember him calling Mark a clown
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2026:
@restofit said in All Blacks 2026:
Thoughts? Why on earth wasn't Wayne Smith (NZR's director of high-performance) consulted before the decision was made?
First of all, love that this is an article about an article about an article.
Second, the whole Wayne Smith is a little bit perplexing.
Know Smith struggled a little bit working with Robertson so wouldn't expect him to have jumped to Razor's defence (and laud his competence). Suppose it's possible to not gel with someone but still think they deserve time in the saddle but it's a little odd.
Smith had a difficult working relationship with Razor? A pattern seems to be emerging....
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
Meh. Sumo trying to stay relevant.
Seems like he's off base. Where was he when Robinson was CEO? I don't remember him calling Mark a clown
Exactly. And the dressing room had spiralled out of control, the reports were damning.
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@restofit said in All Blacks 2026:
Thoughts? Why on earth wasn't Wayne Smith (NZR's director of high-performance) consulted before the decision was made?
NZR have acted like clowns. That seems to have stopped as of last week. Hopefully.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2026:
Know Smith struggled a little bit working with Robertson so wouldn't expect him to have jumped to Razor's defence (and laud his competence). Suppose it's possible to not gel with someone but still think they deserve time in the saddle but it's a little odd.
I took it as just one coach going on the record and backing up another coach.
Coaches' union type business, couldn't really say anything else (on the record). -
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2026:
Know Smith struggled a little bit working with Robertson so wouldn't expect him to have jumped to Razor's defence (and laud his competence). Suppose it's possible to not gel with someone but still think they deserve time in the saddle but it's a little odd.
I took it as just one coach going on the record and backing up another coach.
Coaches' union type business, couldn't really say anything else (on the record).Interestingly, no other coaches that close to the situation have jumped to Razor's defence
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Everybody seems to have seen the reports but me.
But that, ah, Sumo piece, seems unhinged, the evidence precarious. -
Interesting article by Gregor Paul on coach selection
Points out that last two coaches were chasing assistants - some at the same time - and it ended up like playground team-picking. Thinks it will be different this time with NZR choosing the HC and then the assistants, the latter with the new HC's input.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2026:
@restofit said in All Blacks 2026:
Thoughts? Why on earth wasn't Wayne Smith (NZR's director of high-performance) consulted before the decision was made?
First of all, love that this is an article about an article about an article.
Second, the whole Wayne Smith is a little bit perplexing.
Know Smith struggled a little bit working with Robertson so wouldn't expect him to have jumped to Razor's defence (and laud his competence). Suppose it's possible to not gel with someone but still think they deserve time in the saddle but it's a little odd.
My speculation is that Smith seems to be emotional in a very good way. I can see him relating this situation to some of the shit that happened to him more than 20 years ago. So, maybe he considers that with a bit more time Razor may have been able to turn the corner.
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@Victor-Meldrew
I like the point Paul makes at the end.
The head coach is not bigger than the ABs, and must be prepared to work with others and be challenged.Razor just appointed the Canterbury mates club.
Couldn't take his "vision" being challenged it seems. -
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
Interesting article by Gregor Paul on coach selection
Points out that last two coaches were chasing assistants - some at the same time - and it ended up like playground team-picking. Thinks it will be different this time with NZR choosing the HC and then the assistants, the latter with the new HC's input.
Which as we've discussed a lot here, is the way it should be. It's true that HC candidates should have some idea of who they want, and due diligence by the selection committee would be to sound out those mentioned to see whether they'll take the job (if they are considered crucial to the chances of the HC) but it is fucking dumb to need to have your team assembled to apply.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
My speculation is that Smith seems to be emotional in a very good way. I can see him relating this situation to some of the shit that happened to him more than 20 years ago. So, maybe he considers that with a bit more time Razor may have been able to turn the corner.
Exactly.
I think all coaches would say something like what Smith said if asked for a comment.
No way that they'll slag each other off in public.
They've all been in that situation sometime or other.
