The Silver Fern

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2026:

Comparisons to previous AB sides is interesting, but also a bit of a pointless way to critique the current coaches as it's pretty subjective what the worst AB side of all time would be.

What I do know is that it's pretty clear NZ rugby still has stacks of talent, but the ABs are playing well below the sum of their parts due to poor selection and a gameplan not suited to test footy. Two years in it's obvious that this coaching group is well out of their depth going up against much more experienced international coaches, and instead of trying to change things up, they had no answers so kept trying to do the same thing over and over and over again. That makes them bloody frustrating to support, to say the least.

It's going to be really interesting to see what NZR do after the review, as it's obvious we need someone with a lot more experience in the group, but there are no obvious candidates willing to work with Razor.

I agree. But I think the issue is that not that coaches aren’t willing to work with Razor, it’s that the standard of coaches in general within NZ is atrocious. Razor rang rings around them for years in super rugby and it’s no surprise that if he’s not up to it, the rest won’t be. None of the alternatives are viable options and I don’t necessarily blame Robertson (with all his faults) not trusting or wanting to work with coaches he consistently out coached at Super Rugby.

What is and was needed is strong overseas experience in the assistant coaching set up, with guys both Robertson and the team respect.

What is the most puzzling is that none of the tactics or game plans that have looked good have been persisted with for 80mins or for multiple games. The backline looked incredibly slick in the first few tests, particularly in the 22 with the out the back plays. Yet it was completely abandoned for the rest of the season. The forwards have demonstrated that they can play in tight and make serious metres yet they shelve it when it’s needed most. Both the infield leadership and coaching during the games is terrible and needs to be dealt with

@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/pressure-builds-on-all-blacks-coaches-as-internal-frustrations-emerge/S45WBKEFEFCY5MFPQJYYX3ZJDE/

The Herald understands feedback from players and staff presents a deeply concerning picture of the All Blacks environment, with multiple sources pointing to widespread internal frustrations.

Two assistant coaches, Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland, voluntarily departing in the last two years sparked red-flag concerns with how the All Blacks are being run. But the fresh, stinging feedback from within – with communication, trust, strategy and selection all believed to have been raised – cannot be ignored.

All teams have unhappy players with selection, but concerns with the All Blacks environment are believed to spread well beyond individuals alone.

Support from senior players proved powerful in Ian Foster retaining his position as All Blacks head coach in 2022 – as the players approached then NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson in his Johannesburg hotel room to strongly voice their views.

This time around, the opposite could be true.

At this stage, NZ Rugby is likely to allow Robertson further time to deliver significant improvements but if the players aren’t satisfied with the initial post-season All Blacks review findings and solutions – which could range from changes in coaching personnel to roles and responsibilities – they may request a second review is conducted.

Depends who’s doing the complaining right? We can’t have a cake and eat it too. If it’s Barrett, Savea etc complaining, then who gives a fuck what they’ve got to say. If they’re whinging surely it’s a good thing. If it’s the same leadership group sucking lemons on the field, they can go too

Can someone clarify how the round 16 games for top Pool A and B against Best 3rd of C, E, F and Best 3rd of D, E,F works? What if the 3rd best is the same team from E or F?

@mohikamo said in Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw - LIVE:

@jimmyb
definitely the harder side of the draw

@mohikamo said in Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw - LIVE:

@jimmyb
definitely the harder side of the draw

Realistically the three best sides, and the home nations get a fairly piss easy ride into the semis. I bloody hope Argentina go and do it

So will likely need to beat the Bok and France to get into the final

That desperate to get a NH team into the final

Are we completely injury free leading up to pre season or have any players been confirmed to miss a few rounds/season?

I personally look at some of the posts here about Kirk being able to fix it with the same trepidation as I had when Razor was announced and everyone was announcing him as the saviour. I certainly hope that Kirk can make enough change to bring the organisation to a professional level of competency, but the same things being said about him as the man to fix things were said about Razor over the last few years.

Difference with Kirk is he has a proven track record of being a hard arsed and very astute businessman. He was CEO of Fairfax Media in Aussie and worked at McKinsey, and anyone who’s worked with McKinsey knows that most of their graduates are usually ruthless little shits.

Kirk is probably one of the better options NZ rugby has. He also has the social credit of winning a World Cup.

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus Cruden, Barret, McKenzie and Mo'unga are the only 10s that have been blooded since Donald (who debuted 17 years ago) that currently have more caps than him prior to his 2011 appearance.

Lima Sopoaga?

The last out and out 10 that debuted was Josh Ioane in 2019 (for one cap). Absolutely crazy.

@akan004 said in Wales v All Blacks:

@jimmyb said in Wales v All Blacks:

@akan004 said in Wales v All Blacks:

A good performance according to Jeff Wilson and Mils.

One amateur era player and the guy who got replaced by Dagg cause he can't catch a high ball? Lucky we have those two rugby geniuses on our TVs

Bro, Wilson was an AB legend. One of our greatest ever wingers. Terrible pundit however.

One of the biggest issues NZ rugby has is amateur era fluff bunnies who have too much riding on their relationships with current players. Its terrible for the sport

@akan004 said in Wales v All Blacks:

A good performance according to Jeff Wilson and Mils.

One amateur era player and the guy who got replaced by Dagg cause he can't catch a high ball? Lucky we have those two rugby geniuses on our TVs

4 tries, 8 line breaks, 161 post contact metres with only 77 carries. Piss weak

Fun fact, Wales scored more points against the ABs then they managed against Japan

@sparky said in Wales v All Blacks:

Sevu Reece scores to say fuck you to the Fern. Great footwork.

Good on him.

I hate that Reece is selected as long term is pointless. But people do forget that he bitched the Chiefs in the final and completely outclassed Carter

@Darren said in Wales v All Blacks:

Kirifi is just ok, but shouldn't be selected again. Another stupid decision by Razor.
Parker is worse though.

A lot of people, and rightly so, said Kirifi should get a look in after his super rugby season. He was pretty good. He (rather predictably in hindsight) didn't have the skills to make an impact in the international game.

Parker was the form 6 in super rugby (amongst pretty slim picking).

Neither were terrible decisions, they've just been disappointing

The fact that Wales have only had 29% possession and only forced the ABs to make 52 tackles but still scored 4 tries is seriously concerning.

@booboo said in Wales v All Blacks:

Who says Ioane doesn’t pass

Ioane is actually good at providing the last pass setting up a try. The QF against Ireland he had two pretty slick passes to put players in. He just cant do it in general play

Hollie is such a breath of fresh air from the anally retentive, ego driven European metrosexual refs

Enjoy your last few minutes as All Blacks coach, Robertson. Taking Love off for Reece was the last straw for me

Ok the ref has said she’s seen it so the TMO can’t over rule that?