The Silver Fern

@MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew think i mentioned elsewhere on here, heard Enoka speak at a conference (wasnt even there as the "main" speaker we had to listen to, but was by far the more memorable) he was awesome to listen to, I'll be reading his book too.

One fella i was sitting with said it was his 3rd time hearing him, said he told so many different stories and kept everyone engaged.

Haven't clicked on that link, but I recall him saying Mealamu was a player who carried more mana than anyone.

The sort of person who could politely instruct other All Blacks to come suitably attired to breakfast and as grown adults they'd acquiesce.

Who's filling that role now?

Read somewhere he's an accomplished artist as well.

Ardie is probably pretty adept at bulk messages on insta. I reckon its him.

Just throwing out a wild theory, but wonder if Scooter would have been doing that role if he wasn't made captain.

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew think i mentioned elsewhere on here, heard Enoka speak at a conference (wasnt even there as the "main" speaker we had to listen to, but was by far the more memorable) he was awesome to listen to, I'll be reading his book too.

One fella i was sitting with said it was his 3rd time hearing him, said he told so many different stories and kept everyone engaged.

Haven't clicked on that link, but I recall him saying Mealamu was a player who carried more mana than anyone.

The sort of person who could politely instruct other All Blacks to come suitably attired to breakfast and as grown adults they'd acquiesce.

Who's filling that role now?

Read somewhere he's an accomplished artist as well.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

Haven't clicked on that link, but I recall him saying Mealamu was a player who carried more mana than anyone.

Yep. Calls him the "Finest human being I've met"

On a similar vein, Welsh mate's wife is a headteacher who heard Graham Henry give a talk on education (after-school activities). Called it the most inspiring and thought-provoking educational lecture she'd ever had.

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2026:

Fuck drinking at games, or concerts, or anything like that. I'll have to go to the pisser all the time and end up missing good chunks of what I paid to see and pissing off those seated near me when I am up and down all the time.

That's one of the great things about the Millennium Stadium (or whatever it's called these days). The loos are situated so you can have a quick piss and be back in your seat quickly

@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2026:

Who is going to want to take over the team 1 year out from the WC and be judged on that

Cam Roigard.

Choo choo

@giorgi1997 said in All Blacks 2026:

Legendary All Blacks coach Gilbert Enoka names the best player, captain & person that he's ever worked with... . https://wetalkrugby.com/gilbert-enoka-all-blacks-dan-carter-mccaw-mealamu/

Great read - thanks.

Have asked for Enoka's book for Christmas

@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:

Not saying I'm a supporter of Razor - far from it infact, but I too, would be surprised if he went before the 2027 RWC.

He has a hell of a 2026 season to try and negotiate first.

True. Really is make or break for him.

But 2026 would be an uphill battle for almost any coach. Seems overkill to me. Hope it doesn't longterm injure any 2027 potential RWC ABs.

Agree about the level of difficulty. On paper it is as difficult a year for the ABs as I can remember

And not just the programme. Unless the reports of in-camp problems are bullshit - or are true and solved - it could be carnage.

@His-Bobness said in All Blacks 2026:

In conclusion, I really wouldn’t be surprised if Robertson is gone within months. In fact, I think the only argument against his sacking being expedited is the fact that NZR is still looking for a new CEO. My two cents worth.

I sense another factor on deciding his future is how much capital the NZR Snr management making that decision have invested in their wunderkind. Then there's the press who fawned over his appointment. Are currently reporting the problems within the camp, but aren't calling for him to be sacked - yet. If that changes, I think he'll be gone.

As an aside, i'm not convinced sacking Robertson now (esp. with next year) would be any more a magic solution than dumping Foster. If he stays, then a clear set of changes and appointing someone with a big stick is probably a better, more likely solution

@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:

Victor Meldrew has become obsessed with having a go at Scott Robertson to the point it is getting tiresome.

God almighty, It's deja vu all over again.....have we met before?

I've consistently argued the problem with the All Blacks runs way deeper than who the Head Coach is, and the way NZR develops, selects and supports the coaching team is a recipe for disaster..

I was happy to give Robertson a free pass to learn the ropes in 2024, but after 2 years, it's pretty clear Robertson has serious changing-room issues, is unsure of his actual role and is looking increasing out of his depth at this level.

Whose fault is that then? Scott Robertson's or NZR?

Have you ever thought it could be both?

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:

Professional coaches did that?

Clearly not professional. Pity NZR are only just finding out, eh?

@Duluth said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew

Also it's not just the top job (culture coach), I'm astounded that NZR got into a situation where the 3 selectors are all from the same franchise. In previous appointments there would be an effort to have a variety of backgrounds. It's unthinkable that Henry could've had two Blues selectors with him etc

One of the reasons that cartel succeeded was that they challenged each other and Henry didn't win every argument

Good point. And it's interesting that the 2 Assistants who have left were non-Cantabs, I'd still have Ryan there though, done a pretty good job/

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

Point remains, we can't expect to have a It's just not realistic.

No-one is expecting NZR to have range of first rate internationally tier 1 experienced head coach candidates available when we want them.

But the point remains that NZR chose a bloke with no experience of Test rugby whatsoever. rather than court other candidates.

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:

The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.

A marketing man's dream?

The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.

Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.

It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.

It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.

Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.

There simply are not going to be candidates who are tested and a proven success at tier one international level on any sort of regular basis.

Tony Brown, Jamie Joseph, Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie say "Hi"

Correct me if I'm wrong but at the time of Robertson's appointment:
Brown had not been an international head coach (and still hasn't).
Joseph had coached tier 2 Japan.
Joe Schmidt had not been an international head coach.
Dave Rennie had just been sacked from the Wallabies - after he had been passed over for Foster, who had also not been an international head coach.

I think you're missing my point. Robertson was clearly seen by many in NZR as their poster-boy from the time he applied for the job in '19. They should have taken a cold, hard look at other candidates to replace Foster.

There were plenty of people available with Test experience had NZR taken the time to manage that talent pool. Instead, they seem to have pissed them off.

@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:

He assumed the job with massive goodwill from everyone except Foster, Hansen and their compadres and the bad will they had built up from 2017 to 2024 invalidated their negativity.

It's increasingly looking like he assumed the role with an over-inflated CV., aided by his fluffers in the media who lost all sense of objectivity.

@ploughboy said in All Blacks 2026:

I think there has been a moving of the goalposts here.people were calling for Robertson to head over seas after he missed out to foster to get overseas experience not international experience. get out of a bubble and coach elsewhere.

The big picture is NZR didn't have a strategy to develop and coaching talent at the highest level. Quite the opposite in that they seemingly burned bridges with a lot of good coaches

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:

The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.

A marketing man's dream?

The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.

Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.

It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.

It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.

Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.

There simply are not going to be candidates who are tested and a proven success at tier one international level on any sort of regular basis.

Tony Brown, Jamie Joseph, Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie say "Hi"

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:

The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.

A marketing man's dream?

The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.

Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.

It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.

It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.

Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:

The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.

A marketing man's dream?

The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.

Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.

@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:

The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.

A marketing man's dream?

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

I've had a gutsful of Robertson mate, but revisionism on Foster is unnecessary. His tenure was shit.

Don't disagree. But you're missing my point which is we've gone backwards - and in some areas rapidly.

The one good thing that can come from this is NZR & rugby public look at people touted as super-coaches with a high degree of scepticism.