There is growing unease around the All Blacks, with pressure building on coach Scott Robertson.
According to New Zealand Herald rugby writer Liam Napier, feedback from players and staff has painted a “deeply concerning picture” of the current environment.
Multiple sources point to “widespread internal frustrations” within the All Blacks set-up, raising serious questions around whether Robertson should take the team to the 2027 World Cup.
According to insiders, there are issues around communication, trust, strategy and selection around the All Blacks camp, all of which were reportedly raised during NZ Rugby’s review of the 2025 campaign.
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Robertson arrived with huge credibility after winning seven Super Rugby titles (including two Super Rugby Aotearoa) with the Crusaders, but Test rugby has proven a different challenge.
The All Blacks have yet to reclaim the Rugby Championship and endured an underwhelming end-of-year tour, while persistent inconsistencies, defensive lapses and an attack that has struggled to fire have added to the pressure.
Concerns have been heightened by the departures of assistant coaches Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland in the past two years, moves that the Herald described as “red-flag concerns” about how the programme is being run.
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Unlike in 2022, when senior players famously backed Ian Foster to retain his job, there is a sense this time that player sentiment may not be as supportive of the head coach.
Possible alternatives are already being debated. Jamie Joseph remains a prominent candidate, while former All Black Nick Evans has been linked to a role within the current setup.
Amid discussions around possible replacements, there is also talk of eventually luring Springbok attack coach Tony Brown back to New Zealand, with the former flyhalf widely regarded as one of the game’s sharpest attacking minds and reportedly not yet locked in with the Boks beyond 2027.
“Securing his services should be among NZ Rugby’s top priorities,” Napier writes.
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
The post All Blacks riven by ‘widespread internal frustrations’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
There is growing unease around the All Blacks, with pressure building on coach Scott Robertson.
The post All Blacks riven by ‘widespread internal frustrations’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
