2026 was meant to be the year that the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ tour kicked off and restored the All Blacks to their rightful place at the top of the rugby pyramid. Instead, the rugby gods had something else in mind for the All Blacks. Just when you thought it was only Rugby Australia who could mess up a coaching appointment, New Zealand Rugby said, " Hold my beer.”
2026 was meant to be the year that the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ tour kicked off and restored the All Blacks to their rightful place at the top of the rugby pyramid. Instead, the rugby gods had something else in mind for the All Blacks. Just when you thought it was only Rugby Australia who could mess up a coaching appointment, New Zealand Rugby said, " Hold my beer.”
New Zealand Rugby Chair David Kirk announced that Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson had been sacked from his role as the All Blacks head coach. A scathing internal review of the 2025 season was the final straw for the New Rugby Board.
Less than two years out from the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, New Rugby Chair David Kirk backed the change.
“The mid-point in the Rugby World Cup cycle is the right time to look at the All Blacks’ progress over the first two seasons. The team are set to play a significant 2026 schedule and the tournament in 2027 remains the key goal,” Kirk said.
Kirk stated that the All Blacks' progress over the last 12 months was critical to the decision.
“We’ve taken an extensive look at the team’s progress on and off the field and have subsequently had discussions with Scott on the way forward. Both NZR and Scott agree it is in the best interests of the team that he depart his role as Head Coach,” Kirk added.
Robertson’s sacking, two years into a four-year deal, ended one of the most over hyped coaching tenures in New Zealand Rugby history.
Robertson, the break-dancing, boy-king of Super Rugby, was touted to be the Messiah, whose larger-than-life persona would bring the World Cup back to New Zealand with the same level of success he had at Super Rugby level. For a coach once sold as the saviour, the manner of his exit says as much about the state of the All Blacks as it does about Razor himself.?
New Zealand Rugby confirmed Robertson’s removal after an end-of-year review that laid bare doubts over his leadership, game plan and relationship with senior players. What began as a routine post-season debrief quickly turned into a referendum on whether the All Blacks trusted the direction of their own head coach.?
Reports out of Wellington suggest the tipping point was a combination of on-field regression and off-field unrest, with influential figures inside the camp making it clear they were unwilling to go through another World Cup cycle under the current regime.
2025 was a brutal learning curve for Robertson and his team. A 43–10 hammering at home to the Springboks was followed by a historic defeat to Argentina. The combination of the results and reports of the poor team culture was a tipping point that the New Zealand Rugby board could no longer ignore.
Robertson made his feelings known through a statement from a private PR firm.
“Coaching the All Blacks has been the honour of my life. I am incredibly proud of what this team has achieved and of the progress we have made.
We have brought through a talented group of young players, strengthened the depth across the squad, and set solid foundations for the years ahead.
Following the end of year review, I have taken time to reflect on some of the feedback. My priority has always been the success of the All Blacks and, after discussions with New Zealand Rugby, I believe it is in the best interests of the team for me to step aside.
I have therefore reached an agreement with New Zealand Rugby to end my contract early so a new coaching group has the time it needs to prepare and take the team into the next World Cup.”
You have to feel some level of sympathy for Robertson. He was everything at Super Rugby level, and when he finally got to the rugby summit, the view wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
New Zealand Rugby now begin their search for a new coach. Jamie Joseph is a red-hot favourite to restore the aura to the black jersey.
The other name to potentially be in the mix for the role is Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt. The Wallabies coach is set to finish in July and is no stranger to the All Blacks coaching box.
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