Bombshell report links Ardie Savea to Leinster

More likely that Razor will be with Leinster than Ardie. 👍

Is Richie Mo’unga still eligible to play for Samoa/Tonga in October 2026?

Asking for a friend.

It would be good if Ardie Savea goes in a manner that removes him from AB selections. He needs to be ready to step down and become that bench expert he started as if he wants to continue in test footy.

now this Speculation mounting that All Blacks coach Scott Robertson could be sacked | Stuff

With all the rumors flying around, it sounds like a gongshow in the ABs at the moment - players refusing to play, coaches leaving, inconsistant and downright unacceptable performance…what is going on NZRU?

It'll be interesting what attitude Mo'unga takes if NZR fire Robertson. He signed in Japan late 2022 when there was no guarantee Robertson would get the job 2024. Robertson as AB coach likely played a major role in Mo'unga resigning for 2026/2027.

It’s entirely possible that Mo'unga will just bail if Robertson goes. He has treated abysmally by Hansen, then Foster, so whether he's willing to risk having Joseph as a coach and similar treatment, wasting two years of his career and all the risks associated with international rugby, is an open question.

1. The Herald article was not put behind their paywall, which is where almost all their substantial work goes, so they are happy for it to get maximum coverage. Napier is anti-Robertson, but all that means is that he is willing to lead on this issue, which from a personal/career pov is a major play for him, which in turn suggests the information he is basing his claims on are sound.

2. There are specifics in the article, that Savea gave "personal feedback" to David Kirk and that a "senior Blues player from NZ XV" refused to join the AB's. If that is accurate it is Dalton Papali'i, given he was the only player who fits that description, and suggests Napier is very well informed and willing to throw Savea and Papali'i under the bus to get the result he wants, or that Savea and Papali'i are happy to have their names used to get that result. Almost certainly the latter.

3. Mike Anthony, head of high performance, who ran the AB's review and is a Robertson supporter, has left NZR, and very abruptly. His leadership of the review was however brought into question when Don Tricker, who previously ran NZR high performance, was brought into to supervise the review. All that suggests that the review is very negative. Hansen's name has been repeatedly used in all media as a target of that negativity.

The article finishes with "NZR must address the All Blacks’ issues or they could face a backlash from disgruntled players." That Napier has been given all that information and taken such an aggressive position says that an anti-Robertson faction in NZR has gone to a sympathetic journalist to start a campaign to publicly pressure Kirk to take extreme measures. "chairman Kirk sits in the kingmaker seat with the biggest decision of his role thus far." As in fire Hansen, and possibly Robertson as well if he refuses to abandon Hansen. Robertson will be defending Hansen, so the anti-Robertson faction will be pushing for both to go rather than neither.

In that context, Robertson's firing would be justified by NZR on the basis of Robertson refusal to present what will be claimed to be "necessary change" in the context of "a daunting six-week tour of South Africa featuring four tests against the world champion Springboks," where retaining Savea would be presented as vital to success. Ryan, who seems to be liked by the players and not committed to Robertson, would be presented as continuity under a new regime led by Jamie Joseph.

The Snakepit of NZR/AB's politics knows no bottom.

Even the bloke conducting the AB’s review has jumped ship. Something is seriously amiss, if this also is true.

Both Hansen and Razor were named as problems within the environment leading to Savea’s alleged decision to look at options. I’ve suspected Hansen is a poor fit and has too much power, but if Razor can’t take charge and make the necessary changes to his coaching team, I guess he is too.

It was interesting when I was in London for the England match, I saw Razor on 3 different occasions. He’s a friendly guy, and I’ve nothing against him, but it did strike me as odd that each time he was alone. Without his assistants. And without any players. He seemed a lonely guy in an environment that he runs. Perhaps there was nothing to it, but the evidence keeps piling up that things are not right.

Unfortunately NZR don’t even have a CEO to take charge of the situation at the moment. Seems like a right mess that no doubt could have been avoided.

Savea is contracted to NZR until after the 2027 RWC. He will play for the All Blacks in 2026 and 2027.

If he does not want to play for the All Blacks, regardless of who the coach is, then don’t select him and don’t pay him the All Black portion of his contract. Personally, I would love to see a more balanced back row of 6 Va’ai, 7 Lakai, and 8 Sititi.

Savea was always going to sign a contract to play overseas in 2028 and beyond.

We could use him at Sarries. We have a big hole to fill at No8 next year!

This is nothing but unfair. We (munster) have to make do with all 2nd choice players and so do connacht and ulster. My question is why are leinster possible allowed 3 all blacks in 3 seasons and munster, connacht and ulster make do with their rejections eg. Micheal Milne, Lee Barron & Micheal Ala'alatoa all now at munster

This is excellent news and I wish nothing but the best to Ardie. Good for him.

Just note that the thing being omitted by this article is that this is dependent on how NZR deals with the shitshow that is the current coaching setup. Apparently Razor and Hansen have created such a shitshow behind the scenes that a number of senior players have expressed major concerns, Ardie just being the most high profile given that he was the player of the year. Basically his interest in Leinster/extending in Japan are based on if Razor/Hansen stick around as test coaches. Got bad enough that a prominent player in the ABs XV refused to jump over to the test squad on the Northern Tour.

If true it’s a huge statement of intent by Leinster. They would certainly have an embarrassment of back-row riches .. Doris, Conan, Connors, Deegan, Van Der Flier, etc..

If they said Toulon or La Rochelle, it would feel like a better fit (for both).

Whist there is no doubt regarding Ardie’s quality as a player, I just don’t see what it does for Leinster in signing him, as it blocks Ryan Baird or Conan, which is not in the interests of IRE, which is why it feels a bit of a push.

It’s the Herald. You’d get more use using the paper to wipe your ass with. Unless another outlet corroborates this, its meaningless.