Ex-Springbok criticises Ardie Savea after Scott Robertson’s ABs exit

Totally agree with SK! Ardie should be very careful because what comes around goes around. Don't forget that the same people you meet going up are the same ones you meet going down. You were made captain and you had full games under Razor, yet, how did you play with such an angry and a judgemental heart Ardie? If you didn't like Razor, why did you continue to play under him? It just feels wrong from a psychological point of view. I hope you are very happy that you helped to get rid of Razor. Not just you but Mealamu too. Your names have been well used by NZRU to justify Razor's exit as AB coach. What exactly didn't you like about Razor? It's also very short-sighted on NZRU.

Once we’re warriors.

Player revolts almost never happen in stable, well‑led environments. They happen when: Communication channels break down, Leadership loses trust, Management fails to set clear expectations, Accountability becomes inconsistent, Star players gain disproportionate influence. When a player—no matter how talented—feels empowered to issue “change or I leave” ultimatums, that’s not just immaturity. That’s a vacuum of authority. Strong systems don’t allow individuals to become bigger than the jersey. The “sinking ship” metaphor isn’t dramatic—it’s accurate. The decline didn’t start yesterday. The All Blacks used to dictate the global game. Now they’re responding to it. That’s a dangerous shift.

Heading to South Africa in this state? That’s not a storm on the horizon—that’s sailing straight into a hurricane with patchwork repairs. The Springboks winning 4 out of 8 Rugby World Cups is absurd. It’s dynasty‑level dominance. And they’ve done it while other nations have had double the opportunities.

The Boks don’t just win tournaments—they break teams psychologically. They expose weaknesses ruthlessly. And right now, the All Blacks have weaknesses everywhere. This new coach isn’t walking into a high‑performance machine. He’s walking into:

A fractured culture, A leadership vacuum, A fan base losing patience, A global field that has caught up—and in some cases surpassed them. Rebuilding the All Blacks isn’t a one‑season job. It’s a multi‑year cultural reset. All I will say is good luck.

“I’m ranting”

“I might have read it wrong or it may not have given the full picture but”

A real lack of maturity here by Mr. Kitschoff. This is something that a 20 year old with an under-developed brain would say, not a retired player well into their adulthood.

When you pull on the jersey and step over the whitewash, its then up to you as the player to take ownership, the coaches have done their bit.

Own the performance!!

I dont know one person that had confidence or was even happy with the way Razor was coaching our national team or the way he was fronting up to the media or the Captain he appointed, or the lack of innovation when we expected to see a lot of it.

Now everyone is saying “Razor fired? Wait, What did you do thst for?!”

Well too late now.

Can we just go back to the old days and the old ways. When ^winning history percentage* wasnt a thing and “no dick-heads allowed” was. When fans didnt skite and skills did the talking and we were humble and never stumbled!!?

I suspect its a case of nzr, once again, passing the buck for their own ineptitude

Kirstie I liked you as a player but please boet. Let’s not speculate

This is the problem with NZ. Their supposed “no dickheads” policy is window dressing for the sponsors. Remind again how many players got picked after being convicted for battery of their partners? Standards slip and reprehensible acts are excused all in the name of winning and keeping the brand alive. Chickens coming home too roost. The next All Blacks coach has to rebuild the entire house - from the foundations up. Remains to be seen whether they choose the right players or the best players… Silverlake expect results and a return on their investment.

A lot of speculation about how it all went down. The fact that Ardie was said to be considering a European move knowing it would put him outside AB eligibility does not equal a threat from him for Razor to go. Kirk dismissed this suggestion and noted the player input was respectful, thoughtful and honest. He also noted that the player input confirmed concerns from the NZR and the decision to part ways was either now or not until after 2027. Ardie played big minutes but went missing in some AB games and should not have larger input than any other “stake-holder”. His position should not be guaranteed but earned campaign by campaign. The “player power” narrative is sensational but likely, erroneous.