Jason Holland's All Blacks exit remains a head-scratcher

Good God Hamish, it’s not complicated.

Holland’s 2 year contract was up and Razor did not want to extend it. Razor also did not want to harm Holland’s future coaching opportunities so he did not make his concerns public.

Under employment laws in most countries, publicly discrediting former employees usually leads to lawsuits and compensation. So Razor, Holland, and NZR have handled the situation very professionally.

Leon MacDonald’s leaving was also done very professionally.

I’m of the school that believes Holland’s departure, on top of Leon’s, says something’s rotten in the AB camp. When I went into business, someone wise told me that you can’t avoid hiring the wrong person: the question is how quickly you realise your mistake and correct it. David Kirk is steeped in that sort of corporate culture. I would expect him to be pretty ruthless, if he finds that any of the above is true.

I get so sick of all this carping and moaning from jornos and doomsayers. So boring. Go the ABs.

There is a saying that too many cooks spoil the broth. Might the same logic also apply to coaches ??? The ABs backs certainly didn’t shine this season did they ?? To be fair the whole side was underwhelming and unless the various issues the team has are substantially resolved in the coming season there may well be further casualties in both coaching and playing personnel.

I think he knows the AB attack has declined and it couldn’t stay as it was, so when an alternative role was available (that works for him), he’s decided to leave before being pushed (that likely would have followed) and then trying to find a role that is right for him and his family.

I don’t think there is a big conspiracy here but it clearly says it’s not a happy camp within the AB coaching team, which matches the body language they are showing in games.

I’m not sure what’s so hard to understand about the Holland Issue. He got picked for a job, the ABs haven’t lived up to expectations. The coach wasn’t the right pick. He moves on, whether by push or jump.

He obviously didn’t do enough with the AB stint to advance his career and now it’s what it is.

What would be a real head scratcher would be a coach hanging on to his job for dear life despite the exit music getting louder. See: Warren Gatland.

The ABs weakest link right now is their coaching capability. And the disruptions to it in the two seasons under Razor.

The best teams have the best coaches. The ABS don’t have the best coaches. End of.

This isn’t the amateur era, where players partly coached themselves. The expertise and skills of professional, well paid experienced coaches in high-performing teams is a huge contributor to any teams success.

In fact I’d say it’s the number one variable.

To suggest that the ABs could still be the best with a bunch of plonkers at the helm is insulting to the intelligence.

I try not to blame coaches for performances.

But games are played by players.

…players with persistent failures and failings in their résumé and skillset — still get picked more often than not.

I don’t see a lot of evidence that Robertson and his coaching team know what they’re doing

Aura. Ded. The logic in this article is a bit off. Is it just to make up the numbers for Jan?

I thought it was pretty evident from how he spoke that he didn’t think he was upto it, that he couldn’t deliver the All Blacks what they deserve.

Holland simply didn’t want to be involved with the All Blacks anymore

And who would when you only want the best for the team? What’s so hard that it takes months of thought Hamish, that individuals can do just and honorable things in their day job?

I have a mind to think that it was a very robust and competitive environment in the team this year, maybe too much to get the best out of everyone, like Holland.