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International

Justin Marshall reveals what Razor told him about ‘bizarre’ sacking

By Henry Lee

46 days ago

CARDIFF, WALES - NOVEMBER 22: New Zealand's head coach Scott Robertson during the pre-match warm-up during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 rugby international match between Wales and New Zealand at Principality Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Ian Cook - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Former All Black halfback and current Sky Sport commentator and analyst Justin Marshall has provided some telling details around the specific timings of Scott Robertson’s All Blacks dismissal.

Robertson, who was announced on Wednesday as part of the Barbarians coaching staff for their two games against the Springboks and Wales respectively, has been out of the All Black head coaching job since January 15.

Rumours of senior players being unhappy surfaced a couple of days prior to Robertson leaving the role, before the NZR board, following a review from Don Tricker, Keven Mealamu, and David Kirk, made the shock decision.

Marshall has since caught up with the former All Blacks head coach just ten days after the announcement, which left the rugby world shocked.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, Marshall revealed a major detail in the process, about the specific time that Robertson was told by NZR.

VIDEO

“I’ve caught up with Razor, since what happened, all on that really bizarre day,” Marshall said.

“Seeing him, probably about 10 days after that, was difficult.

“As we know, he wears his heart on his sleeve, Razor, and he cares about every team he coaches. And in particular, his biggest passion was to coach the All Blacks. So, to have to be told on that day, like everybody else, you know.

“He got told at the same time as the story was unfolding – that he would no longer be the All Blacks coach – was something that took him massively by surprise. Because, obviously, he was getting told when the rest of the world was being told.”

The 82-Test former All Black is shocked that Robertson wasn’t given a chance to discuss the review with his players, to sort out the environment issues they may have been having.

“He had no heads up and then, you know, there was no ability to have any more conversations. The decision was made and taken out of his control.” Marshall told The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast.

“I’ve been part of senior player groups. You just go sort that out with the coach. The back seat goes there, the senior players, and you chat it through. And that includes environment and cultural issues within the squad. They all just get resolved internally.”

Marshall said that despite a lot of the blame being put on the 51-year-old head coach, some of the players and other coaches need to step up.

“Where does the buck stop? You know, why has all of this been blamed on Scott Robertson? You know, there are other coaches and equally there are players that have let down the side at times.”

Comments

49 Comments

JW 45 days ago

“Where does the buck stop? You know, why has all of this been blamed on Scott Robertson?

This has already been thrashed out hasn’t it? The Herald article said it was all about the picture Razor gave clients.

Theres really not much else to it, it’s the only thing that makes sense and is actually understandable (importantly two distinctly different things).

Hammer Head 45 days ago

Good luck to the next coach. Working with a bag of cobras.

SB 45 days ago

You know, why has all of this been blamed on Scott Robertson?

This is how elite sport works for head coaches with high expectations of winning silverware.

Blackmania 45 days ago

Marshall is defending his former teammate, and that’s commendable, but the story being told isn’t accurate. Razor was let go simply because he didn’t get the job done. An internal audit was carried out, and the player interviews are just additional pieces added to the file.

It’s time to move on. Robertson will bounce back, but he needs to take a hard look at himself and learn from this setback.

GM 45 days ago

You’re a voice of reason, Blackmania. Marshall knows better - if Razor had been given time to say his farewells etc, the thing would have leaked like a sieve. Kirk was clinical, surgical, clean. Most unlike NZR when it wasn’t under his chairmanship. This marks the beginning of a new era.

BTW, England’s recent losses give some context to how truly awful the ABs were up there - and thoroughly justifies Kirk’s decision.

JW 45 days ago

It was entirely accurate according to the Herald timeline.

You seem to be making a jump in conclusions, they kinda thing that Marshall is saying is missing.

You; encounter a problem > start again from scratch

Marshall; encounter a problem > fix problem > start again from where you left off

It’s time to move on.

This is all known, its not a continuation of anything. If Razor was going to dispute it he would have done so by now. This is just the aussie audience being informed of what happened as far as I can tell (probably the first time he’s appeared on the show this year).

PB 45 days ago

If it was really that simple, answer me this. How did Foz even get appointed as a coach, why was he allowed to survive the cut, due to player power?

Nah mate, much more to this soap opera!

unknown 46 days ago

Poorly handled. Beware new chairman

PB 45 days ago

Beware new coach! Best wear armour to training!

unknown 46 days ago

Anybody else tired of this already???? Let’s play some rugby man!

KwAussie 46 days ago

The fact that he was unaware of an issue with the players shows that the decision was probably correct because Razor certainly didn’t have his hand on the pulse of the team. Marshall is correct in that the blame has to be shared between the other coaches and the fact that 2 left before their term was up pretty mush indicates the issues were way bigger than just a few players being upset. Personally, looking at the team dynamics in the press conferences with Hansen I’d have to think he’s also a huge part of the problem and should also be moved on. Plus, apart from Eddie Jones, he’s the worst media representative ever with nothing but click bait and jargon. No real information or details.

JW 45 days ago

Oh he seemed aware of issues (not sure what made you think he wasn’t) given that weve heard some things about how they implemented fixes for them (going directly to assistants to sort things out instead of Razor).

I think all Mashall is saying is that Kirk didn’t care to let them continue through their processes of working things out.

I think you highlight the pertinent point though, which is especially relevant with such a unique individual as Razor, is that at some point, these problems, the ones that Marshall says all teams go through, and then those the type your general CEO is going to fire someone for, are going to get to the point you can’t find a way to resolve them. What I’ve noted from hearing Marshall speak about it, he doesn’t appear to have any idea what the problems where, he’s showing no inclination that they were resolvable, just pointing out there wasn’t the normal amount of effort before giving up. A good CEO can see when things have gone past that point?

SB 45 days ago

Eddie Jones is actually extremely knowledgeable and doesn’t talk about clickbait things that much on his podcast. It’s actually quite an interesting listen.

Agree with everything else you said.

Jordon 46 days ago

Is Marshall saying that robertson found out via the same press release as all of us? Reporting by the nz herald contradicts this. They said that he was effectively told in a face to face meeting 2 days prior that he would be let go as coach. Robertson even started settlement discussions on the Wednesday. This doesn’t add up. Maybe it was robertson who leaked it in the first place and that’s how the Irish independent got hold of it.

JW 45 days ago

No he’s saying he had not time to deal with it. He’s not talking about Razor persay, he’s saying everybody close to Razor found out the same time he did (over the course of 24hrs etc, before any reasonable timeframe to inform those around you, pay respects to those you brought in etc).

Rather weird take there Jordon.

PB 45 days ago

Yeah! And the earth is apparently flat

NHinSH 45 days ago

Quite clearly isn’t saying that

Icefarrow 46 days ago

Stop blindly defending your mate Marshall. As head coach, the buck stops with him. He had two years to get his house in order, and failed spectacularly; his firing is justified. Assistant coaches are not scapegoats, the head coach chooses them and has final say on their systems.

JW 45 days ago

Depends really what problems you’re talking about, but I think it would be disingenuous of you to say Kirk has come to him previously and told him to solve these problems, so no, he hasn’t had two years to sort them out (that would be before his tenure started, so he can’t have had problems then).

Yours is just another blindly dismissive article of the situation.

PB 45 days ago

Yet the dog shyte Fozzy was granted a reprieve? and could complete his sabotage of AB rugby!

NZR are an absolute farce and Kirk undoubtedly the head c lown

PB 45 days ago

Hmmm yes! The rot started under Hansen, continued under Foz, but NZR were to weak and buckled under pressure, and after lining up Robertson, they backtracked when the some players spat the dummy.

Same weak organization that buckled again and sacked Razor!

Heaven help the poor soul that has to turn this Titanic around. France, Italy ( a historic first loss isn’t impossible), Ireland and the Boks?

johnz 45 days ago

Assistant coaches are not scapegoats

Except when the coach is Fozzie..

RD 46 days ago

Crusaders have run NZR since Jock Hobbs - they have stuck together, got all the jobs - until it became farcical - now a new broom is sweeping up this mess. Marshy is part of the gang so he would defend his mate.

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